fprintf 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.
I wouldn't get too hung up on "modern design", especially if your budget
is only $4k - at that price you're looking at the used market and the
bulk or the boats on the used market aren't "modern" in the sense of
being newer than the Laser. The fact of the matter is that there hasn't
been a dinghy class introduced since the Laser that has really caught on
to the point where they are readily available on the used market. Sorry.
Some random thoughts, and models to think about:
A Laser is pretty much a one person boat. Fine for when you're by
yourself, but you probably won't enjoy it with the kids, especially if
you're planning to take more than one kid out at a time.
Likewise for the sunfish, a little bit roomier than the Laser, but less
exciting too.
Maybe a Finn? It's sort of a Laser for big guys, with a much roomier
cockpit.
Or a Zuma? Not as performant as the Laser or the Finn, but it's got a
bigger cockpit than the Laser.
Or a JY-15 - it handles sort of like a big Laser, can easily take three
people, and there are a bunch of them out there. While it planes
readily, it becomes a bit squirrly at higher winds, isn't easily
depowered, and difficult for one person to right when it capsizes.
There's a new Canadian boat called the Fusion 15 that might be exactly
what you want, but you probably won't find one used.
Other models I'd recommend looking at: Contender, Albacore, 470, Tasar
Other models I won't recommend, but will mention: Laser II, Vanguard 15
Have you considered a Catamaran?
Finally, here are a couple of links to get you started:
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.ruach.net/Dinghy.html" target="_blank">http://www.ruach.net/Dinghy.html</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.sailboatsales.com/boats.htm" target="_blank">http://www.sailboatsales.com/boats.htm</a>
(good capsule descriptions of new and used dinghys)
Good luck.
--
//-Walt
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