RECOMMENDATIONS?

Anyone got recommendations for a small, lightweight cruiser/camper for inland lake/loch sailing?

A couple of years ago I purchased MIK's Eureka plans. Never built it because, after later deep thought, I realised that I had been carried away when I bought the plans and the design doesn't match my changed/more focussed performance requirements. So, as a lapsed boat sailor (over 40 years since I last did any real sailing - in much bigger keel boats) I'm tentatively looking for a suitable small boat to re-start my watery exploits.

REQUIREMENTS
  • SMALL sail/row CAMPER CRUISER
  • LOA =< 15ft 6in / 4.725m - I DON'T HAVE SPACE TO BUILD OR STORE ANYTHING LONGER
  • LIGHTWEIGHT...my test is "can I lift it alone?"...so, 60 - 70kg ish...maybe a wee bit more.
  • EASY TO MANAGE RIG (balanced lug???") maybe with mizzen to aid ease of reefing when necessary
  • EXCELLENT STABILITY - I've studied the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) and DCA (Dinghy Cruising Association) recommendations - great but really tough to comply with
  • BUILT IN BUOYANCY COMPARTMENTS
  • WATERS (mainly the inland or sheltered sea lochs of Scotland) - can get rough very quickly
  • GOOD UPWIND, SINGLE-HANDED SAILING ABILITY
  • GOOD BOOM-HEAD CLEARANCE
  • MUST BE ABLE TO COPE WITH A "REASONABLE"(???) AMOUNT OF WEATHER WHICH IS QUICKLY CHANGEABLE IN SCOTLAND...OBVIOUSLY "REASONABLE" IS A SUBJECTIVE ISSUE.
  • MORE THAN MINIMAL FREEBOARD
  • EASILY RIGHTABLE AFTER A KNOCKDOWN
  • BEACHABLE
  • SLEEP ABOARD FOR 1 (Boom-Tentable)
  • MAINLY SINGLE HANDED but ability to carry one extra person + camping gear
  • COST: An issue because I'm retired and there are limits on funds so I'd prefer to build from plans to save some loot (hopefully) rather than purchase a kit. I've never built a boat before. Good but limited tools available.


The emphasis must be on safety, stability and ease of sailing because I'm past my physical best but have longer range ideas of taking my now small (ages 4 & 5) grandchildren on mini trips to introduce them to sailing.

I looked longingly at the Chesapeake Light Craft North Easter Dory because of ease of build and its high capacity BUT...
a) It's too big and...
b) MIK's red flag warning assessment of sailing dories steered me away. I don't have enough knowledge to comment on MIK's assessment so take it as read.

John Harris's Jimmy Skiff II looks like a candidate but I'm unsure...don't have enough details
John Welsford's focussed 'fitness for purpose' designs are super-tempting but too heavy
Ditto for Ian Oughtreds loverly boats.
MIK's GIS but he doesn't specify capacity or other bits of data that would help in decision/choice-making.

It seems that my requirements are right on the edge between the possible and impossible.

Anyone in the same boat?

RECOMMENDATIONS?