Topper sailing in a breeze

   Nice photo, don't worry about the boat, just enjoy the scenery.

You are a tad over the perfect Topper race weight anyway.

I suspect 16### would be what is now called a 'pre-production' boat, never sure where that term came from but:

1. is the transom fitting a stainless plate or aluminium casting?

2. Is the bailer a plastic Superchute or a holt wedge shaped thing?

If aluminium casting and Holt bailer then it's a pre-production and probably wouldn't ever be worth more than a couple or 3 large rounds at the bar. Enjoy the boat as it is or consider trading.

If it's the later boat and doesn't leak then it's a viable foundation to build on.

Hard to tell but it doesn't look like a skinny boom in the photo.

The later 'fat' booms are the same size as the top section, 1 3/4" OD

Edited by piglet - 06 Jun 16 at 9:54pm

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piglet Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 04 Jan 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 514	Post Options Post Reply Quote piglet Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Topper sailing in a breeze Posted: 06 Jun 16 at 9:51pm
	Nice photo, don't worry about the boat, just enjoy the scenery. You are a tad over the perfect Topper race weight anyway. I suspect 16### would be what is now called a 'pre-production' boat, never sure where that term came from but: 1. is the transom fitting a stainless plate or aluminium casting? 2. Is the bailer a plastic Superchute or a holt wedge shaped thing? If aluminium casting and Holt bailer then it's a pre-production and probably wouldn't ever be worth more than a couple or 3 large rounds at the bar. Enjoy the boat as it is or consider trading. If it's the later boat and doesn't leak then it's a viable foundation to build on. Hard to tell but it doesn't look like a skinny boom in the photo. The later 'fat' booms are the same size as the top section, 1 3/4" OD Edited by piglet - 06 Jun 16 at 9:54pm

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jun 16 at 9:38pm
	I've seen worse. Owned worse, actually, but yes, it is pretty blown out. It is possible to get fake Topper sails pretty cheaply, or secondhand ones from people who take it seriously. You'll be amazed at how much nicer the boat is to sail!
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

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: 06 Jun 16 at 9:38pm
	Bearing in mind the sometimes relatively modest cost of secondhand Toppers with all the bells and whistles, and the decidedly unmodest cost of purchasing all that stuff new I wouldn't be at all surprised if it were rather more economical to sell the current boat as is and buy one with all the trick stuff rather than upgrade it.

Longwayround Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 Jun 16 Online Status: Offline Posts: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote Longwayround Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jun 16 at 9:14pm
	Fair point. This is my boat: Ullswater last week. Edited by Longwayround - 06 Jun 16 at 9:15pm

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jun 16 at 9:12pm
	It will look all floppy and not at all like those used in pictures of squaddies sailing. Yes a 6:1 downhaul would be nice, but would probably rip the eye out of the sail. Even a 2:1 using an old block with a v jammer attached will help on the downhaul, just to get more fun in a breeze. A newer boom would be good if the old one really is the original skinny thing. That may have been bent and replaced, though. Easiest way to tell is to take a look at a newer boat and compare.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Longwayround Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 Jun 16 Online Status: Offline Posts: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote Longwayround Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jun 16 at 8:55pm
	Sail number 16736: the boat's not a lot younger than me! I'm also still aiming to get my weight down to 95kg (I may be the only person who trained to do a marathon and gained 20% body weight!) I'm unlikely to race the thing in a long while. That said, however, I wouldn't want to promise that my 12-year old daughter will never race, it's just that she's more into kayaks and can't yet sail. I'm hoping that once she's learnt to sail she'll recognise the error of her ways. How would I know that my sail had blown out?

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: 06 Jun 16 at 8:09pm
	Why fundamentally wrong?

piglet Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 04 Jan 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 514	Post Options Post Reply Quote piglet Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jun 16 at 8:00pm
	There is a fine line between investing in a saleable package and throwing good money after bad. The OP didn't give us his sail number (or his weight) but I upgraded two 28### boats to squad spec for my sons, the boats were not measurably different to brand new boats AND I got all my money back on resale, less the umpteen sails I bought of course. My 2pworth is, in order of importance: 1. If it's an old skinny boom, find another. 2. Buy a 6:1 triple block downhaul. 3. Replace the sail if it's blown out. 4. Decent 3:1 kicker that works 5. If old steel kicker hoops, replace with Rooster white straps. That will get the boat into a raceable condition. IMO. Sailing a Topper aft main is fundamentally wrong, old diehards will disagree, let them. I would be getting a centre main kit. How much so far?

Longwayround Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 Jun 16 Online Status: Offline Posts: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote Longwayround Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jun 16 at 7:01pm
	I suppose if I break the boom I then get a good excuse to upgrade that part...

Spike Boland Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 19 May 16 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Spike Boland Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jun 16 at 11:30am
	Not a massive expense but when you up grade it tends to put more strain on other things. You might well have the old boom with a boat that age. Get an upgraded kicker and put on the amount of tension needed to go fast when wind gets up then the old boom will break. However overtime as everything gets upgraded it will get easier and more fun to sail. Enjoy.
	Theres only one Spike Boland