I have just been poring over Tony's review of BayCruiser no2 in the Jan/Feb issue of Watercraft. I have been examining the photos with a magifying glass to spot the differences between no1 and no2. The mailsail is the most obvious, a fully batten main on no2 as opposed to my single battened full-roach. I wonder what the differences are in handling? What I would recommend to any future buyer is to get the hardwood rubbing strake, even though it adds to the price. I have just been repairing a dinge in mine, where I clobbered a pontoon. Without it I would have been repairing a hole in the hull.
Tony is right in noting that the water ballast gives huge stability. I have never felt at risk of being knocked over, even in F7 plus. I only reef to reduce weather helm, not because it is getting hairy, and then she goes even faster. If the new raked rudder blade Matt has fitted gets rid of the weather helm then I will probably rarely reef at all. Role on the summer, lets hope its a good one at last.
