Which Boat to buy
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Choosing a boat
Forum Discription: Ask any questions about the sport!
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13727
Printed Date: 13 Jul 25 at 2:05am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Which Boat to buy
Posted By: ...AdamCat
Subject: Which Boat to buy
Date Posted: 21 Dec 20 at 11:20pm
| I'm currently sailing a Europe Quite nicely on my Inland lake but am interested in upgrading to a newer, nicer boat. My current boat is a 1992 which Paid £400 for in March 2020 and refurbished during Lockdown. I have been offered a 2004 boat that the ex-Olympian says is the fastest boat they have ever sailed for £5000. This includes a new mast and 1 used sail. (May be able to get the price down). However I sail at a very Asymmetric Biased club where Recently there has been a build in the D-One fleet and our new RS100 fleet for the lighter sailors looking for thrills downwind with a kite. I'm stuck between the decision to buy a Nicer Europe or a 2015 RS100 for £3750. |
Replies:
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 22 Dec 20 at 9:41am
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It depends on the water and your weight so thinks to ask yourself (in no particular order) :- Open water club or small lake? Am I heavy enough for RS100? Do I want fleet racing? Do I want to invest the time to become competent in an RS100? Does the Europe rig I've been offered suit my weight The Europe is a great boat both inland and on the sea for lightweights but is a completely different experience to the RS100. Personally I'd only consider the RS for an open water club but there are a few guys and girls sailing RS100/D-One at Leigh & Lowton (70 hectares sailing area) so it can be done. ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: ...AdamCat
Date Posted: 22 Dec 20 at 12:50pm
| I sail at leigh and Lowton and I'm about 69kg. And 16yrs old. So I'm probably heavy enough for the 8.4m 100 rig in most winds and then when it really picks up I can switch down to the smaller 7.4m sail. I bought my Europe to do some handicap racing but mostly to travel with around the country and do the class events as it's light and easy. I try to sail 3 times a week so would easily be able to become competent in the 100. And could enjoy Club fleet racing. I would be able to get a mast and sail perfect for my weight in the Europe as I would have to order brand new so there isn't a problem about that. I really enjoy my Europe and would preferably have both boats one for club racing and the other for class open events but with me being offered this nicer Europe i can't decide which one to invest in. |
Posted By: Sussex Lad
Date Posted: 22 Dec 20 at 2:21pm
|
At 16 yrs old you're likely to put on another growth spurt quite soon. Do you want to invest in a boat that you can only sail competitively for one season? That season has a big Covid ? over it also. Lovely boat the Europe though. If I was lighter and going single handed it would be near the top of my list :-) |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 22 Dec 20 at 3:41pm
I'm the Blaze sailor who chatted to you week before last. You seem to be doing ok in the Europe but can you buy the RS and keep the red and white Europe or will it have to go? I do think that Sussex Lad has a good point about the likelihood of you outgrowing the Europe in the next couple of years. And 16 is a good age to be thinking about an RS100, it'll be a learning curve but better at 16 than 60+. And whatever you buy you don't have to keep it forever. ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: ...AdamCat
Date Posted: 22 Dec 20 at 5:04pm
Ahh yes, thought that I recognised that sail number. Yes I could keep the Red and White Europe and buy the RS. I don't really expect to end up that much taller than I already am so maybe outgrowing the Europe won't happen. But with my Europe being nearly 30 years old I will need an upgrade if I ever want to start winning things. Maybe A new Boat won't make a difference, I'll never know. |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 22 Dec 20 at 5:40pm
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Europe? That's a girls boat isn't it?
Buy the RS, at your age you'll be OK with the 8.4, I used to use the 10 when it was light, (I was 67kg and 60 something back then and knew nothing really about sailing single handed)but I loved getting the kite up and sitting back to let her rip. It can be a bit tricky to get back into if you fall out when its puffy. There's guy on here who writes books and stuff, (Clive Ephlet is it?)sails one on a pond (Frensham) seems to like it enough to have used it for some time now. Maybe he'll be along later to give you more in depth on it than me I didn't keep mine for long enough. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: ...AdamCat
Date Posted: 22 Dec 20 at 8:36pm
It was the womens singlehander until 2004 but by that logic it makes the laser radial a womens boat and the Merlin rocket too as that is the class that originally urged women into sailing and there are many men who sail in both these classes. And the Europe is much nicer to sail upwind and downwind, with its bigger sail area and more comfortable side tanks. We have also just got Steve Cockerill back to the class...... Would love both boats. |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 22 Dec 20 at 8:50pm
The Merlin, didn't know that was a girls boat, thought it was mainly alcoholics,  Girls do sail laser radials though don't they? Who's Steve Cockerill? Isn't he some old guy, who just wants to make money, why would that matter? You should just consider what fun it will be the first time you get that kite up and go hollering down a reach..------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: ...AdamCat
Date Posted: 22 Dec 20 at 8:52pm
 haha got me wheezing |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 24 Dec 20 at 3:25pm
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I guess the dilemma is that really good Europes don't come up too often so to not buy the newer one might be a missed opportunity. But it's impossible to guess what you'll want to be sailing in a years time so I'm afraid you'll just have to make the decision yourself, but remember it's not so much about the winning as the fun you have getting there. See you on New Years Day for the pursuit?
------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 28 Dec 20 at 11:05am
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Keep the old Europe. Spend your money on Uni and Girls. Unless it's yours Dads money. ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |