Class proliferation...

There is an RS Vision in the corner of our boatpark, I have never seen it being sailed.  Every month we have a working party and move 50 or so Solos, Lasers, Merlin’s and N12’s in order to cut the grass.  Any attempt to move the Vision is halted when we realise its weight ... which is probably why it does not get sailed ... polyethylene is a rubbish material for any sailing dinghies other than Teras or Toppers, and boats like this cannot be relied upon to grow the sport.

Beginners choose Merlin or National 12? Maybe they do outside the UK but those are unlikely choices for a newby to the sport - certainly great choices as a second or third boat IMO!

I'm unconvinced that the Vision weighs the same as it does in the brochure! Personally, I think there is a sweet spot for weight. Light enough to move around, heavy enough not to fall over when launched or blow off its trolley in "normal" weather.

I know none of this has anything to do with sailing qualities. Those are in the eye of the beholder, or we wouldn't have a world with both RS300s and Tideways racing.

Originally posted by davidyacht polyethylene is a rubbish material for any sailing dinghies other than Teras or Toppers, and boats like this cannot be relied upon to grow the sport.

I fear you make my point.

Personal experience and sone considerable anecdotal evidence leads me to believe that many SMODs are significantly heavier than the weight the manufacturer publishes. L2k was a case in point, it gained something like 40kg when they got 'found out' and the quoted weight of 100kg was quietly revised to a much more realistic 140kg. They also, typically, don't specify if the quoted weight is bare hull, hull with fittings, ropes, foils, etc or, even all up (The RS400 does give an all up weight as well as a hull only weight but is the exception.........). At least you know that your new(ish) Merlin hull (with CB and attached fittings) weighs pretty much exactly 98kg.

Edited by Sam.Spoons - 14 Feb 19 at 1:20pm