Topper Spice

It was basically a Buzz hull with a rig similar to an Iso on it, with a different deck moulding to make it look racier. It had all the right ingredients to make a great first double trapeze boat, but never seemed quite right. I don't think it was quite as bad as some on this forum have said, but there are better boats out there. You'd probebly do better with a Penultimate 14.

The 5000 is a good entry into skiff racing but reckon around 110kg on the daggerboard would be too light to right the boat when the inevitable swimming lessons occur. There's a lot of weight in the rig and racks when submerged with water to counteract with your righting moment from you standing on the tip of the board, and reckon 110kg simply wouldn't be enough weight to work against the weight of the mast etc acting downwards. At the current moment we are sailing the 49er off 135kg successfully but reckon our current weight may have been an issue with the 5000.

As Rupert said, a Penultimate 14 may be a good option, especially if its got a carbon rig, less weight acting at the tip of the mast when sailing and on its side, so should be easier for lighter sailors. In general, the lightness of the 14 makes it quite sailable by lighter crews.

Have to agree with T.T, sailed both the Iso and Buzz, and both boats felt better than the Spice due to being more balanced. We found the Spice quite strange due to the fact that it wallowed about more than the Buzz, when we felt it should be more powered up, and it never felt as quick as an Iso. The best thing to do is to sail a Spice and if it meets what you want from a boat, go for it, but I have a funny feeling a Penultimate 14 will have you hooked. A major plus point for the Spice is it would have a really low level of maintaince compared to the 14.

Edited by 49erGBR735HSC

 Umm, the ISO isn't twin trap so out of the question really. 

Also, its difficult to say that the Boss is a more active class when at the last open meeting for them none turned up.  There were some Spice's at the Spice meeting, not many but there were some. 

But, if people say that the ISO (eyesore to some) is better to sail than the Spice, its not a good sign.

The Spice is without doubt the worst boat I have ever sailed!

It is heavy, under-powered, has a horrid heavy unresponsive rig, is poorly built, slow, and won't point.

Any twin-wire laternative would be preferable - 5000, Boss, Pen 14, old cherub to convert should all be available in a similar price bracket, and depending on your weight one of them should fit the bill.

Has anyone bunged another wire on the ISO? It all looks beefy enough to take it, and you won't be any more alone classwise than sailing a Spice...