Laser2000 vs RS Vision

Strange that the RS people are selling the vision against the Laser 2000 rather than the RS200.  I always thought the RS200 was the RS version of the L2k - only nicer; lighter, twitchier and that bit faster too (beer gut permitting).

The L2k is indeed very popular and it's good to race.  But it's a great big heavy tub too.  The freeboard is so high that hiking is uncomfortable and getting in after a capsize can need arms like Sinbad (big big pull over the high slippery side).  Being fairly stable, it takes a lot to heel it over, but due to the deck design, takes even more to pull it back.  RS200 any time. 

Better still, get a trapeze boat - especially if it's recyclable!!!!!!

 

Yes, I think the 2000 is a good boat.  Its a trainer asymmetric or a good racer for the less agile and probably a good cruiser in places like Chichester Harbour.  The RS200 is a different kettle of fish, fast for its size, agile and good in the light stuff and probably quite a handful for a couple of light wieghts.  Don't criticise a boat for having too much freeboard when climbing in - just let it heel over a bit!

Originally posted by Riki @ RS The engineering that goes into rotomoulding has leaped ahead in the last 5 years. It is far from in its infancy, and I invite anyone who thinks the tooling is cheap and low tech to come and see the set-up for the Feva and Vision. The mould is individually temperature controlled in compartments and the machine and computer that rotomoulds is constantly adaptive to the heating and cooling variables. Its impressive stuff and staggeringly expensive to tool up. The actual design of the boat itself has to overcome some pretty intense factors too - such as the torsional rigidity issues (no bulkhead stiffeners in a plastic boat) so its only recently that a boat holding proper rig tension (like a Vision or Omega) has been possible. Should anyone require more information on the Vision or indeed the thought process that has gone into any aspect of the design, then drop me a mail Riki@rssailing.com

Riki - just a question - what is the typical rig tension you would envisage on the Vision compared to the RS400 & RS800...

CHeers.

Blobby..

A Vision will safely hold around 400lbs of rig tension (on the forestay) probably far more, but its unlikely that 99% of users would ever pull that amount on - even with gloves on that would hurt the hardiest of hands using the standard 4:1 purchase. Typically it will be used with less than half of that. The boat is easily up to the job as the design cleverly triangulates the rig tension via the shoud points to the bottom of the mast step, and the mast foot is 'slung' off the floor. The foredeck arrangement then spreads the load between the mast and the forestay. This avoids the need for any unslightly and often unreliable metal beams between the mast and the shrouds

Of course an RS800 would typically sail with at least this, even in less windy conditions.. but then you'd expect this in a high performance epoxy skiff.

NickA...

We would always consider the RS200 to be in a very different bracket to the Laser 2000, and indeed its only recently that the Laser 2000 has been promoted with any significant racing aspiration. The RS200 is much smaller and its power delivery/handling is in a different league - far from comparible.

There's far more people that want to hike and not trapeze than vice versa, thats why the market for RS200s and Laser2000s will always be significantly larger than RS800s and Laser 4000s, even though arguably an RS800 is an easier boat than the RS200 to sail.

Cheers

The ease of the RS800 is widely documented and agreed.. You should try it!