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Noah View Drop Down
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Posts: 611 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Noah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Lark Dinghy
    Posted: 29 Jul 19 at 12:39pm
I reckon £3k is a plenty big enough budget for a reasonable Lark. Working backwards, the latest boats (Ovi / Rondar) have a different deck mould from earlier boats and while a thwart is still present, the 'side seats' are no more. This means they come up dry(er) after a capsize, but the aft tank means no transom flaps. 

Parkers were the builder until about 1998(?) and a well looked after late example should be fine.
Yes, the ally centreboard is a hydrodynamic disaster area, but they're all the same, so no worries there. Yes, they can bend,  but I suspect it wouldn't go back in the case if it were - so check but it shouldn't be a problem.
Yes, the Parker boats can scoop water in heavy roll-tacking - stay forward.
If looking a at a Parker boat, make sure it has the lengthwise stringers in the floor. They can flex too much without. I had 2332 for 5 years from 2000. Built by Parkers in '92 it was a good quality boat, well built & I don't recall breaking anything. Certainly not the mast or the centre plate.

Before Parker the builder was Baker and these, in my view, are to be avoided. They will all be well over 30 years old by now and the build quality was reported to be patchy.
Nick
D-Zero 316

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rich96 View Drop Down
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Posts: 596 		Post Options Post Options   Quote rich96 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 19 at 5:24pm
[QUOTE=JimC] They're a step up in performance and design from Enterprises, GP14s, Kestrels and the like. QUOTE]

A Kestrel is actually rather quicker than Lark !

Larks are lovely boats. Quick upwind and a nice little kite that can be sailed on tight reaches compared to Scorps etc

Pretty good handicap boat currently

Bit heavy compared to some more modern boats but not a real issue

£3k will get you a very nice recent boat

Enjoy it !



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Sussex Lad View Drop Down
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Posts: 360 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Sussex Lad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 19 at 6:54pm
Thanks for the info folks, very useful indeed.

I have signed up for the Lark forum but I thought I'd get  better warts and all opinions here. 

The parker hull cockpit looks nicer so thanks for the pointer on the stringers Noah. The ovi cockpit looks like it should have taps at one end LOL.

The Mrs is in the medical profession (was Deputy Chief of nursing in a Sussex trust) but I'm not so your info was useful to me Andy, thanks for that.......She knows the score and wants to sail for as long as possible.

Couple more questions while you're all here:

I may be wrong but the hull shape doesn't seem a million miles away from the L2, obviously beamier but has the flattish planning aft, does this make it a little sticky in light winds?

The thwart looks a little cluttered with cleats and stuff, doesn't this make it difficult for the crew to use it as a perch in light winds?

The thwart also seems a long way back, if the crew does use it as a perch does this ruin boat trim in light winds?

 

Edited by Sussex Lad - 29 Jul 19 at 6:55pm
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rich96 View Drop Down
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Posts: 596 		Post Options Post Options   Quote rich96 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 19 at 7:05pm
The hull is not at all like the L2 (which has no rocker and is awful in the light stuff) The Lark is a stretched N12 shape and is the reverse of sticky really

Typically the crew might sit on the leeward side of the thwart/tank with the helm to windward in the light - its not too far back

They are well developed and sorted - just do it

No real negatives


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Sam.Spoons View Drop Down
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Posts: 3400 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 19 at 7:29pm
Not sailed a Lark but they look well designed. The only negative I've heard is that they need speed over the narrow CB to generate lift so don't stuff in the light.
Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
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Sussex Lad View Drop Down
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Posts: 360 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Sussex Lad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 19 at 7:30pm
The rear end of a Lark doesn't look much like a 12 to me, more like the 2 imo although I hadn't clocked the rocker.
 

....that aside thanks for the encouragement Rich  and yes the L2 is awful in the light stuff Smile

Edited by Sussex Lad - 29 Jul 19 at 7:47pm
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Sam.Spoons View Drop Down
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Posts: 3400 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 19 at 7:50pm
A bit less freeboard but it does look similar to this one :- 




Edited by Sam.Spoons - 29 Jul 19 at 7:51pm
Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"
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RS400atC View Drop Down
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Posts: 3011 		Post Options Post Options   Quote RS400atC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 19 at 8:10pm
There are dozens of classes you could choose.
What drives you towards the Lark?
If there are people at your club racing Larks, and you would value racing against them, then  a Lark would be a good choice. But otherwise, it's a world of choice.
Where do you normally sail? What sort of weather? What kind of courses? What are other people racing?
Do you want a kite? Why not an asy?
Are you big heavy people or smaller?

In my view, if the crew has knee issues, many boats will be a problem, e.g. the RS400 in light airs the crew needs to get well forwards and it's not very ergonomic to say the least. The helm can't get forwards as he's trapped behind the mainsheet hoop like the dog guard in an estate car. Not an issue in a breeze.
Unless the crew is out on the wire, most things are better than a Laser 2.
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rich96 View Drop Down
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Posts: 596 		Post Options Post Options   Quote rich96 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 19 at 8:12pm
Originally posted by Sussex Lad




The rear end of a Lark doesn't look much like a 12 to me, more like the 2 imo although I hadn't clocked the rocker.  ....that aside thanks for the encouragement Rich  and yes the L2 is awful in the light stuff Smile


It was designed in the 60s by a well know N12 designer. It wont look like a recent 12 but was like 12s of that time

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Sussex Lad View Drop Down
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Posts: 360 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Sussex Lad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 19 at 8:16pm
......aaaah, now I've got you. Thanks for that Rich.
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