Best first Fat Boy boat
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=12351
Printed Date: 05 Aug 25 at 2:21am
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Topic: Best first Fat Boy boat
Posted By: cautiouscamel
Subject: Best first Fat Boy boat
Date Posted: 28 Mar 16 at 10:23pm
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Evening all, long time reader first time poster here. I'm looking to buy my first boat. Ensuing post will probably cause mass debate (don't say those words too quickly! har har) I'm no Ben ainslie, but I've been sailing for a few years on/off. I have never competed before. I'd like something that I can compete in singlehandedly, but also 2 up when required (yes its another one of these impossible newbie requirement threads...). Ideally something that is:
Here's the potential kicker - I'm 6'4 and 18st/115kg (although will need to shave about 15kg off for the next rugby season!). I'm relatively fit on that weight. I've been going round in circles looking at boats to shortlist to try out - 2000s, RS Vareos, Vagos etc. But i seem to find some forum post for just about every boat with a few comments in that put me off it. I did think maybe 2 boats would be the answer - perhaps a laser and something a little bigger for when the missus fancies a trip out in the boat? I've taken a few lasers out on the local lake, and always thought they were a little on the underpowered for me (although post of this was in lighter winds, and i believe may have been on one of the smaller rigs). I wonder if actually with my size/weight i'd find a larger boat, perhaps not normally sailed singlehanded a little easier? Last year i did spend a bit of time out in a Magno, and at first glance i thought it fit the bill, but i really didn't get on with it (i thought it was terrible?!?). Basically, it'd be great to get a few thoughts from people, and if there are any larger gentlemen out there that can give me some first hand accounts of what singlehanding a bigger boat is like when you've got a bit of weight behind you, that'd be great. Cheers! PS - never tried trapezing, will i snap a mast? It's something i definitely want to give a go!
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Replies:
Posted By: Pierre
Date Posted: 29 Mar 16 at 7:28am
Osprey...  Absolute shoo-in....
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Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 29 Mar 16 at 11:36am
| Good grief. Take off the damned tunnel vision spectacles mate. There may be worse choices for the declared job than the osprey, but not many and not much. |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 29 Mar 16 at 12:06pm
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Diet is your friend..
Then don't we need to know who the crew is likely to be? Is it parent child, wife/girl/boy/civilpartnerfriend? Couple of excellent boats if it's just you, the Phantom or that new Hadron, both could probably take a passenger at a push for just joy riding. Edit just had another thought, there's a guy way up Norh uses an Icon single handed without the jib, then bungs the jib back on for two up competition, that could work for you. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 29 Mar 16 at 12:11pm
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For a more serious answer. Yes, two boats is the right choice, but you don't want to own two. Find yourself a local sailing club that has a selection of rental boats, and hire a two hander when you need to take a second person out.
That leaves you with the simpler task of identifying a singlehander. The conventional choices for the more substantial singlehander Sailor are Finn and Phantom, the Phantom being by far the lighter, but both are really in the advanced category. A Laser, especially if you can find one with the bigger Rooster rig for lighter winds, is going to be easy to buty and easy to sell again when you're a bit more practised and a bit more focussed on your requirements. |
Posted By: Kev M
Date Posted: 29 Mar 16 at 12:23pm
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I'd echo Jim's sentiment about renting a two person boat when needed but I wouldn't advise a laser. A phantom isn't a bad choice, I'd only been sailing two years when I got mine. They're not hard to sail but like most boats they're hard to sail well. Depending on where you sail you might want to consider an RS100 with the big rig. Not as competitive as my phantom where I sail but I'm having much more fun in it and they're a bargain second hand compared to other boats of a similar spec and agree. You should also consider the Blaze with a Halo sail maybe. ------------- Successfully confusing ambition with ability since 1980. |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 29 Mar 16 at 12:37pm
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If back down to 100kg for the season, then that opens up boats like the Supernova and, if a spinnaker is wanted, the Vareo.
Otherwise, I knew a big chap who raced an Albacore very successfully singlehanded. Using the jib too isn't a big deal. I do very similar in the Firefly in smaller scale. ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: turnturtle
Date Posted: 29 Mar 16 at 1:29pm
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this wouldn't be a bad start point, assuming you follow the very solid advice of hiring the right tool for the job for those occasional double-handed sessions.... https://www.facebook.com/groups/dinghies/permalink/1020845634621548/" rel="nofollow - https://www.facebook.com/groups/dinghies/permalink/1020845634621548/
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Posted By: gordon1277
Date Posted: 29 Mar 16 at 2:20pm
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Trapezing
You should be fine, well worth finding someone with an Osprey, 505 or FD sorry but I dont think any of the asymetric boats are designed for people of sensible size to crew in. Singlehander Phantom is a brillieant boat for your dimensions and a very friendly fleet. Regards Gordon 6ft 2in 17.5 stone Phantom 1430 ------------- Gordon Lossc |
Posted By: Kev M
Date Posted: 29 Mar 16 at 2:34pm
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100kg is way too heavy for a Supernova or a Vareo in my opinion. ------------- Successfully confusing ambition with ability since 1980. |
Posted By: Phil_1193
Date Posted: 29 Mar 16 at 2:48pm
This. Having sailed one when i was a smidge over 125kg and 18 months later sailing it at 90kg it fits the single handed weight yo yo pretty well and being 6ft 4 or so myuself I can confirm the height isn't an issue in one |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 29 Mar 16 at 4:59pm
Too heavy to win races unless a force 7, but the boat will happily carry 15 1/2 stone.18 stone is harder to deal with in the Dinghy sailing world. At least in this case, though, the OP doesn't appear to be someone who can't move the weight easily found the boat, which is where issues often arise. ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: Pierre
Date Posted: 29 Mar 16 at 5:06pm
B*gger... forgot the irony imoji thing........Good grief indeed  OK, Phantom or Finn, and hire a club Wanderer, or something of that ilk, when sailing with family members and not wanting to scare the horses. Is that better ?
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Posted By: Paramedic
Date Posted: 29 Mar 16 at 8:54pm
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Solo initially, but expect to grow out of it quite quickly and as soon as you can handle it in strong winds go Phantom. If you buy the right Solo you'll lose very little if anything in two years. Yes you'll be on the porky side for it, BUT a couple of years ago the top Phantoim sailors were also top Solo sailors. Sailing ability will be the limiting factor to begin with, not your weight |
Posted By: rb_stretch
Date Posted: 29 Mar 16 at 9:34pm
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Unless you have a Finn fleet at your chosen club, the Phantom is really the only way to go. Although I understand the logic behind buying something like a Laser first (or Solo as I did), the reality is that it will be too small for you. You might as well get the right boat first time. Phantoms are more difficult to sail than a Laser or Solo, but not so difficult that you'll be frustrated. |
Posted By: Jamie600
Date Posted: 30 Mar 16 at 1:30pm
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Laser Vago can be singlehanded (even from the trapeze, I have seen it done!) or will carry two when needed. Not much of a race scene though compared with the other choices. ------------- RS600 1001 |
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 30 Mar 16 at 1:58pm
Not a huge race scene but a pretty active CA by all accounts and a boat that is pretty flexible in terms of sailing. there is a guy at Hunts who single hands his when his crew is not available. ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |