29er X

well taking into account what jimC has just said like looks like about the same weght range of the cherub of something like that!!

Originally posted by carshalton fc so the 29er x is going to hapen then?

Something will happen. Whether it will be in that exact shape and form is another matter entirely. Being the Bethwaites you can be pretty sure it will be properly worked out and not a 59er rig stuffed on a 29er hull.

For a two string boat I think I'd be tempted to give some more freeboard and more roll stability than the 29er, but one must remember that freeboard, while highly desirable structurally and in sailing terms, comes awfully expensive in terms of the number of hulls you can fit in a standard shipping crate.

Slightly longer for a little more weight carrying ability would be no bad thing - to a large extent the 29er looks like a 12-13ft boat with an extended bow, so scaling up a little would bring the boat a bit nearer the 470 mark for what has to be targeted as a 470 replacement for the ladies in the 5 ring circus.

The other factor is that a litle more beef in the structure would be a good thing for a two string big rig boat, and the market for an adults boat would probably stand a price premium for more sophisticated layup than the 29ers slightly budget construction.

Originally posted by pro wannabe is it actuall a design by a desighner or just a couple of mates experimenting?

Its a Bethwaite Design project - the material is from their website. FB dropped a strong hint that something in that sort of range was on their radar a couple of years ago at Sailboat so they've been thinking for a good while. Here's JB on how they set about things.

Originally posted by Julian Bethwaite In terms of actual designing, I start with researching the hole in the market, then plug some well founded numbers into a Excel program. From there after a few preliminary free hand sketches, I draw it out full size... We only use computers to verify what we have already achieved. After that it is up to full size plugs and full size tow tests.

They seem to me to be far more methodical and do far more development than other SMOD manufacturers, which is probably why they haven't put any real turkeys into production. I suppose because they are an engineering led outfit they don't have the bean counters bossing them about with 5000 memos a month telling them to get product out whether its good or not...

Edited by JimC

is it actuall a design by a desighner or just a couple of mates experimenting? looks cool tho

i found out that it will cost £2874 and that is just the 59er sails mast ect.