Viper 640
{{short description|Sailboat class}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox sailboat specifications
|name = Viper 640
|insignia =
|insignia size =
|insignia alt =
|insignia caption =
|line drawing =
|line size =
|line alt =
|line caption =
|image boat = File:Viper 640 sailboat 3008.jpg
|image size =
|image alt =
|image caption =
|designer = Brian Bennett
|location = United States
|year = 1996
|no built = 400
|design =
|class =
|brand =
|builder = Viper Boats
Rondar Raceboats
|role =
|boats =
|crew =
|trapeze =
|draft = {{convert|4.49|ft|m|abbr=on}} daggerboard down
|air draft =
|displacement = {{convert|750|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}
|hulls =
|hull type = Monohull
|construction = Fiberglass
|loa = {{convert|21.08|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|loh =
|lwl = {{convert|19.08|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|beam = {{convert|8.17|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|hull draft =
|hull weight =
|engine = Outboard motor
|appendages =
|keel type = lifting keel with weighted bulb
|ballast = {{convert|262|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}
|rudder type = transom-mounted rudder
|rigs =
|rig type = Bermuda rig
|I = {{convert|21.98|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|J = {{convert|7.48|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|P = {{convert|25.62|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|E = {{convert|10.07|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|mast length =
|rig other =
|sails =
|sailplan = Fractional rigged sloop
|sailarea main = {{convert|129.00|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
|sailarea headsail = {{convert|82.21|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
|lp =
|sailarea spin = {{convert|425|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
|sailarea gen =
|sails other =
|sailarea upwind =
|sailarea downwind =
|sailarea total = {{convert|211.20|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
|rating =
|d-pn =
|rya-pn =
|phrf = 99 (average)
|status =
|previous =
|successor =
}}
The Viper 640 is an American trailerable sailboat, that was designed by Brian Bennett for racing and first built in 1996.{{cite web|url = https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/viper-640|title = Viper 640 sailboat specifications and details|access-date = 30 May 2018|last= Browning| first = Randy |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2018|archive-url= https://archive.today/20210415225838/https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/viper-640|archive-date= 15 April 2021|url-status= live}}{{cite web|url =https://sailboatdata.com/designer/bennett-brian|title = Brian Bennett |access-date = 30 May 2018|last= Browning| first = Randy |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2018|archive-url= https://archive.today/20210415225840/https://sailboatdata.com/designer/bennett-brian|archive-date= 15 April 2021|url-status= live}}{{cite web|url= https://sailboat.guide/rondar-raceboats/viper-640|title= Viper 640|access-date= 25 March 2022|author= Sea Time Tech, LLC|work= sailboat.guide|year= 2022|archive-url= https://archive.today/20220325225241/https://sailboat.guide/rondar-raceboats/viper-640|archive-date= 25 March 2022|url-status= live}}
The Viper 640 is an accepted World Sailing class boat{{cite web|url = http://www.rondarboats.com/raceboats/viper/specification/index.html|title = Rondar Viper 640 - Specification - Now a World Sailing Class!|access-date = 30 May 2018|author=Rondar Raceboats |work = www.rondarboats.com|year=2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201204075522/http://www.rondarboats.com/raceboats/viper/specification/index.html|archive-date= 4 December 2020|url-status= live}} and the official one-design boat of the Gulf Yachting Association for its Capdevielle Series.{{cite web|url =https://www.viper640.org/usa-news/gya-selects-viper-640-as-new-capdevielle-boat/|title = GYA Selects Viper 640 As New Capdevielle Boat!!|access-date = September 9, 2015|work = Viper640.org|year = 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200206061252/https://www.viper640.org/usa-news/gya-selects-viper-640-as-new-capdevielle-boat/|archive-date= 6 February 2020|url-status= live}}
Production
The boat was originally built by Viper Boats in the United States and then in 2005 Rondar Raceboats of the United Kingdom was named the official class manufacturer. 400 examples had been completed by 2018.{{cite web|url =https://sailboatdata.com/builder/rondar-raceboats|title = Rondar Raceboats|access-date = 30 May 2018|last= Browning| first = Randy |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2018|archive-url= https://archive.today/20200910174438/https://sailboatdata.com/builder/rondar-raceboats|archive-date= 10 September 2020|url-status= live}}
Design
File:Viper 640 sailboat 1147.jpg]]
File:Viper 640 sailboat 3966.jpg
The Viper 640 was designed to combine the planing performance of a dinghy with the stability of a keelboat. The result is a small recreational planing keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with carbon fiber spars. It has a fractional sloop rig, a plumb stem, an open transom, a transom-hung rudder and a lifting fin daggerboard-style keel, with a weighted bulb, with {{convert|220|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} of lead ballast. The keel is retained in the down position with two bolts while sailing. The design displaces {{convert|750|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and is equipped with an asymmetrical spinnaker of {{convert|425|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} for downwind sailing.
The boat has a draft of {{convert|4.49|ft|m|abbr=on}} with the lifting keel extended and {{convert|1.83|ft|m|abbr=on}} with it retracted, allowing ground transportation on a trailer.
The boat may be optionally fitted with a small outboard motor for docking and maneuvering.
The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 99 with a high of 111 and low of 96. It has a hull speed of {{convert|5.85|kn|km/h|2|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url = http://www.sailingjoy.com/sailboat_specs/sailboat_specs/view/3786/viper-640|title = Sailboat Specifications for Viper 640 |access-date = 30 May 2018|work = Sailing Joy|author= InterVisionSoft LLC|year = 2018}}{{Dead link|date=April 2021|fix-attempted=yes}}
Operational history
Cruising World magazine named the design Overall Boat of the Year and top Performance One-Design of 2002, stating "the panelists agreed that the Viper is inherently simple, offers quality construction at a great price, and is extremely fun to sail. An attractive looking boat, the Viper invites a wide range of sailors to an equally wide range of sailing."{{cite web|url= https://www.cruisingworld.com/sailboats/viper-640/|title= Viper 640 - This fun boat is responsive and quick|access-date= 15 March 2022|last= Alison|first= Betsy|work= Cruising World|date= 5 August 2002|archive-url= https://archive.today/20220325225209/https://www.cruisingworld.com/sailboats/viper-640/|archive-date= 25 March 2022|url-status= live}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://www.rondarboats.com/raceboats/viper/}}
{{Classes of World Sailing}}
{{Trailer sailers and Trailer yachts worldwide}}
Category:1990s sailboat type designs
Category:Sailboat type designs by Brian Bennett