Classes in Trouble?

Let's face it , most of us have less in our pocket at the end of the day with house prices still going up and a good proportion of people post education have are expected to work a fair bit outside the 9 to 5, there is less time and money.

Also some classes, like the 505, start to get prohibitively expensive relative to second hand SMODs.

 

maybe right about the RS400 crowd getting into lead keels- the 400 is quite like a displacement yacht to sail!

 

 

Originally posted by WildWood Is it possible to get figures for new boat sales?  Would that provide a more accurate picture of classes which are growing and those declining?

You can get some idea from the YY Racing Classes review - see this thread.

Smodwatch

However the accuracy is somewhat variable. RS didn't send any numbers last year - maybe they had a bad year? RS reps, feel free to post the numbers here if you didn't! New boats built and Nats turnouts are both only part of the story. Some classes can stay healthy on an amazingly low total of new boats...

Originally posted by WildWood Originally posted by JimC I'm sure the calcs Ive done are a rough and ready and probably quite unfair way of judging the health or otherwise of a class. I look forward to seeing some alternatives which are far fairer and more balanced, and no more subjective... Is it possible to get figures for new boat sales?  Would that provide a more accurate picture of classes which are growing and those declining?  Would certainly provide an interesting alternative perspective.  What about class association membership?  I imagine these figures aren't centrally collected by Y&Y or the RYA so maybe not practical.

Both new boat sales and class assn numbers only tell a small part of the story. Measuring 2nd hand boat sales is impossible, but might give a better measure.  Also, most classes gather data on open meeting numbers, and clubs have the results of class and handicap racing. The job of gathering all that together can go to someone else, but you might start to get a vague idea of what is happening. What you'll probebly find after all that is that Lasers are found everywhere...

All succesfull classes have there own "niche". It is a shame that some boats will fall by the wayside if another class offers the same thing but better. Tasar is now doing very well because it has no real competition and still looks modern. Graduate however is slowly fading
because they are percieved as a rotting hulk in the corner of the boat park next to the abandoned L2. It is a pity but some boats will just fade away. Who, exept a die hard enthusiast, would buy a Grad over an RS 200?

I think the 505 is an absolutley great boat and class, and will give some asys a good fight around a course, I'm too light for the Fireball so I don't think a 5oh is on he cards just yet though! And I can hardly sort out the controls in the 'ball let alone a 505 like the one at ally-pally!