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combat wombat View Drop Down
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Posts: 345 		Post Options Post Options   Quote combat wombat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: The Contender
    Posted: 15 Apr 06 at 6:21pm
Hi guys,

Whats the general view on Contenders?  I'm looking to supplement my fleet of one boat with a singlehander, and quite liked the look of them.  I want a trapeze boat, singlehander, has to be classic (nothing RS or Topper) and cheap!  Is there anything else to consider?   No need for a kite, my other boat has a big enough one for 2 boats!  What do I look for in particular on a cheap Contender?

CW
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Posts: 1251 		Post Options Post Options   Quote BBSCFaithfull Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Apr 06 at 6:40pm
The words RS600 written on the sail Was sailing one today with a reefed sail (owners fault ) But it was still a hugely fast boat and this was only a 1 to 2!
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carshalton fc View Drop Down
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Posts: 2337 		Post Options Post Options   Quote carshalton fc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Apr 06 at 8:36pm

well i have never had a go in one but they look like realy nice boats, and they have now got some nice carbon spars so fully upto date.   also quite cheap i saw one going for about £1000 not so long ago,  bns has recently turned her hand at contender sailing and loves her boat.  

the 600 looks like a nice boat but the contender has a better association and more boats at there nats.
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Posts: 0 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Guest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Apr 06 at 10:14pm

Originally posted by combat wombat

Hi guys,

Whats the general view on Contenders?  I'm looking to supplement my fleet of one boat with a singlehander, and quite liked the look of them.  I want a trapeze boat, singlehander, has to be classic (nothing RS or Topper) and cheap!  Is there anything else to consider?   No need for a kite, my other boat has a big enough one for 2 boats!  What do I look for in particular on a cheap Contender?

CW

If you are after a low budget classic with no kite I don't see you have any other choice...

Rick
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combat wombat View Drop Down
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Posts: 345 		Post Options Post Options   Quote combat wombat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Apr 06 at 10:40pm
Thanks guys,

Yep thought that might be the answer, I guess the 600 is a classic now but I've heard they are tippy as f$@k (but wicked fast as you say BBSCFaithful).  Also my budget for the boat is low since I recently purchased the B14 (with all the go-faster bits so not cheap!) and I don't think it would even stretch to a 600 (cheap as they are).  I know of a Contender going for £500 and another for £600, I'm not looking for a nats winning one just a nice trapeze boat to get used to helming from the trap and going fast in, then I'll sell both boats and go 49er

Or 18ft Skiff...

So Contender experts, what are the weak points?
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ColH View Drop Down
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Posts: 242 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ColH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Apr 06 at 10:57pm

I sailed a Contender for most of last season, and enjoyed sailing it a lot. I'd not trapezed single-handed before, and whilst it was 'entertaining' learning, I reckon they're fairly stable really - if you capsize then you can generally identify pretty quickly what you did wrong. You don't end up in the water wondering "what the hell just happened there?". Even fully tea-bagged, as long as you have a bit of speed, you can save a windward capsize.

The RS600 - which I hasten to to point out I have never tried - is much narrower and seems much more tippy and unforgiving, and has a fully-battened sail which can generally be an absolute b*tch. And their foredecks look so fragile!

Depends how much of a challenge you want - that's not to say sailing a Contender well is easy! Check their website http://www.sailcontender.org.uk/ for an idea of prices - a reasonable 'starter' should only need about 1-2K.

Apart from anything else, the Contender is a beautiful, stylish design, even in 'plastic'. In wood - simply gorgeous.

Col

PS - For any that's wondering - I loved sailing it; just didn't enjoy racing it!

PPS - Matt'll be along shortly, I've no doubt!

 

 
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Posts: 1146 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Prince Buster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Apr 06 at 11:06pm
foredecks fragile....yeah i was shifting mine down to the club today and bashed a nice big hole straight thru it!
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Apr 06 at 11:18pm

Im not so sure about the foredeck on a 600 being fragile, in the light winds ive spent a fair bit of time prancing around on the foredeck and not even a slight sign of damage or lack of rigidity showing yet.......
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Blobby View Drop Down
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Posts: 779 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Blobby Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Apr 06 at 6:22am

Originally posted by combat wombat

Thanks guys,

Yep thought that might be the answer, I guess the 600 is a classic now but I've heard they are tippy as f$@k (but wicked fast as you say BBSCFaithful).  Also my budget for the boat is low since I recently purchased the B14 (with all the go-faster bits so not cheap!) and I don't think it would even stretch to a 600 (cheap as they are).  I know of a Contender going for £500 and another for £600, I'm not looking for a nats winning one just a nice trapeze boat to get used to helming from the trap and going fast in, then I'll sell both boats and go 49er

Or 18ft Skiff...

So Contender experts, what are the weak points?


The Contender has a plywood space frame under the deck supporting the mast.  You should have inspection hatches in the front of the cockpit or fore deck so you can see it.  You  need to make sure that the spaceframe is sound - easy way is to open the hatch and look at the frame with no rig tension and then get somebody to tension the rig up - if the space frame bends the boat is a dud.

 
One step forwards, 2 steps back...
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les5269 View Drop Down
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Posts: 1530 		Post Options Post Options   Quote les5269 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Apr 06 at 8:57am

The Contender is a beautiful boat to sail and look at.I owned one for 4 years and loved every sail (I only sold it because I couldn't justify it sitting there).Things to look out for;

Check the mast where the trapezee lines go in,it tends to crack there

 Blobbys was another good one (hadn't thought of that )

The deck is generally fairly solid but check for holes from hooks

and check the trailing edge of the foils they are fragile

Otherwise enjoy the boat it's amazing in a blow !

49er 531 & 5000 5025 and a mirror(now gone to mirror heaven)!

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