J24 (Sail No. 4239) Dartmouth |
29er GBR 074 Tynemouth |
Laurent Giles 'Jolly Boat' Exeter |
List classes of boat for sale |
Beginners solo boat please |
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redback
Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: Tunbridge Wells Online Status: Offline Posts: 1502 |
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Topic: Beginners solo boat please Posted: 26 Apr 05 at 11:49pm |
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I'm inclined to say get a proper boat too. But beware of wood the maintenance can be very time consuming. I've not sailed a Topaz or Pico or similar but looking at them I feel the manufacturers are selling an image thing which looks like it detracts from good handling (I may be wrong) but there are so many older designs where the feel and responsiveness of the boat has a higher priority and may therefore give you longer term satisfaction. The Mirror is a beautiful handling boat, so too is the Miracle, Pacer and Graduate and they can be very cheap. Its been said before but I must repeat - you should sail what they sail at your club. |
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Helen B
Newbie Joined: 10 Apr 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 7 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 27 Apr 05 at 6:57am | |
Why is this important ? As I said before I know nothing Not too happy about buying a wooden boat either, more maintenance and surely needs specialist knowledge to maintain. Think I am past the age when fluttering eyelashes would do any good in helping to haul a boat up the slip, all it would do is to get a query of 'did I have something in my eye' |
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Never go faster than your gaurdian angel can fly
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Blobby
Really should get out more Joined: 07 May 04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 779 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 27 Apr 05 at 8:40am | |
I have sailed Pico's a few times. They are basically uncomfortable and awkward to move around because you are crawling on all fours the whole time - very different to a GP14. Also very wet when sailing because you are so low to the water. The rudder is a pain because of the hinged tiller which means if you pull on the tiller quite often the rudder comes flying up as well which isn't good for steering. If you put two sensible sized adults in them you get a lot of water coming in over the transom too. I haven't sailed a Topaz but having seen them on the shore a lot of the above comments on sailing position and crawling on all fours probably apply. One boat you might consider is the RS Vareo with the small sail. It is similar sort of concept in that it is mainly for 1 person but can take 2, and if you are taking two you can get the spinnaker kit to go with it for more entertainment. They are relatively light and are not made of wood so maintenance is low. The sailing position is better than a Pico and they are definitely more refined. The only problem is they cost a bit more. Why is it good to sail a boat other people at the club have - mainly because it is an immediate way to make friends, secondly they will be in a good position to give you advice on how to sail better / fix common problems / source of second hand gear. It may not be so vital if you aren't racing but it still has its advantages. If possible, try to have a test sail in the couple of boats you are interested in - then make up your mind. Keep enjoying yourself! |
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Stefan Lloyd
Really should get out more Joined: 03 Aug 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1599 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 27 Apr 05 at 8:45am | |
Because if you want advice, there will be other people around familiar with the boat. Because the group of people sailing the same class of boat provides an instant social network at the club. Because if you do want to race (and most dinghy sailors do, whether they think they will in the beginning or not) you get much better racing against boats in the same class. |
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jamesint505
Groupie Joined: 18 Feb 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 75 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 27 Apr 05 at 3:56pm | |
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505 7567
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catmandoo
Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 545 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 27 Apr 05 at 4:14pm | |
another boot in on picos, sorry
Our club bought 6 for training(brand new), a big mistake, wet, heavy, masts fell out when upside down(we adapted so they no longer), leaked like sieves through transom drains where plastic was non existant in corners, unstable when windy . Kids that learn't in them didn't want to sail them once they new what they were doing , all went Toppering instead . But what is worst is , that after only a few years , the hulls are majorly distorted , for reasons unknown, great big hollows appeared and bumps not even in same places , and not through there use , we're stuck with them, but as we will flogg em till dead doesn't really matter , but if had bought one privately I wouldn't be impressed with a 4yr old unselleable boat (other than at give away price!) We even had one nicked and used as a wheelbarrow to take away our rescue boats' fuel tanks , the thieves didn't even want it and it was found abandoned , minus the fuel tanks !
Another club I'm a member of bought some Topaz's which seem to produce much more favourable response from the sailors and have not developed any strange distortions.
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sailor.jon
Far too distracted from work Joined: 02 Nov 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 361 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 27 Apr 05 at 5:45pm | |
how about, a fiberglass (easier to maintain then wood) heron???
easy to sail on your own room for a crew if you fancy taking someone along, stable, theres plenty of them kicking about, you'll get one cheap enough, Have fun. Edited by sailor.jon |
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