what is a moth

[trebor]

Hi all, what is a moth? their appears to be dozens of boats called *.* moth or moth *.*, some low, some fly, none of them look alike, all moths.

[roger]

Hi Robert,

The international Moth is a development class and has many different guises. Not to be confused with the British Moth which is a one design and has hull and rig kept to strict measurements.
International Moths have developed over the years through many shapes including the lovely(in my oppinion) Scow moth which looks like a door(if you look in the gallery a lime green one came to Whitefriars a few years ago) through various magnums to the now very narrow ones which are split into low riders(no hydrofoils on the dagger and rudder blades) to the foiling Moths which are the latest development.
others on here will give you a guide through the different types but nowadays you need to be about 8 stone and very agile to sail one.

[fcdbm]

The International Moth.

Over 70 years old.

11 foot single handed dinghies were racing in many countries.

In the 1960's, the International Class was formed with agreement from the Class Associations in the UK, Europe, America and Australia. Due in no small part to the organisational skills and leadership from Major Tony Hibbert.

In essence:

A single handed, development class, with very simple measurement rules:

Max length: 11 feet.
Max beam 7 feet 4 incjes.
Max sail area: 8 sq.m.
Max mast height:??
No minimum hull weight.
No prohibition on materails.
No multihulls.

So long as it complies with above you are free to design, build and race it.

This freedom has allowed a simple dinghy to become the most refined flying machine racing.

In 1972 a Moth was slower than a Laser, in 2012 it is faster than any dinghy.

A true free market, laissez faire ideas machine.

[PaulM]

Maximum mast height is (or was) 20 feet, and maximum luff 17 feet (big difference = to allow for hog-stepped masts).

Before the 1970 unification the Aussies didn't allow wings and had 80 sq. ft. fully-battened sails, while the Europeans did allow wings and had a 15-foot luff 85 sq. ft. one-design sail plan.

Paul

[Nessa]

I've just brought home the magnum x, one of these days I'll take a pic of it next to tis great grand dad, the yellow moth from Dart.

[trebor]

Hi all, basically if you build and design a dinghy within these specs you can call it a *.* moth *.* , its a good ploy for getting a boat out there, people who are interested in Moths will want to have a look and trial the dinghy, thanks for help and info. Rob.