i14 vs 49er etc...

I think any of the uk boats are good if you are looking to spend about £7000 you won’t get a b4 or a Morrison 12. I would just make sure that you get a self tacking jib and a T foil all the boats are built well you also want to get one that has a few kilos of lead in it as the weight is coming down a little over the next two years.

There are a few boats in the £6500 to £5500 range that are good boats for sale 1491, 1487 and 1466 which was an RMW works boat at the Bermuda worlds

Hope this helps

I think one key thing to remember about i14's is that until you can keep the thing upright all the way around the course, what type is fastest is of little concern. I'd recommend starting on something you can afford event better if there is room for adding more toys. After you get so you think the boat is slowing you down and your boat handling is similar to the top guys, upgrade to what is fast at that time. Often what is fast depends on who is in the boat more so than the boat itself. That way your learning time and breakage is on something less expensive.

One man's opinion.

Another thing to bear in mind is that just because a boat is 'sorted' for one person it may not be suited to another. I'm not sure how it works in the 14's but there are no 2 cherubs set up the same, people put things where they want them and if they don't like it they will move them. Unless you are very lucky (or adaptive) it can cost a fair amount of money to get the boat set up how you like it. I guess if you are from a SMOD background you will probably just get on with where things are positioned (however badly that may be!)

Just my view on the subject from a slightly more quirky and budget development class