The summer season snuck in on us. At “Snipe Fleet 444”:http://www.snipe444.org/ they race every Tuesdays April-September, so time to get started with at least the Summer series June 18-July 30.
These things are a class of boat, but there are lots of manufacturers and things to consider. “Mike McLaughlin”:http://www.snipe.org/articles/buyused.php did a good overview article on them that is mindnumbing in complexity. You need a good used boat in the first year.
His main points are that the boat itself should be within five pounds of its weight. Otherwise, it has absorbed water. You want a boat with PVC foams. He mentions there are lots of shapes from Chubasco, Eclipse, Jibetech, McLaughlin, Mueller, Persson and Phoenix.
The mast must be a good bendty one. Cobra II, Firestix, Sidewinder, Proctor Miracle and Bryant are all OK.
The blade (daggerboard and rudder) are less improtant but should be straight and smooth.
