Looking at selling my Platu 25 and looking around and like the look of the Viper.
Are there any for sale in uk?
How do they perform in a mixed PY handicap fleet?
Paul Young (Rondar) knows of one needing a lot of work in Wales and so you could give him a ring.
We sail out of Cowes in hull no. 79 and as far as we know are the only Viper racing in the country (at present!).
All our racing is under handicap on the Solent. We have a Sportsboat rating @.883 and IRC rating @ 1.002 . Both seem about right particularly if there is a planing breeze and we rang the bell several times last season. The boat is a dream, don't hesitate, buy one.
We are struggling for crew for the Platu 25 and are looking for a 3 person boat, we are all dinghy sailors so don't mind getting a bit wet.
How does it compare to a SB3?
Cheers
Neil
The SB3 is a very different boat.
Twice the weight (685kg) it makes a much larger hole in the water and planes later. There are plenty on the Solent and we never have a problem getting past them.
If you are dinghy sailors go for the Viper which performs like a well behaved 21' Merlin Rocket without the swimming. The rig works well and will be familiar to you also a shute that works smoothly for the kite which is not far off masthead.
Strangely enough you don't get so very wet in a Viper as spray tends to go underneath, we sail in oilies which are very comfortable on the wide decks.
Could you leave it on a fairly sheltered mooring.
Cheers
Neil
Yes it will sit on a well sheltered mooring fine. You would need to leave the rudder in and the keel down. We leave ours out off Yarmouth on a swinging mooring overnight from time to time and no problem.
Definetly looking for a new boat and the Viper sound ideal but doesn't seem to be any available in UK, which is a pity as I think it would be great fun.
Can't afford a new one as the budget only goes to ?10,000 but I will keep looking.
It may have to be an RS Elite or SB3.
Corms
that boat in wales is at my club. It has recently been dragged out of the undergrowth and put back onto the trailer. I think it still needs some work but it might get on the water soon.
Dont submit to the sp3
Quote from: corms on June 27, 2009, 04:55:44 PM
Definetly looking for a new boat and the Viper sound ideal but doesn't seem to be any available in UK, which is a pity as I think it would be great fun.
Can't afford a new one as the budget only goes to ?10,000 but I will keep looking.
It may have to be an RS Elite or SB3.
Corms
Corms, ?10,000 = $16,500 dollars here. You can buy and AWESOME boat for 17K (hull#42) and ship it back. Not sure on Return Ro-Ro, but I think it runs 50% of the cost to get them here. Check with Ship companies specializing in Jaguar delivery to the USA.
There's several tin-rig boats here running 10-12,000 USD. You can easily buy a SuperSpar Viper rig there and you're up and running.
You REALLY need to contact Paul at Rondar about this.
I hate to see you sailing a leadmine (SB3) if you're the slightest bit of a dinghy guy. You'll get frustrated.
Anything I can do to help, let me know.
I agree the SB3 was nothing but disappointment for me. It looked like fun but didnt compare one bit with the Viper. I also sailed the Melges20 (probably out of everyone's price range) and the Viper was still better in every aspect of sailing.
I'm surprised you can get an SB3 over there that cheap. The Viper is made right in the UK so it has to be way cheaper for you than it is for us in America. It runs 33,000 USD which is 19,900 british pounds. (i'm not a currency genius here so let me know if i'm wrong) and that is paying for the shipping overseas.
Ah but he has to pay VAT at 15% which stings! The average US tax is about 6% right??
New one in the UK comes in about ?19,000 including VAT with all the accessories.
I don't think the wife would let me spend this amount, especially when she wants a new kitchen.
The more I read about the Viper, the more it seems the perfect boat, I have thought about importing but had a bad experience when I took in a Megabyte from the US. I don't know enough about it.
I will keep hunting.
Corms
Dont be put off importing a Viper to the UK. Everyone over here will help you as much as possible. I had a friend in the UK look in to getting one. Definatley get one with a tin rig to reduce the initial outlay and you will get plenty of change out of 10 grand. Lots of people here would love to see the viper sailing in the UK.
I e-mailed Paul Young from Rondar and he is going to look into the boat in Wales to see if it available and what cost to take it back to a good spec.
Hi there, I think i may have just bought "that" boat in Wales.
Hope you have some luck getting another one, would be good to get the class going in the UK. It ticked a lot of the boxes for my perfect boat, the boat does need a lot of work so hopefully I can pick the brains of some of you guys.
Welcome Cornish Viper. Two Vipers in the UK now, this is the genesis of a national fleet. Worlds at Cowes in 2011?
Well done.
I hope you enjoy the boat, hopefully I can get something sorted out.
We could get 3 at a UK National Championship, at least I might get a 3rd!!!
Myles did you buy your boat new from the UK.
Cheers
Corms
Yes, Paul Young built it in spring 2008
Quote from: corms on November 25, 2009, 02:28:55 PM
Well done.
I hope you enjoy the boat, hopefully I can get something sorted out.
We could get 3 at a UK National Championship, at least I might get a 3rd!!!
Myles did you buy your boat new from the UK.
Cheers
Corms
Great to hear that there is more interest in the boat in the UK. I have seen Myles's boat in Cowes during my last trip back.
If I ever get the chance to buy another new Viper, I would try to time it to sail Cowes week or maybe the UK "Nationals" before having it shipped to the States. The Solent is a great place to sail and this would certainly be a great way to help get more boats on the line to support the UK boats.
Any one that is considering buying a new boat might want to consider this option.
If you plan on doing this, let me know if you need another crew member.
Hi Cornish Viper
Just wondering how you are getting on with the Viper.
I ended up buying a Finn but still interested in the Viper if I could get one in the UK.
Corms
Hi Corms,
Well we've only sailed it a few times, The boat did need a load of work so we sailed it a few times over Christmas now we are nearly there with all the work.
The sailing we have done has been good, the performance was spot on, I can see why they tweaked the boat with the keel mod and carbon rig, we layed it flat a couple of times with the boat in the old form. Still haven't got the carbon rig but have done the keel.
If your ever in the southwest come have a play I reckon we'll be back on the water in 2/3 weeks. Just starting the job of removing the kite chute roller and replacing it with the Rondar curved tube.
Hi Duncan, how is the Viper going? Let me know if you ever consider parting with her. Can't raise the money for a new one :-(
Also Duncan & Miles and any other UK Viper owners take a look at Plymouth Race Week. They are hosting a Sports boat class within the Regatta which will include the Sea Scape Nationals, Melges and 570 and SB3 fleets as well. They are hoping for 50+ start line. I would so love to see that won by a Viper. I am based in Plymouth, so let me know if I can assist in your attendance or if you ever need crew.
Cheers, Ben
To get the Viper class rolling in the UK, I wonder if you have to get a group of ten or so together and go to Paul Young and tell him you need a killer deal to get the fleet seeded.
He's got a wait list for North American boats at the moment, but if he builds a second set of molds for the class, then some UK momentum could be just what the doctor ordered.
S'pose you noticed that Cornwall is well represented in the North American Viper circuit by Matt Sole.
Be cool Justin, dificulty is getting the first 4 or 5, people start diving in after that.
Excellent skills by Matt, flying the flag in the US.
Ben, you should ping Dave Hall viper @ rondarboats . com
He's working hard at getting some traction in Europe. I think he'll have some good news regarding some one-design activity :-D
Thanks Drew :-) Mailing him now.
Probably a stupid question but anyone know if there are any Vipers for sale yet in the UK.
Still interested