If you are building your own Shaw, then the class legal core material is cedar core or other timber equivalent. The glass boats are foam. But other than this are there further differences?
Building a shaw 650; cedar core + foam deck
Weight
On average the wooden boats will vary more; a complete boat with rig, sails, deckgear can range (assuming 85kg bulb) from 290kg – 340kg. The class production boats are all 310kg, which includes a 100kg keel; basically meaning that the boat sports more righting moment but is basically on average the same weight.
Stiffness
It is expected that the glass boats will be slightly stiffer than the wooden boats, but there are variations.
Layout
The glass boats are all laid out exactly the same; some of the earlier wooden boats have been changed to improve layouts, most of the newer ones are similarly easily laid out; a few of the wooden boats use barberhaulers and travellers; however this has not proven to be faster (or slower) consistently and is a personal preference.
Rig and Sails
Most of the wooden boats and all class boats use the same C-Tech rigs, therefore some consistency is there; however a couple of woodies have slightly shorter prods; a further 2 have non class standard forestay lengths (longer than allowed) and there is some variation in shape and size of sails although all sails comply with the OD rules.
Foils
All boats have the same shape foils, although a couple of the home builds have particularly heavy/light rudders; basically not much difference.
Comparison
Buy glass
+ standard, builder support, guaranteed optimised shapes and quality, high specification, fast/easy to purchase, resale
- cost
Buy 2nd hand
+ cheaper, tested boat, class legal
- higher maintenance, may need to replace items
Build your own
+ satisfaction of doing it yourself, some ability to customise, access to Shaw 650 standard parts, OD fleet (unlike other home builds)
- variability in finish, resale value potentially lower, cost, time, effort
Perfect finish, lightweight, stiff, gelcoat
Summary
If you wish to race a Shaw 650, there are 3 major choices – buy a new glass boat; buy a second hand boat or build your own. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. But best of all, you have a choice to suit your budget!