Help me – I’m tempted to buy an Enterprise..
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=9490
Printed Date: 05 Aug 25 at 11:30pm
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Topic: Help me – I’m tempted to buy an Enterprise..
Posted By: Late starter
Subject: Help me – I’m tempted to buy an Enterprise..
Date Posted: 11 Jun 12 at 11:32pm
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Youngest daughter (15 years old, 8 stone) and I (sailed for 40 years, 16 stone on a good day) are looking for a double hander to race on our local puddle. At 24+ stone I guess the usual puddle boats like Grad/N12 etc aren’t for us, and while I sailed Ents in my youth and to be honest didn’t particularly like the boat I’m struggling to think of a better puddle boat for our situation. So, my questions are: 1). Can anyone think of anything better? I did sail an Albacore once and liked it, but wonder if an 8 stone teenager would be strong enough to crew one? Similar comments re the Kestrel? 2). If I do get an Ent what’s the best use of my modest
£1000-1500 budget? From what I can
gather I might just about get a very early FRP boat in this price point, but the ones I’ve seen (early Holt FRP boats)
seem pretty tatty. So I wonder if a
woody from a known builder (eg Ovi) might be a better bet? |
Replies:
Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 12 Jun 12 at 8:55am
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Nothing wrong with Ents as a boat to race inland. There is a lot to be said for buying into a class where you can ocassionally go and do an open meeting and see the world beyond your own club. Have you thought about a Merlin Rocket? For £1500 you might get a nice wooden boat that would be a lot of fun and allow the crew to learn a lot. Plenty of racing to do, and the class has a great regard for its older boats. |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 12 Jun 12 at 9:20am
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I don't see why a teenager should struggle to crew an Albacore. I would have thought you could have ratchet blocks and 2:1 sheets on the jib if needed. Launching might be more of an issue depending on your venue.
If there's no logical craft that especially appeals to you then same as everyone else makes a lot of sense, but it must be something that will inspire you enough to get out of bed in the morning! |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 12 Jun 12 at 10:28am
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8 stone crew would have no trouble, and it sounds like you'd be able to keep the boat flat, so if an Alb makes you happier than an Ent, then go for it! Borrow them both, have a play, maybe throw in the suggested Merlin too, & go & play. The process of choosing and buying a boat is one of the best bits of sailing - all those new experiences - so enjoy! ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: JohnW
Date Posted: 12 Jun 12 at 10:41am
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All the controls as well as jib sheets are lead to the centre of my Albacore, so if it is windy I can assist with a bit of extra grunt, but otherwise no issues sailing with my daughters when they were young. ------------- |
Posted By: timeintheboat
Date Posted: 12 Jun 12 at 12:26pm
Nothing wrong with the ent (now centre sheet is allowed  ) There are plenty about, easy to look after and good value. That said I'd go for the Alb over the Ent. ------------- Like some other things - sailing is more enjoyable when you do it with someone else |
Posted By: MrGin
Date Posted: 12 Jun 12 at 5:00pm
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An Albacore can be sailed competivelly with an all up crew weight of between 22 and 29 stone due to the ability of being easily able to depower. I'd go for an Alb! Phil 8152 "Albaholic" ------------- Phil A8152 "Albaholic" |
Posted By: fab100
Date Posted: 13 Jun 12 at 12:55pm
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Is there any class racing at your club? Personally, I'd compromise a bit on the boat to get class rather than pure handicap racing. I might also be worth thinking about sailing something with a spinny in due course - much more fun downwind for the crew. Perhaps an RS400 ------------- http://clubsailor.co.uk/wp/club-sailor-from-back-to-front/" rel="nofollow - Great book for Club Sailors here |
Posted By: Caveman
Date Posted: 13 Jun 12 at 2:02pm
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With regard to Ent's, if you plan to race, at that budget a wood boat is likely to be most competitive. Condition is more important than age but a wood boat will require more TLC if you plan to keep it in the boat park. When you are looking at a wood boat, be sure to check it for rot. Common places include the ply around the hog, the transom and the balers. Remember that it is more cost effective to find a boat already set up to race with decent sails rather spend time and money upgrading one that is not.
FRP boats can get tatty. Unless new, they will be polyester rather than epoxy. Older fibreglass boats are fine for cruising but not racing. When you go to look at a boat try and take someone with you who knows exactly what to look for.
Albacores look like really nice boats - much quicker than an Ent - but I don't much about them.
As others have already suggested, get down to the club you plan to join and see what others are sailing. . I find it more fun to race against boats in the same class. Also there is bound to be someone knowledgeable there who can offer you more detailed advice. ------------- Enthusiasm>Skill |
Posted By: sawman
Date Posted: 15 Jun 12 at 10:26pm
| I cant see a major issue with the ent, but if you want a bit more performance and a kite to play with I can heartily recommend a kestrel. The only drawback with the kestrel might be the longish centreboard they carry, can limit you if your pond is not very deep - I cant remember off hand what it draws, you could probably look it up. I remember finding the bottom regularly when other classes where fine |
Posted By: Late starter
Date Posted: 16 Jun 12 at 9:30am
| Thanks for the responses. There are a couple of other Ents racing at the club, so that's probably what I'll go for rather than being the only Alb or Kestrel sailor, fine boats though both these are. Interesting too to get the feedback on wood v plastic Ents at my budget (£1-1.5k), I've heard similar things from the guys who sail Ents at the club so a woody sounds like the way to go. |