RS Feva XL or Laser 2000?
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14034
Printed Date: 25 Jun 25 at 11:38am
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Topic: RS Feva XL or Laser 2000?
Posted By: mattyt82
Subject: RS Feva XL or Laser 2000?
Date Posted: 18 Aug 23 at 10:21am
| Hi, I am getting back into sailing again and want to take my 10 year old daughter sailing. I have been looking at reviews and opinions all over the place. The 2000 makes sense as seems quite an exciting and robust boat but I am afraid it is just too much sail? The Feva seems a great option but not a long term boat I think? Having not sailed either is it a case of just finding somewhere to try them out? Thanks for any advice in advance. |
Replies:
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 18 Aug 23 at 10:40am
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Local clubs to you would be best bet to try boats. Lots of clubs do a day pass and boat hire. Feva easier to sail than a 2000, (my opinion, not an expert though). ------------- Robert |
Posted By: mattyt82
Date Posted: 18 Aug 23 at 11:29am
| Perfect, this makes sense there is 3 clubs within 25 minutes so will go there. |
Posted By: turnturtle
Date Posted: 18 Aug 23 at 11:56am
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The 2000 will be a better boat to carry the junk in the trunk with you helming.... of course if you are a light and small human then volume distribution designed around two kids is less of an issue than it would be for some of the rest of us. The Feva will be a better boat if it all goes really well and she gets to a position where she wants to boot you out and sail with a friend. Both are great boats that will last well, have minimal maintenance and hold their value.
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Posted By: mattyt82
Date Posted: 18 Aug 23 at 8:39pm
| I am 6ft 2 and 15 stone, so not a particularly small human. The 2000 sounds appealing and sounds more of a long term boat but the Feva is a great option. I think I will sail both with my daughter and see 👍🏼 |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 18 Aug 23 at 9:43pm
Good plan, I think you'll find the Feva a bit cramped, it's a kids boat really, I've sailed a similar sized Topper Topaz with two full sized adults in a good blow and it was a hoot but not a boat I'd buy for myself (5' 6" and 80kg). The Feva is a better boat than the Topaz (but not that much better) but Topaz's are cheap so if she want's her own boat after a while you could keep the 2000 (or swap it for a Blaze if you have no crew  ) and buy her a Topaz or Feva.Just bear in mind the 2000 is not a lightweight if your club has a steep slipway and a 10 year old is not going to be much help.
------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: mattyt82
Date Posted: 19 Aug 23 at 6:20am
| Great info. All of the local clubs are reservoir/lakes with easy slipways so not a concern. One club hires out 2000’s and another Feva’s so might go to both and see which club we prefer. We will visit all three I think and see which comes across well as part of the reason I gave up was I was not helped at all by the club I used to go to, as a young sailor it is quite daunting. Hence I would like to teach my daughter and if she likes it she can crack on when she has the confidence. |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 19 Aug 23 at 9:56am
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Picking the club where you get most help/best vibe is the way to go, sailing is a social activity that you'd want to do with people you like. ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 19 Aug 23 at 11:57am
To my mind that's definitive. I think the Feva is a super little boat, but it ain't going to work with you at the back. |
Posted By: mattyt82
Date Posted: 19 Aug 23 at 12:06pm
| 🤣 that is fair enough. I can always sail the 2000 with the jib furled I guess and lose some power that way in high wind. More exciting though, but I know people have used 2000s for cruising with the family as well. Sounds good will try out a 2000 👍🏼 |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 19 Aug 23 at 12:52pm
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Not too difficult to get a 2000 'training' mainsail with reef points or look at some used Firefly sails or similar. I suspect the jib and it's furler is just that and not a reefing system so smaller sails would be a better option (and would preserve your relatively expensive class legal sails for 'proper' racing or other times when you can get full benefit from using them. ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: Paramedic
Date Posted: 19 Aug 23 at 4:54pm
Agreed 100% What attracts you to these two - strikingly dissimilar - boats over something like an Enterprise or Graduate?
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Posted By: sargesail
Date Posted: 19 Aug 23 at 9:36pm
Specifically the Feva will be difficult to sail if you are helming….that much weight at the back will really challenge it. I’m a huge proponent of the 2000 with children….mine crewed from 4 and 6 (inc racing) and then helmed. If you go down the 2000 route then fit two to one jib sheets….makes life so much easier for a small crew. |
Posted By: mattyt82
Date Posted: 20 Aug 23 at 10:35am
| I want something really robust which these two seem to be. I have sailed Enterprises before and they are great boats. As said above will the right club then rent broth before buying anything. My daughter may hate it though she loves kayaking and paddleboarding so I am sure she will enjoy it. |
Posted By: Paramedic
Date Posted: 21 Aug 23 at 7:48am
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The thing with this for me is the boats are very different. Feva: Small rotomold designed around two teenagers. RYA pathway class. Excellent racing circuit and training available if you want it. Good residual. Light weight, easy handle single handed and can cartop. Laser/RS 2000: Large GRP hull designed for cruising and training. Very heavy (At least the laser ones are!), you won't pull one up the ramp on your own. Underpowered for weight. There is a racing circuit, but you only really hear about the nationals though this does attract good sailors. Condition varies, many are ex school boats and are battered. Private ones tend to be very good. These tend to attract a high price, and retain value. They're certainly robust! The best of both worlds would be (IMO) a Hartley 15, but you don't see many secondhand.
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Posted By: mattyt82
Date Posted: 21 Aug 23 at 5:12pm
| I understand they are two different boats. I know exciting and trainer do not always go together, and I understand the 2000’s are heavy. I did also look at the Leader 2 but was not sure? 🤔 |
Posted By: Old bloke
Date Posted: 21 Aug 23 at 5:43pm
| In the time honoured forum tradition of not answering the question asked...I would put more bluntly what others are suggesting. Sailing, and especially with a 10 Yr old, is much better as a social sport. Find the sailing club you like and see what they sail. I suspect that if your daughter likes it she will soon cast old dad aside and start sailing toppers etc with her friends .In the 2000 favor versus the Leader, if you don't like it you will easily be able to sell it on. |
Posted By: sarg boland
Date Posted: 22 Aug 23 at 9:31am
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I think a lot depends on the daughter - my daughter only wants to crew (only with Dad) she lacks the confidence to sail with anyone else let alone try a singe hander. For her the 2000 would be ideal - we sail Laser II together but she started a little later than 10. However an out going competitive young lady (inspired by the Lionesses) would love a Feva and in no time you would be replaced by a friend and they will have a great time without you. You will also have come to realise that a Feva is not that comfortable for an adult. You can sit back and see she has acquired a life long love of sailing - we have a number of 70+ sailing at our club. ------------- Fair winds |
Posted By: Paramedic
Date Posted: 22 Aug 23 at 4:22pm
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^^agreed^^ From the residual POV neither boat is a big risk and if you think she'll take to it like a duck to water the Feva is the better of the two for two teenagers by far. And if it isn't / she doesn't you can find a better boat to sail together after 12 months maybe?
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