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Is it an Oppie???If you are considering buying an Optimist Dinghy you will be amazed at the difference in prices between some models. While there are genuine Oppies which can be bought quite cheaply, their spec is lower than full race models. Generallly these boats are fine and can be raced in any IODAI events; regatta or main fleet provided they are genuine Oppies. The IODAI Committee have however become aware that non-genuine Oppies are being sold on the market and have issued the following statement in relation to their participation in IODAI events. “It has been brought to our attention that a number of boats have come to the market that have the appearance of being an Optimist Dinghy. Official Optimist Dinghies are only built by licensed boat builders and have the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) registration plaque affixed to the hull. Only IODA registered Optimists may participate in IODAI events. IODA registered Optimists may participate in the IODAI Regatta Fleet events without the having to be measured or produce measurement certificates.” If you wish further opinion on the matter, here is what IOCA has to say on the matter in their FAQ's technical:
This is the crucial extract:
5.1. Is it an Optimist?Not all boats that look like Optimists are Optimists, and this section clarifies this point. All fibreglass Optimists (that can be legally classified as Optimists and therefore race as Optimists) are built by licensed builders across the world. • Optimist builders are licensed by IODA working in conjunction with ISAF.• Optimists are built to very high standards and tolerances and to very strict rules;this preserves the international 'one design' characteristics of the class across the world, such that a hull built in the UK is identical to one built in New Zealand, which in turn is identical to one built in Poland etc etc. • Optimist hulls built by licensed builders are delivered to suppliers readymeasured, and since 1988 will have a blue ISAF sticker (unique to the boat) on the aft starboard side of the mast thwart; additionally for IOD95 hulls, and the three main 'pieces' will have unique mould reference numbers: o On the front side of the bow (in the centre);o On the right hand base of the Mast Thwart (the mast thwart is a separatemoulding); o On the base of the Centreboard casing (where it is bonded to the floor of theboat; this is actually moulded with the gunwhale prior to being bonded to the hull). • An IOD95 hull will also have a Registration and Measurement Book (like a carregistration book) issued to the manufacturer builder by IODA. The moulding numbers, referred to above, will be logged in the book. o The Book will also contain the unique ISAF sticker number, and a certificateto confirm that the manufacturer has paid ISAF what is called the "Building Fee" - the ISAF sticker is effectively confirmation of this. o The Registration and Measurement Booklet will also contain completed HullMeasurement Certificates signed off by a qualified ISAF Measurer. For a new manufacturer to obtain a license to build involves the manufacture of many "prototypes", potentially in excess of 20 hulls, often under the watchful eye of IODA appointed Measurers. Potential manufacturers are required to go through a rigorous evaluation phase to ensure that they are building hulls in accordance with the class rules, and during this evaluation several hulls will be literally "destroyed" by the IODA appointed Measures Officer at various stages of construction over an extended timeframe. • This evaluation includes destroying finished hulls; the checks confirm that thecorrect manufacturing process is being followed, the correct materials are being used with the correct foam densities etc), that the weight distribution within the hull is correct (this could have a huge impact on the speed of the eventual boat in different conditions), and indeed that the hull shape is in accordance with very strict tolerances (less than 2mm in most measurements). The net result is that some of the prototypes get into the open market, irrespective as to whether ultimately the manufacturer is granted a license or not. • These hulls ARE NOT classed as Optimists, although they may well lookidentical. They do not have an ISAF Plaque, and they do not have a Registration and Measurement Booklet. o Often these prototypes are sold to sailing schools (at knock down prices) whoare not worried about the finer details of measurement etc, and sometimes IOCA (UK) Optimists - A guide to all things Technical 14 19/06/2006 some of the boats get into the open market, and unknowing individuals buy them. o The price of such boats is normally far below the normal asking price for aclass legal boat. In addition to these fibreglass hulls that look identical to an Optimist, there are a whole variety of ‘Optimist look-a-likes’, many manufactured in roto-moulded plastics; these include the ‘Oppi’ and the ‘Optibats’ – these are not Optimists. |
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