Dinghys with keels

Googling Vipers VXs and K6s and I came across this:

Edited by ChichesterHiss - 04 Mar 17 at 4:13pm

Originally posted by rb_stretch wherease a 20 foot keelboat will cost £3000 for dry sailing or a marina.

Think 50% more than that, on the south coast anyway.

Originally posted by ChichesterHiss These classes have really taken off in the USA and Australia. Half the classes I mentioned in my list above are built in England and yet they are all sold abroad...why havent these classes taken off here?

As an ex sportsboat owner the biggest issue is cost. Small keelboats incur yacht like costs for mooring. For example a 20ft dinghy such as an FD might cost £300 dinghy storage, wherease a 20 foot keelboat will cost £3000 for dry sailing or a marina. In country with less pressure on shore side space I believe the mooring costs are considerably cheaper.

Originally posted by ChichesterHiss Blue: Where I disagree with you is comparing the SB20 to Viper or K6 category.

I'm not certain I did compare the SB20 to the K6. Viper......the question is why it has gained no traction at all in the UK whereas it did in some places elsewhere, notably the USA. I'd argue that the the incumbent presence of the SB20 prevented that. The hopeless marketing was another factor, I made a number of attempts to get a test sail when Rondar had a test boat on the south coast and never got a call back.

The FF sailors are very fond of calling the FF a "dinghy with a keel"....just check out the FF website."

Having owned a FF I know quite a few FF sailors and not a single one has ever said that in my presence!

Is there something Im not thinking of as I try and imagine launching a K6

I've launched one (as crew, not owner) from a ramp and it seemed pretty straightforward. Easier than launching a FF off a lee-shore which can definitely be an acquired skill.


Edited by blueboy - 25 Feb 17 at 12:38pm

Peter........I totally respect your enthusiasm for your product. But since you posted your ad twice, I just want to point out that its a different animal from the K6, VX and Viper performance category.
 (and I realize there are others like the Open 5.7 and the Aussie T boats but these three are readily available in UK and built in UK) .  These three have low free board and Sail area to weight ratios (SQm*10/ Kilo) of 1.8- 2.1.  They go upwind like a keelboat (caveat I havent sailed all three but looking at pics) and tear downwind like a planing dinghy.
The Seascape to me looks like a keelboat/little yacht that can be launched off a ramp. It looks much more like a smaller version of a J70, SB20 or Melges 20 than the dinghies with keels. It has an SA/Displacement of 1.1  and downwind, the pictures show a lot of water being moved. I think that someone stepping off a J80 might be entertained in terms of performance but someone stepping off a Merlin or a Viper might be disappointed. 
It doesnt mean one is better or worse but different.
I would enjoy trying it. In fact I would definitely come to a "sail off" if someone organized getting all these boats in one place so we could step from one to another.

But yes.....I like the cassette rudder feature.  The bulbs with keel up only add 4 inches to draft, but its the cassette rudder that really enables easy on/off from the ramp.

Pompey......I understand the care-of-trailer argument but not sure I understand the wading argument. I need to wade whatever boat I launch from a ramp whether it is an RS 200 or something else. Is there something Im not thinking of as I try and imagine launching a K6 .  By the way....yes there are plenty of clubs I can think of where keeled dinghies would be non-starters.