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I'm looking for advice on dinghy purchase for use in Sydney harbour.

My daughter has just done a course at Lane Cove 12ft Skiff Club. I'll get her a Sabot (which is the boat they use for youngsters) when she is ready but I want to get myself something and I need some help coming up with options.

I want something that can take the whole family (3 kids + 2 adults) but has a spinnaker and can be a little bit fun. I'd rather keep under $10k (new or second hand).

The only boat on the short list so far is a Weta. It just about meets the 'take the whole family' criteria. It exceeds the minimum 'fun' criteria in spades. It is, however, a bit more expensive than I'd like ($20k new and few 2nd hand options).

A Wayfarer might be on the list but I don't think they are used in Sydney except by sailing schools. I'm also not 100% sure that a Wayfarer would meet the minimum 'fun' criteria.

Any ideas?

Corsair

Hobie Getaway, front and rear trampolines, built in ice boxes and sail well with four adults aboard. Can be had for under $10k.

Down side is that they are a bit on the weighty side

Pretty sure there is no boom on the getaway to give anyone a headache. Which is a bonus when kids are onboard. My sons aged 8 and 10 get a bit scared on the hobie 16 about the boom as its quite low.

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lydia said..
Corsair

+1
Built like a tank and I've had 10 kids in one.
Just make sure you install a line to hold the centre board down. Good way to loose fingers in a capsize otherwise

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rumblefish said..

lydia said..
Corsair

+1
Built like a tank and I've had 10 kids in one.
Just make sure you install a line to hold the centre board down. Good way to loose fingers in a capsize otherwise

Keerist Rumblefish!
How the hell did you fit 10 kids in that??? There's a story in that I'm sure....
Great boats btw.

I agree with Lydia a Corsair would be the ideal dinghy. They sail well and carry weight well. Lots of them around and a good one is about a grand on a trailer. Used by the armed forces for years and I even own one.
If your looking for something larger then a Status 19 on a trailer is about 5 grand. These are a daysailer design from Van de Stadt and sail exceptionally well. Fresh breeze with 2 adults and 3 kids they will plane. Very pleasant boat to sail. This is mine from the early seventies. Number 7 out of the mold and I finished it at home. Stitched up that spinnaker from plans in Seacraft magazine!

Corsair's are great, you can even put a small outboard on the back.
Small trailer sailers can be a good option for a young family, the cabin others some protection, storage & a toilet (bucket). Boats like the Gem550, Spider 22 etc can be found for around 10k & are good fun to sail. You can also leave them on mooring for convienience or trail them home to work on them or visit other waterways.

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shaggybaxter said..

rumblefish said..

lydia said..
Corsair

+1
Built like a tank and I've had 10 kids in one.
Just make sure you install a line to hold the centre board down. Good way to loose fingers in a capsize otherwise

Keerist Rumblefish!
How the hell did you fit 10 kids in that??? There's a story in that I'm sure....
Great boats btw.

Not really!!
Our club had 7 and I helped out at a sea scout camp on the river.
Was a downwind sail back to the club on the Sunday, I was 18 and 9 x 12 year olds, 5 a side!!

By the way, if anyone wants the list of improvements we did to the fleet of Corsairs we had to make them fast and safer, can put in a post at some stage!!

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cisco said..
If you are going to have a sailing dinghy make sure you get a proper one like this.
It is only $5,000 compared to a new Weta tri which will cost you three times or more.

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/cairns/sail-boats/windrush-yacht-wildfire-half-cabin-tabasco/1098475617

Can't understand why that does not sell! It's a long way from civilization is probably the only problem.

The problem with most family boats is that in order to be stable they're boring and you can't take them out on your own for a blast, unlike the Weta

There's a good local used Weta available for $13K which comes with a trailer and Wheelz to ease launching on soft sand.https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/grose-vale/sail-boats/weta-trimaran-nsw/1194420557

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Pewit said..
The problem with most family boats is that in order to be stable they're boring and you can't take them out on your own for a blast, unlike the Weta

There's a good local used Weta available for $13K which comes with a trailer and Wheelz to ease launching on soft sand.https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/grose-vale/sail-boats/weta-trimaran-nsw/1194420557

That's a lot of coin for not a lot of boat ! Could get 3 ts 16s for that. Far from boring, got a cab to stow gear, kids & get out of the elements, easy to single hand, good fishing platform.
And a reasonable resale as they are still actively campaigned

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Ramona said..
Can't understand why that does not sell! It's a long way from civilization is probably the only problem.

Cairns used to be civilized. It had a pub on every second corner. Now the joint has been taken over by backpackers and crocodiles I think it falls out of the definition of civilization.

If he dropped the price of Tabasco to $2,000 I would spend $1,000 on fuel and go up there and get it.

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cisco said..

Ramona said..
Can't understand why that does not sell! It's a long way from civilization is probably the only problem.

Cairns used to be civilized. It had a pub on every second corner. Now the joint has been taken over by backpackers and crocodiles I think it falls out of the definition of civilization.

If he dropped the price of Tabasco to $2,000 I would spend $1,000 on fuel and go up there and get it.

Cmon Cisco Cairns is still an amazing place sure it's changed but there have been improvements as well.

Anyways, if you come get Tobasco bring a trailer too. It's current ride is shight!! That's why it's not sold. The boat itself looks good, regularly used too. But with TSers often the price is for the trailer and the boats a bonus!

Yeah well, my comment was tongue in cheek. I still have a soft spot for the place.
I was there for a year in '72 on a Navy patrolly and two years in early nineties chartering my Peterson 42 (ENVY II) out to Upolo Cay, Fitzroy Island, Thetford Reef (magic), Moore Reef and once around Double Island. Did one trip up to Port Douglas too.

Went on Coconut Slipway a few times as well which is where I nearly developed an immunity to sand flies.

I also have a soft spot for Windrush Wildfires as well as I had one for a couple of years here in Bundaberg. Awesome boats!!

If the trailer is knackered it really knocks the value out of it. Is it still used to launch and retrieve or does the boat live on a mooring. That won't be any good for it.

The trailer is not registerable. He drives it around but I think it's negligent. With welding it may be a yard trailer but the rust is what's holding it together. The guy is German? and has next to no English.

Nice boat just needs a trailer or a welder.

Well I is a welder among other things.

One would have to wonder at least, if not assume, that the bung trailer has done damage to the boat.

I am now thinking $1,000 should pull it up.

He has had it for sale at $5,000 for a year or more now. Is he serious about selling it??

I really have too much on my plate now to be buying another project but I have a mate who has the burn to buy his first yacht.

I've seen it a few times. I've not given it a proper going over. The trailer hasn't collapsed.

As for his intentions?? I don't think there's much of a market here for him but I'm no expert. It's just when I launch and retrieve I get strange looks from the fishos and JetSki brigades. The only positive interest from the public are generally older or who think the boat is pretty.

As I said his English is limited but hit him up and see what happens? If it gets serious I can have a better look at it for you.

Thanks slammin. We are not getting excited yet though.

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Ramona said..
I agree with Lydia a Corsair would be the ideal dinghy. They sail well and carry weight well. Lots of them around and a good one is about a grand on a trailer. Used by the armed forces for years and I even own one.
If your looking for something larger then a Status 19 on a trailer is about 5 grand. These are a daysailer design from Van de Stadt and sail exceptionally well. Fresh breeze with 2 adults and 3 kids they will plane. Very pleasant boat to sail. This is mine from the early seventies. Number 7 out of the mold and I finished it at home. Stitched up that spinnaker from plans in Seacraft magazine!

I love this photo
Do these have kids of there own?