Another which boat next thread

I would have thought the Fireball was the obvious choice. 

The L4000 would be suitable but is probably a boat with its best/most popular years behind it.  Ditto the Buzz and ISO. The 29er - might be a bit yoof?

The RS500 strikes me as decent enough, but not really offering anything new -which is probably why they are not so commonly seen racing in British clubs.  I guess you could look at it as a de-tuned 29er, in the way that the 800 is an easier 49er.  Or is it just a modern Buzz? 

If you are prepared to stand at the back, or sit at the front, the 200, 400 and 800 would offer a better circuit. But then you could add the Scorpion and Merlin Rocket (virtually a one-design these days) as well...

Oh, the choices!

Edited by Peaky

I did consider the 29er very briefly, a real consideration if I was 30 yrs younger.

I know tastes vary quite a bit but I find the fireball ugly in the extreme and the ones I've seen (limited experience on my part so I could be wrong) don't do that well in real lumpy stuff, too many different types as well.

The 400 needs a bit more weight I reckon (considering my wife knee), the 800 appeals except that it would be worse than the L2 in the light stuff.

The 200 I have considered at length, a well sorted boat by all accounts well suited to Husband Wife teams and it's where a lot of the old L2 sailors went, so I haven't discounted it but the Wife will need convincing.

The 500 as a "de-tuned 29er" still appeals but is it going anywhere? 

Well, assuming that Champs turnouts are an indicator of Open Turnouts the old Meatball has got to be prime choice... These are the top few, but I concur that the 4Tonner looks to be on the slide.

Fireball     67.4
Laser 4000     41.75
Osprey     36.8
505     35.8
RS500     34
Hornet     26.25
470     17

hollansd, if the V3000 had a bigger fleet I would jump at it, right up my street I think.

The absence of comments re the 500 speaks volumes about the boats future

 

OK I may have to convince my wife that a hiking boat is the way to go. The 200's mixed gender teams at the opens are a big plus although it does seem like step backwards on the excitment front.

 

........thanks for your comments, I shall think some more.

Originally posted by GK.LaserII The absence of comments re the 500 speaks volumes about the boats future

I don't know I'd go as far as to say that: this forum is hardly representative. Wait and see what the Champs this year pulls out: they got good turnouts their first two years.
Having said that I'd have a lot of trouble seeing past the 29er if I wanted a lightweights asymettric one string one design, I think I'd want to put up with the youngsters to get the superior boat...

As for variations in the meatball... it is a one design. From of fleet to back of fleet in any class is reckoned to be around 20%. I can't believe that, given equal sails, spars and foils, boat speed could be more than 3 or 4% different between different boats. People wildly exaggerate the importance of boat speed...

Edited by JimC