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Still looking for a Dart 15 but have found a Sting. Its about? 8 years old. Are the values like Dart 15, are they worth it (I'm not a racer!) Mylar sails, do the last and are they expensive? Should I avaoid and stick with a 15 sprint. Any suggestions gladly received before I take the plunge
Hi Kevin
In terms of values, the answer depends on what you are going to do with your boat - apart from the obvious, but there are a few things you should consider first :-
1 The Sting was sold with a taller and heavier mast with a Mylar sail, having a different profile to the standard sail. This means that the boat is much more difficult to right from a capsize. Also, the Mylar sails are not made any more, so repairs or replacement would be more of a problem.
2 Like for like, whilst the Sting would appear to offer similar value for money in terms of what you get, you must bear in mind that the majority of Dart 15s are raced in standard Una-rig or Sprint format. In fact, in the last 9 years, I can only remember 1 Sting entering a TT event .
Therefore, since with most things, it's value is a function of it's demand, which is virtually non-existant in the racing circles, so it is not a very saleable (or even sailable product). This means you can expect to buy one for a few hundred pounds less than a comparable Sprint version, which in the present climate, is like hen's teeth to find.
If you are definitely NOT going to race competitively, then the choice is up to you, but all things considered, I would personally advise you to avoid the Sting - you never know if the 'racing' bug will bite. Conversely, if you later decide to sell it, the standard version will hold it's value well, and will sell easily.
In summary - don't be stung by a Sting !
Paul Smith (Beaver S.C.) 1961
