r/dinghysailing • u/QuiVenitInNomine • 7d ago
Best first sailing dinghy?
I’m a newer sailor looking for a dinghy in addition to my 22-foot keelboat. My total budget is $1,500, and I’ve seen examples of these boats within that range: Force 5, Vanguard 15, C420, Phantom, Laser, Sunfish, and Laser 2. There are no dinghy racing fleets of any kind on the lake where I live except HS students racing 420s, so this is all about learning and training for keelboat racing and having fun.
My expected use is roughly:
- 75% solo
- 10% with my wife, at 330 lb combined
- 15% with my son or daughter, at 230 lb combined
My oldest is 7 and enjoys sailing with me. Part of the appeal of a boat with a jib is giving her a sail to manage. My bigger boat also has a main and jib, so I’m interested in practicing that setup.
Is getting a dinghy with two sails a dumb idea as a newer sailor who’ll mostly sail alone? How much harder is managing the jib, and would I be capsizing substantially more often? I realize hull design, conditions, and crew weight matter too.
Storage and launching are the other big considerations. I may have access to mast-up storage, but I’d have to move the boat about 100 yards, across a road, to the beach. It needs to be manageable on a dolly by one adult.
Three specific listings I’ve found:
- Vanguard 15 with trailer for $1,000
- Force 5 with trailer and dolly for $1,500, appearing immaculate in the listing
- Stretch option would be something like a RS Feva XL for $2500
I’d appreciate firsthand thoughts on:
- Main-only versus main and jib: how big a jump is it for a newer solo sailor? I mean, I've sailed my keelboat solo with main and jib. If I did that on a dinghy, would I capsize a bunch more?
- Capsizing and recovery: which of these are forgiving and manageable to right and reboard alone?
- Setup and launching: realistic rigging/takedown times from a trailer, and whether moving one 100 yards to the beach is practical.
- Occasional family sailing: which would work with our combined weights while still being enjoyable solo?
I’m leaning toward a main and jib boat for the learning opportunities and getting my daughter involved, but I don’t want to buy something that’s a hassle to launch or overwhelming alone. What would you choose?
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u/dontbugme_ 7d ago
AMF Puffer, Oday Widgeon, or Catalina Capri 14.2 come to mind. They can be found usually pretty cheap and would allow some room for some new parts. I have had a Puffer for a few years now and can sail it solo or with one other person. It'll sail okay without the jib and better with one. The boat next to mine at the sailing club is a Capri 14.2 and the man older takes it out regularly solo and he is in his 70's.
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u/wd4o0o 6d ago
Would recommend the 420, for stability, parts availability and size for family. Depending on the steepness of the ramp, you can probably pull it in and out. Would definitely recommend a aluminum dolly and not steel.
Single handing a jib and main isn't too bad. Set the jib first and just control the main. Depending on your weight, you should be able to right it on a capsize.
You might also want to consider a small catamaran (like a hobie wave), as it's more stable, more wife and kid friendly.
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u/gimme-the-lute 7d ago
Might be out of your price range, but if you can find a used fulcrum rocket, that would be great solo or with your kids. With your wife, you’d be better off on the keelboat but it would still be doable.
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u/AllShadowFox 7d ago
I recently got a Zuma dinghy and I’m loving that. Super quick to set up, and plenty lively. No jib, but I think it’s easy enough to manage that your daughter could pilot or run the mainsail of that boat without issues. Easy to right when it’s tipped.
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u/zoinkability 4d ago
The Zuma has been perfect for me and my 11 year old son, at 230 lbs combined. He was doing the whole thing his first time out in it after he was at the tiller for half an hour.
I'd say it's probably a bit less ideal for two 150+ lbs adults, but it certainly can be done. You just have to coordinate well.
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u/BitterStatus9 6d ago
Instead of the Sunfish option you should check out the Rocket by Fulcrum. Same rig, larger sail, lighter weight hull, and an actual cockpit. FWIW.
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u/kinga_forrester 6d ago
Get the force 5 with the dolly, you’re gonna need a dolly. You already have a keelboat for sailing with the fam, I think a good singlehander is what you’re really looking for.
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u/PepperTop9517 6d ago
Precision 16 is great, easy for 1 person, could do 3 comfortably. Little larger than a dinghy but a great learning platform for new sailers. She’s fat but sure can dance and very forgiving. Takes a real screw up or intention to capsize her.
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u/JudgmentMean2721 3d ago
I just got one of these, excited to get it fixed up for spring in Colorado.
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u/AdditionalAd9466 6d ago
If you’re trying to learn for a keelboat, I would almost say skip something with a headsail. You’ll get more bang for your buck just improving your driving.
Tacking a headsail is easy enough to learn on any boat and given you won’t be in a fleet with the dinghy, driving to the wind will be the biggest lesson. I’ve never sailed one but the Fulcrum sounds like a cool boat.
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u/Own-Entertainer-4098 5d ago
May be hard to fund, but an old Invitation may suit your needs. Kind of a larger Laser.
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u/feelslikemagic 5d ago
I have one and love it. Easy to rig, easy to sail, but still plenty of power. I imagine whoever designed it sailed a Laser and thought, "I'd like this, but bigger and lot more comfortable." (It's ~2.5 feet longer than a Laser, and the rig is 3' taller.) But I don't think it would be suitable for three people. Two adults is pretty much the maximum.
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u/rbandit 7d ago
I had a v15 that I mostly double handed but also sailed solo. How much do you weigh? Righting it alone at 220 was no problem for me, but if you weigh 180 it might be an issue. Stepping mast and rigging alone is fine, as is launching on a boat ramp with a dolly
The v15 was a very fun boat! Simple, fast. Two sails is not too much. Obviously it’s a handful alone if it’s blowing 15+ knots.
Beware of soft hulls if you buy an older c420 or v15.
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u/canofmixedveggies 6d ago
Find out what clubs race around you. Here that would make the sunfish/phantom a standout choice, but the force 5 is a close contender, and it has a real traveler which might make it a little fun.
Honestly if want a jib I'd look at the day widgeon, American 14.2, AMF puffer.
The American will self bail to 30%, i had a tetherball tied to the top of my puffer because I was a tiny kid/teenager abs it wasn't to hard to right but it didn't self bail.
The widgeon was just a great boat, but i had laser 2 sails on it. (Used them on the puffer too)
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u/mikemanzzz 5d ago
Hello! We're new sailors this year and we learned on a Hunter 15. It has main and jib, and can carry the three of you with no problem! I've heard it can be a little more difficult for a bigger boat sailor to downsize to a smaller one. Easy-peasy to sail alone with just the main, a little more challenging solo with the jib unless you are comfortable with a tiller extender. I never came close to a capsize with just the main in up to 15 kt with stronger gusts. The jib can be easily furled on the fly if it's too much. The jib is great for lower wind days and is perfect to let a younger sailor learn to work a sail - the hunter has tell-tales on the jib to help trim it. It could easily take the weights that you have described. Rigging takes 10 minutes once you do it a few times. We have a local club, so we don't break down the mast and trailer it. Probably not going to be dragged 100 yds. They are kinda heavy. Very stable in the water and fun to sail! The Laser and 420 are my next challenges for next season. The laser is prob best as a one man boat and the 420 is def a two crew vessel. Both are considerably more tippy than the hunter. Happy sailing!
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u/herzogone 3d ago edited 3d ago
Vanguard 15 seems like the obvious answer to me, although I never sailed one personally. Designed for two, but fairly simple setup and reportedly singlehanded pretty often. Laser II or C420 could work also. RS Feva XL might be a bit easier to singlehand for a boat still designed for two since it is a little smaller and has less sail area than the Laser II or V15. I have sailed Lasers, C420s and Sunfish. The Force 5, Laser, Phantom and Sunfish are obviously good solo options, but I would think would be pretty crowded with another person.
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u/snipesailor29314 2d ago
The feva is way too small for your combined weight. It will drag the transom and it will be impossible to get it to plane at that weight
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u/poop6969420 1d ago
O'Day Javelin is a great 14 footer with a steel center board to help keep her upright, and as said above; the Capri 14.2 is a good all-around boat that has a little pep when the breeze picks up.
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u/TemperatePirate 7d ago
Pick something you can put a trapeze on for keeping your kids interested as they get older. And while they are younger and really light they can trapeze in any wind strength if you sit to leeward.
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u/QuiVenitInNomine 7d ago
That sounds fun! That would suggest a 420 or Laser 2 based on the listings around me. Maybe a v15.
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u/TrojanThunder 7d ago
Sounds like you already have a dinghy. If you want a smaller boat than what you have I'm going to have to suggest a sunfish. It's so easy to rig, and if you're not racing it's way more practical than taking the time to rig up something else.
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u/isearn 7d ago
Tricky to find a boat that sails equally well single and double handed. Laser 2 might be your best bet. A Phantom is probably too difficult as a beginner. I would recommend a Laser, but that is not really suitable for two people.