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Heavyweight boat choice.

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Dangerousday View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Dangerousday Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Heavyweight boat choice.
    Posted: 14 Nov 18 at 9:42am
Starting to get the itch for another dinghy. Not had one for around 5 years, though now had last 2 full seasons of windsurfing and will probably carry on over winter to some extent this year.

Me: 50+ years 100+kg. Sailing 40 years, on and off. Inland sailing. Maybe a bit of Club racing, but not something I've done much of so not a high priority.
Thoughts:
Last boat was an ancient Phantom - obvious choice. Could politely be called 'composite', in that someone had taken an old wood boat and put a layer of chopped strand GRP around it to hold it together. Still leaked. But it only cost me £200 (with trolley+trailer) and I got 2 seasons out of it before the mast overcame the two pit-prop bits of dunnage under the foredeck holding it up. Walked away from it, leaving the guy wanting the mast to dispose of the hull  Smile. Not even convinced the mast was a Phantom one and the track was split over 2' as well. Sail controls - didn't bother too much as it looked more fitted bedsheet than sail.
Another one isn't really grabbing me. I'm sure a plastic one will be much, much better, but all those adjustments? I like the windsurf rig simplicity - crank on downhaul. More wind - crank on more downhaul. Even more wind - use smaller sail. Then crank on more downhaul  Smile

RS300/Blaze are both boats I've fancied, however a long time ago, however when they first appeared I'd already put down a deposit on an MX-Ray. Had it for a long time, even though it was evident I was too big for it and it was a complete dog upwind - was an effort not to get passed by Toppers. Downwind though  Tongue. Could not quite give it up as the 1 minute downwind was addictive enough to help me forget about the previous 10 minutes upwind to get there.

I also used to solo an old wood N12, ok in lighter air, bit much once it started to pick up.
Don't want asymmetric. Just heres a couple of double handers where I sail, but can't really see it with sailing singlehanded - been there with the MX-Ray. Too much faff and in decent wind I'll probably be on a shortboard anyway.
Blaze Halo seems a good option, but perhaps won't get best out of it on a small pond?
So I'm leaning towards an RS300  I'm probably too heavy for it to be competitive, but can't travelling to events anyway. looks to be a simple enough rig, and I suspect it will be quick and fun where I sail. Hull looks same general shape as MX-Ray. There seem to be a lot of internet photos of the hull, mostly with the sailor on the board righting it. Summer has mostly been light winds - often resorted to getting the SUP out instead. I even gave one of the juniors in a Topper a tow back in one afternoon. RS300 decent in light stuff? Once it gets to 15-16knot it'll be shortboard time anyway.

RS300/Phantom both seem available for around 3k.

Any other suggestion?

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iGRF View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote iGRF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Nov 18 at 10:03am
Are you limited with the budget? If not consider the H2, relatively new device but getting some traction, personally I'm not heavy neither am I tall enough to climb up the sides of an Rs300 going through the tack but once there the only thing I could think of was the shortest route back to the dock a truly horrible boat reminded me of sailing Div 2 without the stability.

I'm a great fan of the modern Phantoms too big for me, but my windsurfing mate rides one and hardly ever stacks it and we get out in quite big seas from time to time. You don't want a Blaze, heavy, you have to sit on a bar and the rig is crap, there's another ex windsurfer here who uses one but I'm sure he's just gone mental, been doing Spice apparently.

Edited by iGRF - 14 Nov 18 at 10:05am
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423zero View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote 423zero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Nov 18 at 10:08am
One of our members sails an Enterprise solo he is about your weight, never seen him go in, sails in all winds.
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turnturtle View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote turnturtle Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Nov 18 at 10:30am
My advice is to try and find an older Finn.... they are truly wonderful boats if you’re carrying a bit of weight.   You’ve got your windsurf kit for planing winds, so might as well find a boat which excels in displacement mode.... and Finns do that beautifully.  

The H2 looks like an option, but I’d demo first.... I’ve heard they’re a bit marmite.


Edited by turnturtle - 14 Nov 18 at 10:34am
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iGRF View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote iGRF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Nov 18 at 10:39am
Originally posted by turnturtle



My advice is to try and find an older Finn.... they are truly wonderful boats if you’re carrying a bit of weight.   You’ve got your windsurf kit for planing winds, so might as well find a boat which excels in displacement mode.... and Finns do that beautifully.  
The H2 looks like an option, but I’d demo first.... I’ve heard they’re a bit marmite.



Whatever you do, don't listen to this person regarding Finns, we're trying to plan an intervention, we're not sure what happened, a knock to the head possibly, the only good thing about a Finn is the rising price of scrap metal for that centreboard.
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Dangerousday View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Dangerousday Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Nov 18 at 11:51am
Originally posted by iGRF

Originally posted by turnturtle



My advice is to try and find an older Finn.... they are truly wonderful boats if you’re carrying a bit of weight.   You’ve got your windsurf kit for planing winds, so might as well find a boat which excels in displacement mode.... and Finns do that beautifully.  
The H2 looks like an option, but I’d demo first.... I’ve heard they’re a bit marmite.



Whatever you do, don't listen to this person regarding Finns, we're trying to plan an intervention, we're not sure what happened, a knock to the head possibly, the only good thing about a Finn is the rising price of scrap metal for that centreboard.
Thought Finn sailors built up some sort of immunity to knocks to the head getting under the boom?
3k is about all I can manage, probably more than I can manage if the Domestic Goddess finds out, especially if she finds out how much I've spent on a new rig and board this year. The H2 does look nice though.
I'm actually being sensible for a change and wanting something that will work for me and where I sail. MX-Ray was because it looked quick in the ads and on a trolley. Suppose its an age thing, like the car is now. Need:carry w/s gear, reasonable to run and buy. Solution: Toyota Avensis estate  - best fit for needs locally. What I actually wanted was a 2 seat convertible.
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Gordon 1430 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Gordon 1430 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Nov 18 at 12:25pm
You wont believe the difference in a decent Phantom compared with what you had.
Ones at 3k will have older carbon rigs so less need to fiddle with the lowers, so rake and kicker are king, Cunningham really just to take a few creases out unless blowing stupid then crank it on and forget.
A 300 would be fine but I would suggest on a really small pond you wont get the best out of a Blaze they seem to take a bit longer to get moving. 300 a challenge to sail but those that have got to grips with it love them.
Gordon
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turnturtle View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote turnturtle Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Nov 18 at 2:01pm
I wonder if Nessa is still selling her Hadron (H2 forerunner, grandfathered for class events).... I’ll message her on Facebook as she doesn’t follow this forum anymore due to the overt antagonism she received.
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turnturtle View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote turnturtle Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Nov 18 at 2:07pm
Yes she is... I’ve messaged her, expect an incoming guest appearance....

Edited by turnturtle - 14 Nov 18 at 2:08pm
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Fatboi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Nov 18 at 2:40pm
What about an older OK? Bit like the finn but more manageable. 
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