Hadron

I think it crys out for continuous control lines to tidy it up. Just takes a little time but worth the effort and doesn't cost more than a few beers

It isn't cost, it is what you can do with the mast, and the way it behaves. There are advantages to both, but modern rig set up appears to favour the deck stopped mast. It is also why lowers have come into fashion, too, as a hog stepped mast has the deck to take many of the forces.

Using the hated (by you) Merlin as an example, I'm pretty sure the one string raking rig would be pretty hard to do with a hog stepped mast.

I reckon that'll self drain- my Solo's slow enough for water to become an issue in light winds.  If I leave the bailers open or mess up a tack, or even get to start line late after taking in a welly load of water rushing to launch.... well it's curtains.  You'd be surprised quite how much water even a small amount visually can be.

Edited by yellowwelly - 04 Oct 13 at 3:21pm

Originally posted by yellowwelly my only reservation is the central bouyancy tank... having served my time now smashing my legs over the centreboard casing of the Solo, I'm not sure this would really appeal on a design where these 'old school' niggles are supposed to be removed. Why this, and not a couple of big inflatables down the back corners?

Inflatable bags? What like a merlin? Shut up will you, you need to go into that small room, put your head into the large white telephone and push the button marked flush, then check the date, which century we're in, get some perspective.
I don't mind that and I certainly like that it's got a centreboard, think i'd put my toestrap up on the side of it, what also would likely annoy me is water hanging about, it doesn't look as if it going to self drain.

> why this
I imagine its so that the boat floats low in the water and is less prone to inverting.

It also does a lot to reduce water in the boat when upright without reducing the depth of the foot wells.

I don't know that its what I would do, but its a logical solution to a lot of frequently expressed complaints about other modern singlehanders.

I must confess to a degree of amusement about a post complaining about "old school niggles" yet which recommends buoyancy bags!

Edited by JimC - 04 Oct 13 at 3:06pm