Multi-purpose dinghy: RS Vision, Laser 2000 or ???

Hi,

The time has come (as it does to every Briton :-) for me to buy a boat.  I've read and learnt much from other topics/replies, thank you for all the excellent info in this forum, but now have my own question to narrow this down.

I'd describe myself as an enthusiastic but nervous intermediate sailor, and want my own dinghy to spend more time on the water to gain experience, knowledge and confidence.  I'm looking at new rather than secondhand, and will be sailing inland lakes and sheltered coastal.  The complexity is that I want a do-everything dinghy:

 - can be sailed single-handed, but is at its most performant with a two-adult crew (male-male or male-female)
 - tame enough to handle now, sporty enough to take me through to a good standard of club racing
 - must have spinnaker (asymmetric) and trapeze (there are plenty of excellent hiking boats, I just want the fun of a trapeze)
 - ideally fully adjustable (while sailing) controls; not critical in the short term, but I want to learn the finer points of sail tuning as I improve
 - (lower priority) could be used for day sailing with three or four people (perhaps with reefed or smaller sails)
 
The marketing blurb for the RS Vision and Laser 2000 suggest they fit the above perfectly, so both are on my short list.  I don't have a preference between GRP or moulded plastic.  The RS Vision gets mostly good reviews, but some complain it's too 'tippy' (compared to what?) and it seems to have fewer adjustable controls.  The Laser 2000 looks very good but is more expensive, plus I think the trapeze isn't allowed for strict class racing?

The Laser Bahia seems to be a more modern (and cheaper) replacement for the Laser 2000, so that's on the short list too.  I've sailed a Laser Bahia and liked it, but it felt a bit big for some reason (even though it has similar dimensions to the others).

Or looking at something sportier, there's the Laser Vago or RS 500.  I'd happily sail both now, albeit with some timidity and probably excessive capsizing in the early stages, but they look good boats to grow into for my purposes.  Perhaps not the best choices for the day-sailing requirement though, and how easily are they sailable single-handed?  I'm curious how the RS 500 hull can be so light for its size, compared to others?  Obviously it's strongly-enough built for performance sailing, but could the lightness make it less rugged long term?

The Topper Xenon and Topper Omega also look a good fit.  But Topper dinghies don't seem to be recommended much for private purchases, they seem to be aimed mainly at the holiday resort market?  And several posts comment that they're built down to a budget with lower quality fittings - although Topper's brochures claim the exact opposite?

Another factor is ongoing support, as I'd hope to keep the boat for many years.  Some people in other posts feel that Laser aren't the best at long-term support (particularly for models no longer in production), whereas RS seem to foster a very inclusive atmosphere - but of course they haven't been around long enough to have stopped making older models.

Then of course there's the venerable and excellent Wayfarer that's always recommended as a cruiser-come-racer.  I've very happily sailed Wayfarers in the past, but compared to some of the boats above they're a bit big and heavy, and expensive (and no trapeze).  I think I'd be better served by one of the more modern designs.  So there's also the Comet Trio that's a modern boat in a more traditional Wayfarer-like style, or is that too pedestrian for my aspirations?

Plus there are many other classes I haven't even considered yet; it's easy to focus on the big proprietary builders (Laser, RS, etc), but are there other builders with their own designs, or building some of the classic classes, that I should also add to the short list?  I don't want to complicate things with too many choices, but also don't want to miss the ideal boat.

Obviously the best way to find the right boat is to do test-sails in some of them, I just want to do my research up front so I pick the right short-list of dinghies to test.

All comments / recommendations on any of the above points will be very greatly appreciated!  (But I would humbly ask that if you say "boat x is better/worse than boat y" please explain why you think that.  A lot of posts don't, which makes it hard to know if one person's preference is applicable to someone else.)

Many thanks in advance for any replies.
Scott

Ok I'll start but its difficult to compare boat for boat. I am fortunate that I have had a sail in so many different boats.

Laser 2k - very good fun boat, suitable for 3 people (thats what it is rated to) is light enough to handle and very spacious. Simple to rig/.reef etc.
Laser Bahia - too heavy to handle singlehanded, not the best to sail singlehanded, very roomy for more people, sails ok but not the most glamerous of boats
RS Vision - It is a great boat, plasitc makes it heavier to handle, sails ok.
RS500 - wouldnt sail it singlehanded, wouldn;t sail it with 3 people in the boat. Too much sail//too crampt
Wayfarer - wouldnt sail singlehanded, too heavy, great for cruising with 3/4 people
Topper Xenon - too big to sail singlehanded, not practicle to cruise.
Topper Omega - Its a heavy boat, didnt enjoy sailing
Laser Vago - intermediate/expert boat, has to be sailed with trapeeze for singlehanded sailing, too cramped for 3 people, tippy boat.
Comet - not sailed one but but they do look great boats, we have a trio at the club and it looks like fun.

I'd shortlist to the Comet or L2k, nicer to sail a fibreglass boat, much lighter on the trolley can provide the fun and experience you are after.

(All above are my personal thoughts and not those of the manufacturers etc etc.......................)

Do ask if you want more info

Scott,

Edited by Peaky - 01 Oct 10 at 9:21pm

Agree with most of what's been said so far, especially the point that despite what manufacturer promo blurb may claim, any single boat that attempts to "do it all" will be a compromise.  Personally if I wanted to single hand and to sail with the family I'd buy two boats even if it meant buying 2nd hand. For the budget of a new Vision you could end up with a very nice Laser/Solo/Supernova/Comet etc etc and an Ent/GP/Wanderer or whatever as well.

As an aside, please try and get plenty of trial sails. At my club I see newbies join the club having bought into the manufacturer PR and acquired the latest Laser/Topper/RS plastic fantastic, then spend a depressing season sailing around at the back of the fleet as the boat they bought didn't really suit the water or them for that matter. OK any boat is better than nothing (!), but my point is there are more intelligent ways of spending your money than thinking you have to have the latest and so called greatest from the big 3.

Gosh, many thanks for the great replies.  To respond to people's comments: