Kids 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=3270
Printed Date: 05 Aug 25 at 7:55am
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Topic: Kids boat?
Posted By: runningfree
Subject: Kids boat?
Date Posted: 08 Aug 07 at 2:07pm
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Right looking for my sister...again. Shes about 5.5 stone (36kg), 5ft ish and limited experience - can helm a laser but thats with someone in the boat with her. There were 2 boats we were looking at and they were the RS Tera - good price but never seen one before and a Laser Pico - cheap second hand and a lot of the local sailing schools have them. Price range about £1000 possibly more. Also any other ideas? And info on the other 2 i suggested? Also i just remembered for some reason she cant use rear main!
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Replies:
Posted By: jpbuzz591
Date Posted: 08 Aug 07 at 2:09pm
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topper? ------------- Jp Indoe Contender 518 Buzz591 Chew Valley Sailing club Bristol |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 08 Aug 07 at 3:19pm
| Topper. Now available with centre main. |
Posted By: Fraggle
Date Posted: 08 Aug 07 at 3:31pm
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Topper would probably be best boat - great for messing about on and lots of them around with a good racing circuit if she gets into youth racing. They have a centre main available now too. (I am biased though as its what I started with many moons ago) ------------- |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 08 Aug 07 at 10:36pm
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Splash. might be just on the light side right now. But she should try it. Designed as the next step after Optimists i.e 45kg crew weight. It's like a little laser with a single section tapered mast and full length top battern. Well mannered and easy to depower, with a more feel than you will get from toppers. http://www.splashdinghy.org.uk/ - www.splashdinghy.org.uk/ test sail details http://www.richard-binns.co.uk/splash-2007/s-tryone.html - LINK second hand page http://www.richard-binns.co.uk/splash-2007/s-forsale.html - LINK several to choose from around and under £1000   ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |
Posted By: FireballNeil
Date Posted: 09 Aug 07 at 1:39pm
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Topper, soo much fun when its really blowing! ------------- Neil 
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Posted By: mattskipper14
Date Posted: 14 Aug 07 at 6:34pm
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MIRRORS ARE STABLE AND EASY TO DE-RIG OUT ON THE WATER, I HAVE A VERY OLD MIRROR (7041) THAT WAS MADE IN 1963 HOWEVER THEY ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN AND QUITE HARD TO RIGHT AFTER CAPSIZE,A TOPPER IS PROBABLY BEST ------------- matt harrington |
Posted By: Simon Lovesey
Date Posted: 14 Aug 07 at 7:26pm
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The Mirror would make an excellent double handed option, particularly if your sister likes to sail in company, certainly a bit more sociable and many kids enjoy the confidence of having someone else in the boat. For your budget you will get a well sorted Mirror, epoxy coated so minimal maintenance. A bit more money will get a modern GRP Mirror. See http://www.ukmirrorsailing.com - www.ukmirrorsailing.com
------------- http://www.sailracer.org" rel="nofollow - www.sailracer.org Online Sailing Results, GPS Tracking & Event Management |
Posted By: Smight at BBSC
Date Posted: 14 Aug 07 at 9:21pm
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I've actually sailed a tera, bic, taz topper oppie etc and i have to say i was very impressed by the tera. It has three sail options so you can progress she gets better heavier older etc. Plus a will plane with a lump like me in so it can't be all bad and most of the listed above, with the exception of the topper and splash which proberbly will (with enough breeze).
------------- RS600 988 |
Posted By: NickA
Date Posted: 14 Aug 07 at 9:43pm
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The splash is a great boat - but more a laser radial alternative than a topper / pico alternative surely. I'd go for a pico over a topper 'cause it can take two, has a bit of a jib, has a racy sail option and is suitable for adults in huge winds (and it'll certainly plane in a force 7 even with 12 stone in it!). The terra looks really good though - and exceptional value too. Are they making them abroad using slave labour perchance? ------------- Javelin 558 Contender 2574 |
Posted By: Paul Handley
Date Posted: 30 Aug 07 at 9:40pm
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At around 36kg and 5ft tall your sister is the ideal size for an RS Tera Sport (3.7m sail) and it has a centre mainsheet. I suggest you also look at my comments on the Tera in the 'Tera v Topper' topic. The Tera is great value but not at the expense of quality, plus it is made in the UK! |
Posted By: Medway Maniac
Date Posted: 30 Aug 07 at 11:01pm
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I'd have said a Splash would be much too much for a 36kg, 5ft sailor. It didn't seem inappropriate for me when I sailed it and I'm 65kg and 5' 9" and I'd agree with Nick A that it's more a Radial alternative (albeit shorter, slower and more rolly than the Radial which I preferred). Personally I think the Topper is a cracking little boat - great fun yet pretty vice-free, and even quite small kids seem to be able to right it when capsized - surely a very important confidence point. I'm sure that at 85kg you're better off with a Pico, Nick, but for someone less than half your weight... I thought the Tera was more of a pointy-bow alternative to the Optimist rather than the Topper, and at 36kg maybe that's the territory your sister is in, but if she can handle a Topper (maybe with the small sail or reefed at first) then that's the one I'd go for. ------------- http://www.wilsoniansc.org.uk" rel="nofollow - Wilsonian SC http://www.3000class.org.uk" rel="nofollow - 3000 Class |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 31 Aug 07 at 12:08am
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Funny the Splash is designed for 45kg upwards. The next step after the
Optimist. Recent winning helms ( female ) range from low 50kgs to top
60kg's. It is very depowerable. But there again I am no fan of the
Topper or Pico. If the Splash is to much then an Optimist. Two up a Mirror.
------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |