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  1. #1
    Pronce. PH said so AGAIN!
    slackula's Avatar
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    Little blue plastic boats

    Is it possible to sail these things on the sea or are they just for paddling around khlongs and what have you?

    As I drove past the beach today a little thought germinated in my noggin and then sprouted into the idea of getting one of those with a sail and/or a couple of paddles to cruise languidly up and down the bay beyond the breakers.

    Do they make them with sails? How buoyant are they?

    I don't really want to fart about with trailers and such, basically just something a friend and I could put in the back of a pick up on occasion, carry down and clamber into for a jaunt while our wives sit in the shade and gossip about us over the inevitable som tam.

    Ideally I'd like something that doesn't immediately do a Titanic when I capsize it, I suppose it'd need a rudder, tiller, mast, boom and sail, a keel, those bits of rope and cleats and stuff and a couple of life-jackets. Maybe some water-proof binoculars in case the wind suddenly changed direction or something.

    For the amount of use it would get I don't want to shell out for something like a Mirror dinghy or an Enterprise and it would be great if the only maintenance required was hosing the salt off when we got home. I suppose a sea kayak might do but I don't like the looks of them and I want a sail on it.

    What's the cheapest/easiest option for a novice to get sailing?

  2. #2
    Excommunicated baldrick's Avatar
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    order a set of plans , buy some marine ply and a jig saw and whip yourself up what you desire

    Duck Flat Wooden Boats - Plans, Kits, Materials and Boats Built - All Your Wooden Boat Needs!

  3. #3
    5 4 Knoll
    david44's Avatar
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    Plane sailing

  4. #4
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    With your apparent in=depth knowledge of things nautical . . what could go wrong?!


  5. #5
    Pronce. PH said so AGAIN!
    slackula's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by baldrick
    order a set of plans , buy some marine ply and a jig saw and whip yourself up what you desire
    Even I'm not stupid enough to go to sea in something made by me!

    I can't get a paper dart to fly properly, and I don't really relish the idea of becoming a Phuket Gazette headline on the maiden voyage of the good ship QC.

  6. #6
    Pronce. PH said so AGAIN!
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    Quote Originally Posted by OckerRocker
    With your apparent in=depth knowledge of things nautical . . what could go wrong?!
    I specifically specified BLUE boats, so while that magnificent vessel is in the right vein it is not helpful.

    Quote Originally Posted by OckerRocker
    Suspended from News & Speakers Corner
    You should be suspended from The Lounge and by your knackers too.

  7. #7
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    You can make a kayak sail... The Hobie tandem Mirage adventure is fun enough for two. The 2 floats/amas can be taken off for easy transport. They also have 'real' sailboats but you probably need a trailer, and a place to store it. Bravo : Rotomolded Sailboats : Hobie Cat



    In action (plenty more videos on jootoob)



    Available here: BLUE SEAS : Welcome to the Blue Seas Marine Asia website but maybe also closer to home.

    The blue 'sampans' you have seen are just for 'whitewater', paddling up and down the klong or for when there's a serious flood. Never seen one with a sail. Comos makes them. http://comos.appdever.com/product-en/boat

  8. #8
    Pronce. PH said so AGAIN!
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    Thanks Gipsy, food for thought there.

    I did find the Comos website before posting the thread, it struck me as odd that they don't make something simple with a little sail attached and the other bits and bobs needed, even for use on a lake or something.

    Almost any of the ones on the page you linked would be ideal if they were buoyant enough to stay afloat when inundated and came with the saily bits. This being Thailand I am quite surprised that it seems nobody is selling modified ones.

  9. #9
    Gohills flip-flops wearer
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    LSD man.

    Leaving your living room is as dangerous as fuck.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by quimbian corholla View Post

    What's the cheapest/easiest option for a novice to get sailing?
    Tie a sheet to a broom and then stick assembled sail up rear oriface. Invest in a snorkle if your budget can stretch that far. Very plain sailing.


  11. #11
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    Looks like an assignment for LT...

  12. #12
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    Erm, sounds as if you want no effort and all fun.

    It aint the easy.

  13. #13
    Pronce. PH said so AGAIN!
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    Quote Originally Posted by kingwilly
    Erm, sounds as if you want no effort and all fun.

    It aint the easy.
    That's a tad harsh.

    I don't mind putting in the effort to learn to sail and get some small boat in and out of the water but I don't have enough free time to justify spending much money on it.

    I don't want to race or anything like that, and I don't need anything fancy and although Gipsy's links had some very snazzy looking things I was just wondering if there is something like one of those little Optimist boats available here, the one that kids learn to sail in elsewhere.

    Something like this but that could hold 2 adults:



    This with a mast and the other bits would be more than enough for me


  14. #14
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    I didn't mean it to be harsh.

    An optimist is for kids under 16.

    Too small for you.

    A laser is possible to move around single handedly without a trailer, but tend to be hard work on the water if you get medium to high winds. Ie more sport the leisure.

    Anything bigger, like a pico or corsair (or any number of cats) becomes more work to move it around and look after it (but tbf not that expensive)

    Try speaking to a hotel with beach front and see if you can store a boat there.

    A boat will cost you about 100,000-400,000 baht in Thailand.

    I'm not so knowledgable about phuket, but there must be some down there.

    As for buying local gear, you would think that with all the coast line the Thailand has that they must ......

    Sadly, no.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by quimbian corholla View Post
    some very snazzy looking things I was just wondering if there is something like one of those little Optimist boats available here, the one that kids learn to sail in elsewhere.

    Something like this but that could hold 2 adults:

    That kid is probably about 60 kg, and the boat is almost capsizing. You will not get one adult, let alone two in there.

    However, if you can find a 'blue' boat and prove me wrong, happy sailing. Start by ringing/emailing the varuna club in jomtien, they might have contacts down south.

  16. #16
    Pronce. PH said so AGAIN!
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    Quote Originally Posted by kingwilly
    A boat will cost you about 100,000-400,000 baht in Thailand.
    WHAT!!!!

    I want to do it for about 10K! I think I can get a used Hobie Cat for something like 20-30K but even that is way more of a boat than I want or need.

    Quote Originally Posted by kingwilly
    That kid is probably about 60 kg, and the boat is almost capsizing. You will not get one adult, let alone two in there.
    I'm less than 70 kg because I am a skinny bugger, and the biggest guy who might sail with me is going to be well under 80kg or so.

    The reason I even contemplated a boat is because of my newly discovered liking of being in the sun and in and out of the water but lying around on the beach is rather boring, even if it is a nice beach hence my questions about something that would resemble a super-sized Optimist or the like.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by quimbian corholla View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by kingwilly
    A boat will cost you about 100,000-400,000 baht in Thailand.
    WHAT!!!!

    I want to do it for about 10K! I think I can get a used Hobie Cat for something like 20-30K but even that is way more of a boat than I want or need.

    Quote Originally Posted by kingwilly
    That kid is probably about 60 kg, and the boat is almost capsizing. You will not get one adult, let alone two in there.
    I'm less than 70 kg because I am a skinny bugger, and the biggest guy who might sail with me is going to be well under 80kg or so.

    The reason I even contemplated a boat is because of my newly discovered liking of being in the sun and in and out of the water but lying around on the beach is rather boring, even if it is a nice beach hence my questions about something that would resemble a super-sized Optimist or the like.
    A hobie cat would be perfect for two adults. (Ideal race weight is rouind 130kg)

    The tramp is a perfect amount of space (you don't have to sail them fast, sail it without a jib, if you really want).

    I've not seen a Hobie go for less than 100K in thailand, so if you can get one for 20k grab it.

    New sails alone cost more than that, a new tramp from the hobie shop in Australia is $900, the spreader on mine needed replacing and it cost me $600 (for what is essentially an aluminium pole). So if someone selling on for 20k, it's either in need of some serious repairs or they have no idea it's worth and you're onto a proper bargain.

    But you'll want somewhere to keep it rather than stepping the mast and carting it all over the place, that's why I suggest a hotel (and get staff help launching it and cleaning it etc)

    They are called a beach cat for a reason.

  18. #18
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    How much do they cost ?

  19. #19
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    I bought one of these a couple of years ago, with the idea of a cheap means to get out to my larger boat on it's mooring. Did it a couple of times and gave it up, as it's extremely unstable (I'm around the 80 kg mark), even with one person. Even the slightest wave movement is likely to see you in the water, and as for sailing one, any form of sail boat needs a keel/stabbing board to counter the pressure of the wind on the sail(s).

    From recollection I paid around 3000 baht for mine from Supercheap in Phuket Town. It is now used by my wife to occasionally remove weeds from the khlong at the back of our house.

    I would recommend firstly learning to sail from a local school (if you're in Phuket, there's one at Ao Yon which whilst primarily for kids, I'm sure would teach adults also). I've also seen quite a few sailing dinghies ashore at the Ao Chalong Yacht Club (good English breakfast there also).



    Last edited by PAG; 31-08-2013 at 01:10 PM.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by quimbian corholla
    I specifically specified BLUE boats
    Pedant . . . here you go

    Quote Originally Posted by quimbian corholla
    You should be suspended from The Lounge and by your knackers too.
    Oi, you're not a pirate . . . especially not in a poofie little blue boat

    Quote Originally Posted by Bangyai
    Tie a sheet to a broom and then stick assembled sail up rear oriface
    Hehe . . .

    Quote Originally Posted by quimbian corholla
    the biggest guy who might sail with me is going to be well under 80kg or so.
    So, no invitation to my 84kgs?

  21. #21
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  22. #22
    Gohills flip-flops wearer
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  23. #23
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    Got your logo sorted Quentin






  24. #24
    Pronce. PH said so AGAIN!
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    Quote Originally Posted by OckerRocker
    So, no invitation to my 84kgs?
    I want a sailing boat not a u-boat fatso, but I suppose you might be useful as ballast, I could keel-haul you half way around and leave you there until I was done sailing for the day.

    Quote Originally Posted by Dillinger
    Got your logo sorted Quentin
    Stop that! You'll only encourage Offis Rocker, although HMS Cornholer does have a nice ring (snicker) to it.

  25. #25
    Thailand Expat VocalNeal's Avatar
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    Is there a sailing club in Phuket? Like the one in Pattaya? If you don't want to trailer then a better solution would be get a small dingy and keep it at the sailing club.

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