Archive for the 'Sailboats' Category

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Laser SB3

Published on April 19, 2008 in Laser SB3 and Sailboats. 0 Comments

aaw.jpg Another option for us is the Laser SB3. This boat has been a huge success over in the UK, and Vanguard was finally bought out by the UK laser people, so we’re now getting them in the US this year. I’ve seen 2 parked behind Vanguard already last fall and I’ve seen one out doing some test sailing in Newport. I’ve been in contact with their salesperson and I’m eagerly awaiting a May test sail.

The boat is pretty interesting. It’s a big heavier than the other options and has a huge kite to make up for it. There are strict no hiking rules which sound promising for sailing it with 2 or even 1 for fun. The biggest issue we have is the ~$40k pricetag. It’s a nice boat, but it’s old technology (no carbon, old construction, etc). Continue reading ‘Laser SB3′

SB3s at Vanguard.

Published on April 18, 2008 in Laser SB3 and Sailboats. 0 Comments

100_1989.jpg I originally posted this back in August 2007 on my personal blog. But it really belongs here, but I’ll put it’s date as when I’m copying it since this site started in April 2008….

It was in sailing world in the spring. And as a subscriber to UK’s Yachting World I’ve read all about them at Cowes week. I’ve gone as far as to fill in my US address into the UK VW Touareg site in order to get a DVD on them (it worked!)… Well they are finally in the states. Yarrow and I were trying to get out on the water to go I-14 sailing on Saturday but needed a universal. West was sold out so up to Vanguard we went. I’d heard on Sailing Anarchy that there were SB3s “here” but no one could confirm that… So I asked in the shop and after a bit of pressing, yes they were here, 2 brand new SB3 (on UK non US street legal trailers even)! I asked about getting a ride and couldn’t get a confirmed date. Just that they would be down at sail Newport for a Thursday night to show off. I’ll be trying to get a ride on one ASAP. I also asked about boat shows and it seems Vanguard wants them to be the hit of the show at Annapolis, but I wonder why it can’t be the hit of both boat shows… Or at least be here for serious inquiries to get a test sail…

Continue reading ‘SB3s at Vanguard.’

Shaw 650

Published on April 17, 2008 in Sailboats and Shaw 6.50. 2 Comments

manicwinter_0.jpg The shaw is another interesting boat. Alex Wadson imported Maniac for last season at JYC for Tuesday night racing. The boat is insanely fast downwind. It was racing in the class with us and it’s only 21′ long. They’d be a bit slow upwind, but once the kites went up they’d SCREAM downwind. Close to skiff speeds. They’d pass almost the entire fleet downwind which was interesting to see (painful when you’re on another boat).

Unfortunately I don’t think it’s for us. It’s a bit too powered up upwind. It’s got a keel that’s lighter than the vipers with more sail area. The guys on the boat all seamed to be working very hard upwind and it also looked to be a very wet ride. Certainly something fun to go sail on, and I’d be glad to go anytime Alex needs crew, I just don’t think it’s the right boat for us considering I want to be able to sail alone for fun on the weekends.

Continue reading ‘Shaw 650′

Open 5.70

Published on April 16, 2008 in Open 5.70 and Sailboats. 1 Comment

davion.jpg The open 5.70 is one of our considerations. Being honest, it’s probably at the top of our list right now. It’s one of the least expensive options. It’s also available now. It’s a baby 60′ design that looks to be easily sailed by 2 people. It’s very wide giving the crew weight great leverage and it also has a very deep keel for a boat this size (20′ boat with a 5’9″ draft). I really like the simplicity of the design and it’s setup to be easily rigged and launched alone. The whole boat weighs in at 992lbs. With it’s trailer it would be easily towed by our smallest car which is nice.

The issues I see with it are that I wonder how well it will sail 2up in 15~18 here in Newport. Also it’s jib is roller furling, but not self taking. How hard would that make single handing the boat? The spinnaker also has no retrieval line, so I’m wondering how hard it would be to fly alone. The brochures tell you it’s easily hoisted and doused by one crew, but they’re assuming there is a skipper… I’m really curious to see how the boat tracks dead down unattended for a quick solo hoist/drop.

Continue reading ‘Open 5.70′

Viper 640

Published on April 14, 2008 in Sailboats and Viper 640. 1 Comment

viper.jpg The viper is another obvious option in this 20′ sportboat segment. It’s been around for over 10 years, but they haven’t been built much in that span. Originally they were built in the US but the Viper 830 killed that business. The molds have since been bought and production is again underway in the UK.

The viper is a very fun little boat with a easy setup, carbon right and spinnaker with a retrieval line. On paper it really is the ideal boat for us. I say on paper because I’ve sailed them twice, once on LIS with medium breeze and once in Marblehead in reasonably light breeze. They are very fast fun boats. My biggest concern is the amount of hiking required. They are very light on the ballast with only 275lbs in the keel, and that’s only four and a half feet down. That means even in a Marblehead breeze it’s a lot of hiking. I’m not 100% against hiking, it’s just that trapping would be a lot easier, and I’d also like to be able to sail this boat alone. I don’t think it’s realistic to sail a viper alone, and I also think it’s a bit too athletic for my 62 y/o father and myself to sail. Continue reading ‘Viper 640′