Peanut Dinghy Desperately Sought
When I was a kid we lived part of the time in Bursledon on the Hamble River. Seeing the Peanut Dinghy at the Regatta there last weekend reminded me of the one I used to have. I even won the under 12s rowing race at the Hamble Regatta in one, which is about the extend of my sporting triumphs. The Peanut was designed by Cockleshell Hero and solo transatlantic yachtsman ‘Blondie’ Haslar for his kids who were a little younger than me. So I must have been a first generation owner and have been frantically trying to find one for my daughter’s 6th birthday. Turns that they’re now being made by the Elephant Boatyard, but I’d rather not have to pay 500 quid for a new one having just moved house. Another contender would have been the Starfish Dinghy, which was orginally commissioned by another former Peanut owner before the Elephant Boatyard started to make them again. Unfortunately, they’re the same price new which rules them out too. Shame as I would love to teach my kids to row and perhaps repeat my success at one of the above Regattas.
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Hi Justin, I realise this is a long shot but I see that you are trying to get hold of a secondhand ‘peanut’ for your duaghter’s 6th birthday. Have you had any success, I wonder. I too would like to find a secondhand one for our grandchildren 7,5 and 3. having recently been inspired by watching the regatta at Helford recently with the ‘under 10′s’ rowing ‘peanuts’ If you get more than one reply to your request I would be more than grateful if you could let me know. Very many thanks Liz Pearce
Liz … in the end I was very kindly lent one by a member of the Royal Southern Yacht Club, after he seen a note I’d emailed the club that they’d pinned on their notice board.
Another member actually had 2 and offered to sell me them, but pulled out out when his kids found out and got upset about it. I even offered to rent it, but was turned down. Shame as I’m not sure they’re being used for much more than an ice bucket at parties now … and that’s probably the fate of many others. I’d suggest you also drop the Southern a line and other similar clubs in Lymington, Cowes, etc. You could also call the Elephant Boat Yard and Reid Marine to see if they have any ex-demo Peanuts or Starfishes (pretty much the same thing) left over from the Southampton Boat Show:
http://www.elephantboatyard.co.uk
http://www.starfishboats.co.uk
Hi, probably a little bit late! however I have a lovely blue peanut for sale. It is about 10 years old and used very little.
Definitely, still looking and know others who are too now.
We are also looking for a secondhand Peanut for grandchildren. Does anyone know of one for sale
Well, someone got in touch saying they had one but wanted 300 quid for it as that’s what the Elephant boatyard has suggested was fair second hand prize. I said that if anyone offered them that they should bite their arm off because I was offered 2 for 50 quid each … although sadly kids of owner wouldn’t let him sell them, which means that they are destined to rot away in some garden to be used as ice buckets rather than what Blondie Hasler intended. There must be a fleet now of other Peanuts in close proximity to the Hamble, that have suffered a similar fate. What an absolute and unforgivable waste.
BTW – I was also offered ex-demo Starfish for 450 quid. I thought this was a bit steep given I went to sailing club this weekend which had a Mirror dinghy in immaculate condition with full set of sails together with combi road trailer and launching trolley for around 500 quid. Anyway, upshot is no idea what fair price is nor where you’ll find one. All I can say is there’s definitely a market for some kind of mass market injection molded rowing boat for kids, which would be cheaper and lot more impact resistant than the two fiberglass ones currently on offer.