Bolero

[sophie4]

Do any of you helpful folk have any experience of these boats. I'm looking for something of around this size/price for evening club racing, eg. Sonata, GK25, Eygthene , Foxhound etc, but specifically the Bolero. Any opinions gratefully recieved. Cheers.

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[Twister_Ken]

Used to be a very competitive small race boat, but never sold big numbers in the way that the Sonata did. But it was a faster boat. Ravel's ( Sue and Alan Taphouse, I think) used to clean up in the smaller JOG class about 20 years ago.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Georgio]

if you can put up with a lack of headroom go for a GK24. Seriously quick for the size (I over take most boats up to 30ft), strong and cheap. quite a few of them were built so you have a number to chose from with prices ranging from 6-9k. If you look in the back of the sailing mags you can normally see one or two for sale.

pm me if you would like more specific info.

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[Davy_S]

A couple of these are raced at B&FYC, I think one is for sale at £5000 ish. but it is very basic inside. They seem to sail very well.

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[PIGLETSDREAM]

Trapper 300 are cheap lots of them and quick

<hr width=100% size=1>Must go, Matron is coming

 

[pft]

The Bolero was a David Thomas one design 1/4 tonner - at 25 foot long it is slightly longer than the other boats you mention.
The Sonata was a David Thomas one design mini tonner (1/8 tonner).
Under IRC (will your club be using Portsmouth Yardstick though for club racing?) I would say the Bolero is more competitive than the others in the list, Boleros still win many races, and are a well mannered boat with good windward performance.
Purple Haze is a wooden prototype version of the Bolero (slightly different hull shape), and was 6th in her class in the RTI. Tsunami is a standard GRP Bolero with a slightly taller rig. and was 13th in her class RTI. (classes 11 and 12 IRC)
All these boats are quite old now - there will be many tatty examples about - the prices will vary accordingy.
If you did go for a GK24 then the fractional examples were considered to be quicker round the race course than the masthead ones.
I dont know of a successful Eythgene, (ducks quickly)..........incidentally did you know that the name is supposed to be pronounced "Eighteen" cos they were supposed to rate 18 feet under the old IOR rule!
I would guess that you are more likely to find a tidy Sonata than any of the others, just because loads were built - Sonata sails will be cheaper too.
I would suggest Bolero or Sonata would be a good choice for club racing.

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[claymore]

that may be Carmen? hmm - hard life I think. I'd not give more than 3K for that.
Boleros were really popular a few years ago - if you are consideraing a Sonata you'll get more chance of fleet racing and as another poster points out they'll be cheaper to run than a Bolero.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>regards
Claymore<font color=purple>
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[AndrewB]

I raced in a Bolero a couple of times a while back. Very competitive, it would certainly be my preference over a Eygthene or Foxhound. Sonata and GK24 are also good - have to confess ignorance of a GK25.

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[Davy_S]

No not Carmen! Its the mad Scotsmans boat I was thinking of. Rab c nesbit. Its not a boat I would buy. Know who i mean now?

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[claymore]

Hmm
I think that one has got to the point of how much will he pay someone to take it - very sad

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Claymore<font color=purple>
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[Aeolus_IV]

My Sister and Brother-in-law recently bought a Sonata for what I thought was a good price. This seems un-reasonably quick in the light/medium stuff. Have sailed in it once, good fun, very like dinghy racing. Naturally it is basic inside, but for round the cans racing it is hard to find any fault with it.

IMHO. Regards, Jeff.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://users.swing.be/FDB/centurion/index2.html>Centurion 32 Web site</A>

 

[Mirelle]

Used to crew for a friend, very keen racing type, who completed a Bolero from mouldings. Jolly nice boat; very quick, nice manners. Ideal for what you want but quite capable of longer races too. Recommend highly.

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

 

[PeteMcK]

There are a few club racing up here on the Clyde (including the same Ravel's?). The local CYCA handicap puts them on more or less the same as the Sadler and Contessa 32s and our Moo 33: it works out much the same under IRC. They can hold their own against the heavier boats up to F6+. I've had plenty opportunity to see them at close quarters and they seem to stand up to a wide range of conditions better than many other light displacement boats: impressive, even.

Bear in mind they have runners.

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[sven]

Re: Centurion 32

Dear Sir!
I am refurbishing my Centurion 32 from 1973. Will remove the old Volvo Penta MD2B. Was recomended to ask you for advice on howe to get it out without having to "take the boat apart"?.
Regards
Sven Janssen, Norway

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