TOPIC:

Hi, I am looking for a way to twin my two hobbies together. ie sea fishing and sailing.

would the Albacore allow be to unship the rigging and take to sea using a small outboard only, I like bass fishing so no need to go miles out, just inshore.

would I also be able to rig this dinghy for single handed sailing.

can,t afford two boats so thats the reason for asking.

terry

Hi Terry

In my view, it would depend on the weather, and your fitness, abilities etc. As you probably know, the Albacore is an open dinghy, with a high freeboard, and built-in bouyancy. In the past, I have seen an Albacore without the mast, with an outboard on the back, being used as a rescue boat, however, if you are going "miles out" you might want to consider something a bit larger and more stable, perhaps with a small cuddy. Would you need to remove the mast? Not being a fisherperson, I'm not familiar with fishing for Bass, so don't know if it would get in the way. Hope this helps

Hi, thanks for the reply. the sea fishing I mainly do is around 300 feet or so off the shoreline.Upto press i have been using a kayak or true power boat but fed up with this. I enjoy sailing and do understand that some dingys can be muti use So looking for something that will allow me to fish using a small outboard somedays, and others just sail. I don,t need to unship the mask, but would just think it would make the dinghy more staple when under engine power. I am fit, always play with power power boats as a rule but the cost of fuel as lead me to sailing.

terry

I have seen an albercore used as a motor boat quite regularly, the owner use to use it with two or even three other adults no mast with a four horse power out boad. It looked good and appeared pretty stable. this was in a tidal creek but cant see why it would not be suitable for the sea conditions as you describe. We don't heistate in taking our Albs sailing in teh sea in quite strong winds so why not with a small outboard. I would un ship the mast. Use an extended tiller on the outboad so you can get you weight to the centre of the boat. Wear a bouyancey aid and pick kind weather for the first few trips and I rekon you will be just fine.

Re singlehanded I have sailed my Alb frequently with just the main using a length of wire to replace the Jib luff wire. Works well and if you do not put the plate all the way down and get the mast to the front of the gate the boat balances quite well. For windy conditions consider a using a smaller main sail, an elderly genlteman at my club sailed an Alb with a firefly main single handed for many years. The boat sailed very well may be not quite the speed of a full rig boat but looked very comfatable in quite fresh conditions.

Hope this helps




Richard Richard Smith2009-11-07 07:48:51

thanks to you both, some great advice.terry