Good sounds like the sort of thing I want, maybe a bit small but easy to move. Of course something slightly longer but no wider would be good too but this sounds ok.

If I put an advert for wanting to buy one, what do you think would be a good price to offer?

Do you know how much difference in weight there is between a wooden version and fibreglass?

Oh ok, I'll make it less.

Of course prices seem to be higher in SA and there are less boats available.

Still every time I've ever put a wanting to buy ad anywhere no one has ever replied, except once with a boat that was too big.

I think 95 kilos is more suitable for a Finn.

At that size and carrying a crew as well you are going to have to up size your boat requirements. I sailed Holdfast trainers when I was 12. Looks like you will be carrying 120 kilos so something like a Mirror/125/Sabre will be required.

Also would it tip over even more if I used it without the sail with a trolling motor?

I've been browsing Australia wide to see what sort of things there are that I could advertise wanting to buy.

Would any of these be suitable? (Cheapest to most expensive (budget is about 1k max althought I'd rather spend a lot less))...


mudlark, optimist, flying ant, sunfish, open bic


btw definition of suitable is - 'I can sit on/in it and it won't tip over or sink under my weight of 95kgs and it will move along'.

It's just intended to use at the beach mainly during warm months on calmer days at about 200m+ from the beach.


Also sabot vs holdfast trainer, which would be best?

BTW thanks everyone for all your good advice.

They look good but too big and advanced.

I doubt it, it's too heavy a bit too wide and quite long.

Also they are very expensive.

But it does raise a good point, maybe there is a catamaran which folds up or disassembles for transport.

I saw someone at the beach with one which was sort of like a canoe with a single outrigger and he was disassembling it for transport. It looked like a sailing boat rather than a converted canoe though. Although it was a bit long.


Also how would you add modifications to fibreglass boats, is there a way to add an outrigger or two to one of the smallest sailboats?

ultrleisure said..

Also do you think $500 is too much to pay for a holdfast trainer in good condition with a beach trolley & top cover?

$500 is cheap for any complete yacht that sails and has accessories.

Is a wrong decision on the expenditure of $500 going to break the family budget?? Your missus probably spends more than that per annum at the hairdressers.

Hi, if you are worried about healing I think you should do what other people have suggested and go to a yacht club for lessons and advice.its all about the healing (or tilting) on a mono hull mate.

How about an impulse...

from the association website...."The impulse is a controlled one-design dinghy, which allows for individual freedom in the design of mast and rig format. The design suits crew weights from 65-100Kg.
This 4-metre single-handed dinghy is powered by a 6.87m2 fully battened mainsail, set on an over-rotating mast. With a beam of 1.65m the Impulse is easily controlled and comfortable to sail, while having outstanding performance, particularly off wind, when its flat narrow hull makes it very stable and encourages early planning.
The lightweight hull, 47Kg can be constructed of plywood, using stitch and glue techniques or professionally built with FRG and foam sandwich technology. Existing and new plywood boats can now be reinforced with closed cell foam on the floor panels."

Whilst it would be "technically" possible for an adult to fit in such junior classes as flying ant, sabot, holdfast, Opti, bic open etc, you might find that it is a bit tippy for an adult weight and therefore less forgiving despite its small size. (not to mention that it would look proportionately ridiculous) and fitting under the boom would be a challenge followed by spending the rest of the week trying to unfold yourself.

Anyway the impulse nationals are being held this December at Largs Bay S.A. so there are bound to be some locals that can offer you some guidance.

I have seen people car top a Laser as well. You need two people probably but they easily fit one or two adults, have 3 different rigs and can probably be found for very cheap.

You cannot use the words "adult, roomier, comfortable, sabot & holdfast" in the same sentence.

So it seems with the holdfast trainer when you have to sit in the middle of the boat to balance it you will be very uncomfortable but with the sabot there is more room to sit in the middle but it's more uncomfortable if you have to sit on the sides which are much thinner. I guess with the sabot in light winds you could just sit in the middle the whole time.

So it's difficult to think of what to get if anything at this stage.


You would think there would be more options for a small light sailboat with a small sail.

Has anyone heard of a catamaran which isn't too long, disassembles for transport easily and has a small sail?

It looks good, too bad its in Victoria :(

It looks like the sail is about the same size as some of the sabots, holdfast trainers etc. which is really good.

Still with some of these old boats if anything was damaged I wouldn't really know what to do.

But at least I could add a trolling motor at first and then work it out later.

Mudlark is tiny. Suited to a small child only