Suggestions for boat purchase
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Choosing a boat
Forum Discription: Ask any questions about the sport!
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1047
Printed Date: 04 Aug 25 at 11:34pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Suggestions for boat purchase
Posted By: Balms
Subject: Suggestions for boat purchase
Date Posted: 25 Sep 05 at 4:30pm
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Hi, new to the forum and hoping I might be able to get some advice! Spent much of my youth sailing (mainly single-handers - the last being a Phantom that I had from aged 17 to 19). After 10 years away from sailing, I've fallen back in love with the sport while on honeymoon in Zanzibar (very tricky winds!) What's more, my wife has also discovered a passion for sailing. She'd never sailed before, but loved it (mainly sailing Hobie 14s, but we also went out on a 40ft racing cat with a crew). Anyway, we're both now keen to join a club and buy a boat. Budget is around £2000 - £3000. We're looking for something reasonably speedy but not too skittish (an RS800 would probably not be a good idea!). Does anyone have any thoughts as to a good class for us? Cheers Balms
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Replies:
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 25 Sep 05 at 4:37pm
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Do you want a trapeze or a hiking boat? Single trapeze or twin trapeze? How
much do you weigh (if you don't mind me asking)? Where do you want to sail? ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: Stefan Lloyd
Date Posted: 25 Sep 05 at 4:38pm
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In order to avoid the standard answer (that you should sail what I sail, since it is obviously best): What club do you have in mind, or failing that, what area? What is your combined weight? |
Posted By: Balms
Date Posted: 25 Sep 05 at 4:39pm
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Wow, thanks for the swift response! Hiking rather than wire. I weigh 14 stone, the wife is 9-and-a-half. Cheers Balms |
Posted By: Balms
Date Posted: 25 Sep 05 at 4:42pm
Combined is 23-and-a-half stone. We're in South-West London. Little unsure about clubs. River sailing seems like it might be a little limited (I did a little when I was a kid and remember that you never got much of a run when sailing on a river). Would prefer a decent large reservoir but they all seem to be a bit of a trek (when considering London traffic). |
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 25 Sep 05 at 7:01pm
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I always believe in sailing a popular class at your club, because then you get
class racing every week which IMHO is much more fun than handicap. How about an RS400? I believe (but please correct me) that there is an ok fleet at Island Barn Resevoir which I also believe (please correct again) isn't far from South London ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: Isis
Date Posted: 25 Sep 05 at 7:39pm
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RS400 or 200 are probibly the most obvious choices but theres a whole
streem of non-asymetrics that could suit you quite well. I agree with
the above comment though, Try and find the club your most likely to
join and take a look at whats sailed there. By the way Stu.... Broke the moth again....  ------------- |
Posted By: CurlyBen
Date Posted: 25 Sep 05 at 8:31pm
| Laser 2000s another option, I suspect it may be cheaper than either of the RSs. It's used as a training boat at a few centres (not sure how many), has a an aysemtric, furling jib and i think the mast has slots for trapeze wires if you want to upgrade at some point. Nice and stable too. I haven't sailed the RSs though so can't comment.. |
Posted By: jpbuzz591
Date Posted: 25 Sep 05 at 8:35pm
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The laser 2000's i.ve heard are quite expensive second hand but at the same time hold their value really well. Ben, i think that the trapeze on the 2000 isnt legal for racing. I personally would go for a 200 or 400. ------------- Jp Indoe Contender 518 Buzz591 Chew Valley Sailing club Bristol |
Posted By: CurlyBen
Date Posted: 25 Sep 05 at 8:39pm
No you're right JP, trapezes aren't mentioned by Laser at all, but the
mast is a standard Selden one (I think) which does have trapeze rigging
slots. I haven't looked at prices (looking for faster boats  ) but I think they've been in production much longer, so the prices are probably more wide ranging.
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Posted By: 49erGBR735HSC
Date Posted: 25 Sep 05 at 8:48pm
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There are other options such as Merlin Rockets, Scorpions, GP14s, Enterprises, etc. I'd look at where you are sailing and if you can afford to get a boat within one of the fleets that are racing, go with it because most of your fellow sailors should help you out, plus you can steel ideas off them and follow them round the race course until your skills develope, which is a good way of developing your abilities because being able to pace the boats around you will raise your boat handling skills. ------------- 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: Rupert
Date Posted: 25 Sep 05 at 8:52pm
| Merlin Rockets at Tamesis at Kingston (well, Hampton Wick)? Plenty of running and beating, not much reaching...Teaches you to tack well, too! You'd get a 2nd hand Merlin well within that price, which would be competitive inland, but you'd struggle to keep up on a trip to the sea. |
Posted By: Balms
Date Posted: 25 Sep 05 at 10:30pm
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Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone. Rupert, I'll take a look at Tamesis and MRs. I'd actually been semi-thinking about a Merlin anyway! |
Posted By: Stefan Lloyd
Date Posted: 26 Sep 05 at 6:37am
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Merlins also at Hampton SC http://www.hamptonsailingclub.com/ - http://www.hamptonsailingclub.com/ Lovely boats and a very well-run class association. I can highly recommend Salcombe Merlin Week. Your combined weight is towards the high end for a Merlin but since it is a restricted rather than an OD class, some designs are better weight carriers than others. Get some advice from inside the class. http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/forum/main/ - http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/forum/main/ is lively.
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Posted By: stuarthop
Date Posted: 26 Sep 05 at 7:10pm
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how about a scorpion your about optimum weight and they're nice and easy to sail. You could pick one up for as little as 3 or 4 hundred quid from ebay but for a championship racing machine such as the one i'm selling you should expect to pay around £4500+
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Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 26 Sep 05 at 10:16pm
Merlin get's my thumbs up  Awesome class. Can't fault it (apart from it
has the wrong type op spinnaker). ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: Isis
Date Posted: 26 Sep 05 at 10:49pm
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Aye, merlins definantly have something about them. The fibrefusion boat especialy is a fantastic looking bit of kit.
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