New boat!

[roland_trim]

I would heartily recommend buying a boat that you can practise getting sticky on as the intermediate step. Ideally this would be glass/carbon and with stuff you do to it - snout, kick bars, tail pipes, t-foil give a huge ammount of knowledge for the actual build itself. This is what we did with Born Slippy and the Kirk's with Slippery When Wet (although the new boats are not yet proof that this results in finished boats).

As a benefit you can also sail the Cherub, monster and have an absolute giggle. Peni's always seem to suck away the cash and still remain uncompetitive in the meanwhile.

The Kirks prove that a dog in the right hands is still on the pace (although less said for us in a slug). I'm guessing that both of us will have to part with our boats post nationals and I'd highly reccomend racing stanley this year and keeping in touch with the potential boats out there that are goign to come up for sale.

<<Declaration of interest - I may have to selll my boat in the near future when the one in the shop is ready, but I think I already have the next home for her arranged>>

[roland_trim]

I would love to come to the nationals but lack of vehicle and un-roadworthy trailer make it a little difficult. I am around as far as I know so maybe I could weld up a new trailer but the law has changed on that recently. mmm

No trailer and no car should not be a bar to getting to the nationals.
PM me in a few weeks if you are still short of suitable wheel options, but for now I'd suggest you reply to the "How do I get to the nationals thread".

[Tim Noyce]

I would love to come to the nationals but lack of vehicle and un-roadworthy trailer make it a little difficult. I am around as far as I know so maybe I could weld up a new trailer but the law has changed on that recently. mmm

New laws?! Interesting! I think I will not research this so I can act oblivious if and when I get stopped by Mr Plod!

[Will_Lee]

Don't go thinking any problem of the trailer/getting there/need a tent/need a crew/need an object nature need be an obstacle.

Ask on this forum, don't be too feeble, and we will find a way to get you there.

[JimC]

Don't go thinking any problem of the trailer/getting there/need a tent/need a crew/need an object nature need be an obstacle.

I must have done at least 8 or 9 championships beg stealing and borrowing lifts when I only had a bike license...

[Will_Lee]

Obviously the above offers apply to you Jim as well! It would be great to see Queenie. In recent years there have been old boats aplenty - Peanuts in 2006 was the oldest I think. In 2007 it was Plan Jane and in 2008 No Sweat I think.

[Banshee Ambulance]

The thing about buying a second hand boat is that i would be looking at a budget of £2000. I would be prepared to spend more on a build for the fun of actually doing it. Monkey Magic is a little to odd looking and more importantly too expensive and I cant see anything else that would suit.

On the nationals, I would love to come and hopefully I can sort something out. 

[phil_kirk]

We will be parting with Slippery shortly. if you are interested we would preffer the boat to get use and not sit in a boat park somewhere.

What we have found is that reduced crew weight (we are about 120kgs)  will compensate for the reduced sail area. We still find it exciting and a bit challenging in a blow.

For fleet racing it would obviously help having more power and a mast extension would allow more main area and a big kite.

if we were not building a new boat we would look at replacing the gantry and fitting a t foil.  There is room for some weight reduction there and the t foil would add a bit of  upwind speed.

We went down the new boat route because i wanted to see how we could perform on a level playing field and without the excuse of an older boat for when we get it wrong.

Good starts, going the right direction for tides and shifts will count for a lot.

[Phil Alderson]

The Flying Kipper is also for sale at the moment, it has a mast to the 7.1m limit and can take a larger kite which I do have. Also with a longer boom the 05 main that I have would fit.
I have a lot of fun with the boat in 97 rules mode and it makes a great learning platform

[Banshee Ambulance]

Can you clever boat designers offer any comments?

[Will_Lee]

Monkey is £2k now!

If you are concerned about the looks (or any other aspect), why not have a trial sail?

W

[Banshee Ambulance]

I am thinking more about Taking Liberties actually. Seems more of a project boat which would do me nicely. My own designs are more just a bit of fun at this stage. Although I think if I were to buy Monkey Magic it would have to be re named "Thunderbird IV" because it does look bonkers. 

[Tim Noyce]

For the money, Monkey Magic really is excellent. Even for £3000 its still very good VFM.

It has a basically brand new set of 2005 rules sails, a nice C-Tech rig and the hull is obviously newly refurbished so everything should be hunky dorey. It's a bistro hull shape so easy to sail and if you were to design and build a new hull, you could just transfer the rig and sails straight onto it and you would have a very similar setup to that of Dans boat or Subtle Knife.

Taking Liberties is my old boat so I obviously have a soft spot for it too

[ross_burkin]

If your going to upgrade I'll FS back!

[lucy_lee]

If your going to upgrade I'll FS back!

SWAP SWAP SWAP! One of you gets a project boat, the other gets his old friend back