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The
Dinghy
Cruising
Association
Articles
What
is a dinghy?
Former DCA President Peter Bick makes a gentle dig at those members who
sail something slightly bigger!
Sleeping
Aboard
DCA member 0002 John Deacon describes the joys of sleeping on a 14'dinghy and John Reeve gives good advice on boat camping techniques
A
Steel Centreplate for Jacona!
Ken Dickinson writes about the installation of a heavy steel centreplate
in his Wanderer dinghy.
The
Crabclaw Rig
Bernie Stocks writes in appreciation of the Crabclaw Rig!
The
Not so Secret Diary of Edward Jones -
aged 65 and three quarters!
Ted Jones describes a cruise around the Thames Estuary
A
Farne Islands Pilot
Ed Wingfield shares his knowledge of these magical islands off Lindisfarne
on the NE coast of the UK. Not a cruising region for the faint hearted
but well worth the effort.
A Lindisfarne (Holy Island)
Pilot
More gen from Ed Wingfield on this beautiful stretch of England's North
Eastern Coast.
Dinghy Cruising Check list
People leave home and trail miles to their crusing ground, only to find
that they've left a vital piece of equipment back at base. I've often
forgotten the sail battens, and the binoculars but I read of someone who
left the rudder behind. Make a checklist! Here's a basic check list which
you can modify according to your own needs.
Which Dinghy?
... find the 'right' cruising dinghy?
Roger's Reefing
Refinement.
....an elegant refinement to the slab reefing system, as applied by DCA
president Roger 'Bailer' Barnes.
Huntingford's
Helm Impeder
Published by popular demand, here is a simple and cheap way of contolling
the helm while you pour a drink, have pee, harpoon a whale....
South Coast Region
Newsletter Archive
Liz Baker keeps the South Coast members informed with a regular newsletter.
The originals are very nicely presented with appropriate graphics etc.
This presentation is echoed in the web version, but preserved in its entirety
on the pdf download versions.
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Guide to Cruising Dinghies
Ed Wingfield
This guide is designed to assist the novice dinghy sailor in deciding
which is the right boat. It will evolve to include all the commonly seen
DCA boats plus some of the less common. It attempts to be as objective
as possible.
DCA members continuously argue the merits of:
| Light boats |
vs |
heavy |
| Bermudan rigs |
vs |
gaff yawl etc. |
| Modern materials |
vs |
traditional etc. |
Boat design is a compromise and the perfect cruising dinghy does not
exist. Indeed, half-way through the first season of a new or second-hand
boat the DCA owner is already thinking through possible modifications
to improve the boat. It's all part of the fun. It is possible to cruise
in just about any boat that floats and enterprising lads and lasses with
very limited budgets can find clapped-out boats from £0-50, patch them
up and have really good cruise/camping adventures.
On the other hand exotic new boats will cost £8000 and more, plus inventory.
What follows is an appraisal of boats by their owners (who have good experience
of other boats). They have been required to be as objective as possible
and criticise where necessary. The novice prospective buyer will browse
this guide and soon discover that prior to purchase, careful thought must
be given to what use s(he) intends to put the boat to and how much maintenance
s(he) is prepared to do.
Honest analysis of one's own sailing capability is as important. With
these factors estimated, a good choice of boat is much more likely. (looks
are very important too, go to the relevant websites for pictures) The
simple format of each boat's characteristics is mostly self-explanatory.
I would only add that in general, the higher performance the boat - the
more skill, agility and stamina will be required of the crew! Good performance
boats are often cruised without an outboard, intermediate boats are normally
cruised with an outboard, low performance boats are often regarded as
motor-sailors. Bearing in mind the previous discussion, this guide cannot/will
not make recommendations.
Index of Boats
|
Boat:
|
Cormorant |
|
Overall length:
|
12' 6" |
|
Weight:
|
heavy |
|
Draught:
|
7" - 3'6" |
|
Rig :
|
Cat gaff (mainsail only) (unstayed mast) |
|
Boat performance:
|
intermediate, though poor in f2 and less |
|
Skill required:
|
novice |
|
Capacity:
|
s/h through to novice 2+2 family boat |
|
Sleep aboard:
|
Yes, two at a pinch on raised sleeping boards |
|
Outboard:
|
2hp useful |
|
Rig time:
|
25 mins (assuming sail is laced to gaff and boom) |
|
Points for:
|
Purpose designed s/h cruising dinghy, very roomy for
length, good to windward and stable downwind, sail furls quickly for
picnics etc. Can leave on a mooring. |
|
Points against:
|
Heavy to launch and recover. Heavy spars. Difficult
to row against wind. Built in buoyancy lacks water tight bulkheads. |
|
Price:
|
new £4000 2nd hand £1000 - £3000 |
|
Website:
|
www.crabbers.mcmail.com |
|
Contact an owner:
|
liz_baker@yahoo.co.uk |
Boat List
|
Boat:
|
Cruz |
|
Overall length:
|
14' 3" |
|
Weight:
|
light |
|
Draught:
|
6" - 3' |
|
Rig :
|
Cat ketch (unstayed masts) |
|
Boat performance:
|
intermediate |
|
Skill required:
|
novice - intermediate |
|
Capacity:
|
s/h through to novice family boat |
|
Sleep aboard:
|
Yes, on sleeping boards |
|
Outboard:
|
2hp |
|
Rig time:
|
20 mins |
|
Points for:
|
very easy to rig, launch, sail and recover. Very roomy
cockpit, easy to reef, easy to heave-to (sheet in mizzen). Safe (whole
rig can be let fly in a squall). Pram hood gives good shelter. Low
maintenance. |
|
Points against:
|
Not close-winded, a bit fragile for coastal sailing,
tiller arrangement awkward. |
|
Price:
|
new £4000 2nd hand £3000 |
|
Website:
|
www.aboard.co.uk/boatfile/b000263 |
|
Contact an owner:
|
Bill Jones w.r.jones@newcastle.ac.uk |
Boat List
|
Boat:
|
Dockrell 17 |
|
Overall length:
|
16'9" |
|
Weight:
|
Heavy (ballasted) |
|
Draught:
|
9" - 3' |
|
Rig :
|
Bermudan sloop |
|
Boat performance:
|
Intermediate, motor necessary as rowing difficult |
|
Skill required:
|
Novice ok, suitable for families |
|
Capacity:
|
s/h possible through to novice family boat |
|
Sleep aboard:
|
family (3) possible |
|
Outboard:
|
4hp (min) longshaft |
|
Rig time:
|
1 hour |
|
Points for:
|
Rugged, very stable, forgiving, bags of room/stowage,
coastal trips ok, roller reefing genoa. Safe sailing up to wind f5.
Low maintenance. Can leave on mooring. |
|
Points against:
|
Heavy boat makes launching/recovery difficult, outboard
essential, cockpit drain prone to blockage, std mainsail needs modification
for deep reef. |
|
Price:
|
no longer manufactured, 2nd hand £2-3500 |
|
Website:
|
www.dockrell.co.uk |
|
Contact an owner:
|
Ed Wingfield edwingfield@hotmail.com |
Boat List
|
Boat:
|
Family 14 |
|
Overall length:
|
14' 0" |
|
Weight:
|
medium |
|
Draught:
|
9" to 4' 0" |
|
Rig :
|
bermudan sloop |
|
Boat performance:
|
intermediate |
|
Skill required:
|
novice |
|
Capacity:
|
s/h through to 2+2 family |
|
Sleep aboard:
|
Possibly on floor besides centre case or on raised boards
better |
|
Outboard:
|
up to 5hp max |
|
Rig time:
|
40 - 60 mins |
|
Points for:
|
Attractive 'classic' (purpose designed in 50s as family
boat). Traditional construction, no significant vices, sails well,
rows ok |
|
Points against:
|
Reqs more maintenance than a grp boat and lots of varnishing.
Will leak when dry until timbers swell. Less spacious than modern
equivalents. |
|
Price:
|
No longer manufactured. 2nd hand price hard to say,
probably £500 - £2000 depending on condition |
|
Website:
|
None known |
|
Contact an owner:
|
Mark Robins (0115) 955 9479 or markrobinsuk@yahoo.com |
Boat List
|
Boat:
|
Gull Mk3 |
|
Overall length:
|
11' 0" (3.35m) |
|
Weight:
|
light |
|
Draught:
|
9" to 3' 0" (23 to 91cm) |
|
Rig :
|
bermudan sloop (earlier Gulls gunter etc) |
|
Boat performance:
|
intermediate |
|
Skill required:
|
novice |
|
Capacity:
|
s/h through to 2+2 family |
|
Sleep aboard:
|
Yes, but cramped, better camping ashore |
|
Outboard:
|
2hp |
|
Rig time:
|
20 mins |
|
Points for:
|
Forgiving but easy to right from capsize. Easy to launch/recover,
easy to drag up beach on rollers. Low maintenance. |
|
Points against:
|
Lack of dry stowage (can be improved with modification)
Modest speed. |
|
Price:
|
Price Mk3 no longer manufactured. Almost any price 2nd
hand. Current production is Gull Spirit by Anglo Marine, Clacton-on-Sea,
which is quite different. |
|
Website:
|
None known |
|
Contact an owner:
|
John Cole dr.jbc@virgin.net |
Boat List
|
Boat:
|
Leader |
|
Overall length:
|
4.27m (14' 00") |
|
Weight:
|
light |
|
Draught:
|
0.2m (8") to 1.07m (3' 6") |
|
Rig :
|
Bermudan sloop |
|
Boat performance:
|
good |
|
Skill required:
|
2 person intermediate, s/h reqs expert |
|
Capacity:
|
possible s/h through to family day boat |
|
Sleep aboard:
|
Yes, two person (with additional floor or sleeping boards) |
|
Outboard:
|
2hp max |
|
Rig time:
|
20-25 mins |
|
Points for:
|
Easy to launch, easy to row, easy to right from capsize.
A good single-hander if in expert hands. Older wooden boats can be
found cheap. |
|
Points against:
|
Crews must be fit and agile as boat is fairly demanding
to sail. Wooden boats require regular maintenance |
|
Price:
|
New £3750 (think). 2nd hand from £200 (wood), more
for composite or grp versions |
|
Website:
|
http://homepages.rya-online.net/leaderassoc Email c.j.wharnby@tesco.net
for list of s/h boats |
|
Contact an owner:
|
Len Wingfield len@tillingbourne.plus.com |
Boat List
|
Boat:
|
Miracle |
|
Overall length:
|
3.89m 12'9" |
|
Weight:
|
light |
|
Draught:
|
0.15 (6") - 1.07 (3' 6") |
|
Rig :
|
Bermudan sloop + spinnaker |
|
Boat performance:
|
good |
|
Skill required:
|
intermediate 2 person, s/h reqs expert |
|
Capacity:
|
s/h through to family boat |
|
Sleep aboard:
|
no, camp ashore |
|
Outboard:
|
2hp (max) |
|
Rig time:
|
30 mins |
|
Points for:
|
Ex-racers going cheap. Easy to launch/recover. Fast |
|
Points against:
|
This boat was designed to race. Boat delicate and will
damage easily. Many items may need modification for cruising esp.
for effective reefing. Crews must be fit and agile. No sleep aboard.
Requires regular maintenance. |
|
Price:
|
clapped-out racers will be cheap |
|
Website:
|
www.miracledinghy.org |
|
Contact an owner:
|
Investigate the cruising section of the above site |
Boat List
|
Boat:
|
Ness Yawl |
|
Overall length:
|
19'2" |
|
Weight:
|
light |
|
Draught:
|
8" - 3' 9" |
|
Rig :
|
Yawl, standing lug |
|
Boat performance:
|
Intermediate, poor to windward, fast off the wind. Large
sail area needs active reefing as wind increases. |
|
Skill required:
|
Unsuitable for novice. |
|
Capacity:
|
s/h or 2 person |
|
Sleep aboard:
|
Yes, 2 person |
|
Outboard:
|
Boat is designed to be, and is efficient at being rowed,
but an outboard well can be incorporated. |
|
Rig time:
|
1 hour if single-handed, add 30mins if camping. |
|
Points for:
|
Beautiful. Light. Fast. |
|
Points against:
|
Requires a skilled crew. No fore or side decks to keep
spray out. Boat length may give winter storage problems. Requires
regular maintenance. |
|
Price:
|
To home build will cost £3000 inc. sails and road trailer |
|
Website:
|
none, but Boatman mag July 95 gives photo's and review |
|
Contact an owner:
|
alan@glanville.demon.co.uk |
Boat List
|
Boat:
|
Roamer |
|
Overall length:
|
14' |
|
Weight:
|
heavy (ballasted) |
|
Draught:
|
9" - 3'5" |
|
Rig :
|
Bermudan sloop |
|
Boat performance:
|
Intermediate, easy to row. |
|
Skill required:
|
Suitable for novice |
|
Capacity:
|
s/h or 2 person |
|
Sleep aboard:
|
Yes, 2 person (either side of centre board case) |
|
Outboard:
|
2-6hp |
|
Rig time:
|
1 hour + |
|
Points for:
|
Purpose designed cruising dinghy, robust, stable, safe,
may leave on mooring. |
|
Points against:
|
Difficult to launch & recover single-handed, unsightly
(some say) Requires regular maintenance. |
|
Price:
|
Plans for home build available from DCA. Note. The costs
of building are unlikely to be recovered when selling on, but boats
for sale 2nd hand are in short supply. |
|
Website:
|
www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~bill14/index.htm |
|
Contact an owner:
|
William Serjeant wserjeant@freenetname.co.uk |
Boat List
|
Boat:
|
Skipper 12 |
|
Overall length:
|
12' |
|
Weight:
|
Light (light enough for car roof |
|
Draught:
|
6" - 4' 0" |
|
Rig :
|
Gunter sloop on unstayed mast |
|
Boat performance:
|
Intermediate, easy to row |
|
Skill required:
|
novice |
|
Capacity:
|
s/h or 2 person |
|
Sleep aboard:
|
Possible, 2 person on raised boards |
|
Outboard:
|
2hp |
|
Rig time:
|
15 mins |
|
Points for:
|
Very light, easy to launch/recover and haul up beaches,
easy to right from capsize. Low maintenance. Cheap. A good learn-to-sail
boat. Good stowage space. |
|
Points against:
|
Designed as a beach fun boat for use on sheltered water.
Daggerboard. Thin outer skin. Oars over 6'6" have to be carried outboard |
|
Price:
|
No longer manufactured, second hand from £150 |
|
Website:
|
www.skipperclass.org.uk |
|
Contact an owner:
|
Len Wingfield len@tillingbourne.plus.com |
Boat List
|
Boat:
|
Sunspot 15 |
|
Overall length:
|
15' |
|
Weight:
|
Heavy |
|
Draught:
|
2' 0" (bilge keels) |
|
Rig :
|
Bermudan sloop |
|
Boat performance:
|
Intermediate, difficult to row. |
|
Skill required:
|
novice |
|
Capacity:
|
Theoretically 2+2 but would hate to try. s/h or 2 person |
|
Sleep aboard:
|
Best s/h, 2 person ok. |
|
Outboard:
|
2 - 3.5hp (an essential item) |
|
Rig time:
|
60 mins |
|
Points for:
|
Heavy ballasted boat gives yacht-like characteristics.
ie. difficult to capsize. Comfortable dry cabin with plenty of stowage
space. |
|
Points against:
|
Deep draught. Mast raising difficult due to cabin. Small
cockpit size. All boats now aged at least 25yrs. |
|
Price:
|
No longer manufactured, 2nd hand from £250 - £900 |
|
Website:
|
no known website |
|
Contact an owner:
|
Edward Jones postmaster@edwardjones.plus.com |
Boat List
|
Boat:
|
Tideway 12 |
|
Overall length:
|
12 ' |
|
Weight:
|
Light |
|
Draught:
|
8" - 3' 0" |
|
Rig :
|
Gunter sloop |
|
Boat performance:
|
Intermediate, easy to row. |
|
Skill required:
|
Skill required novice, coasting reqs expert |
|
Capacity:
|
s/h or 2 person |
|
Sleep aboard:
|
1 easily or two with organisation |
|
Outboard:
|
2 hp |
|
Rig time:
|
30 mins |
|
Points for:
|
Easy to launch and recover. Attractive. Grp versions
low maintenance. |
|
Points against:
|
Wooden versions req regular maintenance. Versions without
foredeck are wet in a choppy sea. |
|
Price:
|
£1,000 -2000 |
|
Website:
|
none known |
|
Contact an owner:
|
Roger Barnes via info@dca.uk.com |
Boat List
|
Boat:
|
Wanderer |
|
Overall length:
|
4.27m (14' 6") |
|
Weight:
|
light |
|
Draught:
|
0.2m (8") 1.09m (3' 6") |
|
Rig :
|
Bermudan sloop (with spinnaker) |
|
Boat performance:
|
good performance at all points. |
|
Skill required:
|
2 person reqs intermediate, s/h reqs expert |
|
Capacity:
|
possible s/h through to family day boat |
|
Sleep aboard:
|
Yes, two maximum on raised floorboards |
|
Outboard:
|
2hp required on occasion, can be rowed |
|
Rig time:
|
35-50mins depending whether setting reefs etc. |
|
Points for:
|
Purpose designed grp cruising boat. Low maintenance. |
|
Points against:
|
Crews must be fit and agile |
|
Price:
|
basic boat inc. trailer £6000. 2nd hand 2000-£5000 |
|
Website:
|
www.anglomarineservices.co.uk |
|
Contact an owner:
|
Chris Hieke hieke_ash@compuserve.com |
Boat List
|
Boat:
|
Wayfarer |
|
Overall length:
|
4.8m (15' 10") |
|
Weight:
|
medium |
|
Draught:
|
0.2m (8") to 1.17m (3' 10") |
|
Rig :
|
Bermudan sloop |
|
Boat performance:
|
good, high spec boats are commonly raced |
|
Skill required:
|
2 person reqs intermediate, s/h reqs expert |
|
Capacity:
|
possible s/h through to family day boat |
|
Sleep aboard:
|
Yes, two person |
|
Outboard:
|
optional. 2-3hp |
|
Rig time:
|
35 mins. Pivoting mast helps |
|
Points for:
|
Arguably the highest performing 'cruising' dinghy. Large
class assn. Bags of stowage space. All cruising accessories available
over-the-counter. Grp boats req low maintenance. |
|
Points against:
|
Too big a sail area for most to sail single-handed.
Crews must be fit and agile. Costly. Capsize practice would be prudent!
Wooden boats req regular maintenance. |
|
Price:
|
New £7000-10000 depending on spec. 2nd hand from £1000 |
|
Website:
|
www.wayfarer.org.uk
www.porters.org.uk
www.sail.btinternet.co.uk (for a trial sail, Essex based)
|
|
Contact an owner:
|
John Perry j_perry@btinternet.com
John Adams j.adams@salford.ac.uk |
Boat List
|
Boat:
|
Westray 16 |
|
Overall length:
|
16' 0" |
|
Weight:
|
heavy |
|
Draught:
|
7" to 4' 0" |
|
Rig :
|
Bermudan sloop or Gunter |
|
Boat performance:
|
intermediate, not easy to row, outboard useful/essential |
|
Skill required:
|
novice, s/h reqs intermediate |
|
Capacity:
|
possible s/h through to family camping boat |
|
Sleep aboard:
|
Yes, up to family 2+2 (cosy fit) |
|
Outboard:
|
3.5hp minimum (longshaft) |
|
Rig time:
|
45 - 60 mins. |
|
Points for:
|
Purpose designed family camping boat. Stable. Big cockpit,
bags of stowage space. Grp boats req low maintenance. |
|
Points against:
|
Heavy - launch and recovery difficult. Costly. Epoxy/plywood
system boats req maintenance. Some owners dislike mainsheet arrangement. |
|
Price:
|
No longer manufactured. Only 25 built. 2nd hand up to
£9000 although boat for sale in Jan 2001 for £5750 |
|
Website:
|
pictures on www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~bill14/index.htm |
|
Contact an owner:
|
Mike Williams mikepwilliams@btinternet.com |
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