Buying Guide
The modern foiling moth is a technical racing machine and buying one can be a daunting prospect. Here are some helpful pointers and guidelines to help you find the right boat for you.
2nd Hand moths
Budget - Is a big factor for many and will determine whether you buy a new or second hand boat. Currently you can buy a second hand boat for anything between £3500 and £9000.
At the lower end of the price range, you will get a decent machine that will help you through your first couple of seasons whilst you get to grips with boat handling.
Design – Most of the boats on the market are dedicated foiler designs (ie. Prowler/Mistress MK1 onwards) built from 2004 onwards. The benefit of these is that they were purpose built as foilers as opposed to having been converted however, you can find a good buy in a properly converted boat (see carbon footprint).
Foils – First generation foils will be adequate for learning to foil but the latest generation of foils have been heavily developed and make foil gybing and tacking more achievable due their ability to keep the boat in the air longer. A good option is to buy an older design and once you are comfortable sailing a moth, invest in a new set of foils.
Control Systems – Gone are the days of carbon push rods and plastic ball joint rod ends. Look for stainless steel control rods and rod ends. These are strong enough to handle the forces involved in foiling and and only buckle in extreme circumstances.
Sails – KA, North and Hyde sails are the defacto and condition will vary but in general the sails will normally be adequate to learn with.
