B14 single handed?

   I am looking for a fast two handed dinghy, that can also be sailed single handed for fun when i cant get a crew. The B14 looks good as a two man boat, and, without its huge jib and spinny, it bears more than a passing resemblance to a RS600, i am wondering whether it would make a good single hander in that mode. It would appear to have a simaler hull weight and sail area to the 600. How would it sail like that? Any comments appreciated, or any suggestions for any other boats that can be`converted` to single handed use as and when required. {trap or none-trap}

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porkyman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Nov 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote porkyman Report Post Quote Reply Topic: B14 single handed? Posted: 13 Nov 06 at 8:10pm
	I am looking for a fast two handed dinghy, that can also be sailed single handed for fun when i cant get a crew. The B14 looks good as a two man boat, and, without its huge jib and spinny, it bears more than a passing resemblance to a RS600, i am wondering whether it would make a good single hander in that mode. It would appear to have a simaler hull weight and sail area to the 600. How would it sail like that? Any comments appreciated, or any suggestions for any other boats that can be`converted` to single handed use as and when required. {trap or none-trap}
	porkyman

porkyman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Nov 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote porkyman Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Nov 06 at 9:49pm
	any boat i buy will be sailed 50/50 one up, and two-up. I really do want a boat that will be`dual purpose` i know that a two handed boat, one up, will require some form of compromise, perhaps i will not find such aboat. comments on the B14 one will be appreciated. or other alternatives.{ i dont want a cat}
	porkyman

jpbuzz591 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 24 May 05 Location: England Online Status: Offline Posts: 793	Post Options Post Reply Quote jpbuzz591 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Nov 06 at 9:56pm
	I suspect that a high performance boat such as a B14 will be a rather large handful singlehanded and if you want something which can be used 1 or 2 up you are better off with something like a Vago.
	Jp Indoe Contender 518 Buzz591 Chew Valley Sailing club Bristol

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 13 Nov 06 at 10:25pm
	Why not a buzz, the jib furls away and all you need is a longer tiller extension. Could probably do that with a laser 4000 aswell, except the jib doesnt furl away but instead you could just not put the jib up and attach the jib halyard to a peice of D12 and tie it to the bow fitting and theres where you get the rig tension. Modding a trapeze to a B14 could be arkward and the last B14mast i saw was pretty thin, so a trapeze might not do it any good.

timnoyce Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 05 Aug 04 Location: Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1991	Post Options Post Reply Quote timnoyce Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Nov 06 at 10:16am
	I wouldn't want to risk sailing a B14 singlehanded either. I've only sailed one once but it was a feisty bugger with 2 people in it. Also I think that righting it after a capsize would be incredibly difficult with one person. I think that the buzz is a reasonable idea as it's probably good fun to sail in a breeze 2 up and also a giggle in the lighter stuff single handed. I always found the laser 2 fun single handed but the symmetric kite is a hassle to hoist when also trying to steer!
	BEARFOOT DESIGN Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb

Blobby Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 May 04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 779	Post Options Post Reply Quote Blobby Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Nov 06 at 10:50am
	29er works well enough singlehanded - I've been doing that for the last year successfully in anything up to 18kts or so.
	One step forwards, 2 steps back...

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Nov 06 at 11:15am
	Looking at the name and the "am I too fat for this" comment, I think the Buzz and 29er would lack the weight carrying ability when sailed 2 up! The thing you would need to find out is what the balance of the B14 is like when sailed with just the main up. I would at a guess say it would be terrible. If you got a skiff with a self tacking jib, then singlehanded sailing becomes much more possible with all 3 sails, especially if on the large side. Might be worth looking at the thread about sailing Flying Dutchmen and 505s singlehanded too.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

porkyman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Nov 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote porkyman Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Nov 06 at 2:50pm
	many thanks for the suggestions, Buzz sounds a possibility. Please not however that dispite my "am i too fat this signature", i only weigh 13st. i have put 2 stones in the last couple of years, and am certailnly carrying some exess lard/blubber. sorry for the confusion. I am still drawn to the B14, can any body tell me, if two up with a huge kite and a massive jib, and no trap, a crew of two can cope, why cant one man [13st], sail the thing with no jib and no kite. I was not thinking of modding it to take a trap. it does look very simaler to an RS 600 without its jib and kite.
	porkyman

English Dave Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 06 Location: Northern Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 682	Post Options Post Reply Quote English Dave Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Nov 06 at 3:15pm
	Porky, it's all about sail balance. If you take the jib off the centre of effort of your sail aft. However, the centre of lateral resistance stays the same so the boat will always have a tendency to head up into the wind (weather helm). Una rigged boats like the Laser have the mast well forward to achieve overall balance. On a B14 you will go into tacks really well but may struggle to come out on the other side as there is no jib drawing on the new tack. When powered up you will struggle to bear away. This would be bad enough on any boat but on a B14 you are relying on moving fast to make the boat stable. In order to manoeuvre you will have to dump power and lose that stability just at the point when you need it most - crossing the boat. As you say, you are not a heavy man. I think you would struggle with even the mainsail of the B14. Losing the jib will not take much away from the tipping moment of the mainsail.
	English Dave Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700

sten Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 07 Mar 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 208	Post Options Post Reply Quote sten Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Nov 06 at 3:16pm
	on a B14. I would keep the jib as the boat will be in balance then and quicker. the kite is in a bag so would be very difficult to get down with out swimming.