Hi all
I'm looking for some advice about buying a second hand sailing dinghy ( mono) for recreation. I've owned lasers in the past and sailed on small cats. I'm mid 50s and weigh 58 kg. Ideally I'd like something I can manage myself but that can take another adult easily when the situation allows. i wouldn't mind a jib too if that's manageable.
I'd need to be able to rig it alone and get on and off trailer. appreciate any advice thank you!

DeHavilland Gypsy/Vagabond - solid and comfortable,but heavy as built like a battleship ( Had big sister Rambler Trailer Sailer -super solid )
Harder to right if capsiize , but good buoyancy,and safe and predictable on the water.
? Hard to find as many resting in sandpit at child care centre/school !

Sabre dinghy. Light. Fast. Easy to sail. Can handle a decent breeze. Loads around in plywood or fibreglass.

Thank you both
the Sabre looks great for weight and single- handling. Vagabond fits the jib criteria but I wonder if it will too heavy to launch if I'm alone?

what are your thoughts on a pacer or 125?
im in Brisbane and see a few 125s advertised
Thank you!

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louisem said..
Thank you both
the Sabre looks great for weight and single- handling. Vagabond fits the jib criteria but I wonder if it will too heavy to launch if I'm alone?

what are your thoughts on a pacer or 125?
im in Brisbane and see a few 125s advertised
Thank you!

We have 2 Herons and 2 125's...I have a carryover lockdown project hobby restoring old timber dinghies.
The Heron would be ideal. Suits all your criteria and the world single handed championships were just held. The 125 is bigger meaning more room but they are really a race boat. If you are capable, it will suit too.
I have de-tuned 1 of ours. Removing hiking gear etc and will install a furler.
Considering putting reefing points in the main also considering we just like to cruise.

Regards
Ian

i like the NS14's

Some good suggestions, perhaps also consider a spiral. The spiral is similar to a laser but a little smaller so easier to lift, drag and sail for lighter people. Not so good 2 up unless a lot of breeze, same goes for sabre.

Difficult to pick a dinghy for fun 1 up and ok for 2 up, I recently sailed a mirror again for the first time in 40 years and had a ball one up, easy planing, enough strings to keep you busy. Many hours one up in 125 and Pacer, both would meet your brief especialy if you detune as mentioned above for stronger conditions.

good luck in your search.

Thank you so much to everyone for your advice. That really helps. I'm leaning towards pacer or heron on the strength of your help.
the vagabond looks pretty but it's weight will make it difficult for me.
thanks for the advice re detuning too - that makes a lot of sense.
Thank you!

I would forget the Heron. Way too heavy and slow, even if sailed solo by someone it's going to convince you to take up golf! It is very hard to find a boat that can be sailed solo by a person of 58 kilos and carry the occasional other adult. I think it's best to sail a single hander if your going to be solo most of the time and have a second boat for carting around friends. You have sailed Lasers so you understand uncomfortable boats so I would suggest a Euro. Very light, real mast and quality sails. Fittings where they are meant to be. Side decks designed for hiking. They were the women's class in the Olympics and there are a few about still like this one.
www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/church-point/sail-boats/euro-sailing-boat-similar-to-laser/1305633263
The OK Dinghy with a carbon mast to suit 58 kilos would also suit. Pick up an all glass NS14 or Mirror for carting friends around.

The NS14s were sailed singled handed mainsail only a while back assume some still are on occasions. Google it. Early versions had a more fwd mast step to attempt to maintain balance - need to have a suitable structure under it to avoid deck damage. Apparently later boats didn't bother just used existing mast step. Mainsail area about the same as the Euro. Some links have suggested that some hulls might be too bulky for this - an Aero 6 or thereabouts didn't have as high a freeboard as more recent designs and would be ideal imho. So one boat sailable single or double handed, light, good performance. Maybe a Cherub could do the same thing.

I think Cherub like flying ant are too 'over canvassed'. Have sailed one up but in any moderate wind you really need a crew to help keep it balanced

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r13 said..
The NS14s were sailed singled handed mainsail only a while back assume some still are on occasions. Google it. Early versions had a more fwd mast step to attempt to maintain balance - need to have a suitable structure under it to avoid deck damage. Apparently later boats didn't bother just used existing mast step. Mainsail area about the same as the Euro. Some links have suggested that some hulls might be too bulky for this - an Aero 6 or thereabouts didn't have as high a freeboard as more recent designs and would be ideal imho. So one boat sailable single or double handed, light, good performance. Maybe a Cherub could do the same thing.

The Euro is an International Moth skiff that was made into a one design class so the sail area is 85 square feet. This just happens to be what most NS14 mainsails are. NS14's are particularly nice boats to sail two up but just not quite right single handed. When the NS14 single hander was starting off as a class they came down to the Shoalhaven as a group and sailed in our marathon against my Finn and my two sons Finns and another Finn. Lets just say that they don't make good single handers when mixing with real ones!

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Lenn said..
I think Cherub like flying ant are too 'over canvassed'. Have sailed one up but in any moderate wind you really need a crew to help keep it balanced

Yes agree but I was meaning to sail the Cherub with just mainsail and with main and jib 2 up so as to have just one boat do 2 things. Put a reef in the main for stronger winds if you want, or get a main of a smaller size - luff curve and mast bend would need to suit. I have sailed a Cherub one up with jib and main and long tiller extension using the trapeze but not over ~12kts as you say.

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Ramona said..

r13 said..
The NS14s were sailed singled handed mainsail only a while back assume some still are on occasions. Google it. Early versions had a more fwd mast step to attempt to maintain balance - need to have a suitable structure under it to avoid deck damage. Apparently later boats didn't bother just used existing mast step. Mainsail area about the same as the Euro. Some links have suggested that some hulls might be too bulky for this - an Aero 6 or thereabouts didn't have as high a freeboard as more recent designs and would be ideal imho. So one boat sailable single or double handed, light, good performance. Maybe a Cherub could do the same thing.

The Euro is an International Moth skiff that was made into a one design class so the sail area is 85 square feet. This just happens to be what most NS14 mainsails are. NS14's are particularly nice boats to sail two up but just not quite right single handed. When the NS14 single hander was starting off as a class they came down to the Shoalhaven as a group and sailed in our marathon against my Finn and my two sons Finns and another Finn. Lets just say that they don't make good single handers when mixing with real ones!

Yes agree the International Europe is a fantastic single hander, light. Mainsail 7m2 75sqft. The Moth now has 8.25m2 mainsail area 89sqft.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe_%28dinghy%29

NS14 mainsails are about the same size 6.9-7m2.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NS14_(dinghy_class)

I have an Alan Warwick Phase II hull which I single hand with vj timber mast, cut down Moth main and cut down ns14 jib - in stronger winds will leave the jib off. But the solid grp hull is very heavy.

For sure wouldn't expect an ns14 single hander to match it with a Finn. Numerous web links indicate it is a bit shy of a Laser also. But it would sail ok single handed main alone and well 2 up main and jib and not be a clunker to handle on the beach or onto a trailer.

I'm pretty sure I've seen NS14's with self tacking jibs.

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stonny said..
I'm pretty sure I've seen NS14's with self tacking jibs.

Fairly common on early examples. Some had the jib on a boom as well which was excellent for sailing downwind. In our club some had deep lightweight booms which added extra sail area to the jib. Popular with husband and wife crews.

It might be just me, but are the early Australian style scow Moths (non foiling) making a bit of a comeback?
There's something still wrong about the scow look, but they still seem to move judging by some youtubes.

Someone mentioned a Topper also in one of the other threads.

I'd love to get either to have a play with.
A simple, relatively lightweight modern version, FG, non foiling, open transom, unstayed rig, with racks to sit on would be perfect.

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crustysailor said..
It might be just me, but are the early Australian style scow Moths (non foiling) making a bit of a comeback?
There's something still wrong about the scow look, but they still seem to move judging by some youtubes.

Someone mentioned a Topper also in one of the other threads.

I'd love to get either to have a play with.
A simple, relatively lightweight modern version, FG, non foiling, open transom, unstayed rig, with racks to sit on would be perfect.

I built an Imperium in 1969 just after David McKay won the worlds in this design from his drafting board. It was the prettiest scow about at the time. There is a Facebook group that is restoring mostly scows and there are a few new builds. The plans are easy to come by. There is a hull only scow for sale at the present moment for $9000!!!! These were built in 2mm ply with 1mm decks and there is no way a fibreglass boat will get down to that weight. In the 1970's the top blokes would build a hull to last one regatta. We had a hobby club at the navy base and one bloke there was turning out a hull in a couple of days. Just needed a good Stanley knife and a good staple gun! My boat was a little heavier. This is 1969 and I'm heading off to NSW.

nice one Ramona.
I bet you wish you still had the car (Alfa?) as well.

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crustysailor said..
nice one Ramona.
I bet you wish you still had the car (Alfa?) as well.

I think it's a Fiat 850 Sport Coupe, maybe the the same one that is now supercharged and raced by Ramona ...

K.

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Kinora said..

crustysailor said..
nice one Ramona.
I bet you wish you still had the car (Alfa?) as well.

I think it's a Fiat 850 Sport Coupe, maybe the the same one that is now supercharged and raced by Ramona ...

K.

Yes it's a Fiat and I still own it.

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Ramona said..

Kinora said..

crustysailor said..
nice one Ramona.
I bet you wish you still had the car (Alfa?) as well.

I think it's a Fiat 850 Sport Coupe, maybe the the same one that is now supercharged and raced by Ramona ...

K.

Yes it's a Fiat and I still own it.

Love it

Now i know where tesla got their grill less design