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simon_b
United Kingdom
1 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Sep 2007 : 18:53:14
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Undecided between a stratos and a VISION....
Boat is for a young family & the stratos just about seems to tick more boxes in terms of stability/room/fun but I'm concerned about being able to pull a Stratos up the slipway....
I dont really want to rely on other people being around at the club to help pull the boat out, so it will be down to my wife and I as its not possible to use a car.....
We will occassionally use it at local beaches so will also have to be able to pull it across the beach....
What are other people's honest experiences.....
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neilgbj
147 Posts |
Posted - 07 Sep 2007 : 19:09:56
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Simon
The Stratos is about 40kgs heavier but the are lots of advantages to the boat.......I wont list the slipways we have launched from but providing you have a jockey wheel onthe trailer (I have'nt !) its not really a problem (Keel version obviously heavier). The Vision is good (sailed one and liked it)but.......
1. Looks...no competition !
2. Space - no competition (room for kitchen sink and granny - we've done it!)
3. Stability/Seaworthiness - No Competition !
4. Speed - Vison has the slight edge unless its F5 + when the Stratos comes into its own
5. Class association - Currently no association for the Vision
6. Will it get you home if a big sea breeze kicks or its blowing a hooley - Both will but you will be alot happier with a young family in the Stratos
Stratos is a great boat......best one I have had...buy one and enjoy it...if you are near east Anglia and want a go let me know
Cheers
Neil
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sandy
49 Posts |
Posted - 07 Sep 2007 : 19:19:55
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| We sail a Stratos with twins who are now 8. We started when they were 4. They have been out in all weathers and have even been known to fall asleep in the boat. We do a bit of raceing but also quite a bit of cruising/seal watching and have even had the children swimming off the boat when moored up for a picnic lunch. We have also done the Nationals which are a good family event. We find the Stratos great for all the reasons you described. Yes, it is heavy but my husband and I can manage to pull it up a fairly steep slip (when the engine is on the back I must admit we tend to struggle). Sometimes we are on the beach and the steep shingle beach is impossible to get up with only 2 people but it would be hard for any family boat. I hope this is all some help. |
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Crazydaisydoo
5 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2007 : 19:37:33
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We are no experts, but we have just moved up from a Topper Topaz for 3 years to a year-old stratos. We looked at the Bahai and the Vision, but the stratos is much bigger. We sail with a 4yr old and an 8 year old. The hoop on the stratos (also on the bahia*) is great for plonking the four year old on, like a "captains chair"
My wife and I went out on it together alone for the first time today, so we could push it a bit, great fun! I am 6'4" and 16 stone, and my wife was the helm at 10 stone, no problem. We sat there and said "we are glad we didn't get a smaller boat" because you really appreciate the spaciousness. Go for it!
I can launch and recover on my own, but I am 16 stone, but we see stratos's being launched by all shapes and sizes at Rutland. The jockey wheel helps a little, but it can be a hindrence at times because you have to hold the trolley down as well to stop it lifting up. So one hand on the trolley bar, other hand on the jockey bar, if that makes sense. If you are reasonably fit, I would discard the jockey. Just my opinion. Basically if you pull uphill with just the jockey wheel steering bar, the boat tips up.
BTW, lots of people having capsize problems with the Bahia, it seems, due to choosing race sails which can be a handful, so perhaps do some homework. |
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charliemort
6 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2007 : 12:57:12
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hi - first post here and same question really.
Currently have a Miracle which is bl**rdy tight with 5 of us - me 16 stone, mrs m, 3 kids 9, 7, and 2, and we obviously can't really go out to sea in it!
like the look of the Stratos. Any thoughts on how it compares to a Wayfarer / Wanderer - obviously a lot more modern but is there stuff you would do in one and not in the other? I would like to be able to do trips like Salcombe to Hope Cove - would a Stratos be practical for that? What sort of winds would it take before it gets scary with kids?
thanks
charlie |
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pcarter
United Kingdom
81 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2007 : 20:44:12
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Hi Charlie - we (Sandy who posted above) and I often sail from Whitstable to Faversham Creek, with our two kids - this would be about the same distance and the Stratos is definitely up to the job. Its a stable boat (even the centreboard version, which we have) with high topsides and bow and is *relatively* dry even in moderate seas and is self draining. We often go on these cruises with Wanderers. They are great boats and have a very active and helpful class association, but I think even the most ardent Wanderer supporters would hesitate about recommending them for 5 people, especially out to (open) sea.
We have been out in force 5 winds with our children and never really felt that we were in any danger. The Stratos can easily be reefed at sea with its inbuilt reefing lines, which most Wanderers don't.
When we go on cruises we take the expected saftey equipment (flares, phone, first aid kit) as well as a small outboard, spare shackles etc.
I think you'd find the Stratos would definitely be suitable for what you have in mind. I hope this will be of some help, and don't be afraid to ask further questions!
Pete 789 |
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neilgbj
147 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2007 : 21:02:54
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I think the Wanderer would be too small although as stated above a good boat. Wayfarer is a renowned excellent cruiser......Stratos give more flexibility, the asymmetric will give hours (unless you get a Wayfarer World you are in conventional spinnaker territory with the Wayfarer...fun but more fiddly initially) of fun and as the children get older it provides a good stable platform to learn to trapeze (both mine learnt on the Stratos and now crew 'faster' boats !) .......Like Pete we mainly use ours as a cruising family boat and it provides stability and good sailing.........we are pretty incompetant racers in it but it will also give you a good blast if you fancy doing that as well ! Try to have a go in one and you will be convinced.......
Neil (270)
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charliemort
6 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2007 : 22:45:32
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thanks - that's pretty convincing
Pete - we live near Sevenoaks, but haven't sailed from Whitstable (Usually go to Chichester / Itchenor) so Whitstable sounds pretty interesting
charlie |
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carrick_roads
United Kingdom
1 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2007 : 12:02:33
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I've been sailing for 40 years, and am still pretty active and race a Laser (not without incident!). I went out with a friend in his Stratos in a top-end force 5 to test it to the limits. We did! Turned her entirely turtle off Pendennis, and took ages (with my 14 stone on the plate) to get her back up. The flotation pack at the top of the sail was not very effective, and the displacement tanks (designed to lower the boat in the water when on its side, so you can actually reach & get onto the plate) were both full, so hard to get her to start to right. Even when half up it was a lot of effort given the high windage in a strong wind.
I wouldn't let my kids (13 and 15) out in one if it was blowing - it'd just be too much for them if they turned over. And a long way up to the plate, too. Impressive boat, though, and a lot of fun, and safe if sailed prudently as other reviews show - but that's not what kids do! |
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neilgbj
147 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2007 : 20:19:06
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When the boat has turtled in strong winds it is sometimes better to use the catamaran method and have the mainsail pointing upwind from inversion and let the wind get under the sail (when the boat is half up) and that will help lift the sail upright.......the ballast provided by the windward tank and crew will prevent the normal immediate re capsize.... I have a 13 and 15 year old and would'nt let them out on their own in a F5+ unless racing/with safety cover no matter what the boat ! At least with the Stratos in a blow you quickly self drain (unlike the wayfarer) and are less likely to go over than other boats . Once you are used to the boat it is quite quick to recover from a capsize (we have practised a lot !) and we find it easier to deal with than our ISO which like most fully battened boats is a bit lively once upright !
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Persuade me to buy a stratos....
