Good fast dinghy? Anything that planes easily and is more ..

External Since: Mar 23, 2005 Posts: 3

I am looking for a good fast dinghy. I love the looks of the skiffs
(Aussie 14 etc) but unfortunately need a boat that I can single-hand
regularly or depower when the kids are in the boat. I have been looking
at Lasers for a while and there is quite an active fleet about one hour
away from me (Westport, CT). I am a former windsurfer and need a
sailing hobby that lets me do it a) when the wind is not up, b) with
the kids and c) when the wind is howling. In other words, versatility
is key. Having a local racing fleet is not, at least for right now.

Perhaps I should just go get a Sunfish for cheap. But those skiffs (and
the 505s even) are calling me because they are so fast. There has to be
a single hander that is a more modern design than the laser, no?
Budget is around $4k including trailer.

Thanks in advance,
Stuart
Central Connecticut, USA

External Since: Aug 17, 2003 Posts: 85

On 23 Mar 2005 12:52:15 -0800, "fprintf" <stuart.a.hall DeleteThis @gmail.com>
wrote:

>I am looking for a good fast dinghy. I love the looks of the skiffs
>(Aussie 14 etc) but unfortunately need a boat that I can single-hand
>regularly or depower when the kids are in the boat. I have been looking
>at Lasers for a while and there is quite an active fleet about one hour
>away from me (Westport, CT). I am a former windsurfer and need a
>sailing hobby that lets me do it a) when the wind is not up, b) with
>the kids and c) when the wind is howling. In other words, versatility
>is key. Having a local racing fleet is not, at least for right now.
>
>Perhaps I should just go get a Sunfish for cheap. But those skiffs (and
>the 505s even) are calling me because they are so fast. There has to be
>a single hander that is a more modern design than the laser, no?
>Budget is around $4k including trailer.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Stuart
>Central Connecticut, USA

If you can find one within your budget, a 505 will do (a) and (b) very
nicely. As for (c), maybe you can single-hand it when it is howling,
but I don't think I could. You must certainly steer from the trapeze
if you do.

If you can take one out alone, extend the hiking stick by duct-taping
a batten (or whatever) and give it a try. If that succeeds, buy it and
your kids will love you forever.

But, you will then have to trapeze while one of the kids is steering,
so the kid can feel the power. And, when the biggest is 11 or 12, they
will want to take it without you.

Good luck

Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a

"Never eat more in a single day than your head weighs." --Jim Harrison