Lite Boat XP20 vs Wayfarer
Which would you choose?
Here are two lightweight dinghies with lots of adventure potential. Would you choose the legendary Wayfarer, or go with the ultra-modern Lite Boat XP? Let readers know the reasons for your choice below. —Eds
I've owned and sailed a Wayfarer. I now own a 20' open day sailer which is not as light as the Lite Boat, but it also has an unstayed mast. That's the first reason I would choose the Lite Boat. While the Lite Boat would not be as dry as the Wayfarer, it is lighter yet has a much longer waterline so it will be faster. Also easier to row. The Wayfarer was good in its day, and can take six people sailing, but for 2-4 people I would prefer the Lite Boat.
I learned to sail on a Wayfarer on the North Sea. My father purchased it from a Scotsman who sailed it across the English Channel. It was a great performing sailboat with plenty of storage, and you could stay fairly dry, especially if you added a spray deflector forward. Very important when cruising in the North Sea, where the water never really does warm up. My Wayfarer also came with a nice variety of sails and a good boom tent. I have sailed an open transom boat, one I designed and built, in the Florida 120 cruise in company, and while fast, it wasn't anywhere close to being a dry ride. When beaching, I quickly learned to jump out of the boat to avoid the swamping action of the following wake. The low freeboard also required a fairly high boom tent, compared to what I had on the Wayfarer, which didn't fare very well in a violent storm which came upon us.