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RS400 downsizing
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Chew my RS View Drop Down
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    Posted: 19 Oct 06 at 8:58pm

Wes,

The 200 is actually a much tippier boat than the 400.  The loads are much less, so you need less strength, but you do need to be more agile.  The Laser 2000 is easier, but slightly slower, and as you say, Axebridge has a good RS fleet, so probably the 200 is the way to go.

I love the 400, but dropping the kite is a bit of a pain.  Why can't they go twin patch?

 
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Rob.e View Drop Down
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Posts: 545 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rob.e Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 06 at 8:35pm

If you fancy a 200 but want a trapeze, go for a 500. With respect to 3000 sailors, it ain't that good a boat- a re-vamped Laser 2, slow in light wind and bloody uncomfortable in my experience! It will never be a big class, it's been dropped by Laser, and tho it will appeal to a few stalwarts, it's going nowhere!

The 200 is basically the biggest 2 man boat in the country and if you don't like it, you can sell or P/X it, ditto the 500. I don't think you can go wrong with the 500 at the mo'- demand may drop off, but for now they will be easy to move on. How many people really want a 3000? Maybe if you got one of the new Vandercraft ones, but even that is a risk. As for the Tasar, it may be a nice boat, but I've never even seen one  and they've been about for years. If it hasn't caught on in this country after nearly 30 years, I can't see it happening now.
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m_liddell View Drop Down
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Posts: 583 		Post Options Post Options   Quote m_liddell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 06 at 6:50pm
Almost all asymmetric boats: 1 line does pole, halyard, spin tack line all at once. Drop? Just pull the other end. The helm can just concentrate on keeping the boat under control during the hoist.

RS400 (memory hazy since it was years ago): 2 man job. Separate line for the pole, wing wang which must the helm must set during hoist, and halyard. Then dropping requires the pole to come in at an angle or it hits the mast (fiddle that wing wang again!) and you also need to pull the sail itself to get the last of the sail into the chute. The pole jammed loads as well as the spin getting stuck a few times on the boat I sailed on top of all this. Total crap IMO.
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Black no sugar View Drop Down
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Posts: 3941 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Black no sugar Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 06 at 6:11pm

LOL LOL There's nothing better than a healthy debate.
I have crewed two RS400 and the settings were different in each boat. One kite pole was launched by the helm, the other one by the crew. When I was sailing on the "helm launches the pole" boat, I shredded my fingers to the bone: the helm had a nasty habit of standing on the spinnaker line! A bit of well-chosen French got him to lose the habit fast .

I have only crewed another 2 types of asy boat: a RS200 and a Laser4000, so I wouldn't be able to judge, but I'd be interested in knowing what makes a good/bad kite system. Calum_Reid, m_liddell, you sound like experts in the matter... What do you think?
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m_liddell View Drop Down
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Posts: 583 		Post Options Post Options   Quote m_liddell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 06 at 5:53pm
Originally posted by Calum_Reid

Must say the 400 has the best kite system of any boat .


In all the asy dinghies I have sailed over the years, the 400 has the worst kite system by some margin.


Edited by m_liddell
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MainlySwimming View Drop Down
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Posts: 65 		Post Options Post Options   Quote MainlySwimming Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 06 at 4:44pm
Originally posted by Calum_Reid

Originally posted by Medway Maniac


Indeed, why not a 3000? Easier to sail than a 200 and faster, especially in a blow. Kite goes up and down like a dream compared to a 200



Must say the 400 has the best kite system of any boat .

Not sure my crew would agree with that...she hates the fact that she has to get her head down & grab the thing to pull the kite in properly ("like stuffing back a placenta" she called it once); and that makes it much harder to drop on a reach if you need to vs a single line / chute system....oh and I keep having to tweak the wing-wang thingies to allow the pole to retract.....we must be doing something worng!
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Calum_Reid View Drop Down
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Posts: 59 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Calum_Reid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 06 at 4:30pm
Originally posted by Medway Maniac


Indeed, why not a 3000? Easier to sail than a 200 and faster, especially in a blow. Kite goes up and down like a dream compared to a 200



Sorry but whats wrong with the 200 system? If you work it properly its really good. Tho we never had a problem with the old system and they chaned that.

Must say the 400 has the best kite system of any boat but it just wouldnt be possible on alot of boats because of not having a foredeck with room undeath it! It is possible to work one like it in a tippy boat tho. Well i managed fine in a cherub.

Edited by Calum_Reid
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Wes View Drop Down
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Posts: 97 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Wes Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 06 at 1:45pm

Hmmm, that's one I hadn't thought and she did love being on the trap.

Come on, I know you're reading, what are your views?

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Medway Maniac View Drop Down
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Posts: 2788 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Medway Maniac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 06 at 1:20pm
Originally posted by Andrewst

Tasars do look good with their new sails as do the 3000's

Indeed, why not a 3000? Easier to sail than a 200 and faster, especially in a blow. Kite goes up and down like a dream compared to a 200 and the small jib has sheets that are 2:1 !

Only question: does your crew want to try trapezing? Once learnt certanly easier and dare I say it healthier than hiking. And I wouldn't worry about the 'light person on the wire' thought: it just isn't that critical on a 3k, it doesn't require a great righting moment. Have a look at the variety of crews at the nats:

http://www.3000class.org.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=727

 



Edited by Medway Maniac
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Wes View Drop Down
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Posts: 97 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Wes Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 06 at 12:00pm

Yep, she is more than happy with a spinnaker. No worries on that on. Just less power required than on the 400.

 
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