MX Ray or Laser

Originally posted by blaze720 A dog upwind for sure in any wind and (even) the more available 'veryslo' is better offwind if you must have a spinni.  *snip*

"VerySlo" eh .... Feels quite fast .. even with my flogged main, and my shredded, 2002, faded yellow spinaker


Back to the original question ...

Originally posted by hollandsd What would be the better boat to sail in heavy ish conditions in rough seas. Would the MX Ray be up to it?

The RS fleets proved they were up to the conditions at last years Nationals at Looe, with forct 5 winds and ( if i remember right ) 6+ ft waves.

I have only seen a `ray once, and the mast looked too bendy .... more like a windsurfer than a dinghy.

Have you had a look at the Supernova, or the RedEye Solution?

Go to the Dinghy show - Start of March at Alley-Palley, wander around, stop at the stands for any boat you like the look of.

Most of them will have some sheets with current 2nd hand boats for sale on them, as well as brochures you can read on the train home.

Stay away from the MX Ray though .... Looks like even harder work than the Vareo!

How much are you hoping to get for the Contender, as this could help narrow choices down a little.

Just remember that all hiking boats are going to be hard upwind, so you will have to live with that ( after getting used to just hanging there ) But the dificulty will of course change with the beam / sail area / cut.

Also, Look for a boat just above your budget, and negotiate. I managed to knock £200 off the price of my Vareo, putting it back into my budget again.

At  £ 650 available it's got to be a well used Laser really - still as a student you'll get fit of course (having all that Laser fun upwind !!)  and still be able to sell it for near enough that in a couple of years time.   Get along to the associations at the Dinghy Show anyway and blag a ride in other stuff as well - most will do this for you and hope you get one of their's in the longer term.

Blaze 720

If you want fun in big winds and waves in a single hander - Contender.

They are superb in those conditions and way better than most of the boats mentioned when it's breezy.

The hiking boats will fee like slow hard work after this classic.

 

I

For £650 you will get a quick competitive Ok, ignore what people say about the boom they have a really deep cocpit which means that there is plenty of room.