H10 Information, Review, Specs

Hartley Boats, founded by Richard and Mark Hartley, has a long-standing tradition of preserving and evolving classic racing dinghy designs. With roots in boat building and laminating extending back to 1988 under Hartley Laminates Boat Builders, the company, based in Derby, Derbyshire, is known for its focus on durability and performance. The H10, specifically designed after extensive consultation with sailing clubs, reflects this ethos, aiming to be a top-tier training dinghy.

The creation of the Hartley H10 in 2013 marked a deliberate expansion into the training dinghy market for Hartley Boats. The builder's philosophy for the H10 was ambitious: to design the very best 10-foot training dinghy in the world. This goal involved visiting 35 sailing clubs and centers to gather requirements, leading to a design that prioritizes ease of use, stability, and durability.

The H10 features a roto-molded hull constructed from robust plastic polyethylene, a material choice that ensures longevity and minimal maintenance, crucial for a boat intended for heavy use in training environments. Its design incorporates a deep floor, ample legroom, and a very high boom to facilitate comfortable tacking and gybing, especially for older youth and adult learners. The boat also boasts a self-draining cockpit and an open transom, features that enable it to right itself with minimal water after a capsize, allowing sailors to quickly get back underway. While primarily conceived as a trainer, Hartley Boats also offers a "Racer" package for the H10, which includes a high-performance battened mainsail of 5.1 square meters, providing an exhilarating option for those looking to experience competitive sailing.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Hartley H10, with its cat rig and single rudder, is engineered for stable and forgiving handling, making it an ideal platform for teaching and learning to sail. The boat's 9.97-foot length overall (LOA) and broad 4.2-foot beam contribute to its inherent stability on the water. Its monohull design, coupled with a daggerboard keel, allows for flexibility in draft, enabling access to shallow waters while providing efficient lateral resistance for sailing upwind.

Described as "easy to sail," the H10 allows beginners to feel comfortable quickly. The high boom design not only enhances comfort but also simplifies maneuvers, reducing the likelihood of entanglement during tacks and gybes. Even in stronger winds, the H10 is noted as an "outstanding performer" when equipped with its high-performance mainsail, offering confidence to new racers. Its stability is a frequently highlighted attribute, making capsize recovery straightforward and allowing sailors to safely resume sailing on any point of sail. The H10's design ensures it can handle diverse conditions, providing both a gentle introduction for novices and a responsive experience for those seeking more dynamic sailing.

Accommodations and Layout

As a 10-foot training dinghy, the Hartley H10 is primarily designed for open-air sailing, prioritizing a functional and safe cockpit over enclosed accommodations. The boat's layout is characterized by a deep, wide, and self-draining cockpit, which is essential for comfort and safety, particularly in a training context. The emphasis is on maximizing usable space for the crew and instructor, allowing for freedom of movement during maneuvers. The high boom, a key design feature, contributes to an uncluttered cockpit, reducing the risk of accidental contact and making the boat more welcoming for new sailors. The robust plastic polyethylene construction extends to the deck, creating a seamless and durable finish that requires minimal upkeep. While there are no traditional interior accommodations like berths or a galley on a boat of this size and type, the thoughtful cockpit design provides a secure and user-friendly environment for learning the ropes of sailing.

Owner's Perspectives

Owners and sailing centers consistently praise the Hartley H10 for its robust construction, stability, and suitability as a training vessel. Its durable roto-molded plastic polyethylene hull is frequently cited as a major advantage, making it highly resistant to the knocks and bumps inherent in a learning environment and minimizing maintenance requirements. Sailing clubs and holiday sailing companies have widely adopted the H10, a testament to its reliability and effectiveness as an entry-level dinghy.

The H10 is lauded for its forgiving nature, which instills confidence in new sailors, allowing them to focus on developing their skills rather than battling an unstable boat. The high boom and spacious cockpit are repeatedly highlighted as beneficial features for comfort and ease of maneuvering, particularly for adult learners or larger youth. While the standard sail configuration is excellent for training, owners who opt for the high-performance mainsail appreciate the boat's ability to offer a more engaging and faster sailing experience, showcasing its versatility beyond basic instruction. The ease of capsize recovery, with the boat coming upright with minimal water, is another significant strength often mentioned, contributing to a safer and less intimidating learning process.