Wayfarers have been built by professional boatbuilders and DIY enthusiasts in their thousands, and have proved themselves to be very stable and seaworthy boats.
The class has been enduringly successful, particularly with sailing schools as a training boat. Wanderer, however, made some remarkable journeys under the ownership of Frank and Margaret Dye.
Built in 1958, she made a 650 mile passage in 1963 from Kinlochbervie in Scotland, to Iceland, enduring gale force winds on the way. The following year she made a trip to Norway, almost reaching the Arctic circle. The Dyes spent many years coastal cruising in a number of Wayfarers, and showed that it is possible to live successfully aboard a small dinghy. Before Frank sadly passed away in 2010, they used to be come to the museum regularly to visit their first and favourite boat.
Type Wayfarer class dinghy
Designer Ian Proctor
Builder Small Craft of Southampton
Date built 1958
Dimensions Length 4.85m, Beam 1.9m
Construction Plywood hull, metal drop-keel, pivoting mast mounted in tabernacle
Rig Sloop with additional small jib
