Pond Sailing Suggestions

Trouble is i am not sure you are going to get any boat at £1500 that is fully competitive with newer models.  I had a series 2 GP for a while and it was great, i think you should now be able to pick one up for marginally more then your budget.  But it will almost certainly be made of wood.  Enterprises have a pretty good handicap IMO, again an FRP one is cheaper then a GP but still more then £1500.  As Merlinmags mentioned you would get a nice Merlin for £1500 and it should be quick on a small pond, if you buy the right hull type and its set up with twin poles (quicker gybing) if your lucky you may find an Omega NSM2 which will be failry competitive on a small pond but it still won't win you the nationals.

if i were in your situation i would be buying a decent wooden Enterprise and paying to have it dry stored in the winter months.  £1500 would buy you a quick club boat.

Originally posted by The Moo Albacore? There are some fairly cheap GRP ones on Appolo Duck right now. No Spinnaker to faff with but do have dangly jib pole and might carry weight a bit better than N12

Albacore is a great boat, but not sure £1500 is going to buy you one thats going to give a modern Grad/GP a run for its money on handicap.

Originally posted by Merlinboy Enterprises have a pretty good handicap IMO,

I've yet to see evidence of this, with the GPs having gone with double floors they're much stiffer (actually racing off around 1109 at SSC vs 1127 published) and the Enterprise is stuck in history.  West Lancs next door race in fleets with the Enterprise fleet setting off 2 minutes ahead of the GP's and i've yet to see a race where they don't all get overtaken by the lead GP.  And theres 3 guys who finished in the top 15 a the Ent nats so they're no slouches round a course...

My aim is to do as well as possible, i've sailed an RS400 and normally come in the top 3 or 4 on handicap but i feel i could do much better in a boat more suited to the lake. 

Looking through the GP website for sale list it appears for the price i'm looking at its a series 1 boat unless i luckily catch a mark 2 for cheap.  How weight tolerant are Tasars/National 12s?  Depth is an issue at certain times of the year but GPs and the like tend to be fine, its just the more performace boats that struggle...

Originally posted by MattHarris Originally posted by Merlinboy Enterprises have a pretty good handicap IMO, I've yet to see evidence of this, with the GPs having gone with double floors they're much stiffer (actually racing off around 1109 at SSC vs 1127 published) and the Enterprise is stuck in history.  West Lancs next door race in fleets with the Enterprise fleet setting off 2 minutes ahead of the GP's and i've yet to see a race where they don't all get overtaken by the lead GP.  And theres 3 guys who finished in the top 15 a the Ent nats so they're no slouches round a course... My aim is to do as well as possible, I've sailed an RS400 and normally come in the top 3 or 4 on handicap but i feel i could do much better in a boat more suited to the lake.  Looking through the GP website for sale list it appears for the price I'm looking at its a series 1 boat unless i luckily catch a mark 2 for cheap.  How weight tolerant are Tasars/National 12s?  Depth is an issue at certain times of the year but GPs and the like tend to be fine, its just the more performace boats that struggle...

 

You are right Gp's are much stiffer, not sure how much this extra stiffness makes on a shallow small inland water.  The biggest difference is the fact the collect less water and the wight is distributed slightly differently.  I do however agree they are quicker then series 1 versions.  but the enterprise roll tacks as well if not better then most classes and with the new fly away pole system should now be marginally quicker off wind.  The enterprise handicap may only seem harsh against GP's.  Handicaps seem harsh/advantageous when you compare different things.  Solo's and Albacores have very advantageous handicaps on some waters, where as others have advantageous handicaps across the board.  In short for your £1500 i think you will struggle to find a boat that will compete with the GP on a restricted piece of water.  My point about the enterprises was you will get a better standard of ent for £1500 then you will GP.

 

For example a lufkin Enterprise (if i remember highly regarded builder)

ENTERPRISE 21092 LUFKIN 1984 VGC RECENT COMPLETE REPAINT AND VARNISH, SPEED SAILS, PROCTOR SPARS, SPARE CENTREBOARD & TILLER,
BOOM UP COVER, RAPIDE COMBI TRAILER, £1350 ONO. LOCATED MANCHESTER AREA Tel: 01204 885983 EVENING or 07831 092024 DAYTIME

The cheapest series 2 GP is £2150 (that i can find)

Therefore i would suggest an Enterprise at that value is going to be more competitive then a Gp of the same value.

In terms of Albacore you may find a young (Builder) for that sort of money, but this is going to be an old boat now and ongoing maintenance.  It will also struggle against a brand new Jeep.

If it's still available this has got to be worth a look at £1250.000. http://www.national12.org/adverts/detail.php?id=512&catid=4

The advert incorrectly describes it as a Lucky No Design. I believe it to be one of Dare Barry's Pudding design. Reasonable all rounder with the advantage of being self draining when you cock up the roll tacks!

It is wood though so would benefit from winter storage if not being used.