Class Redevelopment

If you want a faster boat buy one the 4s a great boat as it is

Indeed they do look like fantastic boats and very cheap to run and maintain. Im sorry for getting all the Forumites panties in a twist but they should lighten up a bit. All i was trying to get across was the idea of what the boat could be. I supose this is what cherub sailors try to do. I think everybody should lighten up a bit!!
Cheers,
Alex.

Still good to be creative though. Development within the 4000 class may be beneficial for the boat in the future but the best route would be gradual modifications instead of changing the boat completely. Classes like the 49er and B14 have benefited from essential and gradual development, for example the 49er masts went through an evolution process due to the old masts being quite brital, the rudder stocks and gantrys have been developed, the sails shifted manufacturers from North to Neil Pryde and even subtle things like the implementation of turnbuckle shroud tensioners. Another example is the Laser 3000/ V3000, the development of the class has pumped more life back into the class. I'm still undecided if the weight loss of the boat is a good thing or bad thing because it may cause problems for the older boats within the class being overweight.

Originally posted by BBSCFaithfull but as i said before 14s a very exspensive to maintain and upgrade

I do get fed up with all this development class bashing. Why on earth should a 14 cost any more to run than a 4 tonner. Do you think the sails wear out quicker because its a development boat? Do you think that the blocks wear out faster or the strings fray quicker in the cleats?

Sure they cost more to buy, but that's because they're semi custom boats using first class materials.

Development classes should be more expensive if you keep up with development.  For instance you may need a new hull every 3 or 4 years.  Whereas a 9 year old hull is competitive in a 4000. 

However in truth the manufacturers are trying to make as much as they can and so we find that the sails (for instance) are very expensive.  Added to this the manufacturers are keen to get the boats out into the market and sometimes they aren't as well developed as they could be, which means you end up with inadequate blocks and poorly routed controls which need frequent replcement.

Look at the Laser.  Very expensive sails and using the old blocks the cunningham and kicker needed frequent replacement.  Now you can use the XD kits to improve - but at what cost.  I also suspect there will be even more Lasers with a hole in the bottom due to the mast drilling its way through becuase its easier to apply even more downward pressure.

I've sailed a Cherub - 20 years ago - even then it was fast in a breeze and slow in the light stuff.