Laser Radial vs. Sunfish vs. Optimist vs. Force 5 vs. Zuma ...
Tom Kreutz
learn to sail in comfortably (lake sailing, 10 x 3 mi). This boat
will join our Rebel - a 700 lb, 16 ft sloop - which is too big for
them to handle.
Any thoughts?
JAXAshby
The laser and Force 5 are fine, fine sailing boats, but too much to handle for
a 10 year old and probably the 12 yo as well. The optimist is too small for
the 12 year old, and the Sunfish can be handled by either for several years,
even if it's not the finest of sailing boats. Don't know the Zuma.
I'd probably get them a used Sunfish and let them play until they're big enough
to handle your boat.
Ian Malcolm
Age 15 or so (I was small for my age) I found the Laser radial to be a
handful. I could solo my 15' Albacore in force 4 + before I could
handle the full Laser rig with a reasonable breeze. Your sons are in
the right age range for Oppies, but soon will need a boat each if they
dont already do so. Over here, Toppers are commonly used by the kids.
Dont know if you have them over there, but it is possible for a not too
heavy adult to sail one reasonably, and the kids seem to do great in
them.
OTOH if they will be happy to sail together consider a Mirror dinghy.
Good stability, responsive, reasonably easy to rig and sail , and with
the mast stepped in the forwards position handles well under main alone
which offers the initial benefits of simplicity and reduced sail area
and later is ideal for soloing. When they get good and keen, first
give them the jib, then get them a spinnaker. A Mirror can also be
rowed and handles well with a small outboard so they can also learn
general boat handling which they wont learn in any of the small one man
dinghies.
Presumably you will be coaching from your Rebel so there would be an
advantage to you in having them both in one boat as its easier to keep
an eye on. If things get a little snotty out there or they get too
tired, the entire Mirror rig with all spars stows within the length of
the hull (gunter) and can easily be struck afloat by any adult or larger
teenager, and then you could all pile into the Rebel and tow the Mirror
back easily.
One last consideration, If they are at all competitive and they have
separate boats they will soon be racing but the age gap is enough that
your oldest is lightly to have a significant weight/strength advantage.
This may get a bit frustrating for your younger son. If there are other
kids sailing on the lake, it is probably more important to have the same
sort of boat as the others rather than the best type (within reason).
--
Ian Malcolm. London, ENGLAND. (remove NOSPAM from email to reply)
Richard
R
<snip>
"Tom Kreutz" <kre...@princeton.edu> wrote in message
news:2fc9bd4f.02031...@posting.google.com...
otnmbrd
Richard wrote:
Ever give any thought to a Catboat?
Douglas King
> > > I'm looking for great sailboat for my two boys, 1ages 10 and 12, to
> > > learn to sail in comfortably (lake sailing, 10 x 3 mi). This boat
> > > will join our Rebel - a 700 lb, 16 ft sloop - which is too big for
> > > them to handle.
> > >
> > > Any thoughts?
The Laser Radial is probably the best pick. It's sporty and has a big
one-design class, you can get a full Laser rig and have fun with it
yourself, while the Radial rig doesn't require much muscle.
The Opti is too small for them already
Sunfish would also be a good pick, especially since it is so simple to rig;
but it also has a few handling quirks. It is probably the most bulletproof
of all the boats you've named.
The Zuma is a nice little boat. It's fairly stable and handles well, moves
along OK (although a Laser Radial will probably sail rings around it) and
has by far the best cockpit design of the bunch.
Force 5 has more horsepower than a full Laser, not good pick for kids.
>
>
> Richard wrote:
> > Toro, Toro, Toro. . .
That's a good pick too, although the boys will outgrow one sooner than a
Laser or Sunfish or Zuma.
>
>
>
> otnmbrd wrote:
> Ever give any thought to a Catboat?
A Beetle Cat would be perfect. But they're a rare beast outside their
native land.
I'd also suggest looking at one of the newer plastic boats, like the Laser
Pico. But any boat with a local class is going to be most fun, especially
if they also have kids sailing. Kids enjoy sailing more as a group
activity.
Fresh Breezes- Doug King
HappyYachts
olds can be getting to big. Optimist are very fustrating when you are to
big. The radial might be a little to much boat for yor kids, but the since
you will be lake sailing capsizing can be fun. When they grow, it is easy to
upgrade to the full rig. Either rig can be reefed by taking the top batten
out and rolling the sail on the mast. That is what we used to do before the
radial.
David Smalley
I "grew up" with a sunfish and still love them.
Jere Lull
>I'm looking for great sailboat for my two boys, ages 10 and 12, to
>learn to sail in comfortably (lake sailing, 10 x 3 mi). This boat
>will join our Rebel - a 700 lb, 16 ft sloop - which is too big for
>them to handle.
>
>Any thoughts?
>
Much as I like the Laser and prefer it as a boat, I think the Sunfish
is the way to go. Even the radial rig will be tough on little kids
(under about 100 pounds, I'm thinking) for a few years. There are lots
of other kids sailing Sunfish around, so they'll be more likely to have
fun racing, formally or informally.
The captain who introduced me to racing told me about her first ride on
a Laser when I bought mine. She'd been racing Sunfish for years and
borrowed a Laser for a local race. Capsized it MANY times in the first
lap. She just didn't have enough weight and strength to control the boat
in fresh conditions. She would have been tested in the Sunfish in those
conditions, but could have maintained control.
--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 sailing from Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ annotated pics) http://members.dca.net/jerelull/BVI.html