Fireblade - revisiting the hybrid project

Originally posted by rich96 There are so many good boats around for all shapes, sizes, ages. abilities etc

This basically is where we differ, I really believe, the whole shebang is a crock of sh1t, they're all flawed in one way or another, not one, maybe the Aero 7, but it's not 100% and it's not a trapeze boat.

Give me the name of a decent trapeze boat that doesn't need a crane to lift it, or is incapable of being used above force four on the sea.

Anyway it's academic, I spent this avo putting mine back pretty much where I started with a little less rig rake and will go race it tomorrow, could see the difference the mast made to the sail the moment I rigged it, so now I have a lovely RDM Contender mast, that needs a new sail made for it,

Originally posted by rich96 Unfortunately b**tardising dinghies that have been developed for specific rigs, crew sizes, ability etc rarely works Adding a trapeze, wings etc to a boat that is was not designed for it is doomed usually How many times do we see people trying these conversions and it not working - always ? There are so many good boats around for all shapes, sizes, ages. abilities etc However, if one thinks this is not the case then I guess one needs to start from   scratch with a very competent designer & builder and be prepared to spend an awful lot of cash for something bespoke Even this will have inevitable teething issues and may be no better than what is available ? Sometimes you have to look at your size, weight, physical condition, ability etc, chose something that suits and get really good at sailing it

Edited by Grumpycat - 03 Jul 21 at 11:26pm

. iGRF. 

Originally posted by H2 I used to enjoy tinkering with old Land Rovers to make them better off road and with various track focused cars like the Lotus Exige. After 20 years of messing around I came to the conclusion that the men of Solihull and Hethel knew more about engineering than I ever would and that the cars they produced were better than the modifications that I lavished money upon in the aim of "improving" the cars which always made them worse upon reflection. I do actually remember this being a pretty big factor in deciding which boat to buy when I got back into racing and picked a class where the hull, rig and foils were all single supplier so that I simply could not go off and try and "improve" on them!! If you are having fun then thats all that really matters I guess :-)

And the worse thing about your current ride? That awful Fathead sail.

Originally posted by rich96 GRF Is your aim to produce/develop a boat that lets you win your local handicap races or something that might appeal to the masses ?

It's gotten to the point I'm beginning to question what I'm doing myself. I guess it's to try and find something I can sail easily that will compensate for my own inadequacies, that started out trying to build something as fast as a Musto Skiff but easier to sail, then in discovering how to sail single handed and how much different and more difficult it was without a crew, what to use in our mixed fleets, that isn't a Laser, yet could perform well enough to mix it with them. Then I fancied a Contender but became disillusioned with it's weight and tight class rules that didn't permit it's performance being optimised, then this happened along just as I reverted back to my old Blaze, another great boat but too heavy by far. Turns out this isn't the lightest thing around either and as much as I enjoy sailing it, up and down the beach it is a major drag, and unfortunately one of those inadequacies is reducing strength through the onset of years.
I had thought about maybe getting it built properly (lighter) and still fancy a bash at it commercially, but this market is way worse than the one I operate in, the customers are tighter than even windsurfers and they're pretty bad, I'm rushed off my feet already with my foil business that's gone gang busters due to Wing Foiling so the thought of another commercial project right now is pretty daunting and I don't like selling stuff that isn't the absolute best on the market, so if I ever get this boat into a reasonable state, it's still only maybe unless I can get someone else interested which I'm slowly working on but being held up by Covid until recently.

I fully agree on the description of the Aero, another lost opportunity for a great boat compromised, but I do so envy him just walking up the beach trailing the boat and trailer in one hand.