Twin wire boat

   The 14 is a hard boat to pigeon hole really, any boat say less then 10 years old is going to be harder to get round the course then an 800.  Kite loads depend entirely on the type of kite you have.  As an example on the loads and wear on a i14, i went through two pairs of those Showa builders gloves at Abersoch dinghy week in 07 (obviously i play the main as well)  Kite hoists and drops on a newer 14 take lots of fitness and technique.  Having said that once we had our boat finally set up right we were as quick as the mid fleet 9ers upwind at the ovi inlands and faster downhill then all.  When things go right with a modern 14 it is just an awesome boat, just the learning curve is expensive and tough.  I cant speak for the older boats as i never sailed one in anger (i did own a penni years ago) I would in your position buy an 800.

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Merlinboy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 03 Jul 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3169	Post Options Post Reply Quote Merlinboy Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Twin wire boat Posted: 17 Sep 09 at 4:11pm
	The 14 is a hard boat to pigeon hole really, any boat say less then 10 years old is going to be harder to get round the course then an 800. Kite loads depend entirely on the type of kite you have. As an example on the loads and wear on a i14, i went through two pairs of those Showa builders gloves at Abersoch dinghy week in 07 (obviously i play the main as well) Kite hoists and drops on a newer 14 take lots of fitness and technique. Having said that once we had our boat finally set up right we were as quick as the mid fleet 9ers upwind at the ovi inlands and faster downhill then all. When things go right with a modern 14 it is just an awesome boat, just the learning curve is expensive and tough. I cant speak for the older boats as i never sailed one in anger (i did own a penni years ago) I would in your position buy an 800.

chrisg Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 23 Mar 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 893	Post Options Post Reply Quote chrisg Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Sep 09 at 8:47am
	Hear hear neal. Im not sure why some people think 14's are harder to sail than 800's. Very strange. Some of the latest £15k+ monsters may be as quick as a 49er but with more modern sail controls and full carbon rig (ok i know new 49ers have carbon masts), t-foils etc they could be considered more controlable. The older new rules 14's (ok so I'm biased as I have one I am trying to sell) are as stable as an 800, if not more so. And my other half who has crewed for me in both an 800 and a 14 reckons the sheet loads from the kite are actually less in our 14! I agree with Neal, the 800 is the obvious choice if you want serious class racing with good open circuit, but if you want a cheap blasting toy that will do well on handicap in club races then an older 14 definitely fits the bill!

Neal_g Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Far too distracted from work Joined: 07 Oct 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 323	Post Options Post Reply Quote Neal_g Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Sep 09 at 4:25pm
	Depends on the design of the boats really the ovi 2 14's were quite a stable as they are a lot wider then the new ones. but as a few people have said get out and badger people for a sail in one. yes rs800 is a good compromise but if you serious on twin wire then you need to look at off the boom sheeting etc and crew taking the main.
	(Redoubt Sc) Miracle 4040 GP14 13407 Crewsaver phase 2 range now available to buy online on at http://www.gibsonsails.com

tornado435 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Posting king Joined: 05 May 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 196	Post Options Post Reply Quote tornado435 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Sep 09 at 1:50pm
	As a cat sailor I would say to stay clear of a hobie 16, they were never designed for a kite and in my opinion are horrid to sail. As has been mentioned you are looking at a spitfire or f18 for that money. You may also be able to pick up a hurricane sx. The f18 and hurricane are pretty big heavy noats but great fun. The only thing to watch with f18 is because it is a box rule the boats have moved on over the years. An old hawk or inter18 will still be great fun but are not competitive machines

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: 6662	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Sep 09 at 1:41pm
	No-one seems to have mentioned the key point - go sail some! There is really a good deal of difference between the different boats, and you need to find out what appeals to you... The 49er is power, brute power and lots of it, but plenty of length to help out. The 800 is definitely the steadiest and most moderate, but it could be argued that a moderate extreme boat is something of an odd concept... The 14 is again brute power, but short with it, and with an awful lot more complexity in gear and setup. the Cherub is the lightest of the lot and also the shortest, but with a slightly less extreme sail plan than some. Oh and multihulls have huge sails and amazing upwind and moderate wind speed, but score less points in the bouncing over waves downhill department. All of these things will appeal to some folk and not to others, which is why the team neeed to jump into some boats and try them out... Edited by JimC

craiggo Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 01 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1810	Post Options Post Reply Quote craiggo Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Sep 09 at 1:19pm
	If you are seriously concerned that your skill level is not high enough to jump into a 49er then discount the 14 immediately. RS800 is the sensible choice. As for Cats, your at the top end of Spitfire weight but if you have Cats in your club then you'd do well to find anything better. If you can sail a normal boat then you'll be able to sail a Cat, it just takes a bito f time to work out that its actually desirable to have it heeled over. As Wee Man says an F18 would be a good buy, but they are heavy boats, and unless you have some already at your club, you'll spend too many races light years infront of the rest of the fleet which sounds great but the novelty wears off pretty quick once you've sat around between races for more time than you were racing! anyway just to emphasise my suggestion RS800

Ross Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 02 May 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1163	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ross Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Sep 09 at 11:33pm
	Get 'The Flying Kipper'. 97/05 dog and will go faster than anything else mentioned (top end) and you'll definitely need nappies when it's breeze on. VERY CHEAP, solid and nicely sorted boat/rig. Check the Cherub 'for sale' section on the website.
	Ross If you can't carry it, don't sail it!

Wee Man Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Aug 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 214	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wee Man Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Sep 09 at 6:55pm
	There's a Hobie Tiger F18 for sale on the F18 website for £3250 Bargain http://www.f18.org.uk/forums.asp?messageID=2445

Merlinboy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 03 Jul 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3169	Post Options Post Reply Quote Merlinboy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Sep 09 at 2:42pm
	Frans an I14 will be just as much of a challenge as a 9er and at £4k you will probably go as fast as a 9er. Be carefull if you think its an easier option fella!

Fans1024 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 30 Nov 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 177	Post Options Post Reply Quote Fans1024 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Sep 09 at 2:37pm
	So, its down to an I14 or RS800... must resist the crazy part of me saying the 49er is the prefect option. Another boat or type of boat I discounted was a multihull, merely because I've never really sailed one. Blasting one on holiday doesn't really count. Having no real knowledge of cats the first one springs to mind is the Hobie 16 - any good? Basically, I would be looking for the same things in the cat as the monohull. Aka Budget less the £4000 [cheaper the better], twin wire kite crew weight 140 kg+ most of the height and weight at the back both experianced with trapeze etc but not in a cat Again massive thanks for everyone's help so far.