Customer Testimonials

After sailing the dinghy we found that it is truly a marvelous boat. It goes together easily and Terrie and I have no problem handling the separate components. The NN 10 handles very well in light air and is a well balanced boat. Several other people who sailed it commented on how fast it was and complimented the various features and general layout. Everyone said the dinghy has very comfortable seating and Terrie says it sails as well as our old Colin Archer" Eric Junior". That is about the best compliment you can get from Terrie about any sailboat.

It looks like you have a real winner with the NN10. ( Gary & Terrie, Bremerton, WA)

I was looking for a rowing and sailing dinghy to carry on a 30’ boat.  A nesting dinghy seemed to be the answer.  After reading
Barry Niccolls’ letter to the editor in 48 North, I contacted him and went to visit him in his workshop, his home garage in Twawassen,
British Columbia, and saw his prototype.  The NN10 is a light, sleek, fiberglass dinghy in two parts that clamp together.
I used the NN10 for the first time last summer, cruising in the San Juan and Gulf Islands on Kathy K, a Sundowner 30 tug.  The dinghy sits on stands on the cabin top aft of the pilothouse.  The stands allow the helmsman to see aft underneath the dinghy.  She is
launched by using the mast and boom to lift the bow out of the stern section, clamping it onto the bow section and then lifting the dinghy into the water.  I made a lifting harness that just snaps onto lifting points.  This is more shipshape  and safer than either towing the dinghy or carrying it on the transom. With its light weight and sleek proportions, this is a dinghy that is eager to go, either under oars and sail.  With a pull of the oars she jumps out and moves.  Under sail, she is responsive and moves easily in a light breeze.  In a heavier breeze she moves smartly along with the mainsheet in your hand, ready to be eased in the gusts.  Like a dory, she is initially a little tender but hardens up as she leans over.  When sailing, I (all 210 lbs.) sit on a cushion on the bottom, shifting from one side to another as she tacks.
The NN10 has been a good choice and a lot of fun.( Phil, Port Townsend, WA)

By the way we have now tested the dinghy in all phases sailing rowing and motoring. The NN10 is superb at everything.

 

Sailing

The NN10 promises to be a very competitive sailing dinghy. Other dinghy racers and sailors that have watched us sailing it in light air and those that have sailed it, have commented that they are going to be hard pressed to compete with the NN10. One sailor that races an El Toro dinghy commented that he is going to have to make some improvements if he expects to be competitive against the NN10 in the spring series. Another sailor that owns and races a mini-America's cup boat said after sailing the NN10 that it will outperform his mini-cup boat. His boat is about 12 feet long and has a miniature America's cup design hull and fully ballasted, fixed keel along with a full jib and a rig equipped with spreaders; the boat even sports a tiny kite for downwind runs! The rudder is controlled with rudder pedals leaving the operator's hands free to work all the various lines and halyards on the complex miniature vessel. This boat was designed for small boat racing.

 

Rowing

 The NN10 is one of the finest rowing boats I have ever had the pleasure to row. It rows effortlessly and tracks straight and true. I have a bad left shoulder and normally I have to adjust for a pull to the right when rowing, but the NN10 tracks straight without any adjustment or effort. I attribute this to the small bilge strakes. The real surprise however was the ease at which a very good turn of speed can be maintained. I had a 26 foot, inboard power boat come motoring up behind me while rowing. I increased my rowing effort to what would be considered a normal rowing effort for my other dinghies. With that much effort I found I could easily keep ahead of the powerboat that was motoring along at a low (not idle) speed. The rowing performance of the NN10 is truly superb and the ease of effort with which it rows is astounding. The only other boat I have ever rowed anywhere near this magical was an original wooden lapstrakeWhitehall.

 

Motoring

Then came the motor test. The first thing I found was that the NN10 is balanced to be bow heavy. This is a bit of a problem when rowing, as with a solo operator sitting amidship, the boat has a slight tendency to "plow." But the boat balances perfectly with two people when having one person situated amidship and one sitting in the stern. This is a refreshing change from the typical dinghy that is evenly balanced and must have weight forward to balance properly with two people aboard when motoring. This typical type of boat balance requires that one person has to sit in the bow while the other is seated amidship to row or motor and usually requires a tiller extension for comfortable operation of the motor. With the NN10 in either the rowing or motoring configuration we seat one person astern and one amidship leaving room for the lighter cargo load of supplies in the bow. Since I am the heavy one we have found that it works best with me sitting amidship and Terrie in the stern at the motor's helm, then the boat is perfectly balanced (and I don't have to steer.) The boat actually seems to row more efficiently than it motors, but our new 2 hp, four stroke, air-cooled, Honda outboard is just about a perfect match for the NN10. It pushes the dinghy along at exactly the right speed. It is not a speed boat but it does move along at a respectable estimated five to six knots at around 75% power setting.

 

Miscellaneous observations

 The only problem I have encountered with handling aspects of the NN10 is that I found it to be a bit tippy, in fact I found myself looking up from under the icy waters of Puget Sound for the first time after I reached over too far to move the oars. But that was my fault as I am used to a more stable tub that doesn't row, sail or motor half as efficiently as the NN10. Now that I understand the dinghy's limitations in this regard, I have adjusted accordingly and have had no further problems with maintaining the NN10's stability. To prove what an oaf I was, Terrie promptly stood up in the dinghy and began to violently rock it back and forth by shifting the weight on her feet. I was appalled as she is not the best swimmer, but she had no problem maintaining her balance in the boat performing this feat. I often see her stand up in the NN10 (note I do not try this trick myself) something I never saw her do in our other dinghies. One of the most interesting comments I have had concerns the fore peak cuddy. Several people have looked at it and immediately remarked: "Wow! A built in beer cooler!" That wasn't my thinking, but I guess it is just a matter of personal priorities. In any event the NN10 just seems to excel at everything we have tried. People are always fascinated by the nesting aspect and just how quickly it goes together and I have already given several people who saw the boat in the back of my Toyota pick up your name, address and website. (Gary & Terrie Bremerton, WA.)

Just wanted to let you know that I have launched "Nanny" and although I have never sailed a Hans Christian, I would say " Nanny" sails as I would expect a baby HC to sail. I am very impressed and happy with her performance. She really does "square off" in a heel, that is , stabilize, and I feel safe and secure. The Jib works so well I don't think it is possible to really get or stay in irons. When she moves, she cuts through the waves in a way which, as I said before, reminds me of a solid, correctly trimmed, much larger boat. Speaking of trim, she tracks so well that I can leave the tiller for moments at a time, and she doesn't go right off course. Except for maybe replacing a few of the plastic parts ie, cleats with stainless, I can think of nothing to improve her. She truly performs like a trooper, whether motoring, rowing or sailing. I am really enjoying sailing her off the beach and motoring around the Bay I was worried that there might be flexing between the fore and aft, especially in rough water, but so far she feels like one solid whole, not two halves put together. Thanks again, I am real happy with "Nanny". Syd Smith, Bradenton Florida.