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JimC View Drop Down
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    Posted: 12 Mar 05 at 10:07pm
Originally posted by pro wannabe

is it actuall a design by a desighner or just a couple of mates experimenting?


Its a Bethwaite Design project - the material is from their website. FB dropped a strong hint that something in that sort of range was on their radar a couple of years ago at Sailboat so they've been thinking for a good while. Here's JB on how they set about things.

Originally posted by Julian Bethwaite


In terms of actual designing, I start with researching the hole in the market, then plug some well founded numbers into a Excel program. From there after a few preliminary free hand sketches, I draw it out full size... We only use computers to verify what we have already achieved. After that it is up to full size plugs and full size tow tests.


They seem to me to be far more methodical and do far more development than other SMOD manufacturers, which is probably why they haven't put any real turkeys into production. I suppose because they are an engineering led outfit they don't have the bean counters bossing them about with 5000 memos a month telling them to get product out whether its good or not...

Edited by JimC
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carshalton fc View Drop Down
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so the 29er x is going to hapen then?
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JimC View Drop Down
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Posts: 6662 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Mar 05 at 12:22pm
Originally posted by carshalton fc

so the 29er x is going to hapen then?


Something will happen. Whether it will be in that exact shape and form is another matter entirely. Being the Bethwaites you can be pretty sure it will be properly worked out and not a 59er rig stuffed on a 29er hull.

For a two string boat I think I'd be tempted to give some more freeboard and more roll stability than the 29er, but one must remember that freeboard, while highly desirable structurally and in sailing terms, comes awfully expensive in terms of the number of hulls you can fit in a standard shipping crate.

Slightly longer for a little more weight carrying ability would be no bad thing - to a large extent the 29er looks like a 12-13ft boat with an extended bow, so scaling up a little would bring the boat a bit nearer the 470 mark for what has to be targeted as a 470 replacement for the ladies in the 5 ring circus.

The other factor is that a litle more beef in the structure would be a good thing for a two string big rig boat, and the market for an adults boat would probably stand a price premium for more sophisticated layup than the 29ers slightly budget construction.
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sailorguy View Drop Down
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Posts: 164 		Post Options Post Options   Quote sailorguy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Mar 05 at 1:45pm
what about the weight range?
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carshalton fc View Drop Down
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Posts: 2337 		Post Options Post Options   Quote carshalton fc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Mar 05 at 3:43pm
well taking into account what jimC has just said like looks like about the same weght range of the cherub of something like that!!
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Posts: 0 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Guest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Mar 05 at 8:30pm
Not all Bethwaite boats are a hit - the 59er has totally failed in the market so he's not without his own mistakes ...
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carshalton fc View Drop Down
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Posts: 2337 		Post Options Post Options   Quote carshalton fc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Mar 05 at 8:38pm
yer but look at all the sucseful boats he has designed. 
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Posts: 909 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Wave Rider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Mar 05 at 9:16pm
Hmm i don't no about that..the 59er isnt failing exactly because it had a hell of a lot of interest around it at the dinghy show and it is a fairly new boat...
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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: 13 Mar 05 at 11:52pm
A funny boat the 59er.  I must confess to getting it wrong since looking at its small main and broad rear sections I thought it unlikely to perform well in the light stuff.  I am wrong, they have a couple at Eastbourne SC and talking to those who compete against them they are fast in light to medium.
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Lanson View Drop Down
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Posts: 1 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Lanson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Mar 05 at 6:08am
Firstly, I don't work for Bethwaite Design, though I am quite well informed, what I say is what I think, email them www.bethwaite.com if you're looking for their answer.

I've done a bit of sailing on the boat and can probably help to answer some of your questions so feel free to ask any more that you have.

The rig and sails that you see in that pic happen to be the original 29er rig (originally it was a twin wire boat) with a few tweaks eg. mast is stiffer and some other tweaking. The current rig height is surprisingly only a little bit longer than the 29er (I think around a foot).

I think they're aiming for the crew weight to be about the size of 2 good looking girls?

I'd doubt very much whether they have a final price for the new components, though if you want to take a guess, the rig fits cleanly onto a standard 29er hull with the same foils pole etc. The parts which are different are: mast (and rigging), main, jib, kite and tiller extensions, all sheets and blocks are the same.

The rig is still very much in prototype stage though I'd expect that once Julian gets the ratio's to a point he's happy with it could be produced very quickly. Since it's just rig and sails there aren't any moulds to build.
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