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V Twin

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G.R.F. View Drop Down
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    Posted: 05 Apr 12 at 4:57pm
Ah, I see, thanks to all those for their support, I have to say even had it cost 14k and I was here now with 14k spare that the Inland revenue were not about to prize from my cold dead fingers.
 I'd still do this, I know it works, wide is fast, wide eventually once it's dialled is easy, and wide makes access to sailing easier, true it doesn't work in light winds, but then there is plenty of stuff that does already, so I'd still have to go through with this, knowing then what I know now for sure I'd have done it slightly differently, but then I wouldn't have known all this if I hadn't done what I've done so far and like somebody back there said, I won't be told, had to find out for myself.

The only thing that is holding me back is the lack of a builder and the fact the wheels came off business in general last year and the business climate is super tough(I've lost five times its cost in bad debts alone last year), so there was never any intention of trying to persuade anyone else to buy the thing, it is purely self indulgence.

As to why it hasn't been on the water, I only picked it up when I got the call on Dec 23rd they were closing down and what I picked up was hardly a finished device, we fell out over what they were going to try and charge me to rig it (more than i could have purchased an entire boat for) the boat bit was on budget, it was a discussion as to what were and were not extras and the cost of a rig, during that contretemps, I lost interest, but since I've had it, messing about on the lake was a totally enlightening experience, I genuinely had never sailed a boat on a lake other than a gaff rigged dinghy as a kid on the Norfolk Broads, so the experiences alone have been worth the money.

Disappointment, sure I'm gutted it doesn't go in a drifter, but nor do lots of other boats (i bet that Vortex doesn't work very well in sub 5knots) Yes it's far heavier than I would have liked, but I'm glad I didn't chuck more 1000's in carbon until i found out it's strengths and weaknesses. The fact I can launch it single handed but struggle to recover isn't actually much different than a Blaze, but i can leave it at the waters edge whilst I ditch the trailer.

As to the muppets here, you can't hand out the crap I do and not expect it back and I really don't mind, provided it is couched in irony, I've never reported a post here, don't believe in it, God knows how many of my posts must have been 'reported' over the years, but the nasty ones, you have to accept their character weaknesses as part of the human condition and acknowledge that this is a bit of a bloody, doh I've forgotten the word for it now, but means self promotion in a bad way..

Whatever bottom line I'd still do it rather than buy a bloody Merlin and I'm still hopefull of handing the chuckle brothers at our club their ass in theirs over the coming weeks, if I do that alone I shall be proclaiming the answer found at the bottom of a few pint glasses I can tell you..

But thanks again I'm touched by the support, I really don't deserve it..


Edited by G.R.F. - 05 Apr 12 at 5:05pm
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G.R.F. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote G.R.F. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 12 at 4:14pm
I've been busy to day, why are there Merlins on my V-twin thread?

Has Satan spawned with the trolls from yesterday?

goes back to have a look wondering wtf has happened


Edited by G.R.F. - 05 Apr 12 at 4:15pm
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rogue View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote rogue Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 12 at 4:09pm
it's cheaper than 2 RS100s/Phantoms etc... so if you and a mate really want a high end product in a respected fleet then I guess even the Merlin doesn't look too pricey compared to average single handers... 

Edited by rogue - 05 Apr 12 at 4:10pm

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RS400atC View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote RS400atC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 12 at 3:34pm
Originally posted by Ruscoe

Are Winder Merlins really only £14k?? using the RS price calculator a 400 is £12500 with covers and combi's!?

£13k base price.
There is a fairly impressive list of upgrades, e.g. +£507 for selden mast in place of superspar, +£621 for carbon deck and tank, then the usual covers and trailers. A lifting rudder would be on my list too, and +£120 for a two-colour hull. Fairly easy to spend £15k without getting into spare sets of sails or a Merc to tow it with....
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Ruscoe Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 12 at 3:24pm
Are Winder Merlins really only £14k?? using the RS price calculator a 400 is £12500 with covers and combi's!?

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Post Options Post Options   Quote RS400atC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 12 at 2:41pm
Originally posted by Daniel Holman

Folks,

I don't know how much Graeme has spent on the V Twin to date and it is none of my business. I do reckon, though, that it would be less than a new shiny, much the same as the last one verse chorus verse Merlin Rocket.......


A new Winder Merlin on the water costs about £14k.
A two year old one will sell very quickly at over £10k, having offered you an open meeting most weekends. A five year old one can win the Nationals. Not such bad value.
They even do them in black now....
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ex laser View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote ex laser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 12 at 2:35pm
Originally posted by haroosh

Rockhopper - I agree but please do remember mr Grumpy is the guy sl*gging all the other fleets..... He can cope with a bit of light hearted sl*gging in his direction. He will be sitting at Grumpy towers laughing at all the posts anyway. Anyway We are all hoping to get the 15% early adopters reduction rate if the v twin becomes the new hottest thing out.....then that will help the 2nd hand markets for 100's and Musto Skiffs...by the way I am being a touch sarcastic.


+1 Clap g.r.f is g.r.f.! he just loves the agro he causes!

i just love his views on boats.  he knows so much and cuts though all the crap!

to sum up;

if he say's a boat is good, that means its rubbish.
if he say's a boat is crap, that means its wonderfull!!!! LOL
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Post Options Post Options   Quote rogue Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 12 at 2:30pm
FWIW I admire the challenge he's set himself, but as someone who has done something similar, albeit on a far more modest scale with a significantly lower risk factor, I can't help but think he's in for disappointment. 

Even if his machine happens to provide really rewarding sailing, it'll never have anything else to race against, therefore it will never bring back memories of the fleet racing he has from the longboards.  This will then have limited appeal, especially as with such extreme design parameters, you'll never get a consensus for a bonafide handicap even if does prove raceable.  

My heart says well done for trying, but my head says that this much passion, excitement, broad shouldered acceptance of criticism could have been channeled better in other directions by challenging mindsets rather than hull shapes.

Maybe spending the money on a really tricked up kited Blaze, that can be switched simply back into unarig 'fleet' mode for racing would have been better for all if you really want to change things?  Sadly doing a custom jobby for oneself could actually isolate you further, rather than provide the antidote to everything that's so backward and archaic in dinghy sailing.  In the long term, I genuinely hope it doesn't cost Graeme his passion, even if the cash is lost.

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Post Options Post Options   Quote tgruitt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 12 at 2:30pm
Originally posted by Medway Maniac

This thread is turning into a mediaeval holy war between god-less trolls and the holier than thou 'let's be fair mongers.

What we need are more concrete results, feedback from testing etc.  I can't believe the object of so much expenditure and interest has spent so little time on the water since August last year.


I think what we want to see is some wind, some video and some pictures that don't look like they've been taken from the moon. Surely GRP can find someone with some camera skills? Smile
Needs to sail more...
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Medway Maniac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 12 at 2:23pm
This thread is turning into a mediaeval holy war between god-less trolls and the holier than thou 'let's be fair mongers.

What we need are more concrete results, feedback from testing etc.  I can't believe the object of so much expenditure and interest has spent so little time on the water since August last year.
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