29er GBR 074 Tynemouth |
Laurent Giles 'Jolly Boat' Exeter |
J24 (Sail No. 4239) Dartmouth |
List classes of boat for sale |
Solo Opinions? |
Post Reply | Page <1234> |
Author | |
JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
Post Options
Quote Reply
Topic: Solo Opinions? Posted: 21 Feb 19 at 12:31pm |
That's arguably the worst of both worlds. Pre foam sandwich GRP is without any doubt the worst material to build a Solo from, that's why wood boats kept on being popular for so long, and wood decks mean you stil have to maintain, keep out of the frost etc. Edited by JimC - 21 Feb 19 at 12:31pm |
|
NickM99
Posting king Joined: 26 Apr 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 145 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Feb 19 at 7:22pm |
JimC is quite right. If you would consider a GRP boat with a wooden deck, why not an all wood boat? There are three advertised currently on the Solo Association website and at least one of them has been epoxied from new. They are less than half the price of FRP boats and will be competitive for club sailing if the rig is right for you.
|
|
Late starter
Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Feb 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 481 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Feb 19 at 8:44pm |
I've not sailed a Solo for a long time so I'm not up to date with developments in the class, but I sailed a GRP/composite boat for a season probably 10 or so years back. I found this very slow, and a pal of mine who also had a similar boat at the same time was also very slow. We were sailing against some of our pals who had modern FRP ships, and the difference in speed was very marked. And these were guys who I'd sailed against for years in Lasers, Phantoms etc and we'd been broadly similar in ability. JimC and Nick are right, if I wanted an inexpensive Solo I'd buy a wooden boat from a decent builder with the right rig.
|
|
ColPrice2002
Far too distracted from work Joined: 25 Nov 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 222 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 25 Feb 19 at 9:08pm |
Around the lake, you won't find a lot of difference between a recent wood boat and a from one.
Look for a well setup Boon/Gosling. O viously, it should be sound and as down to weight as possible (mine carries 3kg of lead). Check the mast for your weight (Solo website), and that the sail matches the mast bend! Also, the mast rake makes a significant difference. You may want to look for continuous control lines as well Colin |
|
JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 25 Feb 19 at 11:15pm |
On our reservoir I saw about a 5% improvement in performance when someone upgraded from a good modern wooden boat to foam sandwich. I was staggered, I never would have anticipated such a big differential.
|
|
KazRob
Far too distracted from work Joined: 22 Oct 16 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 245 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 26 Feb 19 at 12:25pm |
That is a huge difference! At the extremes of that difference that's either the new boats being as fast as a Laser (1148 -> 1090 for -5%) or the old ones as slow as a Laser 4.7 (1148->1205 for +5%). Must be something like Godwin's law where all online sailing threads end up on PY eventually :-)
|
|
OK 2249
D-1 138 |
|
Fatboi
Posting king Joined: 09 Aug 16 Location: Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 189 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 26 Feb 19 at 3:03pm |
Not quite true about the performance. The guy who was 11th at the nationals last year sailed a composite boat that is probably 10-12 years old. He had an old wavelength rig and edge sail. Not what you would consider top gear but with 3 results in the top 10 you cannot say it held back too much!
|
|
Sam.Spoons
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 26 Feb 19 at 5:07pm |
I suspect someone buying a new or recent FRP boat will probably sail more frequently, concentrate harder and likely spend some time practicing so part (most?) of his improved performance will come from that.
|
|
Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
|
jeffers
Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3048 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 26 Feb 19 at 5:43pm |
The first wave of FRP boats is around that age now. They came as composites as well as there is one at my local club. It still can't keep pace with the current generation though.
|
|
Paul
---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
|
rich96
Really should get out more Joined: 20 Jan 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 596 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 26 Feb 19 at 6:18pm |
Surely there cannot be a 5% difference in actual boat speed
Far more likely that a tiny percentage (1% ?) multiplies itself as you get left behind, in dirty air etc etc 5% boat speed would indeed be a different class of dinghy altogether |
|
Post Reply | Page <1234> |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |