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VIPER
640 |
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The
Viper Class Association has agreed to purchase the class molds and the
rights to appoint builders and distributors from Race One.
The Class has, of course, immediately re-appointed Rondar as the class builder. This has been made possible by the generosity of several existing and prospective Viper owners, and with the support of Paul Young from Rondar and the designer, Brian Bennett. This is a very important step for the class and has several very beneficial implications; Firstly, this will remove significant layers of cost and result in a significantly lower price for new boats. Paul estimates that the price of a new Viper will be approximately $2,500 less as a result of this move and related steps to remove overhead. Secondly, prospective owners will be able to deal directly with the builder when ordering individual boats and work with the class to put together fleet orders to obtain even greater discounts. It is a much better experience when you can talk directly to your builder than going through a marketing organization. We are blessed with one of the finest one-design builders in the world. Thirdly, the class is in charge of its own destiny. The class can assure the future of strict adherence to one design standards in construction and has no risk of a new builder being appointed or the rights being sold without Class approval. We are very excited about this development. LINK TO VIPER 640 ASSOCIATION WEBSITE |
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The
Viper 640 is the perfect one design performance race boat. It combines
the stiffness of an open keelboat with the acceleration and planning abilities
of a dinghy. The Viper is a joy to sail with a precise and exhilarating
feel on the helm, a comfortable open cockpit for 3 people, strict one-design
class rules and ease of launching at any tide.
Read The Reviews ÒThe Viper 640 was our unanimous choice as Performance One Design Winner.Ó - Sailing World ÒIt's not a dinghy. I don't think you can call it a keelboat. It's something in between. Upwind, the boat's fine bow slices through the water. Downwind, it gets up and planes.Ó - 48 North Magazine |
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Description
and Technical Specifications
Length Overall: 21'1"/6.40mÊ Length Waterline: 19'1"Ê BEAM: 8'2"Ê Displacement: 725 lbs.Ê Ballast: 225 lbs, including 185 lb lead keel bulb.Ê DRAFT: with keel up 1'10, with keel fully extended 4'6" (keel must be bolted full-down at all times while sailing per class rules) Sail Area: 252 sq. ft. (main and jib) Spinnaker 425 sq. ft. Crew: two to four, typical all-up weight of 475 to 525 lbs., with a class maximum of 540. Most sail with three. Sanctioned regattas require at least two crew. |
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The
Viper Experience
Sailing Feel, Sailing Fun Sailing the Viper is a revelation, combining terrific sailing feel, astonishing performance, minimal maintenance and sail costs, simple crew requirements, launched at any tide, and towed by any vehicle.Ê It's the sailing feel that attracts enthusiastic sailors to the Viper 640. But despite the high-tech, high-performance nature of the boat, every boat in the fleet regularly sails with family members as crew. Without a spinnaker pole to handle and low loads on control lines, many boats are competitive with crew members as young as nine. Every boat in the Marblehead fleet last year raced with women on board, either as skipper or crew. If you have a teenage sailor in your family that you want to keep interested in the sport, ask them how they'd like to sail a Viper. |