29erXS- how cool?

I guess it goes head to head with the V3000, but if the market is there, why hasn't that sold faster?

Originally posted by zailor Originally posted by rs405 It looks like they are filling the gap left by the Hobie 405s demise. Lightweights, asymetric, small sails and very twitchy! Probably a market for it. That said it is probably just another hash together job like the 29erXX! Isnt that what the RS feva was suposed to be for?

This XS thing will have more in common with the 405 than the Feva. The 405 was GRP and had a propper, though small rig. The rig had spreaders and the hull was designed to take rig tension. This also meant that the boat could handle a trapeze. The result was a useful platorm for teaching the boat set up and trapeze skills that are transferable on to the 29er etc. Untill recently the 405 was a feeder class for the 29er, but now the class doesn't really exist as far as I can tell, and this XS thing will fill that gap nicely. 

Originally posted by Slippery Jim Originally posted by Jack Sparrow We do love to buy into a BRAND in the UK. Don't we .......Baarrr! Baaar! To be honest I'm uncomfortable with how the brand extension of the 29er could affect other boats. All at minimum risk for the 29er. It´s called class development and evolution. Get used to it. (Time to be flogged in the hay loft with a tennis racket and fed to the ferrets, Mr. Sparrow - ah, memories! )

Yes I know what it is but it doesn't mean I have to be happy with it. What the 9er is doing makes total business sense but I have the feeling that the XS and the XX will damage existing classes without developing into something worthwhile themselves. The XS is essentially a loss leader for the 29er and the XX is a brand enhancer / media tool for the 29er. This all ends in lots more 29er hulls being sold, good news for all concerned with them, but maybe bad news for other classes.


Edited by Jack Sparrow

Originally posted by Jack Sparrow We do love to buy into a BRAND in the UK. Don't we .......Baarrr! Baaar! To be honest I'm uncomfortable with how the brand extension of the 29er could affect other boats. All at minimum risk for the 29er.

It´s called class development and evolution. Get used to it. (Time to be
flogged in the hay loft with a tennis racket and fed to the ferrets, Mr.
Sparrow - ah, memories! )

Edited by Slippery Jim

Originally posted by rs405 It looks like they are filling the gap left by the Hobie 405s demise. Lightweights, asymetric, small sails and very twitchy! Probably a market for it. That said it is probably just another hash together job like the 29erXX!

Isnt that what the RS feva was suposed to be for?

By reading the article (I know nothing of the boat) its aimed at small and young children with little experience with Spinaker's after coming out of (im assuming) Optamist's? adding a trapeze to the kite learning experience and the tippyness of skiff sailing isnt that a bit hard for kididie's or am I underestimating them or am I thinking of really small young kids.?

I know Trapezing is like "Uber" cool but I've actually gone back to saingle handed hiking boats (europe/CII) against the Vago....Ok still prefer the Vago in a big breeze