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getafix View Drop Down
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Joined: 28 Mar 06
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Posts: 2143 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: 50S
    Posted: 08 Mar 22 at 2:39pm
The 505 is a lovely boat and comparative to many others of similar development (Moth, i14, MR) you get what you pay for.  Cost was always leveled at the FD as it's nemesis but as with that (very lovely boat) I would say the following has as much of a bearing as anything:

i) as they have got faster and faster, you need a bigger and longer course area to get the best of them which rules out a lot of venues where they would have been competitive in the past
ii) you need time and skill, or lots and lots of time to practice, to get the best out of them
iii) the purchase price is high but so is the gear price, you need good sails etc so the ££££ ramp up its not 'just' the initial buy-in costs
iv) the class has always attracted very good sailors which means they win a lot of handicap events which means the PY is well out of reach for many average or time-poor club sailors for the reasons of i, ii and iii above
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Posts: 6499 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Mar 22 at 10:17am
The Alto another victim of PYAG savagery during the period within which it could have become established, at one point they had it faster than the 505 even though it had less canvass a self tacking jib and it's assym kite no match for that monster kite the 5 oh uses on the run.

The world missed a great boat in the Alto, I took complete beginners to the front of the fleet in no time, it's easy to sail comparitively lighter has some great features to be sailed tactically I had a great time in it until death and illness robbed me of crews to the point I was beginning to think I was a jonah to crew for and sold it, my one enduring regret.


The Alto at full tilt in our ship race, no greater sailing joy.
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423zero View Drop Down
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Posts: 3420 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Mar 22 at 10:03am
I have always attached 505 to sailors who are very serious, almost professionall, do the existing 505 sailors want this?
Robert
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eric_c View Drop Down
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Posts: 382 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Mar 22 at 9:14am
You can easily shave more than £10k off the price, just buy a good used one.
The problem seems to be people want brand new boats then say it costs too much...

Also a 505 has a fairly long competitve life, the cost of travel etc campaigning one probably puts the cost of the boat in the shade.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Mar 22 at 7:49am
See also: Alto

If you’re alternative to a 505 is a 5.5m, or a J70 or a Farr 40 then cost isn’t an issue and this won’t help you.  If you’re alternative is an RS400 then it will.

The value of a race boat lies at least as much, and probably considerably more, in the bits the builder isn’t responsible for - the class association, the race calendar, your local club fleets etc.

Not many people would spend £30k on a 505 if there was no racing to be had, but there is and it’s high calibre in glam locations.  Consequently it sells.  Similarly not many will spend £20k on a low spec 505 or Alto if there is no racing to be had - and there isn’t which is why they don’t exist. 






Edited by A2Z - 08 Mar 22 at 8:01am
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Paul Smalley View Drop Down
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Posts: 3 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Mar 22 at 10:48pm
There's an article on another sailing website front page essentially making the argument that the 505 has been overdeveloped and is as a result too expensive. (Probably no change out of 30k)...
Everyone wants to sail a 505... why wouldn't you, they're beautiful things....

The argument being made is that if the class allowed a 50S and could somehow shave 10k off the price it'd be a popular move. The 50S would have for example a limited number of fittings, the old spinnaker and maybe one design foils.... These boats could race at 505 events for different prizes. After all it wouldn't be significantly slower than a fully fettled 505.

1. Would this actually shave 10k off the price?
2. Is it a good idea?
3. in the process of simplifying the boat would you ruin all that's good about it?

Edited by Paul Smalley - 07 Mar 22 at 10:51pm
-Paul
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