Mrs G had a new boat a decade ago and is thinking about another one. The joys of sailing in a limited development type class . 

It’s interesting isn’t it, whether these results represent the sailing world now or 20 years ago , all depends on the age of us on here.

Certainly all the people I know that have new boats now are at least 40+ and most of them are 50+ . .

Fitted it out myself and bought all the mast etc separately to my choice.

First and probably last new boat I will own.

Anything else before and since have been seriously second hand. Oh no, bought one of the first RS300s from Peter Barton as an ex demo, sadly I sold it for the same money the same season because I couldn't tack it reliably in our choppy harbour mouth, went back to a Laser for a few years but always wished since I'd persevered with it.  

Yes, but given y'all are looking for reasons to explain why what we do is in terminal decline, it is yet another 'insider v outsider' issue that, in this day and age is still unacceptable in any other walk of life.

currently floating around in a 35 year old OK, built by bob hoare or a JJ Scorpion dating from about the turn of the century

plenty of other sports and activities when  'new out the box ' is the start of  prep for use  

sibling  is a semi keen cyclist   and runner    bikes and track  shoes (spikes)  take fettling  

a cricket bat  needs 'knocking in'  

a pair of pointe shoes needs ribbons ,elastics   and  darnings / patching   as well asthe flexing  beating and  for  some dancers and some shoes  pre-emptive  use of superglue / shellac/ epoxy  

And whilst I'm in full rant mode, harking back to discussions on the other threads re SUP v us, vis a vis take up. SUP still enjoys that 'here have a go on mine' friend to friend marketing, Windsurfing had it in the golden era pre short board and maybe even back when dinosaurs walked the earth and Mirrors and other easy access craft were dawning, that might have happened, probably still could with Laser/Topper, were it not for the vested interest of those who would administer, teach, complicate, invoke elf and safety to scare folk of doing anything other than 'their route to market'.

 I've just loaned a couple of Wing foiling set ups to mates to go mess about on, since it's still early days and the sport is unbridled so early adopters are not put off with death warnings. Way more tricky than wiggling a stick on a Topper/Laser/Whatever, but with the added bonus of fashion sport of the moment.

But I will say this, if I supplied one of those kits with so much as a screw missing it would be back so fast you couldn't say warranty replacement. Never mind a centreboard that needed to be packed or it just floated to the surface, a mast that just fell down first time out because the shackle wasn't up to it, the gelcoat just stripped off the bottom, the wheel that just fell off the trailer, and a dozen other things that had to be dealt with after the purchase, over the years.

At present the National Solo Class has one or maybe two demo boats available, which I believe has brought some good sailors into the class.

I think that many sailors including myself are always willing to let other sailors try their boats if they see this as an opportunity to expand the class/club.

Incidentally I spoke to the owner of a brand new racing dinghy supplied by a leading mass market racing dinghy supplier today who had fit out failures that quite frankly should not have got past the quality control.  Not a great message to send out to the market.

No it stripped off because we were going bat out of three sail screaming hell for a long reach round the back of Sheppey on the round island event, and anyway the quote remains the same. 

Of the thousands of windsurfers, kiteboards, snowboards and christ knows what other boards I've shipped, had that happened it would have been instant product exchange, not 'oh yes it's a problem with epoxy gel you can fix it with Hi build...' There's a little thing in the sale of goods act about the product being fit for purpose and more of these dinghies we buy new are not, as they are delivered, but since there rarely is another in stock we can exchange for, we just have to eat it up knowing if you really created a fuss you could wreck some unfortunate business.

She is now in contact with JJ boats about the possibility of  a new boat and the same thing has been promised. And my own experience of JJ boats has been very positive so I believe what has  promised will be delivered .

Also when I first posted the possibility of wanting a D-zero both the old dealer and the new one were incredibly  supportive and helpful .

As always woodman/ iGRF is posting bo@@ocks for effect.

#  the sooner he is banned again the better, this place was a better place with out him . And yes I do know other people will disagree with this post and  that is their right ..

Can someone please pm me when it’s safe to return 

That's life...

I have bought four new windsurfers and two new bikes in my life, but used boats are so much more economical that as a fleet owner, I personally can't justify a new one. Most of the classes where a new boat is distinctly better are also the ones where a new boat is also distinctly pricey. 

For me it was because I had a job, I didn't go to Uni so I had time and money. 

Bear in mind most of us on here are older and Uni wasn't so necessary would we have had jobs in those 'missing years'? Also those a bit older than me would have received grants to go to uni and would exit into a job that paid reasonably well with little or no debt. You could buy a house on a reasonable wage as well. Now though, those that are in the missing years are younger, go to uni but miss out on the grants, instead they have massive debts to pay off. A house takes a huge chunk of their disposable and if they cannot buy then rent takes an even larger portion. Is it any wonder there is a missing age demographic? 

Thats great, for you, but for many there isn't time for that (personally I would love the time to do so, it would be very fulfilling). If they are going to sail I think they probably want to just get in a boat and sail it, with little maintenence, etc. 

I was one of those who bought my first new boat at 18 or 19 using my first few months pay. But I did drop out of the sport between my mid 20s and 30s due to marriage, change of location, kids etc. 

they must have kept the prices about the same the following year or so when I bought 140028, a laser bianco. 

My first new boat was bought when I was about 18.  It was a Laser Bianco, 151257, think it was about £2145 with trolley, covers, foil bag, etc..

One thing I do know is my memory is rubbish, 140028 was a bog standard one, the Bianco I had was sail number 150418. So I bought two new lasers. I then got bored of them in less than a force 4 and bought a new RS300, number 362.

(I think I confused the prices I paid, 151257 (1993ish) was around £1800, 174383 (2002) was around £2150)

I know several people who have done this and have a customer experience as you'd expect. I have read of people who have had issues, but you only ever hear of or read about bad experiences.

Im not in the market for a Laser/ILCA and never will be but from what I see/hear/read they're neither better or worse than any other.