I've been shopping classifieds for a dinghy to sail. I'm near Lake Tahoe and other smaller alpine lakes in the Sierra Nevada. Lately, I've been paddling. I have two boys in their early teens that have outgrown their kid's kayaks. I paddle a canoe that fits myself, my wife, and our 90 lb dog. I greatly enjoy it except when the wind makes it untractable. Sailing is the obvious alternative.
Initially, I was attracted to a beach cat which I have sailed in the distant past. The ubiquitous Hobie 16 is attractive and affordable, but I have no place to store one. I'm not willing to pay for additional storage property. The boat must fit in a single garage space through a single door (about 7'). Because I will trailer the boat, quick and easy rigging makes it easier to spend more time sailing and enables going out when I only have a few hours.
My canoe is the epitome of "grab and go." I don't want to spend even 15 minutes rigging a boat. I would also greatly prefer a hull weight I can lift and carry a short distance and dolly easily. Not all the lakes I frequent have a proper launch ramp. I'm resigned to hull weights up to 160 pounds so as not to limit my options too much, but lighter is better.
I don't really have budget limitations. The kind of dinghies I'm looking at sell from less than $500 to about $5000. I could spend more than that for the right thing but I haven't seen a compelling reason to do so.
The sailing will be for recreation, no racing. I simply don't have time to get involved in anything that organized. On the other hand, I don't mind a boat more technical (than a Sunfish) like a 420 that can keep two people busy learning.
I know I want it to accommodate myself and my dog (combined weight of 220 lbs). One of my boys and I weigh about 230 pounds together. I know something like a Laser 2, Zest, or 420 would be better for double-handing (a Snipe is too heavy). I'm not expecting to fit two people and a dog or three people. The attraction of a double-hander is the teamwork and safety.
Wood is aesthetically pleasing and it appeals to my sensibilities. The Zest looks like a well-designed dinghy but it's horribly disfigured with graffiti. The deck graphic and mast hashtag could probably be scrubbed, but I haven't found a clean sail available for it. Maybe it seems petty, but I'm equally unlikely to wear clothing or drive a car legibily emblazoned.
The lakes are cold. Sometimes extremely so. I use a wetsuit. I've been out in casual clothes and a drier boat type can be more amenable to this kind of comfort, but I'm doubtful I practically expect a dry boat in the size and weight range I can store and transport. Even so, an El Toro is going to be drier than a Laser, but I'm not sure I'd want to prioritze this over another criterion.
That's what I have for criteria. I know there are a lot of other questions to answer, but I haven't decided on the answers to those things. I'm hoping those with more practical experience can advise.
Initially, I was attracted to a beach cat which I have sailed in the distant past. The ubiquitous Hobie 16 is attractive and affordable, but I have no place to store one. I'm not willing to pay for additional storage property. The boat must fit in a single garage space through a single door (about 7'). Because I will trailer the boat, quick and easy rigging makes it easier to spend more time sailing and enables going out when I only have a few hours.
My canoe is the epitome of "grab and go." I don't want to spend even 15 minutes rigging a boat. I would also greatly prefer a hull weight I can lift and carry a short distance and dolly easily. Not all the lakes I frequent have a proper launch ramp. I'm resigned to hull weights up to 160 pounds so as not to limit my options too much, but lighter is better.
I don't really have budget limitations. The kind of dinghies I'm looking at sell from less than $500 to about $5000. I could spend more than that for the right thing but I haven't seen a compelling reason to do so.
The sailing will be for recreation, no racing. I simply don't have time to get involved in anything that organized. On the other hand, I don't mind a boat more technical (than a Sunfish) like a 420 that can keep two people busy learning.
I know I want it to accommodate myself and my dog (combined weight of 220 lbs). One of my boys and I weigh about 230 pounds together. I know something like a Laser 2, Zest, or 420 would be better for double-handing (a Snipe is too heavy). I'm not expecting to fit two people and a dog or three people. The attraction of a double-hander is the teamwork and safety.
Wood is aesthetically pleasing and it appeals to my sensibilities. The Zest looks like a well-designed dinghy but it's horribly disfigured with graffiti. The deck graphic and mast hashtag could probably be scrubbed, but I haven't found a clean sail available for it. Maybe it seems petty, but I'm equally unlikely to wear clothing or drive a car legibily emblazoned.
The lakes are cold. Sometimes extremely so. I use a wetsuit. I've been out in casual clothes and a drier boat type can be more amenable to this kind of comfort, but I'm doubtful I practically expect a dry boat in the size and weight range I can store and transport. Even so, an El Toro is going to be drier than a Laser, but I'm not sure I'd want to prioritze this over another criterion.
That's what I have for criteria. I know there are a lot of other questions to answer, but I haven't decided on the answers to those things. I'm hoping those with more practical experience can advise.
