Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Yachts and Sail => Topic started by: RipSlider on November 12, 2007, 02:54:36 pm

Title: Can someone give me an overview of the different classes please?
Post by: RipSlider on November 12, 2007, 02:54:36 pm
Hello all.

Just wondering if someone can give me an over-view of the different classes, designed for some one who knows nothing about model or full sized yachts apart from they have a bit of material at the top.

For example:

A class: about x" big, go fast, easy to build, complicated sails, lots of people do it etc etc

B class:  etc etc etc

I read about all the different classes in the magazines, but it doesn't mean a lot to me.

Many thanks

Steve
Title: Re: Can someone give me an overview of the different classes please?
Post by: Faraday's Cage on November 12, 2007, 03:32:53 pm
I don't confess to know a great deal about the subject but have a look at the MYA site.

http://www.mya-uk.org.uk/yachts.html (http://www.mya-uk.org.uk/yachts.html)

It gives classes, dimensions, rules etc.
Title: Re: Can someone give me an overview of the different classes please?
Post by: romainpek on November 13, 2007, 11:02:41 am
Also this american ressource : http://www.modelyacht.org/classpage.html
Title: Re: Can someone give me an overview of the different classes please?
Post by: mike javelin on November 14, 2007, 01:58:23 am
The problem is that there are just so many different classes.

The trick is to limit down what you're after.

Will you want to race or just jolly about?
Where will you sail and how deep is the water?
How big do you want to go?
How much do you want to spend?
Modern or scale-ish?

If you can answer these questions it will be far easier to help you.
I'll try not to be too biased but most of us yachties are pretty biased on way or another.
Title: Re: Can someone give me an overview of the different classes please?
Post by: RipSlider on November 14, 2007, 06:10:56 am
Mike,

Hmmm..... let me see:

1) Jollying about initially. It would be good to race at some point.

2) sailing will happen in a number of locations, either in my local baoting lake ( not very deep ) or in a huge, massively deep unused tidal lock. However, tidal lock has seals which boats when they feel hungry or playful, so maybe not there until I'm good at it.

3) size wise, it needs to fit in the back of a salon car with the down and poking through from the boot. Any size between 3 inches long and that size is fine.

4) budget not really a constraint. I like gadgets though, and this would sway me. Is there a class with jet engines, sonar and working rockets to attack the opposition????

5) modernish or scale? to be honest, for a first sailing boat, I'm not sure I care a lot. a better question would be "How forgiving does the characteristics of the boat need to be?" and I would say "Very"

Saying that, I do like the catermerans and Trimarines, especially the sexy new ones. Is there a class for those? I saw a section on "Multi-hulls" which said there was no recognised class.

As you can see, I'm a little vauge on it at the moment. Really, I was looking for a bit of an over-view of all the major classes first so that I could refine down a bit.

Thanks

Steve
Title: Re: Can someone give me an overview of the different classes please?
Post by: mike javelin on November 14, 2007, 12:59:57 pm
OK, so here comes the bias.

You're new to sailing and there is a possibility that you might not get on with it so keeping the cost down reduces the risk.
Getting a highly technical boat with lots of gadgets when your learning how to sail is not such a great idea.
Having said that a "simple" boat like the Laser can be a real pain for newcomers as it can be quite tricky to sail and at £400 could be a costly mistake.
If you will want to race then you will need to buy a class that is sailed locally or you will have to travel to events as I do.

You want a boat that is simple, sails well and is easy to get from the car to the water.
The Micro Magic fits this bill as it can go in the car fully rigged which means no wasted time setting up and breaking down.
It also has a shortish keel which will allow you to sail on the pond as well as the loch.
Support is second to none with the 15 odd websites looking after the Class
On the water cost is around £200

Soling, Victoria, are quite a bit bigger but these are good starting yachts with a reasonable following especially in the states.
On the water cost is around £250

Multihulls are great fun but I'd suggest you start with a monohull to learn the ropes first.
Limited number off very passionate people but great fun if you can find them.

I'd steer clear of the IOM for now but this is likely to be the boat most people currently aspire to.
For a top boat with all the rigs you can spen in excess of £3000 and have to wait for 4 to 6 months for a hull!

Marblehead probably wont sail in your pond, or at least the modern ones won't as the keel depth is to long.
10r and A rater are also pretty specialised racing machines and will be a struggle in and out of a saloon car.

Another boat with great support and following is the Footy, which is great fun but possibly not best suited for a beginner on a Loch.
These are currently the fastest growing Class in the UK along with the Micro Magic which is the fastest growing Class in Europe.

The other classes like the Tactic, Fiesta, 36r  have pockets of enthusiasts round the country.
If you happen to be near one of these then they could be a good bet but otherwise you could be all on your own.

You will need help and advice so pick a class where you can learn from others.
If your local pond has a number of sailors, what they sail should make the decision easier as they are far more likely to help if you sail the same class.

Hope this helps a little.
Pop along to www.micromagic.info and click on info to find out more on the Micro Magic

 

Title: Re: Can someone give me an overview of the different classes please?
Post by: malcolmfrary on November 19, 2007, 12:49:40 pm
Wisdom from Mike.
I would just say that the larger they are, the easier to sail, but also the more difficult to transport and handle at launch and retreival.
I would look for something with an overall length between 2ft and 1metre, with a conventional rig (one mast, sail at the front, sail at the back).
A lot of deck detail looks nice, but snags rigging.
The larger the boat, normally the higher the mast, which makes fitting it into a car when rigged more difficult.  If the mast is easily rigged and dropped, you can consider something a bit bigger.
You dont need the ultimate in performance from a first boat, but something that is going to be obedient and forgiving while you are learning.  No-one learns to drive on a Ferarri, but many would like one.
If there is a group somewhere near you sailing a particular class or type, that should be a high consideration.  It is almost a law that if two yachts are on the same peice of water, there is a race of some sort going on.
Title: Re: Can someone give me an overview of the different classes please?
Post by: mike javelin on November 19, 2007, 05:30:47 pm
I agree and in addition do not make the mistake of judging the size of the boat with the conditions it can sail in.
We were Racing Micro Magics on Sunday in winds of 33 knots with gusts of up to 40knots.
With little sails these boats and many others are more than capable and are really great fun.

However the semi scale boats with rails, wheels and other items trying to make them look authentic also make them a complete liability to sail especially as the wind builds.
Title: Re: Can someone give me an overview of the different classes please?
Post by: MikeK on November 20, 2007, 09:32:55 am

However the semi scale boats with rails, wheels and other items trying to make them look authentic also make them a complete liability to sail especially as the wind builds.

Very true - Over the years many are the beautiful little scale yachts, complete with non watertight cockpits, that I have seen being proudly launched on their maiden voyage - only then to sink gracefully beneath the waves as they took in water down said hatchways

MikeK