A favourite way to pass my time... wondering which day boat I should get for use on Sydney harbour.

Any opinions on the Swanson Dart 22?

Or for something very small, a National E?

Comments on the suitability of either of these for single handed sailors? Thanks.

Thanks for confirming again all I have heard about boating in Sydney Harbour to be true

The National E I think I'd mostly use around Middle Harbour, or at least stick to the shore line. Having spent a few years dodging the Manly ferry on 40 footer races I've no desire to play chicken with it in a 15 foot dingy :-)

The Dart 22 I'd keep on a mooring. Honestly having a boat on a mooring is a big attraction as I've little desire to mess around and spend time getting a boat in and out on my own.

Anyone know about the single handed sailor suitability of either?

BTW, the crew of that skiff were obviously not paying attention or thought they'd push their luck. The ferries are pretty good about letting everyone know they're coming loud and clear. Fun video to watch though.

smartpig said..
The National E I think I'd mostly use around Middle Harbour, or at least stick to the shore line. Having spent a few years dodging the Manly ferry on 40 footer races I've no desire to play chicken with it in a 15 foot dingy :-)

The Dart 22 I'd keep on a mooring. Honestly having a boat on a mooring is a big attraction as I've little desire to mess around and spend time getting a boat in and out on my own.

Anyone know about the single handed sailor suitability of either?

BTW, the crew of that skiff were obviously not paying attention or thought they'd push their luck. The ferries are pretty good about letting everyone know they're coming loud and clear. Fun video to watch though.

I've never sailed a Swanson Dart but have been tempted to buy on several occasions. I would prefer the hardtop version and I would say they would be easy to sail solo. I had a Status 19 for a couple of years. These can be sailed solo but the Dart with its bigger fin keel would track better and be more manageable.
Seen a few on eBay and Gumtree and they go cheap.

Good idea about contacting the owner of that boat with the autohelm. Pity it's all the way in VIC or I'd be tempted to go take a look at it.

I see lots of boats with cabins on Sydney harbour, and wonder what's the point if you only use it as a day sailer anyway? Seems to me having a big open cockpit with lots of room for people is a better use of space in such an environment. I guess if you're out all day having a loo is nice but at this point I don't think I'd be out more than an afternoon.

Anyone else on the boat have a day boat?

The Corsair looks like a handy little boat to muck around on. Good for a couple of hours gentle touring around, or are you racing?

pros and cons with either boat.
Before the bluebird which is moored i had the hobie 14. got the bug hiring one on magnetic ad was gonna hire one at balmoral, but managed to buy one cheap enough.
It was awesome. towed it and sailed it at wilsons prom, york penin SA, port philip bay, lakes in the grampians. In sydney id launch malabar, or rose bay mostly, off the beach.
Got tired of trailoring/setting it up though, and keeping it on the street was risky. Kept it clovelly on trafalger st near cemetery(where there were many other boats) briefly and it got spray painted, moved and local kids would play on the tramp and leave rubbish all over it.. Locals in clovelly seem to own the joint. then the council gave us all tickets for having a wheel on the grass. moved it off the grass,then the council put up (no boat) signs and fined everyone again. bull****. I moved it back to kensington where it was safe as and no issues.
Grew tired of this though and decided a moored boat would be better.
Bought the bluebird in the pittwater and it was bliss up there. Applied for a mooring in Syd harbour and got it in 3 months. back on a wait list for pittwater though. I'm done with Syd harbour. Too busy. green and yellow ferries are fine. They know what they're doing and i keep well outta their way and keep watch for them constantly. a lot of the etchells and lasers racing, like clovelly locals seem to think they own the joint and yell the "We're racing" even if they're on your port side. Giving way doesn't apply to them.
THe charter boats in the harbour are the worst. they'll come right over your bow and make waves and won't give way. They also blast really bad music which isn't at all relaxing when your sailing. Ive had to change course to avoid the noise pollution.
The harbour is awesome and 5 min drive to the mooring is awesome too. Sometimes conditions are great,namely weekdays and holiday times when all the sheople have gone away.
In my experience the pittwater is super friendly. people have a chat, and have time. the beaches are awesome and I've always been able to get a mooring at the basin, hallets in the hawkesbury etc. Beaches galore up there.
With a smaller boat comes small costs. moorings only 300 a year. I think unless you can keep a day sailor off the road, its a bit risky. THen again some moorings get vandals and thieves also...

Can't complain about the price of those! What do you mean by a soft deck?

That Dart 22 up in Port Stephens has sold I see - could have been great. Ah well.

Steve, I know what you mean about the harbour. It's a busy place and we've been known to yell "we're racing" too, though usually to boats we know have finished the same race (in an earlier division).

Have often thought that Pittwater would be an ideal place to keep a cruising yacht. I imagine weekends away, moored on little bays around the Hawkesbury. Perhaps when the little one(s) are older.