Wally wrote:
The Topaz is beamier - more like an arrowhead shape in plan. It's a sit-on,
wet dinghy with an open transom. I haven't sailed a Laser, but my experience
of the Topaz was that it was okay in a breeze, but frustrating in light
air - too slow and too tippy.

What a great combination... it's slow, but at least it's uncomfortable!

I sailed a Topper Buzz a few times and that's a fun boat... bigger,
faster, real fiberglass, I liked it more than a 420... it's not a
Johnson 18 but then so few boats are.

... I found it rather cramped and uncomfortable
when I couldn't lean out. Review, blurb, photos, at...

http://www.ybw.com/sp/features/topaz/
http://www.splashdance.com/topaz.htm


I notice they put a metal structural member to hold the mast. I guess
that's how they get away with putting a jib & "genaker" on a molded
plastic boat. Those rotomolded 'Escape' boats can't get any horsepower,
they deform instead.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King