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What singlehander
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JimC View Drop Down
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    Posted: 01 Oct 12 at 8:10pm
Originally posted by Seasick Steve

Is GRP better than FRP?

The terms don't get used as consistently as one might like. Basically you probably want a fairly recent foam sandwich boat. The older ones made from just solid glass were, shall we say, not brilliant.
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pondmonkey View Drop Down
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Posts: 2202 		Post Options Post Options   Quote pondmonkey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 12 at 7:52pm
I'm not the best person to answer that, but a quick check shows I should have said FRP for a 4200+ winder.

Do you sail inland Steve? If so then a Superspar m7 or proctor/selden D+ would be recommended. Although you can often find someone to swap with after buying, but that's a hassle factor you wouldn't get with the Laser.
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Seasick Steve View Drop Down
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Posts: 20 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Seasick Steve Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 12 at 7:35pm
I am 5'8 and 12stone 6
Is GRP better than FRP?

Steve
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Posts: 2202 		Post Options Post Options   Quote pondmonkey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 12 at 6:57pm
I was advised to look for a GRP Winder sail number 4200+ when I was looking at the 4k mark

. They come up on the Solo Associstion site relatively frequently. Sails are consumables, so to some extent this less relevant, bu obviously a good condition sail is worth a hundred odd quid extra upfront. but let me know your weight / height and I'll ask someone about the best mast to look out for. Ruscoe????
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Seasick Steve View Drop Down
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Posts: 20 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Seasick Steve Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 12 at 5:43pm
Yep thats sounds like good logic to me
I will obviously do my own research but do u have
Any quick suggestions for a really nice solo preffably GRP, don't want
Two wooden boats to maintain unless the wooden Solo has advantages
Over a GRP

Thanks again

Steve
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pondmonkey View Drop Down
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Posts: 2202 		Post Options Post Options   Quote pondmonkey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 12 at 5:00pm
Blazes, Solos and Phantoms are all great boats- if there's enough of any of them then you're in a nice place to consider the options.  You really need to try one at around the £4k mark if you want to understand the differences, a really old Phantom/Solo is not the same as a £4k one.  Similarly some of the very old polyester Blazes are allegedly dead heavy... something to watch out for anyway.  

Typically for handicap racing:

Blaze- great in heavier winds and good in the sea (feel quick, but not too powerful)

Phantoms- great in marginal F2 winds, good on lakes and flat water (feel very powerful and quick)

Solos- great all rounders, hence their popularity, despite them being considered slow.  Very fair on handicap as it's one of the very few classes who can actually muster up some reasonable statistics from the club racing scene.

My honest advice, buy either a Laser or Solo and see if you like the racing and camaraderie of the sailing club.  You may find you like it quite a lot and this becomes more standard operating procedure than just going for a freeride sail.  It happens with a lot of our newbies once they've committed to buying a boat.  Even the guys who bought the weird and wonderful random choices appear to be migrating back to the Lasers, Solos and Fireballs.... it's just a better quality of racing to sail against similar boats, in turn, the 'sailing' is better and you get more out of the sport.  

If you just want to go fast, then just make sure you slow down for cameras on the way to the club.  It's the 'fastest' aspect of anyone's day out sailing...

Worst case scenario... you want to upgrade onto something else in a couple of years and you can probably sell the Solo or Laser for more or less what you paid for it.


Edited by pondmonkey - 01 Oct 12 at 5:07pm
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Seasick Steve View Drop Down
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Posts: 20 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Seasick Steve Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 12 at 4:51pm
Thanks for all your suggestions, at my local club it is mainly Solos and Lasers,
I have had a quick look at the Blaze and Phantom sites
Would a Phantom be overpowered for my size and weight
How do they compare on performance to the Solos and are they
Penalised in the handicapp system.
I think that I would use the dinghy more for recreation fun than serious racing but
Would like to take part in the odd event

Thanks again for all your input

Steve
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G.R.F. View Drop Down
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Posts: 4028 		Post Options Post Options   Quote G.R.F. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 12 at 4:23pm
I have the perfect boat thanks and hours of enjoyment it is giving me, regrettably I can't recommend it to others as it is as so often pointed out to me a 'dead' class and there aint many about, which is a shame, having said that I don't think it is a boat that would be much cop for anyone much over my weight, but then I've never sailed one with new sails and gear on them.

What I can do however is point out the folly of others as it is such a target rich environment.
https://www.ease-distribution.com/
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haroosh View Drop Down
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Posts: 521 		Post Options Post Options   Quote haroosh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 12 at 4:23pm
Originally posted by Seasick Steve

Despite my previous thread, I am starting to realise that sailing with my son is not going to be
A regular thing and am starting to think of a decent singlehander and keep my mirror for 
Occasional family use

I am 5'7 and about 80KG and have a

Sounds like a good plan Steve. Keep the mirror for the kids and get yourself something for when they are busy.
I think depending on what your after anything like a Laser or a Solo would be great. If theres lots of Solos at your club then it may be the best option. Up in Scotland now its one of the biggest single handed adult classes going.
Personally although I like the idea of the close racing I still prefer having something with a bit more speed so it just depends what your after in terms of really close racing or handicap racing in something with a bit more pace?
At £4k you have a great choice and can have any singlehanders except the newest classes like the 100 and D1 that have not yet got down to that price yet.
Happy shopping...
 
PS - dont listen to the numpties contstantly banging on about how rubbish older designs are.
Keith
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pondmonkey View Drop Down
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Posts: 2202 		Post Options Post Options   Quote pondmonkey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 12 at 4:07pm
Originally posted by G.R.F.

So poor old Seasick Steve joins the back of the Solo fleet so a bunch of old greybeards can feel good about themselves, along with you.

Instead of buying a Blaze, getting a bit of a thrill out of sailing it and the benefit of a little Banditsomeness to help the spreadsheet blues, you should have bought a Blaze, the bloke that bought mine is your build and he rocks in it, he also has your propensity for third rank off the start line, but the speed of it carries him through the fleet. Or buy a Phantom, at least it was a better design and he can get the coffee on whilst he's bumbling about.

But Solo - ugh spare me..

you're probably right... if there were 20 Blazes at my club fielding 5 minimum, 10+ on a good day, I would gravitate towards one more than a Solo for sure; but there aren't, so I won't.  

And before saying 'buy one and they'll all come running', you and I know they won't and quite frankly why bother anyway?  It's just another boat, the fun is in the competition and as long as it's nice enough to sail, ('better' than a laser - in a sort of fashion), then that's fine by me.  

edit- third rank start, yep that's 'cos I was over, sailed back around the fleet and still came back through past you  LOL  But I'm glad it worked out like that, there's nothing quite like my smile as I sailed past you and there's nothing quite so nasty as my transom in the distance to know how owned you really were  Wink



Edited by pondmonkey - 01 Oct 12 at 4:15pm
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