Which one is faster Oday Widgeon or a Sunfish?

C

Colo-pr

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Aug 25, 2019
4
Oday Widgeon US
Hi guys,

I am trying to take a decision of which one "keep/go for it" considering my actual interests of cruising and as a newbie I have maybe a "dumb" question. For what I see the Sunfish is more like a "Racing" boat but the Oday Widgeon is more like a cruising with guest boat BUT if I put the same wind and exactly same skilled sailor in both which one will perform faster and why?

my curiosity comes because ok the Sunfish looks like a more "Racing" profile but hey, I have a jig in the Widgeon, should not be faster because of that? I mean, is more sail that is going to grab the wind, while the Sunfish only has the main.

I appreciate any info with facts, I know, like everything else, there has to be tons of Sunfish lovers and haters as the same as tons of Oday Widgeon lovers and haters, I get it, I just want to learn the fact of the jig and if it makes a boat faster than others without jig.

Thanks in advance.
 
R

Randy Rohrbeck

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Jun 4, 2004
89
- -First 310 -
Last edited:
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,752
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Sailboat speed is a function of many factors. Weight, hull form, sail area, ballast, and point of sail.

The Widgeon is about 60 lbs heavier than a Sunfish and the hull does not appear to one that can easily get up on plane.

The Widgeon will be a drier boat than the Sunfish and for the less agile a more comfortable ride.
 
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Likes: Colo-pr
C

Colo-pr

.
Aug 25, 2019
4
Oday Widgeon US
Randy Rohrbeck said:
Sunfish has a portsmouth rating of 99, Widgeon is 122 so the sunfish will be faster. With a little research you can figure out what those numbers mean and how much faster the sunfish will be. I personally won't worry about which might be faster, I'd get on the water and go sailing.


And its a "jib" and a "jig".
Click to expand
perfect, thanks, also thanks for the correction about jib
 
Rick Webb

Rick Webb

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Jun 2, 2004
3,507
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
The Widgeon is a much more comfortable boat and much easier for two people to enjoy. I am guessing from your interest in speed you are on the younger and more agile side of life so comfort might be less of a factor for you. I learned to sail on Widgeons and have two Sunfish in my backyard right now. I'd love to have a Widgeon to goof around on.

One other factor there is much more room for a cooler to keep your beer cold on a Widgeon so there is that too.
 
dLj

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
4,279
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
I've never sailed a Widgeon. I've sailed lots of Sunfish. Sunfish are a lot of fun. That being said, the Widgeon looks like a really nice little boat to sail. I love the additional sails, you can throw up a spi on one even! You throw into the mix your "actual interests in cruising" but you haven't defined that. If what you are looking for is a boat that is a lot of fun, pretty fast, and can be used to teach you the beginnings of how to handle large cruising boats, then I'd go with the Widgeon - it has more sails to play with. Looks like both would be a real blast sailing! I know first hand the Sunfish is great to sail on.

A number of years ago, I'd come back to the states to visit some friends and we were out on Long Island. One of my friends knew I had a sizeable blue water boat and had been sailing for a number of years on the ocean. We were hanging out on a beach and they had a Sunfish. We went sailing on the Sunfish and my friend asked if this must be boring for me now. I told her no way! I love sailing, and Sunfish are a real bast to sail! I would have said the same on a Widgeon, I'm sure...

Both would be great fun. You can't really go wrong.

dj
 
C

Colo-pr

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Aug 25, 2019
4
Oday Widgeon US
I am looking more like a "cruising" and have fun with my daughter. I dont think I am too agile being in my 40s but looks fun when I see Sunfish videos. The reason I have asked is because I only had a chance to use my Widgeon once and the wind that day was soooooo low that I even needed the electric trolling motor to move in and out of the dock. Then I see the sunfish videos where people even use the sail to get out of the docks really quick that makes me wonder if they are faster.

I know, I need more practice and maybe next time I have better luck with the wind and sail the Widgeon in a decent speed for a newbie, I just found a very good local deal for a Sunfish (1k) that makes me wonder if I am going to need it and should pull the trigger...did I mentioned that I am a compulsive buyer? LOL
 
C

Colo-pr

.
Aug 25, 2019
4
Oday Widgeon US
Rick Webb said:
The Widgeon is a much more comfortable boat and much easier for two people to enjoy. I am guessing from your interest in speed you are on the younger and more agile side of life so comfort might be less of a factor for you. I learned to sail on Widgeons and have two Sunfish in my backyard right now. I'd love to have a Widgeon to goof around on.

One other factor there is much more room for a cooler to keep your beer cold on a Widgeon so there is that too.
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that is a BIIIIIIIIG plus, nothing else to say, Ill keep the Widgeon for now.
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,168
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Well, if you're looking for speed and excitement.... go for a beach cat(catamaran).. Hobie 16's are the most common.
if you want to stay mono hull.... rather than a sunfish, go for a Laser....
 
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