Fulcrum Speedworks Rocket
- Thread starter Will S
- Start date
fastyacht
Super Anarchist
- 12,928
- 2,600
A used international 420 is a good option for the more complexity route. Or a used club 420 with spinnaker and trapeze gear. The Intl is lighter and way more fun and the class is making a real comeback seems to me (here in the US--it never drooped much overseas). I had ridiculous fun on an international 420.
The rocket is a revelation. I grabbed one by the hiking strap and picked the whole hull up on my hip!
Last edited by a moderator:
Hot and Soggy
New member
Thanks for the suggestion. That hadn't been on my radar. Seems to be many for sale on the East Coast at a reasonable price.
bluelaser2
Member
A clean Laser2 might check your boxes. Big cockpit. Two people. Three sails.
Easily handled ashore. Inexpensive. Fast (way faster than you think). Self-bailing and easy to right. Rewarding for novices or experts. A true upwind planer, which is still rare.
No racing class, of course.
Easily handled ashore. Inexpensive. Fast (way faster than you think). Self-bailing and easy to right. Rewarding for novices or experts. A true upwind planer, which is still rare.
No racing class, of course.
craigiri
Super Anarchist
Gets to the point where so many of these boats seem similar. One or two NA distributors show and price the Fusion on their site - but, as you mention, what's the real diff between that and a Feva in daily use.
The Aero and it's weight is a big deal - but 10K? Looking from a "know nothing" POV, if the Rocket can be sold for less than 5K w/advanced lightweight construction, I wonder why a slightly more conventional "working mans aero" can't be made for 5K? (that is, a rec. boat with a Jib and Main) - at 80 lbs or so. I understand that Aero is probably a "built to a standard, not a price" type of setup...all and well.
It may be that the lightweight boats prove so popular that they become the norm and the price/selection comes down w/competition. Out in the world the diff between 60-90 lbs and 135 is massive (for handling on land). Even the Zest, when I pulled it on it's cart, felt like cinderblocks.
When I started looking I set a weight limit of 150 or so, which is prob fine for the <50 crowd. But pushing 70 I'm now thinking hard of <100 lbs. My two "temp boats" (Ladyslipper and Snark Sunflower) are 95 and 65 respectively and just perfect in weight terms. I don't have experience as an adult with Lanteen sails, but a couple hours in a rented Sunfish should inform me about that.
fastyacht
Super Anarchist
- 12,928
- 2,600
ALL the thermoplastic boats are dreadfully heavy and dull compared to a well-designed fiberglass setup. I just cannot get interested in that idea. I keep seeing these boats--Quest, Bahia, etc, and they are flexy, heavy, and they get beach rash like a kayak.
On the other hand, make a really good laminate like the Rocket and you have something!
The weight thing makes a huge difference in the real world. Years ago I found myself needing to find the right boat to suit a group of women who were tired of having to get help with the 60 lb plastic kayaks and the 80 lb canoes. I went with Bell Bucktails--they were 29 lbs. I even specified a custom laminate for them for an extra couple hundred bucks. Many discussions and one thing that became certain: 40 lbs was too heavy. 30 pounds would work.
We have the same thing going on with a 90 lb vers 145 lb daysailer.
On the other hand, make a really good laminate like the Rocket and you have something!
The weight thing makes a huge difference in the real world. Years ago I found myself needing to find the right boat to suit a group of women who were tired of having to get help with the 60 lb plastic kayaks and the 80 lb canoes. I went with Bell Bucktails--they were 29 lbs. I even specified a custom laminate for them for an extra couple hundred bucks. Many discussions and one thing that became certain: 40 lbs was too heavy. 30 pounds would work.
We have the same thing going on with a 90 lb vers 145 lb daysailer.
It’s actually multiple kayaks trailer with the upper bar removed. I like the setup.I can carry two Rockets and two kayaks on it, or up to 6 kayaks with upper bars installed.
Bill5
Right now
A couple at our club have a similar trailer for their 2 Lasers with a box in the middle. They also have it set up to accommodate a couple bikes - one on either side at the front.
craigiri
Super Anarchist
When a couple of you new owners get some higher wind experience - please report back. It would be really nice to know how it works in 10-15 MPH w/the usual 1" chop or so. I know it's similar to other boats, but with the different possible seating position(s) it would be nice to know.
It's on my short list - of <100 lbs. If it had the oarlocks installed it would be even more tempting - then again, if the boat is not right for the oarlock load or rowing (position), then it's not a great benefit.
I don't think there is a single boat in the competitive range w.this - that is, multiple people (2) and less than 100 pounds and sit inside and 5G. I will look hard at the Aero also although I know it's a one person rig. The more I fiddle with my two "beaters" (one 65 lbs, one 110) the more sure I am that 100 lbs is my max for the very easiest handling.
It's on my short list - of <100 lbs. If it had the oarlocks installed it would be even more tempting - then again, if the boat is not right for the oarlock load or rowing (position), then it's not a great benefit.
I don't think there is a single boat in the competitive range w.this - that is, multiple people (2) and less than 100 pounds and sit inside and 5G. I will look hard at the Aero also although I know it's a one person rig. The more I fiddle with my two "beaters" (one 65 lbs, one 110) the more sure I am that 100 lbs is my max for the very easiest handling.
ckcanoes
New member
Could one of the new owners please post a picture of the dolly? I am curious to see what it looks like.
Any other pictures or videos would be appreciated! I put a down payment on one back in May and I am still waiting to be in the build que.
Any other pictures or videos would be appreciated! I put a down payment on one back in May and I am still waiting to be in the build que.
Last edited by a moderator:
The dolly is very simple. It is just a tube with two wheels at ends and two ropes. It is a similar setup to beach cats. The boat is light enough to wrestle the tube under.
It is simple but not ideal. I would prefer dinghy dolly with a handle, like Seitech, for which, I guess, I have to dole out another $600…
It is simple but not ideal. I would prefer dinghy dolly with a handle, like Seitech, for which, I guess, I have to dole out another $600…
Dave Clark
Anarchist
Sort of our whole theory regarding dolly design for both the UFO and the Rocket.
a) people need dollies for their boats
b) there is already a vendor for really exquisite dollies.
c) There is no vendor for very very rudimentary dollies
e) If you'd like to split the difference a piece to connect a tongue to a fulcrum dolly exists off the shelf https://www.hollaender.com/products/#item-03080-detail
It's my lunch break so I'll also give you the drawn out comedy version of my general theory of dolly pricing.
a) people need dollies for their boats
b) Dollies are generally only built to an exquisite standard such as the masterpieces made by Dynamic
c) not wanting the added hassle of building dollies most boat companies do not include the dolly in the price of the boat as the 3rd party dolly would bring the price point up.
d) two excited prospective customers then find out that the dolly is not actually considered an essential part of the boat and they are now required to reconsider the more expensive proposition of Boat+3rd party exquisite dolly
e1) customer A walks away
e2) Customer B accepts this higher price point and salesman gets all aroused because the customer has signalled a willingness to discuss up-sells. The salesman feverishly tries to pile on more and more and more up-sells onto customer B.
f1) Customer B is reconsidering whether he even wants a sailboat in the first place.
f2) Salesman, who is now piling a pyramid of goods on customer B and carrying out a real life experiment in Perfect Price Discrimination https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_discrimination, invests an absurd amount of hours in the one customer with a high spending limit. This then creates an utterly unsustainable expectation for this degree of care, attention and white glove service going forward.
g1) the long-gone customer A has now bought a pair of kayaks and an inflatable trampoline thing as toys for the summer instead and has totally forgotten about sailboats. These are of course not from the same company trying to now sell a trailer and spare rudder to customer B.
g2) Customer B is now taking in person delivery of all of his stuff at his waterfront home. The salesman is now engaged to the customer's niece.
Again, that's mainly a joke. I'm on my lunch break and blowing off steam. If I've managed to offend anyone, I'm extremely sorry. Back to building and shipping boats!
DRC
ckcanoes
New member
You are welcome!
and to make it clear, I didn’t try to criticize Fulcrum. Dollies are there, they are functional, and it is a better start than to get a boat without dolly. And, as Dave pointed out, there are plenty off the shelf parts or products to improve the dolly to my likening. May be, eventually. Right now I’m trying to get some free time to sail the boat.
btw, I ordered Phantom covers mentioned upstream. Will report as soon as I get them, sometimes in September. There are two months waiting period.
fastyacht
Super Anarchist
- 12,928
- 2,600
Fwiw my mid 90s V15 Seitech continues to live on. The handle broke at the elbow but i like it better now as i can run it under trailers and transfer boats to/from it. I have abused it with canoes, roeboats, Int 10sqm, Larks, 420, sinfish, even 505. It wont give up.
If you must have a new one, buy Dynamic as that is the original Seitech's founder's new company...
If you must have a new one, buy Dynamic as that is the original Seitech's founder's new company...
Hot and Soggy
New member
Having just bought one of the "exquisite dollies" last week, I have now, today, by virtue of Alanis Morissette's Law, discovered that there's a nice blog about building your own PVC dolly for a sunfish. I'm not sure if we are allowed to link other sources here or not, as I'm new to the forum. I'll have to review the rules. But it's a pretty simple DIY that ends up costing about $100. There's another blog that made some improvements on that design that look pretty good to me (includes stainless parts and tweaks some of the sizing to get a more secure fit on the dolly handle). My2fish. and MarksDIY. I'm confident, the enterprising owner could easily adapt these plans dimensionally for the Rocket with little trouble.
Last edited by a moderator:
Hot and Soggy
New member
Mark's DIY Sunfish Dolly Improvements
My2Fish original dolly without handle
My2Fish Dolly Handle addition
The My2Fish Blog captures notes and links to Mark's improvements on the main blog landing page as well.
Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with either of these two sources and have not built these (yet).
My2Fish original dolly without handle
My2Fish Dolly Handle addition
The My2Fish Blog captures notes and links to Mark's improvements on the main blog landing page as well.
Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with either of these two sources and have not built these (yet).
