Buying an Optimist

If your kid is new to the Opti class, you should consider buying a second-hand boat.  Kids are always leaving the class, so there is an active market of second-hand boats.

How to buy a second hand boat? Here is a guide -- and you should seek advice from the coach or other parents at your club too.

Getting a Hull

How to buy a new hull?  There are several hull manufacturers, and a relatively significant price range. In addition, there are various types of spars, of blades, and of sails, which makes the purchase somewhat of a complex decision.

In addition, it's important to know if you want to purchase immediately a top race boat, or if you want more of an entry boat, which may mean doing an upgrade later on, if your kid starts performing.

If your kids is very young, you many not need to think too much about what boat he/she will need in 2 or 3 years, as it is not certain he/she will remain interested in sailing. So good second hand boat makes a lot of sense.

Generally speaking well maintained equipment (except sails) tend to keep a good resale value, so make sure to avoid damages to your boat, particuarly the hull.  So when you will want to upgrade, you will not loose much money with reselling your existing boat.

Note that this blog does not intend, by any means, to favour some manufacturers or retailers.

Anyway, here are some indications:

Top Race Hulls

- McLaughlin - http://www.optistuff.com  (also sells previously chartered hulls)
- Winner - http://www.winneroptimist.dk

For a more affordable hull

- Zim - www.zimsailing.com
- Far East Boats - http://www.fareastboats.com

Note: both Zim and Far East sell entry level and race level boats.

Sails

The two leading sail makers for Optis are below, but there are many others (One Sails, North, Quantum, etc.)

- J Sails - http://jsail.pl/en/main-page/
- Olimpic Sails - http://www.olisails.it/en/

It is very important to select the sail that corresponds to your kid's weight.  Each manufacturer has its own set of sails with corresponding weight ranges.

For practice club-level sails, there is a wide range of much more affordable options (by North, Intensity, etc.)

Instead of buying a new sail, you can purchase a second hand sail from one of the top sailors of your club. But beware, make sure the sail is adapted to the weight of your sailor.  Each sail has indeed a target weight range, and it is not advisable that your sailor sails with either a too powerful, or a too little powerful, sail.

And if your sailor is really light (60 or 70 lbs) and still afraid of sailing with the big sail, don't hesitate to get a small size sail; these sails may look weird, but they are the only way to get very light / young sailors to enjoy sailing in the breeze : http://www.intensitysails.com/opnotrsa.html

Spars

Entry level spars provided by manufacturers are typically appropriate for club / sail school level usage.

In North America, for racing, the two leading spar brands are Optiparts Black Gold, and Optimax MK spars. Again, there are different models, targeting different weight ranges.

Manufacturers of new boats typically offer packages and will help you to select the hull, sail, spars, etc appropriate to your sailors.

When you buy second-hand, you will likely buy an entire boat with hull, sail, spars - make sure that the boat is not only in excellent shape but also that the spars and sail fit your sailors needs.

Blades

Again, there is a wide choice, from club blades (ok for Green fleet racing) to race blades.  Most races blades are of high quality, and the gains from getting the most expensive ones may be marginal to nil. Blades manufacturers include Optiparts, DSK, Opti N1, Far East.  What is critical, like for the hull, is to protect the blades from any scratches, damages, so invest right away in a blades bag.
 


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