Just wondering if anyone had the opportunity to sail any of these models and if so, what you thought of them. Considering the costs, I would want to make sure it was worth the extra $$$$$. I was especially interested in the Spinnaker 50 as well as the hydrofoil models.

Thanks for any info!

brooks

Ask the same question on rcsailing.net. The microsail owner is a big poster over there, and there's lots of experience with multi-hulls. In a Model Yachting issue, maybe a year ago, they reviewed the Tri-Foiler and liked it, but it's a complex build - you have to be ready for it......

(edit) When thinking about that post, I realized it was pretty non-committal. Doug Lord's (owner of Microsail) boats are high-tech and fast as all get out. He's very supportive of his products and vocal in promoting new ideas. The tri-foiler is insanely fast when compared to monohulls and even other multihulls. The 'leveling' system he uses to keep the boat standing up works so well that the upper-wind limit is only the strength of the materials - the boat will just keep going faster until something breaks.

His monohulls, also, use cool concepts. They add complexity to the actual sailing aspect - but ain't that part of the fun? Once you figure out how to sail 'em, they're way cool!

I LOVE my Spinnaker 50
(Click for the full image)

Flipping that spinnaker out is JUST a BLAST! Espescially when you
ARE the only boat on the lake that CAN do it....

Thats a very pretty boat webskipper.

just wonder how does one control the release of the spinnaker and how do you fold the spinnaker back below deck when you are done sailing downwind and going upwind..??

With very teensy crewmembers.......

The microsail boats seem pretty nice, an certainly the only thing like them around. They should be looked at as tiny real boats instead of models. Little too rich for my blood, but I would by one in a heartbeat if I had the cash. Off course one of these days I am sure I will talk Webskipper out of his <g>.

Kristopher

Yo, bobi...the rigging is complex, but reliable. Poke around microsail's site, and feel free to contact Doug Lord, the owner/proprietor/chief bottle washer. He'll explain much better than I can how things work - and they DO work.

Microsail doesn't do much in the way of production and doesn't do much in the way of sales so there aren't many people to give objective opinions. Fit and finish are reasonable but may not meet the expected quality at it's price sold.

If you want to race others, Microsail won't get there as the boats don't fit into others classes.

Rob