On the Hunt For Speed...

Hi first post here, and i heard this forum is the best for people who want too learn about the dynamics of boats. As the title suggests i am a sailing speed fanatic. I am a high-school champion team racer coming from 420's and FJ sailing. I still love 420's, but i want to expand my horizons. I want to try some boats that are still dinghy class, or something smaller size. I LOVE going fast, and i really wanted a moth boat. But they are all made in the UK or austrailia or NZ. Also the cost like 20K and that is WAY out of my price range. I really want to get into foiling and mothing but i cant find a boat in the US. I know of the ninja series Moths, they are like 13K but the shipping from the UK to america is probably like 2billionquadrillion dollars. So my question to you, is what is a nice fast skiff type boat that hopefully foils and is available in the US?
I have looked for a used Moth, and i found them but they are all in the UK. So shipping would be really expensive.

Any input would help!
Angus--

 

If you haven't already contact US Moth class members here: http://www.int-moth.us/ I'm sure they'll help you but any fast boat will be expensive. Your best bet is a Moth-faster than any other small sailboat and still able to be homebuilt especially if you buy the foils. Talk to these guys.....
Or you could get a windsurfer or Kite board......
Also, consider posting the above on the Dinghy Anarchy forum on Sailing Anarchy-once you get thru the BS there you might actually get some help.

In the "Sailboats" forum here: http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/sailboats/moth-foils-31-1-knots-35-8-mph-11209.html Some good info despite the static....

 

I think there are "classic moth" fleets in the US, these can be home built and still be competitive because of the rule limitations. No foils allowed on the classic moth, but you might look into it as the next step. Also, you might see if you can crew on a i550 or catamaran class, those are fast and as crew you do not need to own it yourself.

The best way to go sailing is on someone else's boat!

Also, the one design Hobie classes are fast, and you can buy the cats used fairly cheap.

 

How about the International Canoe Class. Very fast, very challenging. It was fairly popular in North America when I was racing seriously (~25 years ago).

 

Or, the DN iceboat; I forgot that is my icon here.

 

Highly recommend the DN for exhilaration and good safe fun.

There should be clubs in your area.

 

so what if i were to try and build a hull, and buy the foils and masts, is there somebody else who had made one of these, a link would be awesome.
I also should say i have quite a bit or tools and am fairly good with composites. I have a vac bag and system, but have never built a boat or anything even like a boat. So should i even think about attempting something like that or should i just forget it.
Angus-

 

Welcome to the forum

As I am sure you already know, most deck gear is interchangeable from one dinghy to the next, as are booms. Even masts. I suspect the 420 and FJ use the same mast sections (maybe Proctor C?)

So the cheapest option is to buy an old dinghy from Craigslist and strip it for the rig and deck gear. You may even find the rudder/daggerboard useable on another boat. I just bought a complete Chrysler Mutineer (I think) for USD100 so I could get the rig and deck gear (I threw the hull away). I'll be using it on my new Strike 15 racing trimaran

Sails always cost money. The hull is always the cheap part if you build your own.

The first dinghy I built was a plywood Moth, a long time ago now. I know from having gone from "conventional" dinghies to a Moth that the learning curve is VERY steep, even though, like you, I thought I was a good sailor (I'd already won one UK National championships and was University of London dinghy champion). And a foiler is harder still to sail properly. If you search on line you'll find some Moth plans for free, built in plywood, it's a non foiler though.

My Moth inspired 14ft Stealth dinghy is an option of course

Richard Woods of Woods Designs

www.sailingcatamarans.com

 

hey Hippo, welcome to the forum
Moths have a comprehensive website with links for building, or take a look at the blog by Phil S who also posts here and SA. He has in the past shared his own plans and building instructions for older moth designs.

With an older style moth - i.e. low rider narrow moth, a bit of skill and a lot of imaginaiton and , you could cobble together a hull from tortured ply, use a windsurfer mast and make your own centreboard and rudder etc. The only bit you would pay real money for is the sail and running rigging. However with the foiling moths i think this would take quite some expertise and experience in foil and rig design along with top notch laminating skills. There are plenty of amateurs who have designed and built their own boats, but you will find they have years of experience and have learned the hard way.

I have only sailed scow moths a long time ago, but all I have heard suggests that the set up must be spot-on for a beginner to learn how to foil. Until you and the boat are both right you won't get 50 yards from the shore. But until you can afford that theres nothing wrong with learning the ropes in a skiff moth without foils.

As Doug says there are lots of moth threads on SA and they will all have different opinions, and that would be a good place to make contact with current foiling moth sailors
http://www.moth-sailing.org/imca/faces/HomeBuild.jsp

http://philsmoths.blogspot.co.nz/

Cheers, Jeff

 

So building is out of the question. How about any other boats that foil or are fast single hand skiffs. I have heard about a bout called the RS600 and RS300. I heard those foil. Any other boats that foil, or are fast?

 

The RS600 is an updated Contender. A lightweight singlehander with tube wings and trapeze. The RS300 is more like a Moth but very hard work to sail (I have sailed one). So it was not a commercial success as it was too extreme for most people. I doubt if anyone tried foils on it

A few people have fitted a foil to a RS600, you can see youtube videos

You might also look at the Musto Skiff and RS700

Richard Woods of Woods Designs

www.sailingcatamarans.com

 

Take a look thru this thread. Probably still the most up to date compilation of monohull foilers. The RS 600FF was conceived of as a monofoiler for heavy guys
but the class never took off in the UK. No boats in the US though you could contact RSUSA(if there still is one and ask). The only small monofoiler with retractable foils that make beach sailing practical. And the only singlehanded foiler with a trapeze....
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/sailboats/new-high-performance-monofoilers-25366-2.html

click on image: (top picture by Paul Wyeth)