Solaise
Mk 1 Composite Wayfarer sailing Dinghy
Year unknown, this late model Mk1 Wayfarer was bought as a project boat. She was sound, but a little unloved and came complete with some additional sails and a trailer with built-in launching trolly. What I liked about the Wayfarer was that she was a solid little ship, I could sit and sail this without having to be on my knees and not only was she suitable for lakes, she could be taken on the sea. She had two water-tight compartments for buoyancy and a lifting centreboard. The board added more directional stability rather than weight, although it was solid wood. The rudder would lift up and the mast hinged on a pin so she was easy enough to back down.
Originally they were all built from wood and towards the end of the Mk1 run, had a GRP hull and a ply deck. After this, they went into GRP with typical 80's colours for boats, lots of browns, oranges and light blues but the GRP and wood was the best possible combination while trying to save some of the maintenance of an all wood boat.
I purchased this boat in the late autumn of 2007 and then stripped it back, replacing fittings, sanding it, more sanding, varnishing and more varnishing. She was ready for the 2008 season where she sailed on inland lakes and made a big trip up to Coniston.
At 15ft 10, a 6ft beam and a weight of around 169kg she wasn't the lightest of boats but she did sail well and meant Chris and I could go a little further. We did think about making a tent and taking her for a big voyage but unfortunately, it never happened.
We sold her towards the end of 2009.