Wayfarer (dinghy)

The Wayfarer is the adult beginner's boat for going somewhere, not just around the buoys. Ian Proctor designed the 15 ft 10 in dinghy in 1957, and its size, stability and seaworthiness made it a sailing-school staple; three adults fit comfortably for an afternoon, and with a boom tent two can sleep aboard. Frank Dye famously sailed one from Scotland to Iceland and Norway, and while a learner needs none of that, it shows how much margin the hull has. More than 11,000 have been built since 1957, from wood to fiberglass, so used boats are plentiful and often cheap. Older wooden ones need real upkeep, so check the hull before buying.