So Whatever happened to..

2 classes, same size,both originally designed by the same person within 2 years of each other, but 10 years apart in first build, one a SMOD, one a restricted development class, same speed to begin with, but one much faster now. Somehow, they have sold in similar numbers, have followed a similar path in terms of growth and gentle decline from the hayday.
Longevity doesn't appear to be connected to design philosophy, at least in this case.

Whoops, my mistake in reading ttc's post incorrectly. I should have seen he said "most".

Originally posted by JimC Originally posted by Chris 249 Originally posted by ttc546 I suspect that most, if not all, one design dinghies have a shelf life. It's very commonly held belief but utterly untrue, Now steady on there Chris. There are an exceptional few classes that seem to last indefinitely, but they are precious few. There are 127 classes in my 1958 PY list, and 97 in my current one. There are 19 classes that appear in both lists. Of those 4 could be characterised as development classes, 3 as basically one design hulls with a lot of freedom esp in internal layout, 11 as one designs, and one as bordering on SMOD. There are 3 OD classes on that list I would not be surprised to see fall off the list in the next few years, but the development classes look fairly safe, but it could be argued that's because its so very hard to found one. You could also argue that one of the development classes died out a number of years ago, and was replaced by its Australian equivalent. Most classes do have a shelf life, sometimes short, sometimes very long, and really, would you expect it to be any different?

Originally posted by Rupert The old local one designs do seem to keep going.

I don't know about that Rupert. Look how many there *used* to be. The early PY lists are full of them.

I think you're right to say that classes may strike a niche and carry on there long after they are gone elsewhere, but they aren't necessarily local one designs. Of course they may *become* local one designs!

there are plenty of one designs still being raced locally that will not feature in PY lists, most are 'historic' i.e. pre 50's or older.
Loch Long huge fleet at Aldeburgh (40+boats?) and in scotland, Dragonfly OD (waldringfiled and Ireland), lapwing Dinghy, XODs (most at 4 clubs on south coast), Victory OD (Portsmouth & Gibraltor), Burnham OD, Corinthian OD all still fleet racing.
At some point most clubs instigated building dinghies to sell to members, or members approached local builders to suit their race area / racing style (think some were designed as "suitable for racing and family cruising at sea"!).
Some /lots of these still exist in local bubbles, big one design fleets in what some would call antiques. Just goes to show that it isn't about what you sit on, how fast your boat goes compared to a moth / windsurfer, it's about who you are racing...

Edited by fudheid - 29 Aug 18 at 9:27am