Topper Bigger sail?

   Hi I wonder if someone could help. I'm really keen to start sailing. My budget is ..very little. 
My experience . I surf and used to windsurf a lot to a reasonable standard. Happy with my feet in the straps, hanging on a harness and  blasting up and down. I sailed in wayfarer's  as a kid with the YMCA most holidays and as a teacher have sporadically had the chance to sail with kids on school trips. Last time was a few years ago and I spent a couple of days in  a pico. I've also helped on my friends sadler 27.

I'm no sailor , but feel confident that, with some basic instructions and a bit of help I could get going.

One plan is to get a  cheap topper. I like the idea that it would fit in the back of my van and just go to the beach and sail. I live only a mile or so from West Bay in Dorset or could probably drive down the road to Charmouth. The idea being to have  a quick and easy sail at a local beach

I'm 5 11 and 12 and a half stone . All my reading suggests I'm too heavy fro a topper. am I ? I don't plan to race I just plan to go down to the beach and have a sail.

What I don't quite understand is that when I windsurfed a lot I just put up a bigger sail if I needed more power.

 My question is .    Just for fun, could one rig up a bigger sail  on a topper and thus move a heavier person with a little speed?

The reason I'm looking at a topper is they are cheap, light, plentiful and look fun, but all the u tube clips seem to show tiny people in them.

I'd really appreciate if anyone we could share some wisdom with me.

thanks

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oldbaldbloke Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 19 Jan 17 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote oldbaldbloke Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Topper Bigger sail? Posted: 19 Jan 17 at 5:20pm
	Hi I wonder if someone could help. I'm really keen to start sailing. My budget is ..very little. My experience . I surf and used to windsurf a lot to a reasonable standard. Happy with my feet in the straps, hanging on a harness and blasting up and down. I sailed in wayfarer's as a kid with the YMCA most holidays and as a teacher have sporadically had the chance to sail with kids on school trips. Last time was a few years ago and I spent a couple of days in a pico. I've also helped on my friends sadler 27. I'm no sailor , but feel confident that, with some basic instructions and a bit of help I could get going. One plan is to get a cheap topper. I like the idea that it would fit in the back of my van and just go to the beach and sail. I live only a mile or so from West Bay in Dorset or could probably drive down the road to Charmouth. The idea being to have a quick and easy sail at a local beach I'm 5 11 and 12 and a half stone . All my reading suggests I'm too heavy fro a topper. am I ? I don't plan to race I just plan to go down to the beach and have a sail. What I don't quite understand is that when I windsurfed a lot I just put up a bigger sail if I needed more power. My question is . Just for fun, could one rig up a bigger sail on a topper and thus move a heavier person with a little speed? The reason I'm looking at a topper is they are cheap, light, plentiful and look fun, but all the u tube clips seem to show tiny people in them. I'd really appreciate if anyone we could share some wisdom with me. thanks

Wiclif Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 04 Oct 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 79	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wiclif Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Jan 17 at 7:24pm
	They were designed for smaller people, but they do carry weight quite well if it is windy. A bigger sail, if you could find one, would be a bad idea, as the mast and boom are already working at their strength limits. Since your name is oldbaldbloke, you may find that the boat is a bit cramped, and you might be better looking at a Laser or similar. Although, if you were happy in a Pico then the Topper would be much the same for ease of moving around You will need a larger Sprinter rather than a (small) Transit sized van for a Topper to fit in the back
	Wiclif

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Jan 17 at 9:44pm
	I'd go along with the Laser suggestion given your hight and weight, if you could find a way to transport it. A Topper will feel cramped and slow (I tried one a couple of times when I was windsurfing and racing Raceboards. You'll find a Laser for Topper money and for cheap sailing they take some beating.

Eisvogel Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 09 Dec 16 Location: Birmingham Online Status: Offline Posts: 135	Post Options Post Reply Quote Eisvogel Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Jan 17 at 10:21pm
	I'd support this. I'm 6'4" and about 12 stone, and a Laser is just perfect for that.

iGRF Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6496	Post Options Post Reply Quote iGRF Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Jan 17 at 10:48pm
	Be interesting to stick a big windsurfer rig on it and find out for yourself.. You don't need lessons to sail Topper if you can windsurf, there's this thing at the back to make it change direction, a rope to pull to make it go - Simples
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Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Jan 17 at 11:43pm
	I always wondered about a big raceboard rig on a Topper but, even down to weight (which I'll bet most weren't) it's a bloody heavy windsurfer.........

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jan 17 at 7:57am
	I don't know whether the hull would take a bigger rig. I wondered about transferring a 7.5m Minisail rig straight across. The current spars would have issues, I think. I sailed a Topper for a few years as an adult, but only weighed about 10 1/2 stone at the time. Great for a blast in a strong wind, frustrating to race in the light stuff. Take a look at the Comet, too. Similar length, but more hull volume and a bigger rig.
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PeterV Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 24 Feb 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 131	Post Options Post Reply Quote PeterV Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jan 17 at 12:00pm
	If you're happy to accept the Topper for what it is there's no reason why you cannot enjoy it. It's great for carrying to a beach, sailing in swimming trunks and having a blast when it's too rough for anything else to go out. I'm the same size as you and I've done all this with ours despite also sailing a Finn.
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JimC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jan 17 at 12:23pm
	At 12.5 stone you can go sailing quite happily in a Topper, and it won't handle badly. The spars would fold up if you put a bigger sail on though. Grab a sail in one and see how you get on. But if if does turn out too small you can always sell it on. Always buyers for them, unlike more obscure boats. Edited by JimC - 20 Jan 17 at 12:24pm

oldbaldbloke Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 19 Jan 17 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote oldbaldbloke Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jan 17 at 12:28pm
	Hi everyone Thank you for your responses. I guess everything's a compromise. I agree a Laser sounds great and probably makes most sense. However I think I then have to tow and drive to a beach further from home. Maybe just accepting a topper for what it is and giving it a go is what I have to do . If it doesn't work my kids could use it. I suppose I am looking for something that doesn't exist. Maybe I need to just start windsurfing again! Maybe that's how windsurfing was invented? The thing is I live so close to the beach in Dorset and I wanted a solution where I could go to my local beach and sail with the minimum fuss. No trailer ,no driving long distances. If any one has ever experimented with a bigger sail I'd love to hear , but I guess if it was doable someone would have tried it by now. Maybe the extra forces would break something. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.