Weight for a Harrier

[angus]

I have been offered a Harrier and I am wondering if my 10 1/2 to 11 stone (closer to 11 so soon after christmas) might be a tad on the light side any body out there got any idea?

[Rupert]

Maybe depends upon where you sail? On a small lake you'll be fine (I took one out in a bit of a blow, at a similar weight, and coped) but if you are somewhere where you can be powered up a lot of the time, on the sea or a large expanse of fresh water, I suspect you will find it very hard work.

Others will have more experience of them than me, mind.

[Nigel]

They are wide so that helps a lot.

I always thought mine would go better with a lot less weight in in and be far more comfortable as you will spend far less time kneeling in the middle of the boat instead of sitting on the side.

I would say go for it. If you find it too hard when it gets very windy, just find a smaller sail.

It is not the old yellowish decked one from Bristol Avon is it?

[Nessa]

hmmm, have to say the one at Hunts (small gravel pit) is sailed by a fairly hefty chap (15 stone ish)....plus a friend borrowed it not long ago who probably weighed at least 13 stone and he was overpowered in the gusts - probably f4 gusts.

I would say that you're not going to have the most fun, and could enjoy yourself a lot more in something a lot smaller.

Sorry

[GAv]

I was going to get a Harrier with a Phantom tin rig, last summer,but that fell through. I wish I could get back down to 15 stone, however having got my Merlin Rocket on the water(I do need to address a leaky bailer though) I have prevaricated lately on getting on with the rehulled Fireball-or it will be one day.
At your weight I would have thought a Streaker would be ideal, or maybe a Lightning 368(never sailed one)even a Comet, albeit they are very light. One that sails in my club does so on a slow handycap basis so that can be an advantage. I wouldnt recomend a Solo as Jack Holt found his difficult to haul out of the water so it is said designed the Streaker for that reason.
I am just a big fan of Streakers, I had one renovated in time for the Nationals At Ardleigh that very year and did another one up, which must have been a farmed out(Putney overorders dictated a subcontract kit and hull builder I believe),Midlands one, even if accounting for a deal of black rot it was certainly made of a thinner guage ply to the first one.
Ill health actually dictated my hard labours being passed onto a new custodian but hey I enjoy that side of boating nearly as much as the sailing.

[JimC]

I have been offered a Harrier and I am wondering if my 10 1/2 to 11 stone (closer to 11 so soon after christmas) might be a tad on the light side any body out there got any idea?

The standard rig is so horrendously floppy I cannot imagine it being a problem. Before I sorted it out I sailed mine in a Force 8 and honestly didn't realise it was that windy!

[Nessa]

Coincidentally I got an email this morning saying the Harrier at hunts might be up for sale. ifanyone is interested let me know,

[angus]

I forgot to say it is a Harrier+

[Nessa]

Harrier plus is a different kettle of fish. It is, as you probably know, a harrier with a phantom rig which makes it more powerful. I do think you'd be overpowered and there are so many boats out there that would be more suitable and provide more fun.

If you are interested in a streaker let me know.

[Nessa]

The best thing is to go for a trial sail in the Harrier + and see how it feels. If you can't do that where you are I could get you sail in a Harrier here at Hunts so you would have an idea of what it's like.

[angus]

Thanks for or your comments. It looks like I may be a bit overpowered but I have been offered if for free so I think I will give it a try,
Thanks for the offer of a trial in a streaker Nessa but I am up near Perth so a bit of a long trip

[GAv]

Nessa I may be interested in the Streaker, if you could PM me some details please.
Thanks GAVin

[davidh]

Angus,

I think the key things will be to keep control of the mast whilst you have the boat in the Harrier + format. Of course, if you're getting the boat cheaply or for free, it should not be hard to return it to something akin to the standard harrier (handicap is a lot better) but with a working, stable rig!

D