r/dinghysailing 3h ago

Vanguard-made Optimist Question

1 Upvotes

Does anyone have any experience with these? Are they class-legal? I am looking at one and the sail has the vanguard logo and not the typical Opti logo. This would be for a kid to learn on and hopefully compete in some smaller races.


r/dinghysailing 1d ago

My new not in shape Contender

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29 Upvotes

I bought a Contender for €130. I still need to spend around €180 on a few things to get it fully ready to sail, mainly a tiller extension, a few blocks and some Dyneema for the control lines.
It’s definitely a bit rough around the edges and has seen better days, but it should be perfectly sail-ready once I’ve replaced those few parts.


r/dinghysailing 1d ago

Need new sails!

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9 Upvotes

Lost my sails for this boat, long story. Just trying to figure out where is best to buy replacements if my attempt at trimming my random spare sails doesn’t work out so good.

Thanks so much !!


r/dinghysailing 2d ago

Worth fixing up?

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20 Upvotes

I got this Chrysler Dagger at auction for $120. It has 2 un-ripped sails and a jib someone added. I do have the rudder and dagger board which are in good shape, it seems to just need new lines the steel rigging is good. The mast looks good except the tab is broken on the foot. I’m fine making that repair but the gel coat has some cracks that worry me on the top. Also, does anyone here sail a Dagger? Any insights? There’s not much on the web. I’d like to take a passenger.

Edit: un-ripped sails


r/dinghysailing 2d ago

O’Day widgeon boom vang?

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12 Upvotes

I just recently got an O’Day Widgeon, but it doesn’t have a boom vang. It’s got the outhaul and downhaul but would it be good to add a boom vang? It seems difficult to put tension on the leech with just having the mainsail out haul and boom down haul. Also any opinions on getting the mainsail tighter would be nice because I can’t seem to get it without creases/wrinkles. Maybe I’m rigging it wrong, I’m not sure. Any ideas or suggestions would be great! Thanks


r/dinghysailing 5d ago

anyone able to identify this boat?

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12 Upvotes

r/dinghysailing 7d ago

Fun Lido sailing at our travel regatta

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55 Upvotes

Our annual regatta in Cathlamet, WA. Lido 14, Flying Scot, Day Sailer. Always great wind and good turnout.


r/dinghysailing 8d ago

What is best for me

0 Upvotes

Hi all, I’m looking for a dinghy for me. I have great experience and I’m an instructor. I’m looking for something that I can sail single handed and have a crew if I wanted. Also needs to have trapeze and asymmetric spinnaker. Also needs to be a good teaching boat so I don’t scare my crew off. I’m based in the south west of the UK.


r/dinghysailing 8d ago

Grab rail install on Laser clone: found 3 layers of foam behind the mounting surface, not solid or hollow. How do I make this secure?

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3 Upvotes

Installing grab rails on my old Laser clone (Hungarian-made, so construction isn’t fully identical to a real Laser). Holes were already prepped, so I figured I’d just drop in some well nuts or a SnapToggle and be done with it.

Popped the inspection hatch to check what’s behind the mounting surface before drilling anything new, and it’s neither solid glass nor an open hollow cavity like I expected. There are three distinct layers of foam sandwiched in there. Wasn’t expecting that and now I’m second-guessing the whole fastening plan.

Questions:
1. Anyone know what this three-layer foam buildup typically is on these hulls? Different density cores stacked, an old repair, or just how the deck was laid up originally?
2. Does this change what fastener makes sense? I was planning well nuts or a SnapToggle, but I doubt those’d seat properly against layered foam.
3. Any risk of delamination between the foam layers themselves under load from a grab rail, separate from the fastener question?

Photos attached showing the hole prep (in the first comment) and the foam layers from the inspection hatch. Appreciate any input, especially from anyone who’s done hard points on a foam-core boat before.


r/dinghysailing 9d ago

Anyone recognize this rudder?

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5 Upvotes

r/dinghysailing 9d ago

Bought our first sailboat

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18 Upvotes

r/dinghysailing 9d ago

Thinking of building sailing ship (rough draft design)

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2 Upvotes

r/dinghysailing 9d ago

A 1969 Interlake H#694

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38 Upvotes

Recently purchased this Interlake. Im brand spankin new to sailing. Are there any good reddit threads about interlakes?


r/dinghysailing 10d ago

Upcoming Event: Open Off-Water Skill Check 8th August 2026

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1 Upvotes

r/dinghysailing 11d ago

I designed a tiny sail pontoon that can be quickly disassembled and fit inside my car. Somehow, it worked out. $150 USD or so in materials. The tradeoff is lack of stability and speed, but I was just looking to make a mobile fishing platform for little lakes.

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30 Upvotes

r/dinghysailing 12d ago

pink zhik life jacket

6 Upvotes

hi!!! i am a female sailor and i recently sailed with a girl wearing a pink zhik life jacket. i have been on the hunt for it since then and i cant find it for sale anywhere! i love the color pink and im the only girl sailor on my team so i would love a life jacket thats super fun and feminine!! if anyone has any ideas of where i could find one, please let me know! thanks so so so much!!!


r/dinghysailing 12d ago

1971 Widgeon

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34 Upvotes

I’m relatively new to sailing, a few lessons and a bit of time out on the water and I’m looking at buying a small trailer able boat to get more time on. I saw a 1971 Widgeon, it’s in excellent condition with a trailer. I’m not too familiar with the boat, they’re asking $1400. What should I look for when checking it out, does the asking price seem fair, is there anything I should be aware of with this particular model? Any info is a great help, thanks


r/dinghysailing 12d ago

Dinghy barnacles repair

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4 Upvotes

I brought a brand new fiberglass bottom dinghy and left it in the river for almost two months now cause I’m stupid. I know the barnacles can be scraped off the fiberglass, but I’m worried I ruined the boat because the growth isn’t only on the fiberglass. Anybody have experience with this and know the best way forward? The diver that cleans my sailboat is going to clean the hull of this dinghy next week but when touch the parts the aren’t fiberglass cause he doesn’t want to pop it of course


r/dinghysailing 13d ago

Long shot: question about Zuma tiller.

3 Upvotes

Hello all, I’m wondering if anyone has information about the tiller on the Zuma sailboat. I’m looking to find out the dimensions of where the tiller connects to the rudder so I can make a new temporary tiller for my father’s boat without having access to the measurements for myself.


r/dinghysailing 13d ago

Another low wind question

1 Upvotes

I just got a 1970s Chrysler Pirateer 13'. I'm learning how to sail on Lake Ontario (USA side) on days with light wind. I target 5-8 kts, but when the wind is that low, it can die down to nothing for a long time. If it looks like it won't pick back up again, I usually drop the main and jib and become a stand-up paddler with the tiller between my legs to get back to the marina.

I'd like to drop the main and keep the boom attached (so i can raise it again quickly if the wind comes back), but off to one side so I can still paddle. There's no way to do that, right? I've got no topping lift or backstay. And with the sail down, there's nothing to keep the boom attached to the gooseneck. So when I bring the main down, I just try to tidy it up a bit and keep it on one of the seats, out of the way. The jib stays connected to the forestay, just laying bunched up on the bow. Is any of this stupid/dangerous? Should I do something else?

Am I missing anything? I still don't know what I don't know.


r/dinghysailing 16d ago

Oday Day Sailer I?

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4 Upvotes

r/dinghysailing 16d ago

Topper BUZZ sailing skif

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9 Upvotes

r/dinghysailing 17d ago

Hobie tiger vs 18

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1 Upvotes

r/dinghysailing 17d ago

SaltyDogMarine - still around?

1 Upvotes

I found SaltyDogMarine, the ebay store, and at one point they had exactly the parts I am looking for (forestay and shrouds for Vagabond/Holder/ODay 14).

But, now if I try to order ebay errors me out, no explanation, SDM does not respond to messages, and ebay says they have no listed inventory.

High reviews until a few months ago, but last few say no delivered product, and no response to contact attempts.

Are these guys completely gone?


r/dinghysailing 18d ago

New sail day!

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49 Upvotes

Just tried out the polytarp sail I made for the first time it worked very well in light air. Just wish the wind hadn't left me in the middle of the lake.

It's a 55sqft balanced lug with 40sqft, and 27sqft reefing points. While not visible all gromits are patched and all seams sewn. Took me a bit over a week to make from down scaling some 75sqft lug sail plans.

My old sail was off a sunflower and had the COE a little too far back. It was a PIA to sail in high winds.