Hello all

A number of you out there should have been using the new Vago for a couple of months now, has anyone formed an opinion yet?

I went out on my own in one for an afternoon, the wind was 3-4 rising to 5 and I had a really good time, but I have to admit I didnt use the jib, kite or trapeze, I had my work cut with just the ordinary main. Only one capsize due to an unexpected gybe, she was easy to right although took a little time to come up.

 I currently sail an elderly Enterprise (usually on my own) and am thinking about getting a Vago  next year. Not interested in racing so dont care about PY numbers, just is versatile, good value and good fun?

Thanks

Paul

Do you mean a laser 3000? Are they very similar?

Thanks

Paul

Check out this link for details of VanderCraft who build the V3000 (they already build the Phantom so have an excellent pedigree):

http://www.vandercraft.co.uk/ - http://www.vandercraft.co.uk/

In its new guise the 3000 is a more focussed youth/lightweight race boat, and looking at your spec the Vago may suit you better. It is epoxy/woven GRP contruction and significantly lighter than a Vago as a result. The V3000 will be  very good build quality compared with your average rotomould.

I sail the Laser 3000 and find it very versatile with two pre-school kids. I'd appreciate the ability for young children to 'sit in' that the Vago offers. The Vago has some neat features for leisure sailing and the hull materials should take the knocks and scuffs of heavy family use.

I think your original post summed up the Vago quite nicely as a fun, versatile and good value boat. I have had mine since the end of July and have sailed it both single handed and two up. Go for it! 

Having sailed the 4K quite often and recently and owning a Vago I can quite clearly state that the Vago is not anywhere near as fast as a 4K.

Have they got a Vago demonstrator at Rutland? ... be interesting if it's out when we're there for the V3000/L3000 trial!

Seriouisly though, the Vago is a very good concept and will suit many people ... the market is probably similar to the L2000 when it was launched

Yup.  The V3000 is supposed to be just as the Laser 3k.  But with the relaxation to the CA rules, both boats should be easier to single hand.  Eg: you could have direct off the boom sheeting so as to get an extended tiller through the boat when tacking & gybing without passing it round the back (cat style) - but you'll have to hold the main in your tiller hand (and forget all about the jib) when playing the asymetric.  Not perfect, but at least there's the flexibility.

The Vago is also adapted to single handing to a degree - not obvious from the brochure (which has a bloke single handing with a short tiller extension furgodsake!!) but there's a little step in the deck moulding that you can push off from and the kicker controls are lead back to either side of the cross thwart so with a bit of a reach (or an extra bit of rope) you could control the kicker from the wire too - useful when you've forgotten to let it off rounding a bouy!  Also it has a short mast and is wide from gunnel to gunnel (sort of moulded in wings) so righting moment should be high.   The plastic is a very pretty pale blue too .

i guess they're the ones with the spending power, cos they don't waste so much time on the water

Surely nobody sails when they cant be bothered?

Many thanks for all the replies, could do with one or two more comments from actual buyers. To an earlier post, yes they do have a couple at Rutland that's where I had a go.

Best wishes

Paul

Took delivery of mine in late August and I have to say the jury is still out particularly in view of the V3000.  It seems to feel faster than it actually is and is definitely not as fast as a 4000 despite Laser's claim.  Extreme weather helm with the xd rig which might just be a tuning issue but no tuning guide from laser yet so hopefully trial and error will sort this out.  And no sign of the vago meet that laser were sure they would organise for October to get some racing in and get the class association off the ground. Come on, get it sorted Laser!

On the batten popping front, no amount of kicker gets the top one to pop in light winds - you just have to pull hard on the boom. 

It's totally different to a 2000, at least with the xd rig.  Miles more lively and entertaining and the slightly patronising comments about owners only sailing when they "can be bothered" are probably misplaced - it's going to attract a mix of owners like most lasers do and some will be hardcore sailors.  Its versatility is its big advantage and hopefully it will do all that laser claim.

My conclusion so far though is that it will probably be fun to sail for a while particularly when there's some class racing but I think it will be replaced by a 29er before long.  Now they are brilliant.

The Vago has got a lot of weather helm when heeled over, however let a 29er heel as much and you will be swiming!

I'm not too sure about the Vago, visited a sailing school recently which are using Topper Omegas and the boats have already showed stress points near the shroud plates. The material flexes at these points and the boats which I saw were showing denting inwards near the shroud plates. Maybe it's just initial problems with the Topper boats and being fair these boats were early boats from the production line. The indication though was that the materials used for the boats flex substantially when put under any rig tension over a period of time. If this is the case, hopefully Laser, Topper and RS have worked this out and reinforced all the points which may be suceptible to flexing. It might be interesting to see how the "new" plactic boats look in a few seasons........