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 Post subject: Hobie Bravo vs. Laser
PostPosted: Tue May 31, 2005 1:41 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 1:37 pm
Posts: 1
I learned to sail on a Sunfish and am interested in buying my own boat. How does the Bravo match up against the Laser and/or Laser 2 as far as fun, speed, ease of use, stability, etc. Any opinions out there?


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue May 31, 2005 3:56 pm 
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Hobie Approved Guru

Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2003 7:11 pm
Posts: 5197
Location: Detroit, MI
Bravo has the Laser beat hands down for ease of use.

Laser is almost certainly faster, but that's not the point.

Bravo is a recreational boat that's built for ease of use and not speed. Because it's rotomolded polyethylene, it's virtually indestructible.

Laser is fiberglass - and considerably more fragile.

Laser is an Olympic class - and comes with all the attendant baggage thereto (strict class rules, very high competition levels).

Laser 2 is a 2 person boat and doesn't really compare to the other two.

I started out on Lasers & Sunfish 30 years ago; sailed a Bravo at the H-16 Worlds in Mexico last year and they're both good boats.

But I wouldn't give up my Hobie 16 for anything :twisted:

Image


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 5:00 pm 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Sun Jun 08, 2003 7:21 pm
Posts: 904
Location: Thunder Bay,On
Thats a great picture Matt I have it as my background(on my PC).Are you lapping the fleet or is 104.... ahead of you?


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 4:29 am 
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Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2003 7:11 pm
Posts: 5197
Location: Detroit, MI
That photo was taken at MadCatter from the signal boat as we were coming in to the finish line on a course 6G (SACACF). It was Race 3; we were in 1st place.

104 (Kevin Renninger) is still heading for the gate, which was not that far downwind of the signal boat and is just out of sight to the right of the frame. The two overlapped boats in the center of the frame (Jim Perkins and Pedro Colon, I think) have rounded the gate and are headed to the finish.

The boat immediately behind me with the white jib is Sue Korz and Kamil Berrios. The white boat behind them is Wally Myers, who ended up 4th in that race. (Rich McVeigh went to the left side of the course at the gate and came in 3rd on port tack.)

Not a very big lead on a race that lasted probably 40 minutes. The whole regatta was a real dogfight in 16A, with the winner determined on the last leg of the last race.

Mike Walker, in addition to being a pretty good race officer, is a really good photographer. The link to his site is http://portcredit.net/gallery/


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 5:32 pm 
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Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2005 5:47 pm
Posts: 63
Location: Wilmington, NC
depending on how much experience you have sailing and how much experience you are looking to gain the bravo may not be the boat for you. since the bravo is boomless it makes many things such as going downwind more difficult. the bravo is a verry fun boat to sail and it is also verry easy to sail, however something like a hobie 16 would be much more beneficial in teaching you more about sailing and things to do. but if you are looking for something to sit out on the beach that can be ready to sail in 12 seconds (or less, i've timed it) a bravo would be a good choice.

_________________
The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects it to change, the realist adjusts the sails.


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