just like every different boat design - wings have pros and cons
Pros
nice to have with good air
They are great for extra room
they rock for crew (with good air)
can aid in righting in some ways (i.e a place to stand for added leverage, and i have a hiking-strap on mine that can be stood on after a flip to get to anything on the tramp/deck)
Cons
They add a good deal of weight
they are not so easy to put on or take off the boat(solo)
they add a little time to boat set up, break down, cleaning and tarping
they can add to the job of righting a boat (extra weight and windage)
aftermarket wings are not cheap nor easy to find
even stock ones are often not optimally designed and many have/cause structural issues
my wing
my buddy zack on his mystere 5.5 with added wings
Edited by MN3 on Sep 30, 2015 - 08:53 PM.
MN3
Don't rule out the N20. Currently the best bang for the buck, and was designed as a spin boat. Plenty of them out there in your price range.
Philip
I've always been in two minds about wings. I've never actually sailed with them, but they do seem to have their benefits. On the other hand my view has always been skewed by the lack of adoption: they are pretty rare. Surely if they were so great everyone would be offering them in their line-up, with all kinds of after-market options?
Philip, that N20 looks like a bit of a handful singlehanded, no? I'd worry about getting that beast back upright by myself.
I agree I have wings for my Nacra 5.7 but I also love to trapeze so I'm torn. If you are going to do significant solo sailing the wings substantially simplify things because you can achieve the same counterbalance as trapesing by just sitting on the wings and hiking out.
Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2
If i only had 1 boat, with wings...
i would take them off for the light air season (late spring all summer) and put them on for the windier season (fall/early spring)
Dave as you can see my friend above. you can trap off the wings. I have been on a mystere 6.0 with 2 on the wire (off the wing), skipper on the wing ... it was a hoot!
That being said, I wouldn't allow that on my boat. too much weight and heavy air = broken parts (more often than appropriate weight in any air)
Edited by MN3 on Sep 30, 2015 - 08:51 PM.
MN3
I think the only reason I would go for wings is to increase my solo wind range, but certainly not as a substitute for trapping.
It's no harder to right then any of the other boats. It's more of a handful when racing single handed, not so much when recreation sailing.
Philip
OK, so here's where I think I am:
- First choice: N570/5.7. I love the simplicity of skeg hulls and no boom. These seem to be hard to find on the second-hand market though.
- Close second: Mystere 5.5. Lots of good local support and more availability, although a little harder to find parts.
- If none of those, then probably a daggerboard boat which opens up a whole new pile of research (N5.8, P18, H18 etc.)
When it comes down to it it will be all about what's available and the condition of the hulls - sails I'm not so fussed about since they are easily replaced.
We just put in an offer on a house today, so fingers crossed! Then my SeaRay Bowrider goes on the market to fund the cat. Anyone need a power boat? π
Good luck with everything (the house, the power-boat, the cat, etc)
i sent you a Private Message with my contact info if you have any questions about the boats i have, or the local area / sailing area
sjbrit wrote: OK, so here's where I think I am:
- First choice: N570/5.7. I love the simplicity of skeg hulls and no boom. These seem to be hard to find on the second-hand market though.
- Close second: Mystere 5.5. Lots of good local support and more availability, although a little harder to find parts.
- If none of those, then probably a daggerboard boat which opens up a whole new pile of research (N5.8, P18, H18 etc.)
When it comes down to it it will be all about what's available and the condition of the hulls - sails I'm not so fussed about since they are easily replaced.
We just put in an offer on a house today, so fingers crossed! Then my SeaRay Bowrider goes on the market to fund the cat. Anyone need a power boat? π
MN3