Topper Sport 14 - any good?
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=1570
Printed Date: 10 May 25 at 7:39pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Topper Sport 14 - any good?
Posted By: Philsy
Subject: Topper Sport 14 - any good?
Date Posted: 23 Mar 06 at 1:04pm
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Would this be any good for two adults and two kids as a family boat, and for
occasional racing? How does it compare with, say, the Laser 2000? |
Replies:
Posted By: Phat Bouy
Date Posted: 23 Mar 06 at 5:11pm
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IMHO they are as good/bad as anything else. That's the good thing about sailing, there's plenty of different boats to please plenty of different people. Have a go in one and as many others as possible. Have a search through this forum, you will find plenty of opinions - nothing beats trying one out though. Good luck! ------------- Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho |
Posted By: Olly4088
Date Posted: 23 Mar 06 at 5:51pm
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I would go for the laser 2000 just cause i know of a family who own one with 3 kids and they get on fine. Also it would be better than the topper for racing. ------------- Phantom 1298 |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 23 Mar 06 at 7:03pm
Trouble is, you can pick up a used Sport 14 for about £2k less than a used L2000... ------------- |
Posted By: Olly4088
Date Posted: 23 Mar 06 at 7:06pm
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This is true they are quite a bit cheaper
------------- Phantom 1298 |
Posted By: carshalton fc
Date Posted: 23 Mar 06 at 7:43pm
yer but with the more expensive 2000 u get a sorted boat that holds it's value and u also get a great class association that do events all over the uk.  ------------- International 14 1503 |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 23 Mar 06 at 7:56pm
But I don't have the cash for a L2000  Do you reckon the 14 isn't well
sorted, then? ------------- |
Posted By: carshalton fc
Date Posted: 23 Mar 06 at 7:59pm
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well i havent sailed one but looking at them they just look fat ugly and my mum&dad said it was a bitch to sail when they tried it. ------------- International 14 1503 |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 23 Mar 06 at 8:24pm
Blimey, you sure know how to put the damper on an idea!  ------------- |
Posted By: Javelin53
Date Posted: 23 Mar 06 at 8:26pm
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I sailed in a sport once but I was really small and I don't remember much about it but it seemed fun at the time ------------- I hoped the threat would be enough! JAVELIN 53 ENTERPRISE 16691,RESTORATION JOB TOPPER 29388 BUCKENHAM SC |
Posted By: 49erGBR735HSC
Date Posted: 23 Mar 06 at 9:57pm
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Not sailed one before but heard off of other instructors that the foils are too small for the boat, the rig is over-powered and the build quality is pretty poor. The centre I worked at replaced them for 2000s. Might still be worth looking into as they are fairly cheap. ------------- Dennis Watson 49er GBR735 http://www.helensburghsailingclub.co.uk/ - Helensburgh S.C http://www.noblemarine.co.uk/home.php3?affid=560 - Boat Insurance from Noble Marine |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 24 Mar 06 at 7:24am
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Thanks for the feedback. Generally not looking good for a Sport 14... ------------- |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 24 Mar 06 at 9:08am
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Oh, although I'm opening myself up for a massive piss take, one thing that
puts me off the L2000 is the fact you can't use an outboard with it. With two whinging sprogs in-tow, a motor could be useful on those days the wind drops and stomachs are empty. Sad, I know, but you'll all be there one day! ------------- |
Posted By: Olly4088
Date Posted: 24 Mar 06 at 12:35pm
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I heard that with every outboard you buy nowadays you get a free picnic hamper so you and use you boat as a floating picnic table ------------- Phantom 1298 |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 24 Mar 06 at 12:44pm
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[QUOTE=Olly4088] I heard that with every outboard you buy nowadays you
get a free picnic hamper so you and use you boat as a floating picnic table[/ QUOTE] In which case the kids can eat on the go and we'd not need an outboard.  ------------- |
Posted By: Prince Buster
Date Posted: 24 Mar 06 at 5:08pm
 thats just way too much information now TT But thats how i used to have to tough it! Weren't we a hardy bunch back then But as for Philsy......i think you should go ahead and get a sport 14 cos they're cheap, easy to handle, probably quite fun, and good for family sailing. If thats what you want to do then i reckon the Sport would be fine. ------------- international moth - "what what?" |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 24 Mar 06 at 5:11pm
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Dry suits eh? We used to have to sail naked and thank our parents for the
privilege.... Still, nice to see some positive comments on the Sport 14 ------------- |
Posted By: timnoyce
Date Posted: 24 Mar 06 at 5:23pm
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I've not sailed a sport 14 for ages, but I have sailed one... Was at sunsail a few years back and we didn't have any problem with it. If all you want is a cheap boat to sail with the family then I'd say its fine. Size wise i would have thought it would be a bit cramped for 4 people, but then again you get what you pay for. My uncle has a Laser Stratos which is ideal but, i would guess, way over your price limit (outboard mounting point and a blisteringly fast boat on handicap!) Have a go, if you like it, go for it! Just remember, a boat is only generally considered bad when compared with something better! So if you don't need the best, more often than not, it will be more than good enough!! ------------- http://www.facebook.com/bearfootdesign - BEARFOOT DESIGN Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb |
Posted By: Granite
Date Posted: 24 Mar 06 at 6:57pm
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I worked at a sailing school that had a sport 14 and I thought it was rubish. We broke a couple of rudders in the first few months gave up on the topper replacements and made a wooden blade for it. the rest of the build quality was also poor the hull leaked badly. The sails were crap it had a laminate jib which destroyed itself first time out in any wind. We generaly sailed it with 420 sails as they seemed to work better when it was windy. the hull seemed very sensitive to heel and would steer the boat wildly if you let it heel at all down wind making it scary for beginners. the cockpit would fill up with water in light winds if you had three adults in is because the false floor was too low and after a capsize the cockpit would be V full and take ages to empty still it is better than the sport 16. ------------- If it doesn't break it's too heavy; if it does it wasn't built right |
Posted By: damp_freddie
Date Posted: 24 Mar 06 at 8:27pm
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Unfortunetly, these and the 16s replaced the trusty wayfarer for novice
teaching. To give topper their fair go on two handers, the topaz is
good for two kids or VERY small adults and is bomb proof.. My ideal route for someone with family... wayfarer laser 2000 tasar 29er |
Posted By: 49erGBR735HSC
Date Posted: 24 Mar 06 at 9:59pm
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Have to agree, the wayfarer would fit the bill if you are looking for a nice cruising boat and can be suprisingly fun with the kite up. Given the choice of using a boat for instructing, I'd always choose the Wayfarer over the newer boats bar the Laser 2000 but the 2000 is a more raceir boat and not particularly ideal for being primarily used as a cruising boat. ------------- Dennis Watson 49er GBR735 http://www.helensburghsailingclub.co.uk/ - Helensburgh S.C http://www.noblemarine.co.uk/home.php3?affid=560 - Boat Insurance from Noble Marine |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 25 Mar 06 at 10:13am
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I'm not so sure. I grew up with a Wayfarer and, granted, it was a great boat.
However, things must surely move on. I've sailed more modern boats such as the Laser 2000 and RS Vision and was impressed at how much more user friendly and, well, better they were. You wouldn't choose to drive a 40 year old car regularly, would you? Also, the Wayfarer is bigger and heavier than I'd want. ------------- |
Posted By: HannahJ
Date Posted: 25 Mar 06 at 7:17pm
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29er!!!!!!!!!!!!!! maybe not... crikey.
------------- MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail |
Posted By: 49erGBR735HSC
Date Posted: 25 Mar 06 at 8:21pm
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The 2000 is a much more tippier boat, we've advanced complete beginners from sailing wayfarers to 2000s and quite a few of them have had swimming lessons when such a problem would not have occured if they were still sailing wayfarers. The general impresion we gained from most of our adult pupils at a comercial establshment was that the wayfarer was a good grounding for cruising and racing and the 2000 was the next step up. When teaching basic skills and seamanship skills we'd choose to use the Wayfarer, we generally tended to use the 2000 for more advanced and racing courses. Most of the adults we taught in the 2000s loved it but some prefered the wayfarer because it was less of a racing boat. The Wayfarer is a brilliant boat and can have a racing pedigree about it if you choose to go that direction but I'd say just now is still the ideal family boat. ------------- Dennis Watson 49er GBR735 http://www.helensburghsailingclub.co.uk/ - Helensburgh S.C http://www.noblemarine.co.uk/home.php3?affid=560 - Boat Insurance from Noble Marine |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 25 Mar 06 at 8:53pm
Interesting feedback - thanks. What about the RS Vision? How would you rate that? ------------- |
Posted By: 49erGBR735HSC
Date Posted: 25 Mar 06 at 9:05pm
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Not sailed the Vision but it had teething problems, reckon it will be a boat pretty much like the Topper Xenon, still pretty racey. ------------- Dennis Watson 49er GBR735 http://www.helensburghsailingclub.co.uk/ - Helensburgh S.C http://www.noblemarine.co.uk/home.php3?affid=560 - Boat Insurance from Noble Marine |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 26 Mar 06 at 7:51am
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Thanks, any idea what the teething problems are?
I looked at the Xenon and it looks fun, but too racey for my requirements. Phil ------------- |
Posted By: jpbuzz591
Date Posted: 26 Mar 06 at 8:24am
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i've sailed the vision, and its quite well sorted. Easy to reef, just zip the main up, carrys weight quite well and not too bad for a plastic boat ------------- Jp Indoe Contender 518 Buzz591 Chew Valley Sailing club Bristol |
Posted By: 49erGBR735HSC
Date Posted: 26 Mar 06 at 5:50pm
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I can't remember exactly what the problems were but know it had something to do with the front end of the boat and possibly the mast step. RS should have addressed them though.
------------- Dennis Watson 49er GBR735 http://www.helensburghsailingclub.co.uk/ - Helensburgh S.C http://www.noblemarine.co.uk/home.php3?affid=560 - Boat Insurance from Noble Marine |
Posted By: maswep
Date Posted: 28 Apr 06 at 10:39pm
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The 14 is a great value boat at the moment caoable of family sailing as well as going for a blast. Granted I would have bought the Vision if funds allowed but as RS have sown up the second hand market by buying back the boats I think the 14 is the best value in its class. |
Posted By: Woo Woo
Date Posted: 03 Jul 18 at 5:17pm
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Hi all
I have just bought a Sport 14. She is now called Woo Woo and she is number 563. I am keen to meet and sail with other Sport owners both cruising and racing. I have started a Facebook group called Topper Sport 14 Owners. Please take a look and post pics etc. Hope to hear from you all Mark ------------- M.Wiltshire |