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Multiplex View Drop Down
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Posts: 42 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Multiplex Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Topaz 16CX
    Posted: 02 Mar 08 at 8:49pm

Thinking of getting one of these over a Dart 16.

 

Any thoughts?

 

G



Edited by Multiplex
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radixon View Drop Down
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Posts: 2407 		Post Options Post Options   Quote radixon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Mar 08 at 9:23pm
Its plastic. The boobly bits put me off!
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Mar 08 at 9:02pm
I had a brief glimpse of it and it looked like a good starter boat but i can't
help thinking it wouldn't be a very good investment if you were to buy one
brand new. I can't help but think the resale value of the cat from topper
would turn out to be a vast loss, more so than most boats. Though of
course, time will tell.
At least with a dart 16 you'll be able to pick one up at a good price 2nd
hand.

Edited by Doug.H
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English Dave View Drop Down
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Posts: 682 		Post Options Post Options   Quote English Dave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Mar 08 at 9:35pm
Agree with Doug H. Whether or not it is better than the D16 is almost beside the point. Because they are both more recreationally biased there is little merit in buying new - especially if you are expecting them to be bullet-proof. If you want a 16' plastic cat that requires little maintenance, get a D16 second hand. If you want a fast 16' cat get a Spitfire.
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Posts: 2415 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Scooby_simon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Mar 08 at 10:51pm

Originally posted by English Dave

Agree with Doug H. Whether or not it is better than the D16 is almost beside the point. Because they are both more recreationally biased there is little merit in buying new - especially if you are expecting them to be bullet-proof. If you want a 16' plastic cat that requires little maintenance, get a D16 second hand. If you want a fast 16' cat get a Spitfire.

Totally agreee, cannot go wrong with a D16 as a first boat.. 

And if you want a fast light single hander you can race one or two up, get an F16. 



Edited by Scooby_simon
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gary145 View Drop Down
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Posts: 116 		Post Options Post Options   Quote gary145 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Mar 08 at 8:40pm

Originally posted by SetSail

Saw it at Earls Court.......looks like topper are intent on building naff boats until they fold.

Let me expand...looks, so that means i haven't sailed it. The naff bit, well I didn't see anything that suggested it was of better quality than the last bunch of boats to be designed. ISO Boss Buzz and Spice.....and having owned one I know how they came out.

 bit too harsh

in its day the ISO was great, low tech by todays standards but pretty tough.

I had 3 because it was nearly cheaper to trade in than buy new sails.

better designs came along of course, but the build quality was ok. At the time it was the customer service that needed sorting.

back to the cats, we borrowed a CX and pitted it against our Dart 16 fleet which are fitted with kites.

CX has better kite system much better controls and better sails.Racier boat but not much faster at all. The plastic though feels stiffer than the Dart

Dart 16 is available second hand much cheaper (there are loads about) though not many have the retro fitted kite system.Very few race.

Both of course being plastic are heavy with big skegs that look blobby out of the water.But both are incredibly tough and would be ideal starter cats.

Depends on how much you want to pay!

 

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alstorer View Drop Down
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Posts: 2899 		Post Options Post Options   Quote alstorer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 08 at 7:36am
There's also the Dart 16x, which Laser are claiming to be lighter/stronger- at a guess, they're using the same moulds with different plastic mix. But I guess there will be few second hand ones of those yet.
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Posts: 739 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ASok Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 08 at 8:22am

I thought the 16CX felt really heavy, big old lump of plastic.

Never sailed one, and only ever seen it sailed in very light winds.

 
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Posts: 314 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Sprint Bob Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 08 at 12:40pm

If you just want a fun boat that you do not intend to race either of these plastic boats are probably OK. Neither have a racing scene. The Topper Topax is too new to have any class activities and the Dart 16 has little (but there are lots of cheap boats around). The Dart 16 is linked to the Dart 18 for training events so there is some training available. It turns out that most people who keep their Dart 16s just want to fun sail with the family. As soon as owners want to race they find that there is virtually nothing happening and they have to change classes to get decent racing. A typical Dart 16 Open meeting has 2-4 boats take part. I am the fleet captain at Grafham where we have about 15 Dart 16s but I just cannot get them to take part in racing, no matter how much I nag them. For the Grafham Cat Open last time we got just 2 turn up.  If you want to learn to race you are much better advised to go for a bigger class where you will get some decent racing and tuition from the class experts.

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Posts: 116 		Post Options Post Options   Quote gary145 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 08 at 7:17pm

Not many race but there are some, down here in Eastbourne we have an active racing fleet of about 12 Dart16s about maybe 6 or 7 racing on a good weekend  (2 came with a group of us to Grafham!) They are great for launching and recovery in big surf and good fun when the winds up. An ideal boat for taking newcomers to the sport out in too.

Hosting the Nationals this year in June and hoping for 20+ entries.

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