Musto skiff or RS700

Originally posted by ifoxwell   As some one who is jut an observer here... lots of talk about the 700 being harder with the kite? Ignoring the means of hoisting and recovering how else does it differ. Superficially they look very similar otherwise? Ian

Just have a go and see - differences in sail plan, length, cockpit, all-up-weight etc etc all add up to quite a different beast ...

There are probably 3 main factors in the difference as I see it:-

1.  Weight Equalisation - 700 has it, MPS doesn't.  Whether it's a good thing or not seems to be entirely personal opinion, not to mention highly emotive.

2.  Ergonomics of cockpit - 700 has pump-up pump-down kite and MPS has hand over hand.  700 is easy to sit down in, MPS is a "stand up to move around" type of boat.  All again, entirely personal preference. 

3.  Price - the 700 is a LOT cheaper secondhand, MPS's do seem to hold their value (which is saying the same thing really, I guess!).  You pays your money you takes your choice.

Other than that, all other factors are within a nat's whisker the same...  speed, weight, sail area, cost of parts, size of fleet in UK, boats / fleets overseas, class assocation, coaching, help, friendliness, circuit, website,......

So it probably comes down to which boat suits you best personally, and numerically in terms of fleets near to you.

Incidentally, the comment about kites, in my opinion comes down far more to the condition of the kite than anything else.  The 700 kite I think is a bit taller and shorter on the foot, the MPS a bit shorter on the hoist, and fuller lower down.... ultimately there's nothing particularly easy or difficult about gybing either, just down to technique and practice. 

Paul

P.S. Usual disclaimer, these are only my personal opinions, and not those of my employer, club, class association, friends, family, etc.... yawn.

 

 

I chose the musto purely because I saw it before it saw the 700 and it therefore grabbed my childhood dream boat status!  The recent purchase has concluded that my childhood dreams were brilliantly chosen....well done younger me, i thank myself!
I would still very much like to sail a 700 and cost wise they are remarkably appealing.

Doug.h

I've heard of more than quite a few people moving from the 700 to the MPS, but not the other way round. I've also noticed quite a few sailors move from 49ers and 14s to MPS also, may be due to the strength of the class in those areas providing a good format for strong fleet racing. Conversely there are areas predominately dominated by 700s however they seem to be closer geographically to RS and the South. RS benefits from the brand status and MPS has advantages through very keen, enthusastic racers and class association. I once heard parallels being drawn comparing the MPS to a single-handed 49er and the 700 to a single handed 800, and although quite simplistic, the analogy rings quite true to me, not based on performance but boat characteristics. Personally, I prefer the MPS just through design, it strikes a chord with me. The 700 is probably a good boat but I just prefer the MPS. Choosing between them, whatever boat was dominant locally would be my choice, but my admiration would be with the MPS.

Yes I got out on the board easy enough.  It was after righting that I found difficult - the damn thing takes off before you're halfway in and then luffs and capsises again.  Its all in the technique I'm sure, its just I haven't got it yet.