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Uni boats/ Firefly buying?
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Rupert View Drop Down
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Posts: 8956 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Uni boats/ Firefly buying?
    Posted: 01 Dec 09 at 5:12pm

Plenty of big people sail Fireflies, but if looking for school boats, avoid wood like the plague. And the very old GRP Fireflies from the early 70's were rubbish. If you can find a Uni selling a set of 6 Rondar Fireflies, you might get a good deal. You won't find cheap L2000's, old Ents have the same problems as old Fireflies only more so. Old GP14's could work - they are bulletproof, but possibly not much fun.

If you do go for old wood Fireflies, check the wood at the transom and under the forefoot for soft patches. If you are not looking for a project, walk away... 
Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
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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: 01 Dec 09 at 2:48pm
Also, figure out who is going to be the Bosun (ideally more then one person), and make sure they have final say on any purchase, as they'll have to maintain the things.
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Al
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Roy Race View Drop Down
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Posts: 275 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Roy Race Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Dec 09 at 2:44pm
Originally posted by tmoore

Right, my uni is looking at buying boats. We don't have much money but are looking at buying our own dinghy's. Does anyone know of school boats that are going cheep or have suggestions for suitable boats to be used for racing, training etc.



I believe larks often go cheep.




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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: 01 Dec 09 at 2:03pm

If you're not getting a set of six for team racing, DON'T get a firefly. Get something that can be used by a wider range of people comfortably. I sailed in them at uni (we had them for team racing, and the rest of the club had to put up with that) and at 180cm (5' 11")* I was far too tall to ever be comfortable, especially up front, in anything other than a blow.

If you're going for team racing, fine, but ideally you should be looking then at serious fund raising to get four or six identical ones.

Lark- try and avoid an old style one. No-one likes to sink.

L2K/GP/Ent would all be more suitable.

Try and raise more money. Uni boats will end up heavily used; you don't want to be starting with a beater. Seriously. Ours were used three times a week during term, they took a right pounding.
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Al
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tmoore View Drop Down
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Posts: 880 		Post Options Post Options   Quote tmoore Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Dec 09 at 1:44pm

Right, my uni is looking at buying boats. We don't have much money but are looking at buying our own dinghy's. Does anyone know of school boats that are going cheep or have suggestions for suitable boats to be used for racing, training etc.

The ones we are thinking of are as follows:

Firefly
Laser 2
Laser 2000
Lark
Ent
Gp14

Currently we have seen a firefly for £200 and are seriously considering buying it. Is there anything we need to look for in them? Larks seem good though because of the stability but with the added excitement of kites as people improve/ when we race. . . .

Ideas needed people.

Cheers Tom
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