Right, now that the RS feva is on the market I may be able to get a new 300 (happy face)

So point is that gives me choice of rig.

So far it's been B rig as that's pretty much all that's on the 2nd hand market.

Being a Measly 60kg I think A rig is the correct choice and don't see me putting on an extra 10-15kg over the next few years.

So is the A rig the better option to the B rig if I have the choice?

The nice man at LDC thinks id struggle in the A rig so that kind of makes me think "maybe the B rif is TOO much fun"

anyway, any 300 sailors that can just tell me I'm answering my own question when I say is A rig good?

(I think its about £1300 for new mast/sail to convert a second hand B rig to A but then in new altogether the better thing)

Well the old thread was about rig size and about the mast sections so the topic is slightly diferent.

Sorry if its clutter, if it is moderators can move the post into there.

Its half and half.

Its Inland water thats conected to the see so its like a sea lake so has sea brezes of usually 10knots+

its an estuary right on the mouth of the sea so no waves but the sea wind.

Nice spot

put it this way, another guy at my club is 10kg heavier than me and uses an A rig. in the light stuff i generally stuff him, mid range we are evenly matched and in breeze he beats my by a small amount. its such an easy boat to depower that its HOW you sail it that counts most. yes you might be slightly better off in an A rig. but get the idea out of your head of buying a new rig. its a waste of money. get any boat thats in good condition and has all the kit. the rig does not matter as if its the B rig you can simple post up on the yahoo forum offering a swap.

but i think we have said all this before in all fairness......

okay thanks.

After the feva sale i'll have a bit of a cash boost to play with so still considering new A rig.

ooohh my days. why waste your money? spend it instead on getting a newer boat.

You haven`t mentioned that you have test sailed a 300 in this OR the other thread that you have on the 300!.

Have you test sailed one yet?

I would suggest that you DO a test sail before you go out & buy a 300 OR any other boat for that matter!,

A brand new boat is rather a lot of money to spend particualy when money is short ( ref your other thread ) & there are second hand boats around.

Yeah I agree I don’t think that I would buy a brand spanker as the new ones are no quicker then the old ones. Although to be fair to LDC they are good value for money. With regards to rig choice I have owned a 300 for over 3 years and weighing 70kg  at 6ft when I bought her (a B rig) I really struggled in the heavy stuff. On the sea the first two nationals, Filey and Loe the waves were pretty big, I struggled with the big rig in those conditions, if it had been flat I think I would of been okay but all those hills does make it a lot harder to keep the power on like the bigger boys can. I was very tempted to buy an A rig for her but never had the cash.

The learning curve is pretty steep especially coming from a boat like the fever but it will do you a lot of good, you can sail pretty much anything once you can master a 300.

Paul (ex 370)

I'd have to agree with Jon.

Sailing the Radial on the sea occasionally I felt overpowered in a F5 even as I do weigh more than you do.

Not only is it stress on your body, back, neck, knees etc etc, it won't do you much good over time if you can't flatten the bugger.

Listen Feva Sailor to what is been said, test sail the thing then decide for yourself. (Or just start a new thread on a totally different boat over the other side!!)

While I agree that Feva Sailor is on the light side for a 300 I take issue with 2 things:

1.  The Radial Comparison.  The hiking position and posture is completely different and much more comfortable.  The 300 is also a wide boat and therefore sitting on the edge I would estimate more righting moment than a fully hiked radial (yes of course there is more heeling moment too - but that is very controllable as others have posted.

2.  It depends on what you want to achieve with the boat.  win a Nats - not for you.  Laugh/Scare/Enjoy yourself silly then welcome aboard.

But Feva Sailor you must try one.  Once you have you will never look back!

Where are you based?

West wales, I'm not really in it to win it as it were, being in wales traveling to race events would be tricky.

I'd turn up to some training sails and maybe to some races if you do like a lets go have a fun race where no one cares type of thing but in general its for when I cant sail the 29er.

So its a boat for me to improve my sailing skill and scare myself silly, I don't mind capsizing ts all I ever do in the 29er so i'm used to severe dunking

I'd also do some informal handicap racing at local club events but I tend to go down just for the fun of it all, the handicap fleet is a mixed bunch of lasers and feva and i think a 420 hangs around sometimes but no one takes the sailing seriously after the toppers

The real race winners are usually the ones that wear the daftest thing, have the best capsize or scream the loudest on a suicidal reach

I'm quite competative so when I do get to grips with it I'd try a few races on the circuit or gate crash more handicap events.

How hard can it be!!!! (famous last words)

I have looked at the streaker (rooster epoxy one) and it looks a nice tidy boat but its still based on an old boat, Dont get me wrong I like it but I'd like something "new age"

I mean RS300 "Carbon fiber mast with gust responce" Vs the plasic ironing bord laser, hard one to chose

Just looking for a drag racer to get the heart going really but even the folks at LDC are saying are you sure

(If i do get a 300 and dont post within a few weeks come looking for me)

Trust me on this.... Dont knock the streaker until you have tried it......i was doing a handicap week earlier in a 400 (the river was too narrow for the 600) and in one of the races i borrowed one of the new boats....to cut a long story short it was fantastic!! It was suprisingly fast and suprisingly a lot of fun.

If i was in your situation i would have a very very hard time choosing between the streaker and the 300. At least give one a go because at your weight (and mine) it was a great boat to sail.

I would highly recommend them

One good thing about the streaker is its less money new (and its a bit of a bandit I hear)

It's a shame that LDC don't allow the 300 onto their test sail list.
Claim the reason is that you cant get a feel of it in one session which is fair enough but it would at least give me an idea if I'd ever get used to it

I'm looking at the streaker ans seems a zippy enough boat but is it really much of a challenge, I'd like to have a learning curve and I'm sure id get one in a streaker returning to the single handed world after 14 months in a RS feva and a few weeks in the 29er crewing but is it a boat where I'd just jump in and sail it quite nicely with no major hiccups or does it have the challenge and the ability to keep me on my toes.

being 3kg under the recommended weight it's not a boat i could fall asleep in but how does it match up to a 300

(the flat cut dracon will probably be easier to depower and manage)

I

Would LDC take the RS feva back as a part-ex for a 300?

I'd ask LDC but their away at the show so if anyone happens to know then enlighten me.
Unlikely but so is someone buying a feva in the current money issues

its definately not as fast as the 300 but it will test you a bit. obviously the learning curve wont be as steep as the 300 but it will be challenging enough i reckon. once on the plane in a blow the streaker is a great little boat....really responsive and nippy and handles really nicely

best bet is to contact the class association because at this handicap week i got offered the use of about 5 different boats  so i'm sure they would be more than happy to arrange a test sail with you. they are a really helpful bunch

Well It's on the market for £3300 but £3000 off a 300 would be nice.

The feva is also more or less new, 14 month old hull with brand new unused foills and sail.

If they wanted to they could easily pass it off as a brand new boat so I ought to get a good discount.

(well they have to because if they dont sell a boat they lose a nice lump of money)

Will try them when they get back from the show

if the feva is over a year old, then they wont be able to pass it off as new as the HIN and sail numbers will be well out compared to the new stock.

RS have so many fevas going through, i shold know, i used to work there

Just look on Apollo duck lots of feva's are on the market.
The learning curve in them is so quick its shocking.

14months in one and into a 29er and asking about a 300.

Fantastic little boat

I didn't mean to say RS would sell an old boat off as new but its just as good as a brand spanker

Hi again,

Just been sailing a laser (1981 one lol) and it has a standard rig.
It was blowing 20Knots gusting 25. (F6-F7)

Now I managed and the two occasions I capsized was to windward on a beat.
Since when does a 60KG sailor over hike a standard rig laser in 20KNTS

Anyway all was good till the rudder down haul rope snapped and I was in a narrow channel between a pontoon and a line of boats going downwind.

Well I don't need to tell you what happens when you lose the rudder downwind

anyway the sail got under the pontoon.
long story short I got the sail on the pontoon with difficulty (lasers have a lot of windage on their hulls don't they!) and sat on it while I waited for some help.
(it was fun watching toppers and oppies tipping)

Anyway the laser had a 2:1 down haul and a kicker that did everything bar actually working!

(the out haul worked so that's cool)

So 60kg in a standard rig laser from 1981 without posh XD control lines and only got into difficulty when the rudder popped up.

Is that a contender for a 300 A rig or time to get a Topper?

May be getting a Radial for little bro anyway but still not sure on my part.

i very much doubt you were "overhiking".

Getting an bit rigged 300 would be a big waste of money for you in my opinion, would be far more sensible to get a radial

Still agree with the others, a 60Kg guy in a full rig, you may be able to manage it, BUT what you can't see if the damage you are doing to your neck, back, knees etc.

Afterall, how many kids do you see on the circuit sailing a full rig laser

Answer (on TVGP) NONE, they all race the Radial or 4.7 (that is inland too)

Im going to se if I can get a test sail for a 300 to see.

I do like the look of the streaker's
dont supose there is an inbetween step for a streaker and 300.

Need to test a 300.

shame I dont know anyone with them, if i did i could have one or two go's in it to see where I stand.

I also may be moving on to work soon so time on water could reduce and I know thats bad for getting the hang of a boat.

Also the 29er will be picking up again when the season gets into full swing.

Don`t take that answer the wrong way,it was ment to be a softish kick in the ar$e make a choice & run with it.

I suppose that what I am saying is talking about it don`t get it done,We have gone round & around quite a few times & an end should be near by now!.

Please god let it come soon!

Amen to that!

Last one swear on my account.

Blaze better for me than 300?
(found the Blaze VS300 review in the dinghy mag sorry)

(60KG)
I may actually be able to get a test for this one

The Blaze is a good boat & with the tramps & hiking racks you have good righting leverage,It also has had Very Good lightweight sailors in the past they just depowered earlier.

If you go to http://www.rs300.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=29 - http://www.rs300.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&tas k=view&id=38&Itemid=29  this will link you to a page with the blaze / 300 test that dinghy mag done in 2002.

The blaze used was a X version this is the version that 90% of all the second hand MK 1 boats ( red hulled ) are converted too or after sail No 654 ish they built as  the X as the standard.

I am sure that blaze720 or jeffers will be along in a little while to correct me if I am wrong,It`s certainly a boat that I would go back too.

Someone wake me up when he's decided what he is going to do? Bored of waiting!!!

yea helpful, i'm off after this dont worry

Sorry but someone who mentions or is refered to the following boats:

Blaze, 300, 4.7, Radial, Laser, Streaker, RS600, Topper, Europe, Byte.

You are going round in circles yourself, personally at the age you and your brother are, the Laser is the best option for you. There are loads around, loads to choose from and a great circuit and good class racing available.

Sailing the Laser is great, you learn loads especially from people like Jon Emmett and his Laser coaches.

At the age you are, you have loads of years of sailing left, why not learn the fundemantals of sailing with the Laser and then progress up when you have the funds that allow.

only my 2p, (probably worth more though!!)