GP14 Sailing Forums Forum beginner

Tagged: 

Viewing 5 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • #5165
      Chris Hearn
      Keymaster

      I am starting sailing next season, l will be doing RYA courses to get me going, thats the easy bit, l am 6ft 4 and 130kg l have a budget of £1200,  and here comes the question is the GP14 a good boat for someone of my stature?  And much GP14 does my budget buy?  I hope to move on to racing,  as l live only 4 miles from the Solent and have been impressed by the club events throughout the whole season.

      Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks Roger

    • #5166
      Oliver Shaw
      Moderator

      I am quite sure that you will find that the GP14 is adequately matched to your stature.   Although that was an unusual height when the boat was originally designed it is much less unusual today,  and I have never heard of any regular dinghy sailor (of any height) finding that the boat is too small for their stature.    Indeed my godson is the same height as yourself,  and on the odd occasions when he has sailed with me he has never complained about the boat being too small.

       

      If you are intending to go on to racing,  you may indeed find your height a positive advantage.   A recent past President of the Association,   Ian Sinclair,  was fond of saying that the GP14 is a very easy boat to sail,  but a very difficult and demanding boat to sail really well (in top class competition).   It is of course that which makes the boat so rewarding to the racing sailor,  and which enables her to attract sailors of the very highest calibre to the class.   And as one of our youth sailors recently pointed out in an article in Mainsail,  by comparison with other classes racing in a GP14 requires much more technical skill,  which all adds to the interest.   And when it comes to the sheer physical effort of holding her plumb upright in a good blow,  your height and weight will give you an immense advantage.

       

      What can you get for £1200?      If you look around,  you should be able to find a very good older boat which you can bring up to a seriously good standard  –  particularly if you are prepared to specifically seek out a boat which is thoroughly sound but which will respond to some TLC,  and then put in that TLC .   I would suggest that before you buy you invest some time in perusing the adverts,  and indeed in going to view a few boats,  just to get a feel for what is available at your price;    don’t be in a hurry to buy,  but if you see an obviously good  one then snap her up.     Ten years ago I bought a 1979 wooden boat in sound condition and with good sails and cover and trailer,  but somewhat tired paint and varnish,  for £1000;   after some serious TLC over the winter I took her to the biggest event of the calendar the following year,  and several people complemented me on the boat and enquired whether she was new.   And in racing terms,  there have been a handful of cases of major Championships being won in seriously old boats.    So age is no barrier,  provided the boat is sound,  and provided you are prepared to give her some TLC.

       

      One other tip;  you will almost inevitably find that you want to spend something on the boat,  by way of improvements of one sort or another,  within the first few months of ownership;  as my chandler once said some years ago (when I had recently acquired that same GP14) when I commented that I seemed to be spending almost as much on chandlery as I paid for the boat,  “Welcome to the world of sailing!”    So don’t spend the whole of your budget on the initial purchase;   if you aim to buy for £1000 that will allow you another £200 on chandlery and personal kit.

       

      I am quite sure that you will find the GP14 an excellent choice,  but if you want good racing I would also suggest that you join a club which races them as a class;   that is far more satisfactory than handicap racing in a “menagerie” class.

       

      Beyond that;   enjoy!

       

       

      Oliver

       

    • #5167
      Chris Hearn
      Keymaster

      Thank you so much Oliver for all of the information l really appreciate your feedback a well balanced reply.

    • #16670
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      I am also here for something gain from you all my friends. Can i know how i start in this field because i like to also boating. I like to sales and purchase boats https://www.aussiewritingreviews.com/ because i like my own business even its little. Can i have any idea from your side friends?

    • #16672
      Oliver Shaw
      Moderator

      Weldon,

      Do I gather from the link that you quoted that you live in Australia?    If so,  and I appreciate that it is an enormous continent,  if you are in the right part of Australia you may find that the Western Australia Branch of the Class Association may be of help to you.   http://www.gp14.iinet.net.au

       

      Oliver

    • #16674
      Arthur
      Participant

      I cannot offer advice in sailing the GP at your stature, but at just under 6 foot myself, but only 85kg in weight, I can sleep aboard these boats. Granted mine is an older Series one, but still. There is more room on these boats than you might imagine. Especially if you drop something and have to spend time finding it.

Viewing 5 reply threads
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.