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Topic: Making the iso SEXY |
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Neil Ashby |
Posted: 02-Mar-08 16:10 |
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I read somwhere else on the forum that the iso team was looking to make the boat look a little sexier and attract more interest. Hence the new sails which i do agree bring the iso bang uptodate. Do we need to go a little further to re capture the classes favour with people and attract attention a bit like the I14's have done.
So what would people say to the following
Carbon mast
this would be considerably lighter and far more gust responsive with the new hyde sails but at a greater cost to the fleet with everybody having to change to race on the circuit, But they look good and are stronger.
Carbon or lighter foils
The weight of the daggerboard is just outrageous compared to modern boats, This would be a very easy item to replace with a lighter model, just use a 800 foil or similar from ovington boats like 59er, big strong points here we could have a slicker board in the water and potentially better boat speed.
Carbon Wings or racks
The wings are very heavy on the iso and not very aerodynamic, a carbon one again would be very easy to knock up and save considerable kilos, thou i do understand the weight of the wings is to equalise things a bit.
I think that the above could be a good way to attract attention and improve the performance of the boat all in one hit. Expense yes but it is a cheap boat allready.
How how about hydrofoils fitted , now we are talking 
Neil
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neilgbj |
Posted: 02-Mar-08 17:41 |
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Personally speaking it would result in a split in the fleet and not make the boat as easy to use as a good entry to this type of sailing. If you want all the other stuff buy and I14. I have found this fleet really friendly and helpful and that is where we need to keep the publicity etc focused.
Cheers
Neil 603 |
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Ian Moss |
Posted: 02-Mar-08 20:02 |
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The Hyde sails were a step in the right direction and one of the main reason the Hydes were chosen was price, and that they look so good.
There is alot more that can be done to make the ISO more sexy and there are mixed views from those who think it should be brought bang upto date with carbon bits and those who think it should stay a strict one class design as it was designed, like a laser (although even they have conceeded to creating the XD)
I think the boat should evolve to something in between and we should keep the momentum of change to retain the interest the boat has, and persuade others it a class of boat they want to sail?
A carbon mast may be a step too far at the moment but that doesn't mean the class shouldn't look into it and perhaps do some testing. I agree with lighter, and maybe reprofiled foils though?
The ISO is never going to compete with a more modern design skiff but the hull shape does have its advantages and the boat is by no means slow. Improving performance is not really considered a priority with the class, however looks, desirability, price, ease of sailing and availability of spares are areas the class feel are important to the future of the ISO.
Ultimately the Class association exists to represent the sailors so please let us know you opinions?
Ian Moss
ISO 1207
ISO Class Association Technical Chairman
[Edited by Ian Moss on 03-Mar-08 12:58] |
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Mark Allatson ISO685 |
Posted: 03-Mar-08 14:12 |
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I think we need to be careful about making the older boats uncompetitive - one of the reasons I bought an ISO was the relatively low cost of a second hand boat compared to some of the other similar classes. If you have to go out and buy a new mast, sails, other go faster equipment, etc. it may well put off potential newcomers.
One of the beauties of the ISO as far as I am concerned is that it is a relatively forgiving boat for inexperienced crews to sail and hence a good intro to asymmetric/trapeze sailing particularly with wide availability of boats for around £1k on the classifieds board.
I suppose what I am trying to say is that there are a wide variety of sexy new boats out there - but maybe the ISO has other advantages which they don't have.
Mark 685
[Edited by Mark Allatson ISO685 on 03-Mar-08 14:14] |
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graham_737 |
Posted: 03-Mar-08 17:05 |
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I think that the main reason for people wanting to modify the iso is to increase it's popularity. If everyone who bought these boats sailed them on the circuit and numbers were booming then there would be no need to modify it. It doesn't matter what the boat is like if everyone is sailing the same thing. The major problem with this class is simply the numbers at open meetings and nationals. It is no worse than a 4000 or 400 looks wise yet numbers are much lower than these classes. I cannot understand why.
If it was all down to how sexy the boat was then the I14's and moths would have huge turnouts. But if you look at the most popular classes (numbers wise) - Enterprise, RS 200, Mirror, Optimist ... None of these have really become more sexy as time goes by.
If anyone can say why no boats turn up to events (apart from the core group of about 8), then i'm sure members of the class would love to know.
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neilgbj |
Posted: 03-Mar-08 19:09 |
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I actually think there are a lot of generally good (older)sailors who have never sailed anything like an ISO and see such boats as a step too far.........I was'nt until I got out my enterprise aged 43 (and three quarters)and sailed a L4000 that I realised how good such boats are (ISO much better !). There are also a lot of younger sailors who can sail such boats but can't make their mind up about the best boat from the various choices....As stated above the boat looks as as good as anything at the Dinghy Show.......perhaps we just need to give it a bigger profile at our respective clubs (our Youth section have two Buzzes which all the kids enjoy) and get out winning some clubs races (especially beating the 4000s !)
Cheers
Neil |
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Neil Ashby |
Posted: 03-Mar-08 21:19 |
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It isnt just the iso fleet that suffers from a lack of numbers at opens, coming from 800 fleet an average turnout for an open was 25 boats , which for a class that is current in vogue and has the backing of rs is just useless really. Again nobody really knows why and being on the 800 committee we spent a lot of time being pro active but to not much avail.
Making the boat look sexy will only help people talking about the boat in the dinghy park and generate interest but may only result in a handful of boats at opens and the rest of the class will had to of splashed out 2-3k on new carbon bits.
Looks wise the iso with all 3 sails up looks the part and certainly goes well and has stood the test of time very well. There wont be many 800's around that are 10 years old !
The reason i have choosen an iso to sail, try to race, is the fact that is cheap. Bang for your buck is immense.
Out of interest how many iso sailors are on the database ofr do you have that log on to this forum board? or rather how many should there be?
also why are all the boats going to europe now as well? |
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Pete Lindley |
Posted: 04-Mar-08 18:14 |
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Regarding google map - you just fill your details out. ( I suppose I should delete Mark now )
The first ISO was 501, the latest ISO is 1207 and that is about 5 years old now ish?
Bang for buck yes. Looks are great now with the Hydes. The boat can still be sailed in winds gusting up to 38knots even with our flyweight pairing (Although you need a spare pair of pants afterwards!)
Incentives to get others on the circuit - a new thread required on the message board for that one. The Pro-Am is still going with RWO sponsored vouchers. Lloyd & Graham along with Bob & Luke both managed to rack up £80 worth of vouchers last year.
Boats going to Europe - well obviously we don't want them so why not? So long as the boats are being used then that must be the main thing? If there are no second hand ISO's over here, then Rondar will have to start building hulls - which I personally am looking forward to seeing!
Foils - would be a nice thing, but the keel is great for Annie and myself!
Pete |
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mmoncia |
Posted: 06-Mar-08 09:30 |
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Hi guys, I completely agree with what Ian Moss says...
a carbon mast would increase the cost much, I'm not sure if it would increase the number of active boats...
It would probably mean splitting the class in two, with the risk of lowering the numbers.
Having new and lighter foils would probably have lower impact, allowing people to replace bits with time...
Personally I joined the ISO because I liked the class (meaning people), and then because I found a excellent ratio price/value in the boat. I would say that topper never pushed in Italy to increase the numbers of boats,
now the people are really attracted by the grow of the class and the low prices, compared to boats with similar performance as the 4K.
Some 4K crews are thinking about selling their boat and buying an ISO, wich is something a few years ago nobody would have even considered here.
If the class wants to survive I think it should have a grow in mind... and this need to come through new hulls constructed.
I'm not a marine construction expert, I think some little changes are possible (like having some choices regarding where to put the fittings on the deck, expanding a bit the the hole where the gennaker comes from,...)and would make new boats more appealing still without giving too much advantage over older boats...
How many sailing school are using the ISO as training boat ? is there a return from having schools using it,...
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Nik719 |
Posted: 06-Mar-08 16:12 |
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Hi Marco,
there is a school at Bagnaja / Elba. They have an ISO. www.segelferien.de. In German only. But you can phone them. The have an Italian branch.
Gereon und Helga Verweyen
I-57037 Portoferraio
Bagnaia - Villa Marmori - Isola d'Elba
Telefon +39-0565 - 96 10 90
Telefax +39-0565 - 96 11 84
Web: www.segelferien.de
Nik
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Nik719 |
Posted: 06-Mar-08 16:32 |
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Making the ISO SEXY
look at this
http://ycder.free.fr/2007images/2007_images_skiffs_jg/001.jpg
http://ycder.free.fr/2007images/2007_images_skiffs_jg/002.jpg
Nik
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Pete Lindley |
Posted: 06-Mar-08 20:11 |
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Nice one Nik!
Longer tiller extension to help the helm trapeze flatter. Close the leach on the main, heel the boat over on top of you more and you are away.
Pete
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