29er GBR 074 Tynemouth |
Laurent Giles 'Jolly Boat' Exeter |
J24 (Sail No. 4239) Dartmouth |
List classes of boat for sale |
Hiking singlehander (no kite) |
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JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
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Topic: Hiking singlehander (no kite) Posted: 24 Oct 11 at 1:53pm |
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Think you'd better look again Dan. And also consider that the guys who designed it were the hottest in dinghy design in the 70s... Both Farr and Bowler had a *very* impressive record in the Antipodean development classes before they followed the money and went to the dark side... Edited by JimC - 24 Oct 11 at 1:54pm |
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rogue
Really should get out more Joined: 04 Dec 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 978 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Oct 11 at 2:04pm | |
I'm a simple soul with these things... higher freeboard & centre mainsheet #winner
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tickel
Far too distracted from work Joined: 21 Dec 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 408 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Oct 11 at 2:37pm | |
If all you jolly clever chaps think that all existing boats are past it then where is the reasonably cheap higher performance replacement? GRF had ago but I hardly think that the future lies in that direction, laudable as his efforts have been. I couple of years ago I did speak to Daniel about the Punk and I was impressed by the concept, but where is it?
Should all the existing boats, Supernova etc, be so horrid then a modern non extreme alternative greeted with enthusiasm should be here by now.....where is it? |
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tickel
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JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Oct 11 at 2:58pm | |
The simple answer is none of the boats really are horrid, but they all make different compromises, and different compromises suit different people. For instance I really like the 300 hull, but detest the rig...
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rogue
Really should get out more Joined: 04 Dec 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 978 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Oct 11 at 3:00pm | |
genuine question... why do you dislike the rig? From the RS singlehanders I've sailed, it seemed to be the one which had the most range from a sailing position? |
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Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Oct 11 at 3:31pm | |
Just because an MB is not chined and open transomd doesn't make it rubbish, The rig was very effective and in MK II form may not be as sophisticated as a Finn's , but is certainly modern and slick. The boat had a deep wide cockpit so much more comfortable and was soooo much easier to gybe. I expect would have continued to sell if the importer (Dinghy Centre) had not become a topper centre. Also not very cost effective to make in North America and sell in the UK. Shame, I'd have another one tomorrow.
In terms of a laser, the MB mast is unstayed, but sat on a pin. You would have to modify the bottom gof the laser tube and I am not sure which penetrates deeper into the hull, so again you may need to adjust depth and strengthen it . The controls would all need to be modified and the boat would have to move to centre sheeting for the traveller set up, so not sure about boom length and whether the tang would have to be moved. Could all be done by Dan's guys, but you would end up with too much power for a Laser Hull. Might actually be easier to modify a Laser for a 300 rig if you wanted to go that way.
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Daniel Holman
Really should get out more Joined: 17 Nov 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 997 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Oct 11 at 5:33pm | |
Jim - I'm aware of farr/bowler's roots. Since I wasn't even a twinkle in my daddies eye in the '70s, I bow to your greater knowledge of that stuff. However, I am struggling to see how that 70s skiff DNA has found it's way into the MB? Or why it couldnt have been designed in the 1970s. I've had a good look from many angles and I can't see how the hullform differs from a generic series 64 derived semi displacement hullform (series 64 - 1965) that we recognise from the laser.(1970ish) I can't see anything on the deck or cockpit that differs from the (admittedly very build friendly) Ian Bruce orthogonal flat panel approach that we again first saw with the laser. The material - polyester and csm with some sandwich is pre 1970s tech. I just struggle to see how it is in any way different - but I am prepared to be proven wrong. Re the punk, she still gets out most weeks. Lots of fun, minimal hassle. New rig half done. Moulds are in Cornwall. New design to capture the few things I'd do differently is 90% done. Just waiting for a sugarmummy to come along and finance the operation. A less risk averse fellow may have tried to build and sell even 2 years ago, but I wanted a more tightly defined package and getting adequate parts has at times been very tough. The do it all versatile quick singlehander is there, but it isn't attractive for any commercial builder due to the laser. Pretty much every other segment has nice modern well considered boats. Rpx was trying to nanswer the same question in a more budget way, but potentially with the finance to enable the economies of scale to make it really attractive, but that's been quiet for a while. |
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rogue
Really should get out more Joined: 04 Dec 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 978 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Oct 11 at 5:39pm | |
and there it is in a nutshell- progress, good or bad, the market would decide... but lack of commercial viability due to the Laser monopoly preventing new entrants is neither healthy for the market overall nor good for consumers who foot the bills. |
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r2d2
Far too distracted from work Joined: 29 Sep 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 350 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Oct 11 at 5:51pm | |
just reading this thread, can I remind that the 1970s is 40, yes fully forty, years ago! Things have moved on since then in virtually every sphere, in most areas by a million miles or more. History is interesting and important to understand, but shouldn't be a reason for stopping progress. If it is not time now to move on from the laser one, when will it be?
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blaze720
Really should get out more Joined: 28 Sep 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1635 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Oct 11 at 6:18pm | |
..... this ones still rumbling around like a persistent zombie so better repeat the usual advise - TRY as many as you can. No point in telling you that the Blaze is simply fantastic if it is really 'not for you' - but only you can work that one out when you've tried one. We are all far too biased on these forums because most of us sail what suits us and we like already ...
The Blaze is relatively modern, fast, 'easy'ish and with good support from an active CA with great meetings. We debated the spinnaker issue but ultimately the ownershiop decided to keep things 'simple'. Seems to work for them and the numbers keep growing. Mike L. PS - Even GRF says his Blazing time was good ... now er ... is that really a recomendation ? But do find out for yourself. |
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