Whilst you can hire a boat from the club, it is better to buy your own boat. They aren’t as expensive as you might think. Also, they tend to hold their value pretty well, so if you buy your first boat second-hand you can often get the bulk of your money back when you sell it!
When you are ready to purchase your own boat, it is always best to first discuss your requirements with the training team and established club members. They can help you with guidance on the appropriate class of boat, where to look for one, and what to look out for. There are often several boats to choose from on the “FOR SALE” board at the club. It is usually best to buy the same class of boat that established members already sail at Bolton SC. If you are undecided, just ask one of our members and have a go in one first!
Where To Look For Your Own Boat
- BSC noticeboard – several boats available immediately. Let us know if you want something different
- Other club noticeboards
- Class Association websites
- Apollo Duck
- Facebook group “Boats And Bits For Sale”
- eBay (contact the seller to make it clear that you will not complete the purchase if the boat does not live
- up to expectations)
The vast majority of dinghies seem to be “down south”, so decide how far you are prepared to travel! If it doesn’t have a road trailer or combi trailer you will need to buy/borrow one. A launching trolley is not suitable for towing! Some dinghies are light enough to put on a roof rack. Check the weight of the boat first vs the loading allowed for your roof rack and roof. Take into consideration also the length of the mast and boom.
Take plenty of rope and/or heavy duty ratchet straps to tie things down with, especially if it is a road trailer and not a combi trailer, as the trolley will have to be lashed down properly to the trailer.
Think about what you want
- How much you want to spend
- Singlehanded/double-handed
- 1, 2 or 3 sails
- Wooden boats are likely to need periodic sanding and varnishing/painting, perhaps annually and are best stored in a garage over winter to prevent frost damage
- Fiberglass/epoxy boats can usually be stored outside all year round and don’t usually require as much maintenance
- A class of boat that is already popular at Bolton SC will enable you to compare your performance to others and enable people to give you class-specific tips and perhaps second hand parts (eg. Sails)
- Suitable sail area for your crew weight
Sailing dinghies tend to hold their value pretty well, particularly if it’s a thriving class and you buy a good secondhand one.
Some people (usually double-handers) club together to buy a boat to reduce the initial outlay.
Single- or Double-Handed
Suggested classes of single handed boats are:
- Supernova – standard (8m2) sail would suit a helm 60kg+ but there is a small sail option for the lighter/less experienced helm. Powerful rig and very popular at Bolton SC. Always someone to race against. Older boats start at about £1500.
- Laser – This fleet is growing rapidly, especially amongst the less experienced members. The 4.7m2 rig is ideal for helms up to 55kg, 5.7m2 for helms 55 to 70kg, standard rig 7.06m2 for helms over 60kg. Cheaper than the Supernova but with some design “disadvantages”. Becoming increasingly popular at Bolton SC. Most popular boat ever designed with over 200,000 sold across the world, Olympic mens single-hander, massive second hand market. Probably need to pay at least £600 for a reasonable old one.
- Solo – We only have two of these in the club at the moment. A more forgiving boat with a higher boom may be preferred by a less agile helm. Sail area 8.36 m2 would suit a helm 70kg+. Currently only 2 on the dinghy park, both sailed by relatively inexperienced members.
Suggested classes of double-handed boats are:
- GP14 – 3 sail boat. Symmetrical spinnaker. Heavy but stable. Would suit a combined crew weight 120kg+. Usually several racing.
- Graduate – 2 sail boat. Much lighter than a GP14. Lighter jib-sheet load too. Would suit a combined crew weight 100kg+. Usually one or two racing, sometimes more.
- RS 200 – We only have one of these in the club at the moment. 3 sail boat. Assymmetric spinnaker. Modern design but not ideally suited to the size/shape of Belmont Reservoir. Would suit a combined crew weight 115kg+. Currently only one racing.
Plenty of other classes of dinghy exist too if these don’t meet your needs! It’s usually a good idea to buy a popular class of boat that is the same class as those already sailed at Bolton.
Any member of the club would happy to discuss your needs if you want any advice. Be clear on what you want though as members often encourage you to buy the same class of boat as they themselves sail!
What to look for when buying
Ask an established member with the same class of boat for advice. Some may even be prepared to look at the boat with you or know of somebody selling one.
Whilst most are honest, some people are economical with the truth when describing their boats. Ask for more photos if there aren’t enough to give you a good idea of how good the boat is.
Check that the sail number matches that marked on the manufacturer’s plate on the hull (or moulded into the hull). If the seller can’t/won’t confirm the hull number think very careful before buying it!
Look for cracks/crazing/deep scratches/other damage. Especially along the gunnels, the hull/deck joints, the rudder and dagger board/centerboard, the centerboard casing, the mast pot (eg. Lasers) and the footwell.
Check that the hull and deck are stiff/strong.
Check the straightness of the mast and boom and look for broken strands of shrouds/forestay wires.
Dark patches under the varnish on a wooden boat may indicate damp wood and may need attention to prevent the onset of rot.
Check the sails for signs of wear and tear. The sail cloth should be stiff and have a good shape. Older sails become floppy and misshapen which badly affects performance and makes the sail more difficult to adjust. Having said that, if you are at an early stage in your sailing career you might not want to use an older sail for practicing with and invest in a better sail (or even boat) when you become competitive in the racing.
Check the condition of blocks, cleats, sheets, control lines, toe straps, bailers.
Insurance
As stated in the bye-laws and regulations, you will need to insure your boat. I strongly suggest you use a specialist dinghy insurer. It will probably cost a lot less than it does to insure your car. I use Noble Marine and have never had a problem with them paying-up when I’ve submitted a claim which at the end of the day is what matters!
There are more, but suggested options are:
Join your Class Association
Some insurers may offer a discount if you are a member of the class association. Alternatively, they may contribute a small sum to the class association instead. Joining your class association is even cheaper than the insurance and a good idea anyway as you get to know about developments to the boat, what settings to use for the rig, details and race reports from open events and tips from other sailors of the same boat. Google their website and find the association on Facebook too.
Berths & boat storage
Now you’ve got a boat you’ll want to store it at the sailing club, on the dinghy park. To arrange a berth you’ll need to pay a fee and also speak to the club Captain who’ll be able to find your boat a home.