Another What Boat Thread

Everything about RS is influenced by Windsurfing, those boys did a fair bit
of competitive windsurfing back in the eighties when they ran LDC and
the LDC surf team was the scourge of the South Eastern Boardsailing
Series.

SMOD? Can you elaborate?

I'm a big fan of the 3000, it has turned around my sailing almost from the
word go. Its o.k. with me and another lightweight in it, but unless its
blowing any heavier crew and you just suck. Does the fact the class own
the boat mean we could build our own sails? The main sail could do with
a rework.

As for the hull.
Its not been my experience that just lightening up low volume
displacement will make the difference, and I'm not sure I'd like to risk the
expense a new Van der Craft or whatever it is they're called, so I'm
looking for a stable mate and will keep it. In light winds I know enough
and am just about agile enough to single hand it, from what I learned
coping with the Musto.

Thanks Nick, very informative, exactly what I wanted to read, if I get this
500, I'll keep you posted with regular reports.

They are however not the greatest sales team.

Originally posted by les5269 Right after reading through all this thread, I'm not sure what all the fuss is about  but.......... Graeme does it have to be a trapeze?

Yes, most of my failed Musto Skiff adventures were down to poor trapeze
confidence, I hope one day to revisit, once I've built some automatic pilot
residual dinghy sailing skills.

Can't bear to be beaten by anything.

Especially when those inbreds at Whitstable can sail them.

Originally posted by les5269 Right after reading through all this thread, I'm not sure what all the fuss is about  but.......... Graeme does it have to be a trapeze? Looks like you are more keen on that, but the RS400 is supposed to be a very good boat with a centreboard but no trapeze.I have never sailed one but know a lot of people who do who really like them. Personally I'm a twin trap man so what I sail or have sailed wont fit your bill but your welcome to try them (Laser 5000,Weighs a ton or 49er light but fragile  and both have d/boards)  I can't think of any other asymmetrics that have centreboards sorry

what's the difference between a centreboard and a daggerboard?

Originally posted by Doug.H A centreboard pivots so it raises when it hits the bottom.

Only if it's not cleated down !!!!!!! 

Originally posted by Prince Buster what's the difference between a centreboard and a daggerboard?

A daggerboard fits into a tight slot through the hull.

A centreboard will retract on a pivot into either a special cavity or the
hull.

There are advantages and disadvantages of both systems.

The daggerboard is easier to build and stress.

The assym brigade will have you believe (because they have no
alternative)its an essential part of foiling off wind, personally i doubt it,
but then what do I know?

I do know this, kick a centreboard away on a racing longboard and the
speed immediately doubles due to lack of friction.

I doubt anyone has really canvassed up an assymetric (unless the kiwis or
Aussies have) and pulled the plate, it must mean it could be sailed deeper
faster, not to mention making running up the beach a darn site easier.

Other usefull stuff you can do with a centreboard, make it gybe.

Gybing centreboards have, arguably better windward performance, they're
made with an offset diamond at the head with a knock at the back so
when you retract them it sets firm and doesn't wobble offwind.

The windward pressure against the diamond angles the front of the board
a few degrees to windward giving it a greater angle of attack than the
sails.

I used to use them racing long boards back in the day Parker were
building boards for me and 505's for you lot.

Edit: Forgot the other inevitable centreboard disadvantage, having an
effective slot flusher, if its ineffective you can lose twenty percent of your
boat speed.

Edited by Graemef