Oh dear god!

For those of you who's experience of dinghy sailing is limited to a short adrenelin rush on a fragile and unstable floating platform closely watched by an ever vigilant rescue crew...and to restore some balance to the debate.

The canvas spray dodger provides sufficient shelter for picnics because when a boat is in a fixed position held by a removable autonomous boat parking device (aka an anchor) rather than by the standard skiff sailor's procedure of inversing the vessel and planting the mast in the mud...then the boat will ride head to wind.

Whilst not my first choice for this type of sailing the Topper Cruz is a perfectly adequate pottering/cruising boat which will do things that most SMOD will ot -like transporting the family from Port A to Creek B and back without needing to be accompanied by a fleet of noisy motorboats or having to call out the rescue helicopter. This way you don't frighten the wildlife, or leave a trail of oil and exhaust fumes...

Dinghy sailing is a very diverse activity...let's celebrate that diversity rather than sl*gging each other off.

Gordon

maybe the price has more to do with the fact that heavier, somewhat over engieered, boats (such as the Wayfarer) tend  to suffer less the effects of old age.

Gordon

Actually the Laser 4000 drops quite fast and then holds its price very well - probably because the hull is very strong.  So you don't get many below £2500.