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Cestrian
Starting Member
8 Posts |
 Posted - 10/10/2008 : 07:16:47
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OK... Interesting one and am likely to get shot down straight away but listen me out
Is the enterprise a dieing class, obvious looking at the popularity you would say no straight away but then think,... most enterprise sailors are of the older (no offense but am probably bordering on that myself aswell) and the class doesn't seem to attract the younger crowds on mass, they seem to want to go play with spinnakers etc.. I personaly think the Enterprise is a fantastic inland boat however, feel there is something missing. What happened to the National E (Lazy E to some) that was meant to replace the Enterprise, I know it's popular in Oz but has died a death over here. Why?? Was it simply to big? It had a lot going for it, more comfortable, powerful rig, trapeze for those of us more athletic, spinny. Look at the other boats comparable to the old Ent. Lark and GP14, both have Spinnies (well more like hankies but all the same). The Ent is a great boat without (unlike the GP14 which is a heavy shed without, not sure on the Lark) a spinnaker but with them they are fun and you don't have to race with a spinny and proves that you don't need a trapeze to handle one. But that aside the Ent is a fab boat, bruises aside.
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spreyer
Starting Member
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2008 : 07:27:21
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To some extent I agree with Cestrian but....
Whilst the Ent does not seem to have the appeal that a 29'er or RS class (to name a few) has for the younger up and coming sailors, it is still has the strengths of being a simple boat to rig and sail for the novice sailer and makes a good choice to learn to sail in for young and old alike.
Having said that though, for the experienced sailor it still has sufficient qualities to make it a competitive boat and one worth thinking about for serious competition. Attention to rig tuning etc still gives experienced sailors something to adjust for performance. The fact and Ent can still compete against the latest GPs and some other modern classes only shows how good the Ent design truely is. You only have to look at who is sailing an Ent to see the class is still very active and will be for some time. So some would say to that why change a winning formula?
But can we improve it? Yes I beleive we can, but without changing the one design radically. Carbon fibre rigs have already been mentioned, Kevlar sails another (and just look at the differance they make to the Graduate class these days!). What about open footed main sails perhaps? We are now trialing fly away jib poles.
Changes in these types of details should improve the performance of the ENT without detracting from the much loved design we have come to know and love. Like many I'd hate to see the boat change beyond recognition like some classes but I'm sure given the right treatment the Enterprise could evolve into a boat for the future and not one many see as an old design fading into the past. If the Ozzies can do it for the Lazy E.....
Steve
Chester Sailing & Canoeing Club
22821 |
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Cestrian
Starting Member
8 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2008 : 07:16:34
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| I agree that a more modern rig would make the enterprise perform better, however what being suggesting is probably too radical a change. If you intorduce a c/f rig or kevlar, loose footed sails I feel you are too drasticaly changing the ent and will alienate allot of the following it currently has, as you would overnight make their boat/pride and joy uncompetative and you would make the ent class into a bit of an 'arms (£££) race' which I am glad it isn't (possibly even creating a removed class). I would suggest something you could add to the ent to give it an extra dimension at the upper levels but not something that which changes the basic ent. At a novice level a Lark or a GP can go without spinny? It would keep the simplicity but add an extra challenge at a higher level. I am sure that the ent class would attract/keep more top class helms than it already has if it did |
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snettbish
Starting Member
13 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2008 : 16:20:45
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I agree that allowing carbon fibre spars and kevlar sails, whilst it might improve performance, it is unlikely to really bring new blood into the class and might be counter productive by driving up the cost of competative sailing.
One of the positive attractions for the Enterprise is that secondhand craft need not cost a lot and can be reasonably competative. This puts the emphasis on the ability of the crew and less on the depth of thier pocket.
This makes it attractive for those of us who cannot afford the nice shiny new plastic boats such as the Laser 2000.
I suspect that what the class really needs is some good PR to sell its excellent good points.
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enterprisenw
Steve 21350
United Kingdom
40 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2009 : 18:07:18
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i like it the way it is. i haven't got loads of money for all the changes. its one of the classes were you can buy a boat for £800 pounds or so and be competitive. I would be nice to see a hybrid though. full carbon and so on. just a one off.
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Cestrian
Starting Member
8 Posts |
Posted - 01/30/2009 : 07:46:46
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I wouldnt entertain the idea on a hybrid, wouldn't be that interested. You cant change the fabric of what the ent is which is a two person, hiking dinghy. If you are going to intorduce a carbon mast you may aswell put a hydrofoil underneath it (interesting image that brings to mind) I was suggesting more like fly away jib poles (easy, cheap to diy retrofit)etc..... things that help to sail and ent better that aren't 'speed obsessed' changes. Maybe a spinny to help compete with the GP14 in a blow however the more I look into this the more the deck stepped mast worries me.
I am not a great fan of GRP as think is awful or even FRP as it doesn't last. My ent is a good 30 years old, would like to see a GRP or even a FRP in the future which is still in such good condition. |
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enterprisenw
Steve 21350
United Kingdom
40 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2009 : 13:45:32
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| You've hit the nail on the head. |
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E22132
Starting Member
United Kingdom
2 Posts |
Posted - 02/23/2009 : 15:20:35
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Any big changes which dramatically improve performance would surely have an affect on the PY number. There are a huge number of sailors of all ages out there for whom the Enterprise is perfect. You come across people with a Lark, 420 or even a GP14 who want to get into racing but who are intimidated by their spinnaker and therefore dont use it. I tell them they should buy an Enterprise.
It is a fairly unique design, which is critical for it's future survival. If we need a spinny to compete with GP14's then we buy a GP14. |
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Paul Holdsworth
Starting Member
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 02/24/2009 : 06:16:41
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Agree with E22132. The Ent is a simple boat that is fiendishly difficult to sail well (hehehe!) Why add complication and expense? I would have found a boat with a spinnaker or assymetric too intimidating to start racing in. With an Ent the emphasis is on strategy and tactics as well as handling, and the close-quarter stuff that is Ent home territory is both very exciting and great for honing racing skills.
If a simple set-up works for Lasers, why not for Ents? |
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Can the Enterprise be made better
