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H4B

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Next boat Sunfast 3200?

Should I, could I ?? sell my 'optimised' Westerly Fulmar and buy a Sunfast 3200. Would the extra fun really be worth the £50 K ++ that such a change would involve?

Thought about it last year but didn't , It's that time of year again!
 
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Magaz97 said:
I would be more interested in what you have done to 'optimise' your Fulmar!
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Decent sails, fully battened large roach main, tri laminate no2 genoa , A2 &A5 assymetric with SELDEN bowsprit giving 1200mm out front. Flexofold 2 bladed prop. New winches and spinlock clutches.
 
A profound question. Should he go bigger? Generally increase of the enjoyment of a boat does not directly follow increase in the cost of purchase and keeping of a bigger boat.
However this is not a simple rule. If you have a tiny boat and don't use it or can't get the family on it then you may get vastly more pleaure from something that suits them. Comfort certainly increases with size and weight. So only OP will know if a bigger boat is worth 50k. One thing for sure you will not get a deceent return on what you have spent. good luck olewill
 
William_H said:
A profound question. Should he go bigger? Generally increase of the enjoyment of a boat does not directly follow increase in the cost of purchase and keeping of a bigger boat.
However this is not a simple rule. If you have a tiny boat and don't use it or can't get the family on it then you may get vastly more pleaure from something that suits them. Comfort certainly increases with size and weight. So only OP will know if a bigger boat is worth 50k. One thing for sure you will not get a deceent return on what you have spent. good luck olewill
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Not bigger , same size , just faster!
 
H4B said:
Not bigger , same size , just faster!
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Well, with this answer "Decent sails, fully battened large roach main, tri laminate no2 genoa , A2 &A5 assymetric with SELDEN bowsprit giving 1200mm out front. Flexofold 2 bladed prop. New winches and spinlock clutches.", no doubt you are a speed freak! If this is what you really like, go ahead. Only question, will the 50K+ include all these additions to your current boat or you will have to spend another 50K (OK maybe less)?
 
The Sunfast is an entirely different animal.If that's what you really want the Fulmar will never satisfy you.I wouldn't trade mine for a Sunfast but that's me.
 
30boat said:
The Sunfast is an entirely different animal.If that's what you really want the Fulmar will never satisfy you.I wouldn't trade mine for a Sunfast but that's me.
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I agree - the Fulmar is a capable offshore fast cruiser whilst the Sunfast looks like a giant dinghy to me. However you obviously love your sailing and tweaking the boat to get every extra ounce of boat speed.

I think the Fulmar is a great compromise between sailing performance and comfort but can see the Sunfast looks great fun. If you mostly day sail then go for it - if you like cruising then stick with the Fulmar.
 
H4B said:
Decent sails, fully battened large roach main .....
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I know what a decent sail can do for these older Westerly's. Around 25 years ago we bought our previous boat, a tired Westerly Pentland. I did not know anything about boats then and just bought her on a whim as she was the only boat for sale in our marina that we liked the look of. I soon discovered how slow she was so got a gorgeous new VERY roachy fully battened main. It totally transformed her and many times we gave other boats a shock. Sailing out in the Irish Sea we would come across a plastic fantastic and start to try to race it (as you do). We could give much faster boats a good run and the other boat would try harder and harder to sail away from our ugly old duckling - very satisfying :)
 
If you are looking for a one trick pony, then yes.

The Sunfast will shock you just how quick they are. Look at racing results to see....

However, they do have an interior of sorts, not like previous generation race boats.

Did I say they were fast?
 
Unusual question given the different boats. It seems to me that it's like asking "shall I change my LandRover Freelander for a Volkswagen Scirocco?". Different vehicles for different purposes surely? So it depends on what you want to do with it.

rob
 
Robih said:
Unusual question given the different boats. It seems to me that it's like asking "shall I change my LandRover Freelander for a Volkswagen Scirocco?". Different vehicles for different purposes surely? So it depends on what you want to do with it.

rob
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Good analogy.

When I bought the Fulmar I hadn't really considered racing but am now some 8 seasons later I am rather keen (So we've optimised what we had, as described and we have a lot of fun). I would like to do more in the next few years and some short handed stuff. The Fulmar would do it but it's a bit behind the fleet these days with IRC, probably class4 . I just like the look of the Sunfast 3200

I have never regretted buying the Fulmar, it's a great club all rounder and it will almost certainly be the class that I would return to one day if I ever change, but I'm not the sort of chap who easily trades stuff that I have lavished attention upon. If I could put her away in a barn for 5-6 years find another 100k then the job would be sorted but let's get in the real world!
 
H4B said:
Good analogy.

When I bought the Fulmar I hadn't really considered racing but am now some 8 seasons later I am rather keen (So we've optimised what we had, as described and we have a lot of fun). I would like to do more in the next few years and some short handed stuff. The Fulmar would do it but it's a bit behind the fleet these days with IRC, probably class4 . I just like the look of the Sunfast 3200

I have never regretted buying the Fulmar, it's a great club all rounder and it will almost certainly be the class that I would return to one day if I ever change, but I'm not the sort of chap who easily trades stuff that I have lavished attention upon. If I could put her away in a barn for 5-6 years find another 100k then the job would be sorted but let's get in the real world!
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Why not keep the Fulmar and get an SB20 (ex SB3) or similar for a bit of a blast occasionally - best of both worlds?
 
I thought Yachting Monthly chose the Sunfast as their crash test boat on the grounds that it was so horrible that nobody would object to them destroying it?
 
H4B said:
Not bigger , same size , just faster!
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OK sorry I am not familiar with either boat. Certainly only you will know if speed racing is worth 50K. I would respect either decision yae or nea.
I bought my little boat 34 years ago and was so fortunate that it is actually a good performer. I have raced it in club racing now for 30 seasons. I find now it is myself that is not up to performance not the boat. Both SWMBO and I have made a lot of good friends and found a lot of satisfaction in club life and racing. Contrary to many opinions on the forum. She in race management me in race management rescue boat driving training and actual racing. Indeed we havee both been made honorary life members so there is no escape anyway.
So yes it is very likely you will get 50k pleasure out of a faster boat. Or alternatively the Viper design is popular here, a UK design I think, that might give you the thrills at a lower price such that you cna keep the Fulmar. good luck olewill
 
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