There has recently been a Sting going cheap on E Bay and I got asked about how easy it is to convert a Sting to a Sprint 15. This topic comes up from time to time so I'm posting the essence of my reply for the record:...
To convert a Sting to a Sprint 15 properly you have to move the bridal chainplates.
Steve Sawford has done this but it is not easy for the average DIY sailor. The internal reinforcement is different so it involves taking off the foredecks and beefing it up inside.
The boat sort of works if you do not move the chain plates. We had one on the circuit which raced as a Sprint 15 without the chainplate conversion. Doing this means that it is strictly speaking not in class. It contravenes the 15 boat rule so somebody could protest you and the decision would be to disqualify you. Sprint 15 sailors are an easy going lot and I think it is unlikely that anyone would protest unless you were seriously in the top few boats. No one ever protested Trevor before Steve converted it properly. Trevor, however, had great difficulty selling the boat when he wanted to move on and that is how Steve eventually converted it properly.
To do the conversion you need:
New mast
Sprint 15 Sails
New standing rigging,
Bridal chainplate relocation on both hulls
New Sail Number (the Sting one will not do)
etc,
The cost of this lot new is much, much more than the boat is worth after the conversion.
Second hand masts are like hens teeth and new ones cost about £1000
It is generally better to buy a Sprint 15 if that is what you want or just fun sail it as a Sting.
Regards
Bob
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