49er
- Thread starter aurichor
- Start date
Nico1218
Member
If you do get it and need a somebody to sail with, definatly pm me....Im still in highschool, but im looking to sail one asap (even if it is just to fool around). I have been sailing 29ers in the bay for over a year now so I do have skiff experience!
Good luck deciding whether or not to get it!
Nico
Good luck deciding whether or not to get it!
Nico
sadolph
Super Anarchist
you have to be willing to swim alot till you get the hang of it. Should be cheap to own though - all those original rigs are scrap now, so old rigs should be widely available. Also, lots of old sails around.
mustang__1
Super Anarchist
well, take a good look at the sails. I dont know if you've had mylar sails before, but they're good till they're not... once they start to go they go fast, and if they're original... they're gonna go fast...
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- #7
mustang__1
Super Anarchist
i dont have experience with windsurfing sails but yeah, they'll cloud up a bit. Of course, the old North sails had this weird scrim that was sort of cloudy to begin with...
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Also make sure that the wing-rails (the wings run in and out on rails) are solid, you don't want to find out they're not while you're on them... General boat inspection, anywhere with load is suspect, and ask how water-tight the hull is, at least on the 29er, it makes a feel-able difference if you have a few litres of water sloshing around the inside of your boat.
Old rig stuff is getting rarer, a lot of people who changed rigs did it a while back and have already sold the gear, that said, I'm sure there's rigs and sails around if you look for them. Just be warned that eventually the sails you have will blow out (assume sooner rather than later, especially if they're not really new at the moment). At some point you should expect to do some digging for old-rig sails or a second hand new-rig (I wouldn't be surprised to see them around in a few years pretty cheap)...
Old rig stuff is getting rarer, a lot of people who changed rigs did it a while back and have already sold the gear, that said, I'm sure there's rigs and sails around if you look for them. Just be warned that eventually the sails you have will blow out (assume sooner rather than later, especially if they're not really new at the moment). At some point you should expect to do some digging for old-rig sails or a second hand new-rig (I wouldn't be surprised to see them around in a few years pretty cheap)...
smc
Anarchist
It's hard work as a "fool around" boat - just done the same, bought an oldie 1997 built one. If you have flat water and a nice constant 10kt breeze then learning should be easier. But we get reasonable seas and gusty wind which is a struggle. The few times we've got our act together the performance is fantastic and can have some good fun on it.
Sailingkid
Super Anarchist
I think you'd be alright, i recently made the step up from 29ers, it wasen't as big as i thought. They're pretty stable when you stop, and as long as you start with 10 knots and flat water you should be alright. I reccomend getting the dvd higher and faster, it helps alot with the general boat handling, when you get the general boat handling sorted they're one of the best boats in the world i think!
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- #13
cantp1
Anarchist
FDer,
You'll be fine in a 49er - the speed and performance is incredibly rewarding.
The market for used gear isn't great in NA but it's there if you dig. That being said, Ovington in GBR has a HUGE stock of old rig 49er gear they'd love to get rid of.
If you do happen to buy the boat and join the class, make sure to check out www.49erNA.org . Make sure to get yourself on the contact list so you know what's going on and when the racing takes place.
Good luck!
You'll be fine in a 49er - the speed and performance is incredibly rewarding.
The market for used gear isn't great in NA but it's there if you dig. That being said, Ovington in GBR has a HUGE stock of old rig 49er gear they'd love to get rid of.
If you do happen to buy the boat and join the class, make sure to check out www.49erNA.org . Make sure to get yourself on the contact list so you know what's going on and when the racing takes place.
Good luck!
smc
Anarchist
Well done and good luck - pick good conditions to learn in, get video too... here's our first attempt, it was too light,
New rig would be nice but learning with the old one isn't going to hold you back too much.
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mustang__1
Super Anarchist
FD'er, i think some regattas will have the old rigs scored in their own subset.
I bought a 49er for giggles once.. then I gave up sailing anything else - until an 18footer, then latterly a moth came into my life. It's addictive.
These sort of boats are all about handling and crew skill, don't obsess over the rig, plenty of point racing it with the old rig. The difference between the old rig and the new rig round a course is unlikely to be more than one capsize... racing gives you good feedback on what's working and not. When you can get the old rig round the course without making mistakes, it's time for an upgrade - but if you can, you'll already be more competitive than most people.
The single piece of advice I'd give to anyone coming from more 'conventional' boats is to get over the idea that you decide where to point it. Don't hike harder, wire lower, or otherwise expect to dominate the boat. Play the sheets (LOTS) to keep it standing, and steer plenty to keep the hull under the rig. When the kite's up, follow it, if you don't like where it goes, get it down, and THEN choose to go somewhere else. You'll have a ball.
Enjoy!
These sort of boats are all about handling and crew skill, don't obsess over the rig, plenty of point racing it with the old rig. The difference between the old rig and the new rig round a course is unlikely to be more than one capsize... racing gives you good feedback on what's working and not. When you can get the old rig round the course without making mistakes, it's time for an upgrade - but if you can, you'll already be more competitive than most people.
The single piece of advice I'd give to anyone coming from more 'conventional' boats is to get over the idea that you decide where to point it. Don't hike harder, wire lower, or otherwise expect to dominate the boat. Play the sheets (LOTS) to keep it standing, and steer plenty to keep the hull under the rig. When the kite's up, follow it, if you don't like where it goes, get it down, and THEN choose to go somewhere else. You'll have a ball.
Enjoy!
cantp1
Anarchist
Good advice, Mark. "Just keep the hull under the rig.." was the best advice i ever got.
As for racing Mark's also right - just get out there and try to get around the course. Once you can do that, then upgrade (when the carbon rigs are cheaper and flooding the used market).
Also looks like there is a decent number of old rigs in the SF area: http://goldsberry49smythe.com/2010/10/24/st-francis-fall-dinghy-olympic-class-regatta/
Have fun and see you at 49er PCC's in San Fran next August!!
As for racing Mark's also right - just get out there and try to get around the course. Once you can do that, then upgrade (when the carbon rigs are cheaper and flooding the used market).
Also looks like there is a decent number of old rigs in the SF area: http://goldsberry49smythe.com/2010/10/24/st-francis-fall-dinghy-olympic-class-regatta/
Have fun and see you at 49er PCC's in San Fran next August!!
