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Contenders - a class HP dinghy

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Medway Maniac View Drop Down
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    Posted: 01 Oct 14 at 9:58pm
Originally posted by winging it

The Germans don't have to buy just from a German builder, they can buy from whichever builder they choose!.  As far as I know one of the main reasons for going to epoxy was to make the hulls stay stiff for longer.

I must be missing something here.  The Germans vote such that their builders are constrained not to use epoxy, but are then free to buy boats from foreign sources which will last longer.  Talk about penalising your home industry, or what?
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Post Options Post Options   Quote iGRF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 14 at 10:46pm
Originally posted by Medway Maniac


Originally posted by winging it

The Germans don't have to buy just from a German builder, they can buy from whichever builder they choose!.  As far as I know one of the main reasons for going to epoxy was to make the hulls stay stiff for longer.

I must be missing something here.  The Germans vote such that their builders<span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> are </span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">constrained</span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"> not </span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">to</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.4;">use epoxy, but are then free to buy boats from foreign sources which will last longer.  Talk about penalising your home industry, or what?</span>


Sounds like a typical way a class would act.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote iGRF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 14 at 10:52pm
'They' along with the British class should be pensioned off to the CVDRA and a new light built modern fitted, short leech sailed version built.

But then again who really would even buy it.

Probably the front runners of the existing class.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote E.J. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Oct 14 at 11:54pm
AllContenders can be built in epoxy since 2011. One German builder chooses to build in vinylester as he has a manufacturing process that fits it. Before 2011 epoxy was not permitted except when cold moulding wood boats this odd idea was to keep the wood boat competitive against plastic as they can be heavier if not. As the beloved bonezzi are not available now and epoxy is free to use for all. Chris somner will build you a boat out of epoxy or vinylester. Epoxy is more expensive but should last longer. We are yet to see any speed difference between epoxy vinylester or wood/epoxy in fact the recent Nats top3 had one of each
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Medway Maniac View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Medway Maniac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Oct 14 at 1:02am
That's more like it.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Contender443 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Oct 14 at 9:38am
Being the owner of a lovely Bonezzi Contender that has no lead I would have to get the plane and sander out to reduce the hull weight :(( 

However I think they could shave 5 to 10kg of weight quite easily without affecting the performance too much. Remember if you make too light they will float higher and be much twitchier. I think the weight stability is a good thing and you just live with it on the beach.

My boat is easier to handle on the beach as I have an aluminium trolley. You don't always have to take weight out of the boat!
Bonnie Lass Contender 1764
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Medway Maniac View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Medway Maniac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Oct 14 at 10:02am
Originally posted by Contender443

My boat is easier to handle on the beach as I have an aluminium trolley. You don't always have to take weight out of the boat!

That's a very good point. Aluminium trollies can save you a bunch of weight - probably at least as much as a class weight redn. A Miracle's trolley I used seemed to weigh as much as the boat!
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Post Options Post Options   Quote kneewrecker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Oct 14 at 10:23am
Originally posted by Contender443

Being the owner of a lovely Bonezzi Contender that has no lead I would have to get the plane and sander out to reduce the hull weight :(( 

However I think they could shave 5 to 10kg of weight quite easily without affecting the performance too much. Remember if you make too light they will float higher and be much twitchier. I think the weight stability is a good thing and you just live with it on the beach.

My boat is easier to handle on the beach as I have an aluminium trolley. You don't always have to take weight out of the boat!

Good to hear from you Mark!  Any photos of your new boat?  

All the best,

James
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Matt Jackson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Oct 14 at 9:09pm
I loved the (4) Contenders I owned, however when I started sailing on a smallish lake I found the results were pretty much top 3 (>F3) or bottom 3 (<F3). If the wind was blowing across the lake and gusty it didn't matter how windy it was because I couldn't wire on the reaches without stopping for a swim now and then. Reluctantly I changed class but would change back in a beat if I were sailing on a bigger bit of water.

I saw some truly amazing tacking where guys got under the boom despite it virtually pinging off the tiller. I however (being fairly large) found had to let the kicker off to tack in anything over F4, which was fine.

The weight (of the boat) was an issue when I was unfit on a steep slipway. Fitness makes a bigger difference in the Contender than it appears at first sight I would say.


Edited by Matt Jackson - 06 Oct 14 at 9:10pm
Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36
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