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Help a yank choose a dinghy - RS Feva? |
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Zebra
Newbie Joined: 09 Jun 08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 3 |
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Topic: Help a yank choose a dinghy - RS Feva? Posted: 09 Jun 08 at 3:34pm |
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Greetings, I'm an adult, novice sailor who has grown tired of sailing in other people's boats and I want to take the leap to getting a dinghy of my own. The problem is finding one that will meet all my needs/desires. I'm looking to get some ideas from you fine folks. Here is what I'm looking for: Good performance in 5-10kt winds (most common on the lakes where I am), but can still have fun in other ranges; a full set of sails (main, jib, spi/gen) so that as I get better, I can add complexity and performance; a boat that can be sailed/club raced single-handed, using all sails if possible (I'll be on my own until my daughter gets a little older and I can convince her to crew); hiking is OK, but no trapeze; something that's not going to break the bank; and Lower maintenance = better. I've been trying to find something that gives me all this, and I think the closest I've found is the RS Feva. I know it was designed for double handed juniors, but I've seen reports of adult single handers racing them well and I weigh about as much as a couple of juniors (100kg or so -- working on that). Am I off-base with this? Might there be better options? Thanks for any help you can offer! --Z
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craiggo
Really should get out more Joined: 01 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1810 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jun 08 at 4:04pm | |
Standard Vago in singlehanded mode doesnt use the trapeze, but having witnessed the one at our club go over a few weeks ago, its not easy to get back upright with just one adult.
If you have a reasonable expanse of water a Dart 15 (Sprint) would be a good choice. With mainsail alone you hike out, put the jib on and a longer tiller extension you can singlehand it on the trapeze, or add your daughter and both hike out. Edited by craiggo |
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mu-6443
Newbie Joined: 05 Apr 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 25 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jun 08 at 4:18pm | |
The Topper Topaz would be good, as the different rig options allow you
to sail with just main or all 3 including asymmetric! Check clicky
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TASAR
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Jamie600
Really should get out more Joined: 14 Jun 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 718 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jun 08 at 4:23pm | |
How about a Vareo? Primarily a hiking singlehander with a kite but you should be able to squeeze someone in the front occasionally |
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RS600 1001
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vscott
Posting king Joined: 11 Apr 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 181 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jun 08 at 5:08pm | |
I've been out with several juniors in a Feva and in lighter winds there is very little space for an adult of 60kg! Just plain uncomfortable on the knees for us both.
It got more fun when we were both sitting out but I was surprised that the teenager found it quite hard to get back in after a capsize. I think they have a limited range of wind to be fun in - not very light and hard to de-power in very strong. I too would go for a more traditional boat, or maybe a topaz. I would also recommend starting on a second hand boat. It is incredibly rare that people stick with the first boat they get, usually it is a question of trial and error in the first couple of years. |
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Mk IV Osprey 1314 Think Again
Kielder Water Sailing Club |
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radixon
Really should get out more Joined: 27 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2407 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jun 08 at 6:39pm | |
I have sailed the Feva and enjoyed it. I did have the kite up and managed to get it going with 2 adults on board.
One question, are you in the UK or USA? As long as you dont want to race competitivly but want a jolly sail, then the RS is fun to play on. |
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tmoore
Really should get out more Joined: 01 Nov 07 Location: Wales Online Status: Offline Posts: 880 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jun 08 at 7:04pm | |
i would not get a feva. i sailed one with my crew in a f5 and we were nicely powered up (68 and 65kg). however i think in a f3we wouldnt even be sat on the side. another thing we found is that with a lot of weight moving around in the boat they were quite tippy when compared to the longer 29er. the grip on the hull is apalling aswell. in the first gybe we did both of us slipped over. i cant comment on any other suggestions other than the laser vago as thats all i have sailed. it seemed relatively simple and being plastic will be durable. with the dacron sails you should be ok singlehanded and i your daughter wants to join in you can add the laminate main, kite and trapeze to keep her entertained. |
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Landlocked in Africa
RS300 - 410 Firefly F517 - Nutshell Micro Magic RC yacht - Eclipse |
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drifter
Posting king Joined: 09 Jun 08 Location: Oxfordshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 177 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jun 08 at 7:20pm | |
Try a Graduate or Firefly. Easy to sail with your daughter or on your own, and no spinny means youll learn boat handling and tactics, not swimming. A good grad might cost you two or three hundred, and easy to sell again. These classes are much underrpresented on these forums but do offer good performance in the conditions you describe. I often lap Wayfarers, Solos, etc in my £500 Grad-even better now with the big mainsail. |
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Stewart
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Zebra
Newbie Joined: 09 Jun 08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 3 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jun 08 at 7:22pm | |
USA, which makes getting a look at a Feva (or a Topper for that matter) a bit of a challenge. Finding anyone who has sailed in one is even more difficult, which is why I came here. I hope you all don't mind.
Is there any other way to race? If by racing competitively you mean racing on a circuit and traveling the country/world to regattas, I am most definitely not looking to do that. Any racing would be limited to good-natured Saturday morning races with the local club in mixed fleets where Lasers and Sunfish make up 90% of the boats. The "easy" thing to do would be to go with a Laser or Sunfish like everyone else -- and don't get me wrong, they are great boats -- but I want something that has more sails to play with. Based on the marketing here in the US (and some of the reviews), which has the Feva as perfect for 2 juniors, 1 adult or adult + child, I'm a bit suprised at the comments here thus far -- but that's why I posted my question instead of just buying after I got the brochure, isn't it? Thanks for all the comments thus far, and keep 'em coming! --Z
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Late starter
Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Feb 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 481 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jun 08 at 8:24pm | |
Zebra, we were given a couple of Feva's at my club at very low cost for our training fleet a while back and I have to say no one but no one has a good word to say about them. They might be acceptable as an entry level boat for some one coming into the sport as a newbie, but personally I'd rather sail one of the longer established GRP classes. I'm also 100kg, and sometimes sail with my 11 year old daughter. This is way too heavy I think to race a Feva even at club level.
Personally, I bought two boats to meet my requirements rather than sailing a compromise, a Laser with an 8.1 rig to sail singlehanded, and the most popular 2 person boat sailed at my club. This route probably wouldn't cost any more than buying a Feva if you pick up 2nd hand boats, which is pretty easy where I live as I've got perhaps 10 sailing clubs in a 25 mile radius, understand this may be more of an issue within the US due to the distances involved. |
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