Mirror Mods, Part 1 

Nick. Thanks for the comment. Of course the bilge pump is a luxury, as the little battery will eventually run down. But it proved useful when I was holed, because it kept pumping out ten gallons a minute whilst I dealt with the emergency. Also, on a rough sea crossing, I have to pump for 30 seconds every few minutes to keep the water under control..If struggling to beat to windward, it is very easy to switch on the electric pump occasionally.

Fantastic mods, very well thought out and implemented. Just about to start renovation of a 1971 Mirror so looking for videos like this. Great, thanks for sharing ATB Mac

Please upload part 2. You are a sailing genius.

I see your point, a rude awakening indeed. I used one fitted to an Express dinghy and had no issues with it, in fact it worked very well, but of course you do have to be moving. Thanks for the look at your work on the mods, very nice, best regards, Bob.

My dagger case was ripped right out when I hit a rock! Then I discovered some hidden rot. The compass is affected very little by the anchor. You have to be careful about food tins though. I agonised about putting in the hatch, but eventually I needed to inspect the chamber. It is reliably watertight but needs care with installation, and I doubled the number of screws.

Mirror's are neat boats, they pack a lot of function into a compact package. It's too bad they didn't catch on as much in the US.

Thank you for the comments Ricky. The centreboard details should be on the New Mirror Forum. I don't think a heavy centreboard helps very much, but just careful sailing will keep you safe. I have steps on my rudder to allow climbing back in. david

Hi David. I'm impressed with your sailing and Mirror set-up. I'm looking for details on how to do the centreboard conversion, perhaps with a steel centreboard? 🤔 I already installed a jib furler and reefing for the main. At 68 & with some degree of disability due to Waldenstroms-associated neuropathy I want to minimize risk of capsize as when I tested getting back onboard, I found it pretty difficult. For safe testing I stuck an anchor on a beach & pushed the boat out till I could no longer touch bottom.. couldn't get in over the transom, but managed to get over the side with some difficulty.

Music so much better than the usual plinky-plonky stuff!

Nice boat. I like the rugged wooden look of your dinghy, it must be fun to sail it. I wish I had one! :)

A fair few ingenious modifications on that little beauty. You have bolstered my confidence, and inspired me further. Very good.

I've just purchased a Mirror dinghy, it's the 1st boat I've ever owned. I want to use your boat as a guide to how I want mine to be. These video's are a blessing, thank you. By the way, would installing a solar panel help to charge the bilge pump batteries whilst on the go?

Thanks for the fascinating video, very helpful. A question, I like the idea of the swinging centre board, would it be feasable to make a ballasted centre board to cut out the risks of a capsize? The Laser Stratos has this feature. How much longer is your rudder compared to a standerd Mirror rudder. Would appreciate your input. looking forward to part 2.

I take my hat off to you sir. Love your sailing vids. Thank you.

An electric bilge pump on a mirror dinghy! Wow it's hard to imagine when you would need it.

very nice rudder, enjoyed the video!

lovely video ta

Hello, i'm really enjoying your videos! Just curious what you use in terms of nav lights, Thank you! Fair winds!

Brilliant content - very helpful. Thanks from Mirror 51173 in Canada...

Hi. Cool vids of your voyages. Been encouraging to watch while ive been fixing up my mirror. Could you tell me the dimensions of your oars as i need to make a pair for mine? I was also wondering how you made it home after your keel casing was ripped out by the rock?

Thanks for sharing the tips

I had a Mirror 1970 and built two for people.

Enjoying your videos David, do you have any sketches for your centre board arrangements? Mine is leaking slightly and before i try and repair it i might go down the route of alterations. Any help would be great thanks

I love tne hatch cover for up by tne mast. I think I might use that.

Also interested in your centreboard arrangement, if you have any drawings or rough help by way of dimensions. Did you lengthen the slot in the hull so it can retract? In a world of bizarre materialism your videos make me feel young and happy!!

I think the music was used by the Beeb for a programme called In Town Tonight.

Could you please describe how you modified the rudder with aerofoils that you can use to assist in climbing back in? Climbing Back In is the thing that is stopping this crock from getting back in the Mirror.

Great vids, looking forwards to mirror mods two. Hoping you'll share your reefing system with us. cheers from 22119

That's true, a rude awakening indeed. My personal experience of them is limited to one fitted to an Express dinghy, I had no issues with it and it worked well, sure it had to, about 25% of my sailing time was spent righting the boat and then sailing fast enough to let the S/B do it's thing. Cruising would seem to be a far more civilised form of boating. Best regards, Bob.

I've enjoyed watching your videos ( think Ive seen all). I wonder what height waves, in your view, a Mirror can handle (with jib furler and reefable main), standard daggerboard

Please could you tell me what the dimensions are for the boxes at the back of the mirror

Did you ever get the chance to make part 2 of the sequence?

Do you have the dimensions for the hatch covers MirrorCruising, thanks Charles.

Hi, What size anchor do you have? Regards, Paul.

Excellent! ⛵🌬🌬🌬

I do not like the idea of having a hole in the boat, and if you are sleeping in the boat there is the possibility of the self bailer leaking whilst you are asleep. David

Hello, what would be your thoughts on a self bailer?

Where's part 2 I just bought a mirror and not exactly sure how to rig the spinnaker and pole!

I agree that the centreboard case / hull joint is a weakness. Had to fix mine this year (photos on the Mirror Dinghy Discussion Forum mirrordiscussforum.multiply.com. Re. arrangement of the anchor and compass: doesn't all that steel affect the compass? Is that hatch on the foredeck really watertight? Haven't fitted one on "Puffin" but maybe I ought to, just for inspection purposes. I wouldn't want to add a potential leak, though.

What models/size are the two bilge pumps?

I imagine the steel centre plate greatly add to the boats stability, did you have it specially made and if so how did you arrive at your dimensions?

Hi, could you tell me the size of the inspection hatches you have fitted? thanks

Молодец мужик

The downside of a daggerboard is that it doesn't swing up ;-{) . I ended up reinforcing the keel section, but have kept the daggerboard, not wanting to deviate too far from the class rules (although I do not race). Thanxx for the info!

Coloque legenda em português meu amigo, ficaria muito grato pois sou seu fã e do seu barco também.