For fun or for winning?

Basically, Granite has summed it up. However I'd choose the 5000 over an old 14 because its an SMOD and you don't have the further developed boats over-shadowing it within the class, if you have the ability in the 5k there's nothing to stop you winning the opens in an old boat. General running costs for the 49er can be blown out of proportion, we've had our boat since 2004 and only had to replace one mainsheet, two gnav arms and a block for one of the control lines through general wear and tear. Reckon that's well under £200. If you get a decent boat with good inventory of sails and spares they don't cost too much to keep running. Insurance is the only bad point, know of 3 49ers getting quoted around £500 ecah this season. If you are confident but air on the side of caution with the boat initially, it isn't too bad, basically be confident with your boat handling skills but don't jump in to the deep end and go out in big winds until you know what your doing. A lot of the boat handling skills can be picked up off Higher and Faster, had a really good crew step onto the boat with little experience of her before and was up to speed because he'd studied the manouveres on the DVD.

The 29erXX rig was planned to be released in March, best phoning Ovington Boats to find out. If you and your crew are 65kg each, the 49er might not be too bad an option, we sailed her with me weighing 70kg and a crew weighing 60kg but both of us were over 6ft which helped with our righting moment due to extra leverage. Sailing now with combined weight of 148 kg and the boat seems more comfortable but it can be sailed at 130kg. Main problem you'll have just now is there aren't many 49ers being sold for less than £5000 and that's before you insure it. Noble do the best policy for the boat though.......

Anyone else seen the target handicap for the xx.  I saw 820 which is quicker than the rs800

yer we got rig of the cleat on the main on my 4k.  and just added a "phat" 76mm rachet works a treat  

We bent the jammer down slightly on the 5k so we'd still remain class legal with equipment and it was still there if we ever needed.