please suggest a dinghy for family/kids

Hi all,

I've just talked my husband into buying a dinghy! :)

We are in Melbourne. The kids are 9 and 11 and can't sail (yet), though have spent quite a lot of time on grandparents cruiser (Salar 40). I'm going to get them into a Tackers (learn to sail) program these holidays. I've sailed on and off much for my life, though never anything terribly difficult. Think mirror and similar dinghies, the family trailer sailer, etc. (oh, and I spent years in my younger adulthood sailing on the local tall ship, though the skills for that aren't terribly transferable to dinghies...)

So I want to buy a (cheap) family dinghy that the two kids can learn to handle (initially with an adult with them, but when they are older I want them to be able to manage it themselves, so it can't be too hard to sail/right), but big enough that it's fun for me and my husband too. Must have a main and a jib.

Any suggestions?

There are some things I don't know:

- how heavy can a boat be and have two adults able to manage to get it into the water without a ramp, or is a ramp really necessary? We'll be putting on a road trailer in the backyard and taking it on family holidays, I think.

- Is it correct that fibreglass needs much less maintenance than wood?

- What do I need to look for in a boat that is sailable as is. Doesn't have to be in excellent condition: I'm pretty sure if my husband gets excited he'll manage to bash it into the jetty etc as often as not, but it does need to be working and not require any very immediate fix.

- can anyone recommend a budget but not crappy brand of lifejackets for kids and adults?

I was considering a Heron dinghy or a Vagabond, simply because those are for sale on Gumtree at the moment. Any comments on those classes? Of course there are lots of mirrors, but I'm not sure how well two larger adults would fit into a mirror, and I'm going to have to teach my husband to sail one way or another.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Hi tenar
Step 1. learn to sail.
Step 2. become familiar with the variety of boats that are out there.
Step 3. buy a boat.

You can shortcut that but I don't recommend it.
Step 1. learn to sail.
This will depend on where you live and how many weekends you can put into it.
55 years ago I got on my bike and rode for a couple of hours to Albert Park lake.
Just did a search and they are still there
albertsc.org.au/index.php/learn-to-sail
If you can learn together competitively it would be great.

Step 2. become familiar with the variety of boats that are out there.
As you learn you will see boats around you and be able to talk to other sailors.
everyone has a different favorite. For example Ilenart has suggested steer clear of mirrors because of their rig. I would say go for a mirror because it has such a rig. There you go.
Also you never know when someone will say. "Well I have a ....... that is not being used, You can have it."
Doesn't really matter what it is if it comes along by chance, does it?

Step 3. buy a boat.
The secret to this one is wait, if you can.

I love your plan and my suggestions are to help you on your way.
If you can get the kids sailing competatively against kids their own age, you are on your way.

gary

Thanks all for your replies.

llenart: Pacer looks like a good possibility. I'll check them out.

garymalmgren: I can sail, the kids and husband are yet to learn. I'm not specially interested in racing though the kids might well be, I guess, once they have learned, and I wouldn't stop them, of course, from developing an interest. Actually we live very close to Albert Park lake, but I would prefer to sail on the bay if practical, as we spend lots of time walking around the lake anyway.

woko: Thanks, I didn't know that.

I would suggest a club. Go down and talk to them. They will have boats they sail, when you find people and boats you like get one of them. We live near Belmont 16s so when our kids wanted to sail, we bought a Pelican. It was a great boat and we sold it really easily to a new group of parents/kids when we were done - it is actually the only boat I ever made money on.

There are manly juniors and flying 11s for the kids
manly juniors are smaller and once they grow a bit you will need to step up to a flying 11
if your kids get into racing we have fleets around 70 flying 11s here in Nsw (not sure how popular they are in Melbourne )
flying 11s are probably to small for the adults as the ideal weight is 110kg combined weight (manly juniors is 70)
the hull weighs 39kg
price can vary a fair bit for a cheap boat you can pay around 500 or to have one built is around 16 grand

- how heavy can a boat be and have two adults able to manage to get it into the water without a ramp, or is a ramp really necessary?

Two adults, 50-60kg boat from the road to the water is Ok, easier with a little help from the kids. If you are dropping in at random locations around the bay ( i.e. not a club ). Much heavier you want to use your beach trolley and then the problem is getting it to the water. Quick lift over the stumps at say, Sandridge and you are on the water easily. Can do the same Just near Port Melb YC, Elwood, ramp at North Rd, Sandringham near the Hampton pier.


- Is it correct that fibreglass needs much less maintenance than wood?

Much less, Wood needs dings fixed before they become worse and probably 3x the annual maintenance. Done ply dinghies for 15 years and never want to see one again. That said, if you get one in good condition and take a little care you can get 3-4 years out of it, just don't expect to sell it at the end, it will be a give-away by then.

- can anyone recommend a budget but not crappy brand of lifejackets for kids and adults?

Will get back to you on this one

I was considering a Heron dinghy or a Vagabond, simply because those are for sale on Gumtree at the moment. Any comments on those classes? Of course there are lots of mirrors, but I'm not sure how well two larger adults would fit into a mirror, and I'm going to have to teach my husband to sail one way or another.

Mirror is Ok for 1 adult & 1 kid or 2 kids. Light and easy to move around, mostly ply.
Heron is marginally larger, a bit heavier and you wont find a glass one in VIC.
Vagabond is about the size you want 3.7m but very heavy. 110Kg. Scouts ditched theirs 20 years ago and now mostly in kindergarten sandpits. Very strong, you can do better.

A pacer or 125 would be what I suggest. Either one based on condition vs. $. They are almost the same size, reasonably light weight, pacer a bit more forgiving when you do wrong but both can be a hoot in a strong breeze, will carry 2 adults/youth, 1 adult + 2 youth or all 4 at a pinch going a bit slowly. Can sail either single handed in moderate conditions and both have spinnakers for when you want to push the skills. Nice thing about the 125 is it also has a trapeze which once your kids work out how to do it will relegate you to steering on the leeward side of the boat so they can trap in marginal conditions. 3.8m, 50-60kg wood free-1.5K, glass 1-3K best to look on bayside club websites or pacer & 125 association for sale pages.


Corsair is good for what it is designed for but perhaps a little big for your two youth at 4.8m and 136kg.
Love the MJ, F11 and F Ant all part of the NSW junior sailing progression but all too small for you and +1

I would second the suggestion to join a club. Sailing clubs are super-keen to welcome families, and you would be able to try out a few different boats. You'd also have storage for your boat, access to boats for sale, social connections, change facilities etc etc.

I also second your idea of taking it along on holidays. Way back when the kids were little we had a Mirror on a trailer towed by our smallish car, and could thus carry heaps of camping gear. It provided terrific activity options with the kids while we were away. Bit a squeeze to fit more than two in for a sail though.

Cheers, Graeme

The Corsair has the advantage of resale. You can spend a $1000 on one with a good gal trailer and sell it down the track for the same money. The armed forces used them for years and various sailing schools.

Thanks everyone for your advice, which is very much appreciated. I'm definitely leaning towards a pacer. If everyone loves it we can upgrade in the future.

Does anyone know whether its easier to buy a boat now or at the end of summer?

www.australianhartleyts16.org.au/waka1280


Two adults and two kids is my idea of the perfect crew for one but than again...I'm tragically in love with Hartleys