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A new class of dinghy?

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davidyacht View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote davidyacht Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: A new class of dinghy?
    Posted: 01 Sep 18 at 11:03am
Given the relative success of the FRP Solos .... 1000+ boats in ten years, 100 boat Nationals and strong club fleets around the country, I am slightly surprised that the Enterprise failed to grasp the same nettle, offering a simple two person alternative, and achieve similar participation levels.

To my eye, this is the niche that I can see, and if one of the existing classes cannot achieve a revamp that hits the spot, which has the obvious benefit of an established infrastructure and cheaper second hand boats, then a new class could at least take advantage of more recent technologies.

In truth, quite a lot of marketeers have gone for this slot, some have succeeded, some have failed, but I would suggest that none have really hit the “pick up an inexperienced crew of average size and be half competitive” slot ... mainly due to added complexities of spinnakers.
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Sam.Spoons View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Sep 18 at 11:36am
The Enterprise is a lovely boat, a little hairy on a windy run but otherwise virtually vice free. They still have alloy spars but allowed a carbon dangly pole a few years ago and are well suited to smaller venues and less than fully committed crews.

The CA has addressed the issue of modernisation WRT hull materials and layout with two FRP designs, the Peak Dinghy Enterprise is available in Vinylester or Epoxy FRP with a traditional deck layout and (a composite option with wooden decks) and the Rondar Mk3 has a revamped double bottom design which looks very modern (If I buy another Ent in the future that's the one I would go for).


Edited by Sam.Spoons - 01 Sep 18 at 11:37am
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Post Options Post Options   Quote zippyRN Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Sep 18 at 12:00pm
Originally posted by Sam.Spoons

The Enterprise is a lovely boat, a little hairy on a windy run but otherwise virtually vice free. They still have alloy spars but allowed a carbon dangly pole a few years ago and are well suited to smaller venues and less than fully committed crews.

The CA has addressed the issue of modernisation WRT hull materials and layout with two FRP designs, the Peak Dinghy Enterprise is available in Vinylester or Epoxy FRP with a traditional deck layout and (a composite option with wooden decks) and the Rondar Mk3 has a revamped double bottom design which looks very modern (If I buy another Ent in the future that's the one I would go for).

 the Ent is a good boat very accessible to  sail in terms of skill levels needed to make it  go without falling over, admittedly  the deck stepped mast can make  rigging  it  from transport a little hairy ... 
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Sep 18 at 1:47pm
I think there’s a gaping hole for an Aero 2. Basically a Tasar with a fixed carbon mast and no pole. What the Icon could have been but it got too big and hi tech when smaller, simpler, cheaper and more accessible would have hit a bigger market.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Daniel Holman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Sep 18 at 3:22pm
Originally posted by A2Z

I think there’s a gaping hole for an Aero 2. Basically a Tasar with a fixed carbon mast and no pole. What the Icon could have been but it got too big and hi tech when smaller, simpler, cheaper and more accessible would have hit a bigger market.


I think that icon was accessible no? Was it not “enterprise easy” to sail? Looked to be perfectly accessible to me. Wasn’t massive either was it Cant have even been 15ft. For reasons mentioned by Jim a boat to fit the op brief couldn’t be much smaller else you’d get ns14 or n12 or even rs 200 twitchy.
Dare say if it had been launched from scratch by rs and not altered so much publically ie confusing the offering it would have sold 100 + a year for the last 6 year or however long it’s been.
Minor styling / oem equipment aside it looked philosophically like a 2 handed aero to me.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Oli Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Sep 18 at 3:25pm
an aero for two people with 3 rig sizes: 

1) cadet/mirror mode
2) n12/rs200
3) merlin/rs400

kite or no kite but if kite then option for either sym or asy.

asking a lot of one platform but not asking it to be a master in any one format.

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Sep 18 at 3:45pm
Would the same hull manage all of that without being too compromised too much of the time?
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423zero View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote 423zero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Sep 18 at 5:46pm
According to Enterprise class association they are the largest 2 handed class association in the world. 
The class association allow a spinnaker if you want one, never seen one though.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Sep 18 at 6:06pm
The International Class Rules do allow a spinnaker at the discretion of the National C.A. but the UK class assn do not allow them at class events (AFAIK only the US does so). The UKCA have published a suggested PN for an Ent with a spinnaker (back in 2002 according to Wiki) so you can use one at handicap events if you choose. 
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Oli View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Oli Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Sep 18 at 9:09pm
Originally posted by Sam.Spoons

Would the same hull manage all of that without being too compromised too much of the time?


Possibly but no one has tried as far as I’m aware, as I said it doesn’t need to be a master in any format, just needs to be sailable. The
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