lightning 368

Arn`t the lighting 368 a one design & as such all the same,So if you spend 400 - 600 pounds on a boat that will be the same as a boat that cost 800 - 1200 just older but the same?. 

Use the spare 400 - 600 pounds on a new sail & the rest of the change on a holiday,

 

Edited by bert

If your not having any joy, had you considered a Europe IMHO from a hull point of view it is the nicest of all the little singlehanders to sail (I prefer the Byte CII rig). And has more sail area than the lighting, it sails well to handicap in light airs, in my experience.

I wouldn't rule out a Byte CII either, there might be a few floating round in budget.  The new rig is very efficient in light airs.

Having sailed pretty much all the smaller singlehanders I feel that these 2 are the best of the crop; in fact I have one of each!!

It is true the Lightning is a one design in the aspect of the hull as they are all the same apart from the new one that was at the Dinghy show where they have altered the deck layout. The class has just adopted a new sail using Mylar instead of Dacron but to be fair I predict that this could be a bad move but that’s my thoughts. There are a few different masts some with carbon or fibreglass tips but there is limited difference between them. Hull weight and age for some reason doesn't really affect the racing properties of the boat. The national champion from a couple of years ago raced one of the oldest boats still currently racing and won the nationals and traveller series two years running.

It is a good class having sailed alongside a lightning national champion for a couple of years it is a nice boat to sail. Excellent in the lighter winds can easily sail a laser off the pond struggles a bit when the wind kicks in but it’s self-draining so no paddling pool effect. We have 5 or 6 lightning's at are club 3 that race regularly.

If you do buy one either you remove the thwourght or pay some one to move it and add the centre sheeting tower it totally transforms the boat I think there are some pic's on the lightning association website.

Originally posted by Pabs If you do buy one either you remove the thwourght or pay some one to move it and add the centre sheeting tower it totally transforms the boat I think there are some pic's on the lightning association website.

....that's my next big challenge! The kit is available from John Claridge for about £120. Won't be for quite some time yet though as ive just completely re-rigged my old boat & i'm trying to find either instruction or a piece by anyone that's completed this mod on their own. Not convinced i could do that job myself so would value some feedback/info.

Yeah, still enjoying and learning......this weekend i learned that 1) It death rolls quicker than a quick thing on quick street. 2) That it turtles before ive even surfaced from a swim & 3) That blimey, it's a handful in an F3/4 gusting to F5!!!  .... oh and that that low boom demands an element of 'superflat' body position!

Still having fun though. To be fair, i'm just rubbish & the problems i have are through lack of talent more than wind/boat combo. Got the edge on the start over 3 lasers, a pico, an Enterprise and a Lark on Sunday....all went wrong on the downwind run.......ran out of mainsheet (don't ask!!!), whipped out of my hand, boom fully out and a mind full of "What the??????????" <splash!> .... Lost all my places with 2 dead run capsizes in the space of about 20Yds!

Still, the drysuit repair was well tested!

My g/f wants a lightning now so we too are scouring for suitable boats.