Hey all, I run mosly electrics, but I have a chance at buying an Aquacraft Paradise for a very reasonable price.
Is it worth it?
Would it be a worthwhile craft to learn to sail?
Than you.

Hey Joe
Welcome to rc sailing ! it is fun , and depending on your intentions if you want to race or "cruise" a sailboat I have a couple of
suggestions - first start here at rcuniverse... use the search box in the upper right corner - I typed in aquacraft paradise and all the
posts come up with that reference in it - it's probably worth going through them ( I personally don't know anything about them ) and
check out what other information has already been put out there , pro or con .
Next , go to the mothership , the AMYA ( American Model Yachting Assoc) at www.modelyacht.org - click on the "club locator" tab
and then your state - I believe you will find 2 dozen RC clubs in Ca , pick your town and the club list shows what specific class boats
are currently in use at that club , go hang out with the guys and ask questions - you will always get advice and honest opinions
about rc yachts . If you think you would like to race you will see why we sail within classes , it's not really practical to handicap or
rate different hulls together .Check out the Santa Barbara class boats at the SF club - those are sweet ! ( but BIG )
There are 2 other chat forums you could check , use the search feature at www.rcgroups.com/forums for Paradise info , or try
www.rcsailing.net/forum1 ( not as active a site ) .I think you will find the research time you put INTO this is in proportion to the
fun you will get OUT of it ... good luck !

Allan
Chicago

Joe,
The definition of 'reasonable price' is subject to personal interpretation. What is reasonable for me may be totally outrageous for you, or the other way around. I can't comment on that part.

Can you learn to sail with it? Sure, I don't see why not. Is it the 'best' boat to learn with? Not in my opinion, but I didn't learn to sail with that boat, and since I didn't, the one I did learn to sail with is always going to be the 'best' in my opinion (makes no difference which boat it was, the first one is what you tend to think of as the 'best' cuz that's the one you learned on. Make sense? It doesn't make sense? Oh well, what can I say.).

The advice about finding a club is very good! All kinds of stuff you can learn about by doing that. Saves making all those mistakes you'll make otherwise (a few of them anyway). Even if you never use some of the things you'll find out, you'll get a better 'grasp' on the whole thing and someday who knows, you might really be glad about that.

'War Story' time...
I learned on probably one of the ugliest, simplest boats around at the time. Wasn't fast, wasn't graceful (much), wasn't very expensive either (Me < cheap). Had to put the thing together, made mistakes, corrected some of them, and really enjoyed myself. Learned what happened when you did 'this' or 'that'. 'Up-graded' to a 'nicer' boat. It sailed a bit differently, but just a matter of the "same old thing" but in a 'new' way. Enjoyed that one too. When I'd find myself in a sort of 'tight' spot, I would wish I had that ugly old thing I started with! Knew how to get out of most of those 'tight' spots with it, since I'd already been there, sort of.

So... Do it!
- 'Doc

(Took a look at the site that made my first boat, it isn't being made anymore... RATS!)

One of the added pleasures of sailing is sailing with or against other sailors in similar boats. Probably the best entry leve. boats available for this would be, assuming you don't want to build from plans, the Thunder Tiger Victoria or the Victor Model Products V32, which both have a large following in the US with plenty of online support. If you are attracted to the building aspect, the RG65 class http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RG65SailboatsUS/ is another option worth looking at.

The Paradise was my first boat and now is my grandsons boat. Its hard to manuver in heavy winds. Lacks sail space and needs a bigger rudder. If you do like I did and take it out to a small pond, its great. You can learn the fundmentals of sailing with it and not spend a lot of money.

Thanks for the replies. I think that I will wait and do a bit more reasearch.
The Paridise would have been more of an impulse by as the price was so low, but it has sparked an interest in sailboats.
Learning to sali sounds like a welcome change from learning to drive, and sometimes crash my faster boats.

Joe,
I think you've made a wise choice. You may still wind up getting the same boat, but doing the research before hand is always better than after the fact (just wish I could remember that all the time). And since you already have boats, you must know that everybody seldom has just one, and none of them are absolutely 'perfect', there's always that next 'tweak' that'll make it just that much more better. Right? (Except mine, of course! Mine are always perfect, and if you say they aren't, I'll pout and cry. Hey, I do tantrums real well!)
Good luck and have fun!
- 'Doc