Solo high performance smiles?

[breaqnaway]

Looking for a fun single handed dinghy to replace my laser with.

I’ll be sailing on a US lake and launching/storing the boat on the beach. Racing isn’t important, I have a Melges 15 for that.

I would like to keep it under 10k. I’m really looking hard at an A-Cat (none foiler) or a Waszp. The A-Cat sounds like it will fun and get me out sailing on both light and heavy wind, but physically it’s a little Intimidating (even if it’s light, it’s still an 18 foot catamaran). I really like the Wazp but I’m a little concerned that it will only be usable for my skill level when the wind is up.
Anyone have suggestions on what would be a great solo boat for the most smiles for effort?

 

[maxstaylock]

Go for the A Cat, everything else is just controlled drifting. Easier to sail than a Radial, faster than a Skiff, you know you want to...

 

[tillerman]

Looking for a fun single handed dinghy to replace my laser with.

I’ll be sailing on a US lake and launching/storing the boat on the beach. Racing isn’t important, I have a Melges 15 for that.

I would like to keep it under 10k. I’m really looking hard at an A-Cat (none foiler) or a Waszp. The A-Cat sounds like it will fun and get me out sailing on both light and heavy wind, but physically it’s a little Intimidating (even if it’s light, it’s still an 18 foot catamaran). I really like the Wazp but I’m a little concerned that it will only be usable for my skill level when the wind is up.
Anyone have suggestions on what would be a great solo boat for the most smiles for effort?

RS Aero - it's the natural step up from a Laser.

 

[breaqnaway]

Those A’s do seem fast in a lot of different wind conditions. Coming from a laser, it just seems to take a lot of physical space for a single handed boat.

Not sure if the Aero comment was meant sincerely or sarcastically? But soloing the M15 has the hiking planing dinghy covered with the benefit of an asymetric.

 

[maxstaylock]

A Cats do take up a bit more space, but that's the price of speed while keeping the rig pointing up. The long bows mean you can push a bit downwind without going down the mine too often. Width wise, doesn't really take up more space than a high performance singlehanded skiff, like a Musto or RS 700, once you include their racks.

watch

 

[Alan Crawford]

IC

Where in Montana?

 

[Foredeck Shuffle]

Those A’s do seem fast in a lot of different wind conditions. Coming from a laser, it just seems to take a lot of physical space for a single handed boat.

Not sure if the Aero comment was meant sincerely or sarcastically? But soloing the M15 has the hiking planing dinghy covered with the benefit of an asymetric.

If you get bored put traps on the M15. Rig the jib to a self tacking. Split the jib/main sheets to have tails attached to the trap wires so you can pick them on on the run.

 

[sail(plane)]

A used Weta might fit your requirements. Unless its too slow?

 

[Bill5]

This is DA, but I bought a small cat ar the end of the season.

SailboatData.com - SEA SPRAY 15 Sailboat

Sailboat and sailing yacht searchable database with more than 8,000 sailboats from around the world including sailboat photos and drawings. About the SEA SPRAY 15 sailboat

sailboatdata.com

They were popular here and a couple other places for years. Now there aren’t many racing but you can get a used one dirt cheap and put as much money into it as you want. They are fast and a lot of fun to just blast around the lake. There are a couple regattas in the west each year if you like - I think about 20 show up. 180 lbs all up with enough power to get up and go. It is my old man boat - too many anatomical body failures to race an ILCA any more. I know there was some racing at Flathead in years gone by. There might be a couple kicking around.

 

[breaqnaway]

Canyon Ferry is our home lake. I missed out on a local Sea Spray for sale this year…needed some TLC but it was $400 and I thought would be a fun winter project.

I know there are some IC evangelists on here…. definitely a cool boat.

 

[Bill5]

I sailed an IC for 6 or 7 years. Amazing boat. Steep learning curve but once you get sorted there is nothing like it. Seaspray is about the same speed but not as dramatic to sail. Kinda like an IC with a training hull.

 

[Gilles29]

UFO

 

[Alan Crawford]

Canyon Ferry is our home lake.

There's a guy, probably still in Helena, who built a Moth and was sailing from the north end of Canyon Ferry.