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Any thoughts on RS 400?
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Garry View Drop Down
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Posts: 536 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Garry Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Any thoughts on RS 400?
    Posted: 26 Jan 05 at 5:23pm
Larks have similar sail area to Enterprise (jib&main) plus the advanage of a Kite    However, because they don't have chines they tend to be a bit less stable and the room for the crew to get under the boom is a bit limited.

Friendliest class association around (others might disagree!!! but don't believe them ) Very competitive fleet.

Lots of cheap good boats available £1200 should get you a reasonable boat and £500 something sailable. In that respect very like an Ent.

You can rig them with a Mirror main if you want less sail area (can also do that with an Ent).

Visit the   class website

If you want a trial sail I'm sure someone can onblige - visit us at the Dinghy Show...

Edited by Garry
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Lark 2252, Contender 298

www.cuckoos.eclipse.co.uk
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ChrisJ View Drop Down
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Posts: 337 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ChrisJ Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 05 at 9:45am

You can find an Enterprise for £200 to £1000 (or up to £5000!) second hand. At the cheaper end, as long as it doesn't leak, and as long as there is no rot in the wood, you will be able to sell it after a year or two for the same you paid. An Enterprise has less for the crew to do than a 400 - which may be a good thing, or may not.

If you sail on a small pond, then an Enterprise could be better than a 400. If you sail on a larger pond, then the 400 is a much more exciting ride than an Enterprise.

The 400 is more tippy, and has a much more powerful main, which can not be reefed. But if you are sailing inland in winds generally below force 4, you will find the 400 is a great boat to sail. With the asymetric kite up it really comes alive down-wind. Sailing the 400 is fairly straight-forward: You can let the boat go where she wants to, and can sail at 15 degrees of tip. Racing (when you have to make the boat go fast, upright, where you want to go) is a harder skill to master!

At our club (Burghfield) we have people who race with young (certainly pre-teen) sons crewing.
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Stefan Lloyd View Drop Down
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Posts: 1599 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Stefan Lloyd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 05 at 3:36pm

Originally posted by headfry

  
1,I fell in love with the shape of the 400

A Merlin Rocket is much the same shape (the 400 designer was for many years the most inflential Merlin designer) and may be cheaper 2nd hand. They have less sail area than the 400 and hence are more suitable for lighter crews. You can get them 2nd hand from a few hundred pounds upwards. There are some plastic and composite ones around but most are wood and therefore need more maintenance. The class association is very active and friendly.
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Rob.e View Drop Down
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Posts: 545 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rob.e Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 05 at 8:24pm
I loved our Merlin, and given a good crew I might still prefer one to a 400, but the 400's assymetric does make it easier! Potentially you could pick up a Merlin cheaper, tho'. A lot depends on the crew. We went from a Nat 12 to the Merlin and where amazed at the increased sheet loads, which could also apply to the 400. If you have a smaller/weaker crew, the Ent could be better.
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Harry44981! View Drop Down
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Posts: 736 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Harry44981! Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 05 at 10:26am
What is the 400s competitve weight?
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redback View Drop Down
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Posts: 1502 		Post Options Post Options   Quote redback Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jan 05 at 10:32am
Well I'd say its quite broad but around 24 stone.  Fitness is important because you have to sit the thing out upwind and down, unlike a conventional kite boat.
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headfry View Drop Down
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Posts: 359 		Post Options Post Options   Quote headfry Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Mar 05 at 9:54am
Hi folks,

I am off to look at my first boat...... green or what, excited or what  I have largely to trust fellow sailors that they are being true to their word when it comes to the condition of the boat.

I need to know how to get a peak at the centre board ? feel I should at least know of it's condition. would I be wrong in my asking?

Any other tips??    

Thanks



Edited by headfry
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Pierre View Drop Down
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Posts: 1532 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Pierre Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Mar 05 at 9:58am

Get them to put it over on its side so you can see the centre board down, slot gasket and state of the underneath.  Check the state of the sails as well.  RS400 sails are very expensive.  You need to see it rigged in front of you.

Good luck, and happy hunting.

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headfry View Drop Down
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Posts: 359 		Post Options Post Options   Quote headfry Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Mar 05 at 12:16pm
Thanks Pierre, good point about gasket, I had forgotton that one!  There is so much for the newbie to remember to check, I feel a list happening here! 
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PaulUK View Drop Down
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Posts: 14 		Post Options Post Options   Quote PaulUK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 05 at 4:22pm

Hi all

I got an old enterprise in the end, it has seen better days but was very cheap and should at least get me sailing.

Thanks for all the advice

Paul
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