Enjoyed this video, and have all your others I have watched so far. I'm relatively new to dinghy sailing myself, so your channel is a good source of information. Listened to what you said about the Navionics app, will certainly be checking that out for use on my little boat, an 11ft Gull. Regards David.
Fantastic, glad you enjoy them. I've got a 25ft sailboat but often think and say it's probably as much if not more fun and adventure on the dighy. Roger Barnes is right! Good luck thanks for watching thanks for commenting.
One word: Cupolder! The Shipwrights is a great pub, worth a visit. Faversham is a nice town and the water ways around look lovely, especially with the variety of boats moored there.
Ah thoroughly enjoyed your vid took me back to the days me and dad had a Mirror as a kid. I always wanted to put a outboard on her, but old dad hated the things. Biggest regret sold the Mirror and bought a Graduate. The Mirror was so much easier to sail and just more fun.. For ease and simplicity and back to basics give me a Mirror any day ..
I took mine out twice last week no engine just round Shoreham Harbour, nice hot evening gentle land breeze around low water. Was bliss. Thanks for watching.
Funny you say that :) I did my RYA level 2 sailing last year at the end of the season, bought a Grad intending to sail it with my kid, but he's decided he hates sailing - he's scared of capsizing, but doesn't mind being in the RIB safety boat at the club. So I bought a Mirror, intending to do some rowing and motoring with an outboard with him, no mast or sail, see if I can ease him into it. So right now I have both a Grad and a Mirror, haven't sailed either of them lol (am waiting for the weather to actually get a bit warmer). Then it's gonna be one handed sailing on the Mirror with the mast in the forward step and no jib, until I feel confident enough to sail with jib one handed. The motor idea might get relegated to an inflatable dinghy as it seems to big for my Mirror.
One of my best days sailing was lying back in my cat-rigged Mirror. Jack Holt designed the boat to sail with a jib or cat-rigged but I have heard they are not sailed cat-rigged much because the cat rig does not point well.
Probably right especially in higher winds. Last summer sailing my Foxcub with main alone in a force 6 I couldn't believe how much the head came up onto the wind once I hoisted the jib up. Makes things simpler on the mirror single handed though! Not a huge difference in light airs I've found jib just hangs around a lot esp sailing large obviously.
Do you have any advice for strengthening the transom for an 18kg four stroke? I think the Barky has a lighter two stroke, and I am concerned the transom can't take my 18kg.
I reckon I literally have spilled about 1/3 of all the beer I've ever taken onboard all of my boats 😂 I have made a drinks holder - a bit of 4x2 with a selection of can and bottle sized holes cut out of it, but I forgot to ship it with me this time! Thanks for watching.
@@backtothebarky I always forget something. I blame my age, but it's more likely as I rush to snatch a short few hours on the water. My boys and I have agreed that this winters alterations and upgrades on 'Memphis Minnie', our new boat, will include cup holders. Tiller extensions are a pain! I'm experimenting with one that is extendable by a foot or so. It seems a little less unwieldy, but wonder how long the locking mechanism will work for. We're out this Saturday, the sailing clubs cruising expedition, we're off in search of bacon sarnies! If I can fathom the videomagic thingy I'll try to post something of our adventure.
I prefer the ones of my bigger adventures on my seal 22 but these little mirror dinghy trips are the more popular! People love these little boats... Thanks for watching them 🙂
Nicely done. Your mainsheet rigging is interesting. Usually a mirror has the mainsheet rigged from a hole in the transom one side, up to the boom via a block, then back to the opposite side of the transom into a block from which the working end comes. Gives you better mechanical advantage and keeps the sheet out of the way. It kind of looks like a triangular arrangement. Any reason you've done yours differently?
The way he has it rigged would enable him to spill the wind out of the sail quickly. I found with my mirror, if I got hit by a gust, the sail took a while to spill the air because if the end sheet and the friction in the pulleys. In his case he only has one pulley and it looks very responsive. I have a Sabre now, with a tall, narrow sail and mid-boom sheet and it is very good in a blow because you can drop the wind in an instant.
To answer your question - I do rig it as you describe... I must've let it run out (by mistake - need to invest in one of those jammer main sheet blocks - see old man 'Mirror Cruising' TH-cam vids) then re rigged it through the boom block only in my haste and not bothered with the transom one. Would've affected my upwind performance probably... Though I quite often just hang on to the boom with my hand instead then like a windsurfer!
@@backtothebarky yeah no worries. I saw you holding the boom, not a bad idea in light winds especially when gybing. Might try that myself. David (mirror cruising) has an unusual way of rigging his main sheet, he takes it from the rudder stock, up to the boom, then back to the rudder stock and along the tiller. It means he doesn’t have the triangular rope at the stern. I would have thought it would add resistance to the steering but apparently it doesn’t. If you get down to Hamble any time, I’ll bring my mirror out 👍
@@backtothebarky If you are not concerned about the legality of your mirror for racing, you might be able to rig a mid-boom arrangement to allow you to respond to gusts more quickly.
Ello m8. How much does your outboard weigh? I've bought a 2.5hp Mariner four stroke but it weighs 18kg, and now I have the thing here in front of me I'm thinking it's too heavy for my Mirror. On the Mirror Sailing pages there's a very old pic with a lass with an 18kg outboard, so I bought one (brand new), but now I ain't so sure lol. I see your transom strengthening plate on the inside, did you do anything else to the boat? I know the transom is 5mm ply, with the top 120mm, the bit above the rear buoyancy tank deck, having about 23mm of hardwood beam as well glued to it. Got any thoughts? I'm about to give it up as a bad idea and buy an inflatable dinghy for using that motor instead. Cheers for replies.
That old 2 stroke is 10kg. 18 is a fair bit more however the transom you describe sounds similar to mine, it's like an inch thick solid wood. Sure your outboard won't rip it off but would have slightly more weight off one corner might tip her up a bit if you are on the same side. Put a crate of beer at the front to level her out! Just give it a try I say. I've got a 2.5hp suzuki 4hp that's only 13kg. Not used it on there but sure it'd be fine. Where do you sail her? Thanks for watching
I have had three of these in the past and never got them to run for more than a few seconds! Must be doing something wrong I'm sure. Maybe I'll dig them out and have another look..
Yes you're right. Need some sweeps 😂 A much simpler solution to the engine. Harder to stow but doable. Roger Barnes' dinghy cruising book has a formula for working out how long an oar I need I might have another look 👍🏻
Enjoyed this video, and have all your others I have watched so far. I'm relatively new to dinghy sailing myself, so your channel is a good source of information. Listened to what you said about the Navionics app, will certainly be checking that out for use on my little boat, an 11ft Gull. Regards David.
Fantastic, glad you enjoy them. I've got a 25ft sailboat but often think and say it's probably as much if not more fun and adventure on the dighy. Roger Barnes is right! Good luck thanks for watching thanks for commenting.
great video !! . the orinoco flow tune stays in my head . ;-] greetings from holland .
Glad you like it Mr Dutchman!
One word: Cupolder! The Shipwrights is a great pub, worth a visit. Faversham is a nice town and the water ways around look lovely, especially with the variety of boats moored there.
Yep will defo add cup holder onto the check list before engine and immediately after sails next time. It's basic seamanship.
Ah thoroughly enjoyed your vid took me back to the days me and dad had a Mirror as a kid. I always wanted to put a outboard on her, but old dad hated the things. Biggest regret sold the Mirror and bought a Graduate. The Mirror was so much easier to sail and just more fun.. For ease and simplicity and back to basics give me a Mirror any day ..
I took mine out twice last week no engine just round Shoreham Harbour, nice hot evening gentle land breeze around low water. Was bliss. Thanks for watching.
Funny you say that :) I did my RYA level 2 sailing last year at the end of the season, bought a Grad intending to sail it with my kid, but he's decided he hates sailing - he's scared of capsizing, but doesn't mind being in the RIB safety boat at the club. So I bought a Mirror, intending to do some rowing and motoring with an outboard with him, no mast or sail, see if I can ease him into it. So right now I have both a Grad and a Mirror, haven't sailed either of them lol (am waiting for the weather to actually get a bit warmer). Then it's gonna be one handed sailing on the Mirror with the mast in the forward step and no jib, until I feel confident enough to sail with jib one handed. The motor idea might get relegated to an inflatable dinghy as it seems to big for my Mirror.
Some beautiful boats there, including the Barky of course!
Ahhhh. The Shipwright’s Arms. Now there’s a pub!
Great mirror dinghy content there.
Have enjoyed your videos. Sorry you spilled your beer-- great journeys though.
Lovely sail!
Glad you thought so thanks for watching!
Great mirror dinghy content.
I used to have a Mirror and I have just bought a Mirror for my granddaughters.
One of my best days sailing was lying back in my cat-rigged Mirror. Jack Holt designed the boat to sail with a jib or cat-rigged but I have heard they are not sailed cat-rigged much because the cat rig does not point well.
Probably right especially in higher winds. Last summer sailing my Foxcub with main alone in a force 6 I couldn't believe how much the head came up onto the wind once I hoisted the jib up. Makes things simpler on the mirror single handed though! Not a huge difference in light airs I've found jib just hangs around a lot esp sailing large obviously.
Do you have any advice for strengthening the transom for an 18kg four stroke? I think the Barky has a lighter two stroke, and I am concerned the transom can't take my 18kg.
@@andrewgoodall2183 I have never used a motor so I would not know. Only because I have always sailed in races.
Awesome vid mate 👌 , any idea whst size wheels I need for my mirror trailer?
Mine are 8 inch wheels on standard 4 inch pcd hubs. Same on my small RIB trailer too. Standard size I think.
@@backtothebarky , Thank-you mate
A shame about the spillage, but you had some nice sailing at times.
Best wishes
Al
I reckon I literally have spilled about 1/3 of all the beer I've ever taken onboard all of my boats 😂 I have made a drinks holder - a bit of 4x2 with a selection of can and bottle sized holes cut out of it, but I forgot to ship it with me this time! Thanks for watching.
@@backtothebarky I always forget something. I blame my age, but it's more likely as I rush to snatch a short few hours on the water.
My boys and I have agreed that this winters alterations and upgrades on 'Memphis Minnie', our new boat, will include cup holders.
Tiller extensions are a pain! I'm experimenting with one that is extendable by a foot or so. It seems a little less unwieldy, but wonder how long the locking mechanism will work for.
We're out this Saturday, the sailing clubs cruising expedition, we're off in search of bacon sarnies! If I can fathom the videomagic thingy I'll try to post something of our adventure.
@@knucker4931 What was Jack Holt thinking; I'm no expert but surely you'd draw the cup holders first then design the rest of the boat around them?
@@knucker4931 What's the boat?
@@themexicannon 😂
One of your best vids
I prefer the ones of my bigger adventures on my seal 22 but these little mirror dinghy trips are the more popular! People love these little boats... Thanks for watching them 🙂
Nicely done. Your mainsheet rigging is interesting. Usually a mirror has the mainsheet rigged from a hole in the transom one side, up to the boom via a block, then back to the opposite side of the transom into a block from which the working end comes. Gives you better mechanical advantage and keeps the sheet out of the way. It kind of looks like a triangular arrangement. Any reason you've done yours differently?
The way he has it rigged would enable him to spill the wind out of the sail quickly. I found with my mirror, if I got hit by a gust, the sail took a while to spill the air because if the end sheet and the friction in the pulleys. In his case he only has one pulley and it looks very responsive. I have a Sabre now, with a tall, narrow sail and mid-boom sheet and it is very good in a blow because you can drop the wind in an instant.
It might also help to compensate for the weight of the motor which is offset from the centre line.
To answer your question - I do rig it as you describe... I must've let it run out (by mistake - need to invest in one of those jammer main sheet blocks - see old man 'Mirror Cruising' TH-cam vids) then re rigged it through the boom block only in my haste and not bothered with the transom one. Would've affected my upwind performance probably... Though I quite often just hang on to the boom with my hand instead then like a windsurfer!
@@backtothebarky yeah no worries. I saw you holding the boom, not a bad idea in light winds especially when gybing. Might try that myself.
David (mirror cruising) has an unusual way of rigging his main sheet, he takes it from the rudder stock, up to the boom, then back to the rudder stock and along the tiller. It means he doesn’t have the triangular rope at the stern. I would have thought it would add resistance to the steering but apparently it doesn’t.
If you get down to Hamble any time, I’ll bring my mirror out 👍
@@backtothebarky If you are not concerned about the legality of your mirror for racing, you might be able to rig a mid-boom arrangement to allow you to respond to gusts more quickly.
Queenbougrough to Faversham creek. That’s a four can run at most. More beer!
It was only hearty ferry not Queenborough so even less! 😂 Thanks for watching mate!
Ello m8. How much does your outboard weigh? I've bought a 2.5hp Mariner four stroke but it weighs 18kg, and now I have the thing here in front of me I'm thinking it's too heavy for my Mirror. On the Mirror Sailing pages there's a very old pic with a lass with an 18kg outboard, so I bought one (brand new), but now I ain't so sure lol. I see your transom strengthening plate on the inside, did you do anything else to the boat? I know the transom is 5mm ply, with the top 120mm, the bit above the rear buoyancy tank deck, having about 23mm of hardwood beam as well glued to it. Got any thoughts? I'm about to give it up as a bad idea and buy an inflatable dinghy for using that motor instead. Cheers for replies.
That old 2 stroke is 10kg. 18 is a fair bit more however the transom you describe sounds similar to mine, it's like an inch thick solid wood. Sure your outboard won't rip it off but would have slightly more weight off one corner might tip her up a bit if you are on the same side. Put a crate of beer at the front to level her out! Just give it a try I say. I've got a 2.5hp suzuki 4hp that's only 13kg. Not used it on there but sure it'd be fine. Where do you sail her? Thanks for watching
Get a Seagull. 😀
I have had three of these in the past and never got them to run for more than a few seconds! Must be doing something wrong I'm sure. Maybe I'll dig them out and have another look..
Get some bigger oars and bin that motor.
Yes you're right. Need some sweeps 😂 A much simpler solution to the engine. Harder to stow but doable. Roger Barnes' dinghy cruising book has a formula for working out how long an oar I need I might have another look 👍🏻