meet the boats
The boat picks the sailor!
How I ended up with 4 boats
Boats are contagious. Especially when they’re cheap dinghies!
Here’s the story of how I ended up with my boats and why the story won’t end here!
Meet the boats
Boat 1 – Mirror Dinghy
“Mochyn DU” is Welsh for “Black Pig”, named after a famous pirate ship from a 1980’s children TV program called “Captain pugwash”.
She’s my first boat and will always be my first love! Bought specifically to learn in and she hasn’t dissapointed. Mochyn Du has been a great teacher and I would recommend the Mirror Dinghy to anyone first starting out in sailing.
Boat 2 – Seahopper Kondor
Bought in Season 1, Piglet II is a folding wooden boat and was a cracking deal I couldn’t resist. A sure sign i’d already caught “Boating fever”!
She was unloved, mouldy and had been garaged for years and came with a 3.3HP Mercury 2 stroke engine that didn’t work. But, we sorted her out and she’s now back to new.
She’s easy to store, can be roof racked and launched anywhere. She’s most at home on calm rivers and canals.
Boat 3 – Drascombe Lugger
In season 2 I really outgrew Mochyn Du. She’s still a great sail but for cruising I found her a little too small. So Lulu popped up on my radar and was another bargain boat in need of a little TLC.
Lulu is amazing. no matter what mistakes you make sailing her, she’ll just sit and wait for you. She’s a little slow, but an extremely steady and safe boat – Just what you need for dinghy cruising on the sea.
Boat 4 – Biluta Packraft
Technically not a new boat, “Tadpole” is a small, light tender for Lulu that I could take cruising. After much research, I decided that a small inflatable Packraft was what I needed and “Tadpole” was sought from Ebay!
She’s tiny and light when packed, inflates in under 2 minutes, is very stable and also lets me explore just a little bit further, where Lulu can’t reach.
Whats next!
It’s so much fun just learning about boats that i’m always looking for my next one in some way!
Lulu is what I want for now, however she’s also teaching me what I miss most in my next boat.
A cabin maybe?
Maybe something quicker, more modern?
A trailer sailer or maybe a step up to a small yacht and mooring?
Something a bit more seaworthy – Self righting, self draining?
For now my Drascombe Lugger is all I need but when I change up my Youtube family will be the first to know!
