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Owenfackrell View Drop Down
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Joined: 19 Jul 10
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Posts: 129 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Owenfackrell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Enterprise or similar
    Posted: 15 Nov 10 at 8:44am
Hi
I would like to know if the enterprise is car toppable as I'm looking for a dinghy around this size to take to the south of France and leave there. There a few reasons for not wanting to tow the main one being the fact that we have to transport the boat to the house by small ferry which would mean leaving a road trailer with the car and having to bring just the trailer back to the UK. The other is that it's cheaper to put it on the roof. The car is a Volvo xc90 which has a roof limit of 100kg. The requirements for the boat are being capable of single handing buts also of getting more people in when required.
Many thanks in advance.
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winging it View Drop Down
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Posts: 3958 		Post Options Post Options   Quote winging it Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 10 at 9:03am
I used to car top a 470 across Europe, which was ok.  But that was before cars had next to useless built on side rails on their roofs.  That will be the stumbling block - the car might manage the weight of the boat, but will the roof bars?  Also, I had an estate - longer than your volvo, so less boat overhanging unsupported.   Finally, the obvious problem is getting the boat up onto the roof and getting it back down again at the other end - you need a bit of a gang to help. 

I'm not sure the enterprise is your ideal choice - there might be something easier to fit on the roof, but help to make the choice we need to know what sort of height and weight you are.
the same, but different...

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alstorer View Drop Down
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Posts: 2899 		Post Options Post Options   Quote alstorer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 10 at 9:15am
The minimum hull weight (looking up the class rules) is 94kg. This doiesn't include the centre board, does include other fittings. Doesn't include ropes. That's an absolute minimum. As you're not after a race-spec boat, there's a very real danger that a centreboard and some rigging, plus the boat equivalent of "middle age spread", will take you over that 100kg.
 
Also, the mast is one-piece, 6.2 m long, and would certainly take you well over that 100kg. Your car is 4.8m long. Even if you get it perfect, you'd have 0.7m overhang front and back, which is really quite a lot. Plus a boom.
 
There's also a fair chance you'd have to widen the racks- adding more weight.
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Al
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Owenfackrell View Drop Down
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Posts: 129 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Owenfackrell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 10 at 9:29am
Thanks for that. What else would you recommend? The boat needs to be grp or plastic for low maintenance as it going to be left there it also needs to be cheap ie no more then £500. I am 6 foot tal and around 83kg.

Edited by Owenfackrell - 15 Nov 10 at 9:31am
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alstorer View Drop Down
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Posts: 2899 		Post Options Post Options   Quote alstorer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 10 at 10:06am
A £500 Ent would almost certainly be badly overweight!
-_
Al
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Steve H View Drop Down
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Posts: 48 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Steve H Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 10 at 10:14am
A miracle is just about car toppable and the older ones may still have a two piece mast. Would be fine to single-hand and take other out in
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Owenfackrell View Drop Down
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Posts: 129 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Owenfackrell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 10 at 10:23am
I already have a miracle and ithas a 2 piece mast but as it's wooden I don't wantto take it there and leave it adit will spend most of the time just sitting around which won't do the wood any good. The reason for leaving it there is that it means I would always have it and it will be cheaper in the long run.
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winging it View Drop Down
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Posts: 3958 		Post Options Post Options   Quote winging it Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 10 at 10:24am
I hate to say it, but why not just buy a boat when you get there?  I have a french boat - a simoun 445 which I could sail singlehanded if I chose - I am pretty much same height and weight as you, or I could take company. 

http://www.wanaboat.fr/univers/1-deriveurs

Plenty to choose from!


Edited by winging it - 15 Nov 10 at 10:26am
the same, but different...

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Owenfackrell View Drop Down
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Posts: 129 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Owenfackrell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 10 at 10:54am
I had thought about doing that but as I only go for 2 weeks at a time I don't really want to spend it looking for a boat ( and the wife wouldn't be happy about that either). Would some thing like a laser fun be 2 much for single handed?
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Mister Nick View Drop Down
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Posts: 389 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Mister Nick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 10 at 5:45pm
Originally posted by Owenfackrell

I had thought about doing that but as I only go for 2 weeks at a time I don't really want to spend it looking for a boat ( and the wife wouldn't be happy about that either). Would some thing like a laser fun be 2 much for single handed?

You should be fine with a Laser Fun. If you put the bungee to hold the trapeze wires further towards the back of the boat it would be okay, although I found that when I helmed from the wire on a Laser 2 (Exactly the same boat) there was quite a lot of forward pull. If you don't want to trapeze you could quite easily use the toe straps and hike instead.
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