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Topic: Spares / rules / sails |
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charl_eng |
Posted: 24-Nov-06 12:39 |
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¡§5.3. All replacement sails, sail battens, spars rudders and dagger boards may be obtained only from a manufacturer licensed to distribute unique BOSS equipment ¡§
¡§4. Deviation from the Official Drawings and Specifications
Only the following optional items are permitted:- ¡¨
Regarding the above rules¡K
„h Does the Boss class currently have a licensed sail maker? Are Sobstad still making sails?
„h Does anyone have a copy of the official drawings/specs? Do they still even exist?!!
„h Are Topper still the copyright holder?
„h How do owners check what can/cannot be done to their boats regards fittings and systems, as there have been many variations? e.g. Aft mainsheet, what are the limitations on this¡K
Or, are all rules queries now subjected to:
¡§ 1.3. The Committee of the BOSS Class Association, in consultation with the Copyright Holders (maybe minus this bit), shall be empowered to apply their own interpretation of a Class Rule, pending ratification at a subsequent AGM according to the constitution. ¡§
If there is no longer a license holder, licensed manufacturer of sails, official specs/drawings is there anything to stop people getting sails made to the same size similar shape, different material by any sail maker (potentially cheaper) and using them at boss events?
My thinking here is that my mast head kite is nearly dead, would there be any objection to me using either a second hand I14 or 49er kite (cheap replacement in comparison to buying new!) if either of them fitted the pole/mast/luff length ratio, at Boss events next year?
Interested to here anyone¡¦s/the committees take on the above questions, and also how are people sourcing parts? Seems silly to buy spares at a greater value than the original boat!
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Pork_pie_eater |
Posted: 24-Nov-06 14:15 |
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A lot of questions, but here are a few answers.
As far as I know, Topper still hold the copyright, although there's been some to-ing and fro-ing on this recently. The approved sailmaker is still Sobstad, and although they are not supposed to supply direct, we bought ours directly from them, and very good they are too - since they ironed out the bugs from making them in China.
I can understand the desire to use old I14 or 49er kites, but I think it would not be fair to use them in competition, apart from the legality issue.
I think you can still find a copy of the rules somewhere on this site, but if not, I'm sure someone's got them on disk.
I agree on the spares front, but touch wood, most bits do last reasonably well, and the strings are normally the only bits that get replaced. I think you can get some spares through Graham Eeles.
The rear mainsheet system is street legal, but if you have a hoop, I suggest you think carefully - the difference in speed is negligible, and easily swamped by differences in boat-handling. Only go for the rear sheeting if you have a violent preference for two sticks, or you regularly sail a 9er too.
I agree that the rules and general class situation is a little depressing, but moving away from what is a good one-design will not help anyone |
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Diederik Schuuring |
Posted: 24-Nov-06 20:26 |
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Sobstad indeed offers sails for the following prices:
Thank you for enquiry, the prices of the Boss sails are as stands:
Mainsail: £657.00
Jib: £280.00
Asymmetric: £555.00
All excluding VAT, We are at present offering a 10% discount for delivery in March |
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Olly |
Posted: 26-Nov-06 17:39 |
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Charlie I think you have a point. Being a boat that has all of the bits conversion wise but no mast head kit and not alot of money to buy a new one I think using the I14 or 49er kites is a good idea. We have to start allowing things like this to try and build the reputation of the class back up to what it should be which is a great boat with bags of potential.
We need to find some way of obtaining the rights to the boat and bring in some rules that say that you can use other kites within reason. |
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charl_eng |
Posted: 27-Nov-06 16:20 |
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Currently all the rules do is to refer to the 'official spec'. It would be good to see some guidlines stating what is or isn't allowed.
May be one way of allowing class specific equipment to last longer - thinking here about kites (but not only kite) which don't last forever if you sail sat and sunday every weekend - would be for the class to allow other kites for non class racing ie at club level, general open meetings? There should be no significant speed difference as any advantage they may have due to their shape, they would loose by being a smaller area. |
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Nick M |
Posted: 27-Nov-06 22:52 |
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I think we will find the 49er kite will not fit, alot smaller and flatter so wont work on the boss, and the int 14 kite probably will have the same problem! However i have been lookin at kites on the No. 1 rig of 12ft skiffs and believe them to be of very similar shape and size to the boss mast head, but prices are similar! Back at square 1.... might as well buy the boss kite!!!
Anyone goin to be at datchet during the coming weekends? |
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Olly |
Posted: 28-Nov-06 10:57 |
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Nick ,
I will have a chat to charlie and see if he wants to take a trip to datchet. I think Iain will if he is off so there is a possible 2. Not sure when it will be though
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