which boat now?

Originally posted by dics One of the reasons why the 300 is hard to get hold of becuase those owned by the occassional sailor are kept since they are a great boat to sail.

Really the only reason is that not enough people are buying new ones. I'm sure RS would be delighted to help out!

[Later]

Bethwaite highlights the problem in the new HPS as related to supply of boats for youth worlds.

Polyester/solid glass boats, for various reasons, go soft and get slower with usage at a slow and fairly consistent rate. Thus, given 2,000 really keen sailors in a class worldwide they'd buy 2,000 new boast every year, and sell on 2,000 slightly second hand boats every year, the class would grow at 2,000 boats a year and there were loads of boats about, slowly getting slower and more decrepit, but loads of pretty decent secondhand boats about that were perfectly usale for club and open sailing, if not Champs winners. In youth worlds terms that meant that the people building 2,000 new boats a year could quite happily subsidise 20 new boats for a youth worlds and sell them on.

Epoxy/foam sandwich boats, on the other hand don't slow up in the same predictable way, and as, we in the development classes found first, people keep their boats longer and longer. So 2,000 really keen sailors means maybe only 400 new boats a year, only 400 good second hand boats a year, all considerably more tired in terms of gear, sails, foil and the like. Suddenly finding the cash to subsidise 20 new boats for a youth worlds from the marketing budget looks pretty dubious, the supply of second hand boats has dried up and all the rest of it...


Edited by JimC

Originally posted by tmoore but it doesnt feel right only sailing it every other week during term time

Most boats aren't sailed that often I reckon. Smart money is that a new owner won't sail it as often as you do, so I wouldn't regard that as a sound argument.

If cash is the issue you'd probably be better off deciding that you're going to become a hotshot crew during college years rather than get another boat. If cash isn't the issue keep the boat you like!

i know what you mean jim and thats sort of what im worried about. the 300 is a wonderful boat. the thought that its probably going to go on saturday does make me sad. i love it to bit but it doesnt feel right only sailing it every other week during term time.

am i just being an idiot here in not letting the boat go? or does this kind of indicate that its the right boat for me?

just had a gander at that 600 russ. it really does look good at that price. very tempted. i just wonder if after the 300 that it wont be quite right for me? how much of a challenge will the 600 really be? i mean it cant be that much tippier than the 3....

tom

Was it the Police or a camera?

Could be good news for you if the latter, I heard somewhere there has been
a bit of a milestone ruling about the inherent illegality of all cameras..

I guess a 300 must be a bit of a mission, the one at our club rarely surfaces
and only when it's still and there's a great golden ball high in the sky..

What makes you say the Blaze will be a bit of a disappointment Russ?

I'm on the verge of considering one for single hander nights, are they a bit
lame then?

Then again fit one up with an Altopole system and kite should make it a bit
spicier off wind?

Edit and what's with the court case? Hanging out too long in the mensroom
with George Michael?

Edited by G.R.F.