Contenders - a class HP dinghy

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.

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

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 :(( 

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!