Discussion
texan said:
Can you still buy "Toppers", the little single sail dinghies?
Follow up question - could they hold one 200lb person?
Next follow up questions - can you buy them in the US or does anyone know a dealer that would ship to the US?
Yes, you can buy them - http://www.toppersailboats.com/Follow up question - could they hold one 200lb person?
Next follow up questions - can you buy them in the US or does anyone know a dealer that would ship to the US?
200lbs is on the heavy side for one though, I "grew" out of mine at about 110lbs! You'd be better off in a Laser if the purpose is to learn to sail, plus you can buy them in the US.
The Topper would not be fun to sail if you weigh 200lb.
You could just about do it but it would be slow, ponderous and uncomfortable on flat water and possibly unseaworthy in waves.
I weigh 180 lbs and learned to sail in a Topper so I know!
Go for a Laser instead - you will have much more fun!
You could just about do it but it would be slow, ponderous and uncomfortable on flat water and possibly unseaworthy in waves.
I weigh 180 lbs and learned to sail in a Topper so I know!
Go for a Laser instead - you will have much more fun!
Thanks for the advice all. I suspected I was probably a bit too heavy for a topper - last sailed one about 20 years and 75 pounds ago.
I'd thought about a Laser but thought it was bit complex when all I'm after is something that I can shove off the dock and pootle around in. I loved the simplicity of the toppers I sailed.
I hadn't noticed the other thread that's running regarding dinghies - they've got some really good advice on there. Looking at the Lasers they're not as complicated as I remember them to be.
I think I'll start looking at a Laser.
Thanks again!
I'd thought about a Laser but thought it was bit complex when all I'm after is something that I can shove off the dock and pootle around in. I loved the simplicity of the toppers I sailed.
I hadn't noticed the other thread that's running regarding dinghies - they've got some really good advice on there. Looking at the Lasers they're not as complicated as I remember them to be.
I think I'll start looking at a Laser.
Thanks again!
Lasers are no more complex than Toppers - just a bit bigger. They have a centre mainsheet arrangement which means your tacking and gybing techniques are slightly different, but still very easy.
Main difference apart from the size is that Toppers are made of soft plastic and Lasers of hard fibreglass.
They are much nicer to sail because they are so much more responsive.
Main difference apart from the size is that Toppers are made of soft plastic and Lasers of hard fibreglass.
They are much nicer to sail because they are so much more responsive.
Ayahuasca said:
Lasers are no more complex than Toppers - just a bit bigger. They have a centre mainsheet arrangement which means your tacking and gybing techniques are slightly different, but still very easy.
Main difference apart from the size is that Toppers are made of soft plastic and Lasers of hard fibreglass.
They are much nicer to sail because they are so much more responsive.
Almost all toppers run centre main now, only old ones who's owners probaly don't race are still main. Pity really, I liked rear main, always had a tendency to tack facing backwards!Main difference apart from the size is that Toppers are made of soft plastic and Lasers of hard fibreglass.
They are much nicer to sail because they are so much more responsive.
happygoron said:
Almost all toppers run centre main now, only old ones who's owners probaly don't race are still main. Pity really, I liked rear main, always had a tendency to tack facing backwards!
I used to sail both rear and centre main Toppers interchangeably, we had both in the family. I prefer the rear main arrangement, even though I learnt to sail in an Optimist with a centre main (aged 3). 'My' Topper was centre main, but my Mirror was rear main.The only real downside I saw with the rear main was after capsizing the main would often end up tangled around the rudder. Though with the centre main I tended to get tangled with it in a capsize. FYI, I used to capsize the Topper for fun, especially if I had a passenger! Then I would try for the scoop with the passenger, though that was much easier with the Mirror.
I raced all three, the Optimist, the Topper and the Mirror starting aged 4 in the Optimist. Fun times.
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