50S

Going back to the original topic, the "budget version of xxx" has been a theme tried several times in the past by various classes. As far as I can remember it has never really worked.

My theory is that competition within a class largely ignores cost, and concentrates on performance and to a certain extent aesthetics. Competition between classes, on the other hand, is most certainly price sensitive.

Another observation from watching here is that choice of class is far more random than you might expect. People don't seem to decide on a boat type and zero down on a class. Instead many of them seem to give themselves a shortlist of what seem to me radically different classes.

What that leads me to conclude is that people who find a modern 505 too expensive are far more likely to decide instead on a RS500 or RS800 or even an Aero than they are to consider a 'cheap and nasty' 505 - for that will be the perception in many minds.

I could very easily be wrong of course, but those are my observations.

Edited by JimC - 10 Mar 22 at 1:28pm

Have probably been around 505s since he was in nappys, count world champions as friends, mentors and business partners, so no, nobody owns me quite yet and I have only to point to the bar takings record at Kingsbridge and quest you to find out which class breaks it annually to prove the other point..

Edited by iGRF - 10 Mar 22 at 10:18am

I don't think the 505 class is a pinnacle, no more than the Merlins, both sad anachronisms one for Accountants the other for Alcoholics.

The 505 is an overcomplicated overweight hulk, had the Alto prospered and introduced a more modern style and developed along similar lines the result by now would possibly have been a super boat, save for the bloody self balers. They could have raced together and breathed something fresh into what is moribund instead of just throwing cash at a wall.

Why is it so hard for people to accept that it is what it is, and trying to reduce the cost will likely change the class to a point that it will not be what is loved about the 5o's. If a Ferrari cost the same as a ford it would likely not be the Ferrari that most had desired.

Originally posted by eric_c Spending £20k for a second-class boat, just because you want 'brand new' would say an awful lot about what's wrong with younger sailors today.