easy way to get out on the water, 2nd hand can be picked up cheaply
Disadvantages:
not really a performance boat
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
I have been sailing for years both crusing and racing and sailed in a variety of different boats. Struggled to maintain this whilst at university (landlocked city!) and was then given the opportunity to pick up a cheap second hand topper (approx £450). The boat requires little to no maintainence and is ready to sail whenever I am nearby and the wind is blowing (hopefully not too much). It has a plastic (technical term!!) hull and deck and one sail. The boat is easily transported on top of a car and can be easily stored down the side of a house. It really is a very adaptable boat. The title calls it a junior boat--this is a little misleading as it is perfectly usable for a lighter adult particluarly females. It is a great starter boat for a teenager and at this price allows someone to try sailing before commiting to great expenditure. In addition because they are so versatile they really can hold their price. As with anything you need to pay the right price for the right age of boat but i reckon I have 'lost' about £75 on the value of mine in about 8 years--not bad really! Having said that it is not really a performance boat and that a starter may later wish to progress onto more performance boats, the topper does have its own great racing circuit for juniors. The fact that the boat is used by so many sailing schools and holiday venues really does show how versatile and useful these little boats are. Other boats have come along in recent years as competitiors to the topper and maybe for some people they are more appropriate, realistically though I can't see the topper being beaten for value for money (certainly on second hand) and versatility. Advantages-price, versatility, car top transportable, little maintanence required, ready to sail at a moments notice, hold their value well Disadvantages--weight limit for adults and potentially may wish to move onto a higher spec performance racing boat as you progress in sailing.
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