RS500 ...

Very interesting to read about peoples views about the new classes that have flooded the market in the UK.

Over here there hasn't been the same penetration by new designs. In Brisbane where I sail there are the normal kiddies classes, lasers and the adult dinghies are either the skiff classes (14 or 16ft) or the 505.

I rediscovered my passion for this sport about a year ago and got the 59er as to me the skiffs seemed somewhat intimidating and the 505 whilst a great boat is a little dated.

I guess what I am trying to say is that whilst people may decry the large numbers of SMOD boats in the UK the main thing is that the sport as a whole expands. If manufacturers with big advertising budgets can get people into the sport or attract others back it has to be good if the total number of people sailing dinghies increases. Eventually the law of the jungle will prevail and those classes that market themselves effectively and are good designs will prosper. Those classes that do not do this will decline and eventually vanish. The people that buy these boats will take a bath on depreciation but what is the alternative? Some might say development classes but that requires peoeple to THINK and these days people tend to be time poor and want a ready made solution. Now that I am back in the sport in a big way I personally am becoming a believer in a class where you can change things that don't work and keep up with developments. As some on this forum may know I am building a Swift Solo which has this philosophy. That, however is what what works for me and I believe that off the shelf turn key products are required to keep people entering our sport.

Looking at the UK scene from a distance it would appear to be more vibrant market due to the activities of the large manufacturers over there. So whilst I appreciate peoples concerns about the RS500 flooding the market at least it is good to see that things are happening in the UK. If it is a good enough design it will prosper.     

here's a link to a few more details and a not very useful pic http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/index.cfm?rd=n&SEID= 2&SRSID=&eid=&pid=&nid=20215&refre=y .

as others have said, it would appear that LDC are filling a gap in their range rather than a gap in the market. if you're young and want to go fast buy a 29er (they're really not that hard to sail), if you want one-design single wire asymmetric racing in a fleet of 20-40 year olds (ish) buy a 4000 - competitive weight range is ~130kg to ~190kg (and with weight equalistation that means genuinely competitive!)

Edited by furtive

Depreciation is always something which is going to affect almost all classes. Other classes such as the Laser 5000, 4000, Iso, Boss, Buzz have all depreciated considerably but its a risk that everyone takes when buying a boat. It's not limited to just SMODs, classes like the 14s suffer too due to the fact that a development within the class such as a new hull design or implementation of new technology can cause current designs to be obsolete in competitive terms. The choice in this case is to outlay serious expenditure to modify the boat to the new standard set or buy a new boat.

i dont think that the 600 prices represent much depreciation to be fair. there are a lot of other classes out there that lose there value a lot more. And with the way things are going i can see there being a lot more dmenad for second hand RS' just purely to do with there social scene and really well organised circuit, not that other classes dont have this, just that the RS events are shared by a lot of classes and thus a ot of people of ALL ages which is the big selling factor to me anyway. Coming from a youth sailing background but choosing not to go into the laser was perhaps the best decision ive made yet. Sailing the Moth and the 200 has been great fun over the last few seasons. Ive learnt loads in a much broader feild than i would have done if just solely sailing a Laser. And the social scenes are second to none.

Originally posted by Bumble ' help! I can't sell my RS600 cos second hand versions arn't worth a bean anymore and I don't want it either'.

Bumble he is buying another 600. Maybe you shld read the other topics before changing people's words!!


There is a guy at my sailing club who a few yr's ago finished 5th (i think) in the 29er nat's 1 a few races and he got alot better in the following 2 yrs getting to a point where he was sailing the 29er stupidly well but he never went bk to the nat's again on the grounds that the social part of it was crap. The youths came in packed up there boats and were on coaches away from the venue. He is older and it left him and his crew little to do and spoiled the event for them! With an RS u r less likely to get this. I mean the RS socials are ledgendry!

Edited by Calum_Reid