Topaz vs Pico - Opinions

[Mark Bluemel]

I'm thinking of getting a small dinghy for my younger children (11 and
13) to use in the coming year. If I'm going for a simple 2-sail
configuration, do people have opinions on whether the Topper Topaz or
the Laser Pico is the better boat - in terms of build quality,
robustness and usability.

My 19-year old son, just back from a summer on the Med doing dinghy
instructor work reckons the Topaz is the better of the two. I'd be
interested in others' opinions.

Mark
--
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and sounds like a duck ...
It probably needs a little longer in the microwave
Mark Bluemel
http://www.bluemel.org.uk Tel: +44 (0) 23 80 679 870

[TonyB]

"Mark Bluemel" <mark_b...@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:ap1mt9$qq1t0$1...@ID-126583.news.dfncis.de...

> We use a Taz at our club and it's fine, except build quality with regard
to the rudder fixing - it's almost impossible to get it off - I'm told this
might have been fixed on later models but check. No experience of
Pico -sorry.
TonyB>

[Paul Davis]

My wife and I sailed both boats in the Med over the last couple of years and
eventually bought a new Topaz Race in Sep last year. My wife races it in
the Solent; we are both very pleased with it.

Regards

Paul

"Mark Bluemel" <mark_b...@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:ap1mt9$qq1t0$1...@ID-126583.news.dfncis.de...

[Mick]

There are 6 Topaz at my club, sailed by people of all abilities, mostly
mature men(!). The Topaz has one great advantage- it can be upgraded as your
abilities improve up to single trapeze and battened main, also asymmetric
spinnaker.
I have sailed both, the Pico felt a little slower to me. The upgtade path
is important, kids always want to go faster. Nothing has broken on mine in
100+ hours of sailing in all weathers, but you need to check the various
screws over for tightness every few trips.
I would recommend one to anyone.

Mark Bluemel <mark_b...@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:ap1mt9$qq1t0$1...@ID-126583.news.dfncis.de...

[computer]

If you are looking for modern dinghy which not tied to one of the two
monopoly sailing companies like topper or laser, and for a boat in between a
mirror and a 420, I can highly recommend the flight marine T33, this is what
a proper boat of this size should be like, + it has a canting asso
pole!http://flightmarine.net/T33.html

I reckon if they can market this boat to a high enough quality in the right
way, they are on a wining formula.

Good luck

Stephen--
www.yachtinguniverse.com daily in depth sailing news.
Sponsoring www.jakejefferis.com & www.ransbyoceanchallenges.com

Mark Bluemel <mark_b...@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:ap1mt9$qq1t0$1...@ID-126583.news.dfncis.de...

[Carl Meade]

I've only hired both boats, and only a topaz recently, so can't speak
about build quality.

Something which hasn't been mentioned is the topaz is quite a bit
bigger than a pico. At 11 and 13 they could probably appreciate the
extra space in a topaz and in a couple of years would probably find
crewing a Topaz quite uncomfortable. A lady at our club crewed for her
daughter in a pico, for a two handed boat only series, and did not
enjoy the experience at all. I have sailed with another adult on a
topaz and while it was a little cramped to crew it was quite
acceptable.

Carl

[Mick]

Or you could always save money and buy a Mirror dinghy.
computer <stephen...@spamntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:_68t9.818$PE.5...@newsfep2-win.server.ntli.net...

[mike]

"Mark Bluemel" <mark_b...@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:ap1mt9$qq1t0$1...@ID-126583.news.dfncis.de...

> I'm thinking of getting a small dinghy for my younger children (11 and
> 13) to use in the coming year. If I'm going for a simple 2-sail
> configuration, do people have opinions on whether the Topper Topaz or
> the Laser Pico is the better boat - in terms of build quality,
> robustness and usability.

snip

We have a Topaz and have sailed Pico's on holiday;
Topaz is my preference:
sails better, faster and much more rewarding,
build quality a bit better, although Pico not bad;
probably more expensive though,
both robust,
and opportunity to uprate to bigger rig, trapeze and assy spi etc
Mike

[Chris (floaty thing) Albania]

Carl Meade <carl_...@talk21.com> wrote in message
news:bd9ef93b.0210...@posting.google.com...

> I've only hired both boats, and only a topaz recently, so can't speak
> about build quality.
>
> Something which hasn't been mentioned is the topaz is quite a bit

> bigger than a pico(snip)

I cannot make comparisons having not experienced a Topaz, however as an
adult (5'9) I found the pico very cramped and uncomfortable, especially in
light airs where you can't sit out to straighten the back.

Chris Floaty Thing

[Velvet]

"Chris (floaty thing) Albania" <chris...@NOSPAMntlworld.com> wrote in
message news:jSit9.2$mf2....@newsfep2-win.server.ntli.net...

> >
> I cannot make comparisons having not experienced a Topaz, however as an
> adult (5'9) I found the pico very cramped and uncomfortable, especially in
> light airs where you can't sit out to straighten the back.
>
> Chris Floaty Thing
>

5'3 here and felt it fit fine, although it will be interesting to see how
small it feels after sailing the Laser 2000... though unless the torrential
rain stops sometime soon and we have a nice sunny day I feel the comparison
won't be made till spring at this rate.

Velvet

[Carl Meade]

Size of pico/topaz

I'm 5'7" and 12.5 stone. I find the topaz a little uncomfortable but
certainly bearable to sail in light airs. It is a long time since I
sailed a Pico but I guess I would be a bit worse.

I original post was about children sailing it 2 up. While a topaz is
OK for a medium adult to helm (and say a small adult or teenager on a
Pico). The space for the crew is very limited on a Pico, your 11 year
old might just about be OK now but there is very little growing room.
A topaz will give more comfort now and more growing room.

I have crewed a Topaz and found it fine except when gybing as there
was very little space to get accross the boat with the daggerboard up.

Plenty of places have both picos and topaz for hire let your kids try
them out (assuming they have sailing experiance already) and see which
they prefer. You may also be able to try them from friends, class
associations or the manufacturers.

If buying new you can usually get good deals at the boat shows
(Outdoors in Glasgow, London has a couple and I think there is one in
Birmingham).

[Mark Bluemel]

"Mark Bluemel" <mark_b...@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:ap1mt9$qq1t0$1...@ID-126583.news.dfncis.de...

> I'm thinking of getting a small dinghy for my younger children (11 and
> 13) to use in the coming year. If I'm going for a simple 2-sail
> configuration, do people have opinions on whether the Topper Topaz or
> the Laser Pico is the better boat - in terms of build quality,
> robustness and usability.
>
> My 19-year old son, just back from a summer on the Med doing dinghy
> instructor work reckons the Topaz is the better of the two. I'd be
> interested in others' opinions.
>

Thanks for all the helpful responses.

Given a) constraints on the budget, b) that they will normally be
sailing solo (the deal is one sails on their own while the other comes
in the Kestrel with me) and c) that they are already familiar with (and
fond of) Picos from our sailing club Youth Week, I've plumped for an
ex-sailing school (but only one season!) Pico.

If I had the budget to buy new, I'd probably look long and hard at the
new RS Feva which is the RS entry into this market, and looks promising.

Mark

[spu02je]

Topaz- no way, they are not very well built, recently in a force 6 at Dover
Harbour we sailed them and we had to collect the remaining shackles and
sheets in a black bag, together with ripping the jib. I suggest the Pico.

Ebby

"Mark Bluemel" <mark_b...@pobox.com> wrote in message
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