Lightweight Crew - RS200/ Cherub/Vareo..?
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Choosing a boat
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URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1018
Printed Date: 04 Aug 25 at 9:29pm
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Topic: Lightweight Crew - RS200/ Cherub/Vareo..?
Posted By: WanderNoMore
Subject: Lightweight Crew - RS200/ Cherub/Vareo..?
Date Posted: 14 Sep 05 at 9:40pm
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Hiya, I'm looking at replacing my tired old Wanderer dinghy for something a bit more fun! I'm not hugely experienced (although been sailing on and off for 9 years!) but think a fun new boat will bring back the excitement that sailing should have! If anyone wants to buy a wanderer, 416, please drop me a line!! My spec: 23yr old male weighing in at 65kg (9.5 stone) sailing on the I've been looking at the following boats: RS200 - good for me and my lightweight crew but lacks trapeze (fun factor!). Very good social scene. RS Vareo - good because it's a single hander with poss of 2nd crew member, but what do they have to do? No jib to play with! Does it have a trapeze? Cherub - bit worried about the development class - seems a lot of boat mods to choose from! A scarily over complicated option at the moment - but options of single / double trapeze - lightweight crews seems good. Any tips? There seems to be lots of owners on here, but the Y&Y stats of National Championship attendances puts them at 87, just below the... Buzz - single trapeze, quite lightweight etc. Fireball - old and cheap - how do these live up to modern standards? Are symmetric spinny's really that hard to handle? Do I NEED a crew to sail one? There's too many dinghy's to look at - so help me please!! Basically I would like a boat that can accommodate a crew, but doesn't require the crew to necessarily be there! Is an incompetent crew member better than no crew member? I would also like a fast boat that has the potential to thrill, (pref. with a trapeze), is lightweight (so it's easy to handle and right after a capsize by just myself), and can potentially be sailed single headedly. My budget is dependant on what I sell the Wanderer for - but I imagine I'll be sitting on about 3k by the end of it, (not that I have to spend it all!) Thanks for your help, it's much appreciated! I'm getting blinded by all the information out there! Chris. ------------- Wanderer 416 - oldest boat known to man! Anyone want to buy her? |
Replies:
Posted By: Isis
Date Posted: 14 Sep 05 at 11:03pm
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Wanderer to cherub is a bit extreme... as much as I think they are
great boats its probibly best not to jump straight to skiff without
passing go, especialy without a regular crew confirmed. Im sure some of
the many cherub guys on here could give you a more valid veiw though. RS200 sounds like your best bet to me, but if you want a trapeze then id consider the buzz or L3000. Ive seen both sailed singlehanded with reasonable ease. ------------- |
Posted By: WanderNoMore
Date Posted: 14 Sep 05 at 11:19pm
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What are the differences between a Laser 3000 and 4000? The RS200 does seem so much more popular around here, which would be handy to meet people that maybe want to crew for me!  The trapeze does get me excited though! The Cherub does seem a tad extreme for sure, but I'm not one for swapping and changing so thought I could just stick at it for a few years to get the hang of it! Maybe I should go for something a little more sedate though! Chris. ------------- Wanderer 416 - oldest boat known to man! Anyone want to buy her? |
Posted By: CurlyBen
Date Posted: 14 Sep 05 at 11:48pm
| 4000 has more sail, wing wang on the spinny pole, trapeze racks, think there's more room in the cockpit as well. 4000's faster! I haven't sailed the 4000 and haven't sailed the 3000 much, but I have a friend who quite happily sails the 3000 single handedly. The 3000 also has a jib furler, so if you were overpowered you could reduce sail on the water easily. The 4000 has a battened jib so it cannot be furled. I'd be suprised if you'll have enough weight to keep the 4000 upright with much wind - should move faster than everyone else when it's light though! I think the same would apply with Cherubs - I've only sailed one, once, it's awesome fun but you need a crew to keep it up and need plenty of weight at the back to keep the nose out of the water. The 2000 may be worth a thought as well, I've sailed that in about a 5 with main only and kept that upright with no problems. (I think) the mast is a standard Proctor mast, so although it officially has no trapeze wires can be added. Sorry if I seem Laser biased - most of my sailing has been in 420s, most of the rest I've sailed has been at the centre I work at and they predominately use Laser gear. Probs a good idea to find a centre with most of the boats you're thinking about and go and try them. |
Posted By: 49erGBR735HSC
Date Posted: 14 Sep 05 at 11:57pm
If you've seen a Laser 2, the 3000 is basically a 2 with an open cockpit, re-designed rig with assymetric spinnaker. Really nice boats, easy to get up on the plane and would be a lot of fun progressing from a Wanderer.... Got one for sale if you're interested, not that I'm biased in anyway. Best bet is to look into the class associations of the boats you're interested in to see which one you like most. ------------- Dennis Watson 49er GBR735 http://www.helensburghsailingclub.co.uk/ - Helensburgh S.C http://www.noblemarine.co.uk/home.php3?affid=560 - Boat Insurance from Noble Marine |
Posted By: WanderNoMore
Date Posted: 15 Sep 05 at 12:00am
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So are Laser 3000s discontinued? I can't see them on the Laser website: http://www.lasersailing.com/disp/uk/range/introduction I like the idea of a jib furler, as long as it works better than the one I have on the wanderer...! Mine just lets go as soon as there's a gust - just what you need! (probably haven't set it up quite right tho  )Also I can't find that many 3000s for sale. - oh and Dennis, ure post has litterally just gone up saying you've got one for sale! Spooky! How much are you after? (spudwar@hotmail.com for mail / msn) and are you still in Scotland / Plymouth?! Got any pictures / more information? Thanks ------------- Wanderer 416 - oldest boat known to man! Anyone want to buy her? |
Posted By: CurlyBen
Date Posted: 15 Sep 05 at 12:08am
| I'm not sure furling systems on dinghies are designed for reefing, which is what it sounds like you're doing on the wanderer? The cleats to hold them aren't very strong on the 2000/3000, they're designed to furl it completely away to make things easier when you're not using the jib. Also, if the jib's not flogging it prolongs the life of it. I think Laser have discontinued the 3000 in favour of the Vago - which sounds perfect for what you want, but it's not been available long, so you'd probably have to buy new, which starts at £4000 - and probably won't come with everything you need. I saw a guy sailing a Vago last time I was on safety boat and he seemed to be having a great time, single handed, on the trapeze with the kite up. Again not a boat I've sailed! |
Posted By: 49erGBR735HSC
Date Posted: 15 Sep 05 at 12:10am
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The boat is still in Scotland, its my brother's boat. Sorry we don't
have any pictures but has a mint green hull, black spars, good sails,
plus an unused kite. I'm off down to Plymouth tomorrow but will e-mail
you with full details within the next week.
------------- Dennis Watson 49er GBR735 http://www.helensburghsailingclub.co.uk/ - Helensburgh S.C http://www.noblemarine.co.uk/home.php3?affid=560 - Boat Insurance from Noble Marine |
Posted By: WanderNoMore
Date Posted: 15 Sep 05 at 12:19am
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Dennis - thanks, it'll be appreciated. CurlyBen - I don't think mine was meant for reefing, well if it was it was a bit pants at it! So I never used it for that purpose, but the Vago website quotes: "The mainsail operates on a one line reefing system – pulling on one control line slab reefs the mainsail to 70% of its original size – this feature, coupled with a roller furling jib means a quick increase or decrease in sail power." ...which does sound handy! Trouble is, I don't think I can stretch to 4k / 4.5k for a new boat. It does look nice though, especially being able to change the sails for ones more suited to single handed sailing. There must be an older (cheaper) alternative out there?! ------------- Wanderer 416 - oldest boat known to man! Anyone want to buy her? |
Posted By: CurlyBen
Date Posted: 15 Sep 05 at 12:28am
Yeah, I just saw that on the Vago website, I haven't come across that on a dinghy before. I don't like reefing anyway 
I'll have to have a look, the centre I work at is meant to be getting
them next year I think but I won't be back there before Easter.
Unfortunately, I doubt even the 4k would include everything - they
often don't include covers and trolleys I think - it's never been a
problem for me before! That's where negotiating deals at boat shows can
be good - e.g. Southampton! If you can get there it may be worth going
and looking around, I suspect something by RS will fit what you want,
but I don't know their range well. My brother was sailing something by
them a while ago that he enjoyed, I'll ask him about it next time I
speak to him - think it was the RS Feva, which looks like it might be
suitable.
|
Posted By: WanderNoMore
Date Posted: 15 Sep 05 at 12:39am
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It seems silly that they don't come with that sort of kit as standard.
I found someone selling a boat without a launching trailer - surely
that's more essential than the road trailer!? (maybe it had just broken
- who knows!) I'm going to Southampton boat show around friday - but I doubt they'll drop the price to around the 3k mark for me! Mind you, I do like a bargain - so maybe a loan's in order...! Plus I've still got to sell the Wanderer! The RS Vareo looks good to me, but it's primarily a one man boat: http://www.rssailing.com/fleets.asp?fleet=RS%20Vareo My club owns some Fevas - maybe I'll try taking one out for a spin - at least just to see what the build quality is like on RS boats! ------------- Wanderer 416 - oldest boat known to man! Anyone want to buy her? |
Posted By: CurlyBen
Date Posted: 15 Sep 05 at 9:34am
| Yeah if you can get easy access to a Feva that's probably a good first step, it should at least give you some idea of what you like and what else you want to look for in a boat. |
Posted By: Harry44981!
Date Posted: 15 Sep 05 at 5:03pm
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I'd say go for a 200- great boats, but they're quite expensive and don't really have a large 2nd hand market. ------------- |
Posted By: yellowhammer
Date Posted: 15 Sep 05 at 6:04pm
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Here's a link to the Laser 3000 Class website ... there's boats for sale area on the forum at £2250 to £3500: http://www.laser3000.lasersailing.com - www.laser3000.lasersailing.com I've owned one for 2 years now and am getting into the class racing scene, which is low key. Also sail singlehanded regularly at the club, on the trapeze with main and jenny in a F3 plus. Versatile boat but not seen on the water in numbers at many clubs. Vandercraft have just started building, having aquired the moulds and rtights from Laser earlier in the year, and will be supplying good value class legal spares. See the new boat next to the Topper stand at Southampton. ------------- Laser 3000 @ Leigh & Lowton SC www.3000class.org.uk |
Posted By: CurlyBen
Date Posted: 16 Sep 05 at 10:02am
| If you want a Feva LDC are selling seconds off - http://www.rssailing.com/cosmetic.asp?selection=RS%20Feva |