Solid construction
The Fusion is a 3.65 m dinghy made of polyethylene, a solid construction method that has proven itself in sailing school fleets. With a weight of 62 kg, it is easily transportable by a crew of juniors or an adult.
Note that handling is greatly facilitated by the carrying handles that the shipyard has well integrated into the hull. With a total of four handles (2 on the bow and 2 on the transom) that provide a very good grip, movements on the slipways or the beach will be easily achieved.
A safe cockpit
With its large cockpit, the Fusion can safely accommodate 2 adults or 3 children. Its 4 straps allow the crew to learn to rappel. The whole is coherent and well thought out. In our test model, rigged for a solo sailor, the 5.2 m2 mainsail is rolled up on the mast, making it easy to set up. A large arrow on the mast shows you the direction of rotation to roll or unfurl your mainsail. Reefing is done by turning the mast one or two turns, and the operation can be done on the water.
The locking system of the rotating mast is very simple, as it only needs to be rotated 180° to secure the spar (the ergo goes under the mast step and cannot go out through its entry notch). The downhaul then locks the system.
Double or solo
The Fusion has the advantage of being able to be sailed double or single-handed, depending on the sail set you choose. It is possible to sail only under mainsail, solo. But you can also rig a jib in order to take on board a crew member. For more experienced crews, it is also possible to rig an asymmetric spinnaker on a telescopic bowsprit.
The aluminum appendages are simple and strong, and will take a lot of abuse from trainees. The Fusion is also adaptable to rowing, with slots for rowing oars. This boat already offers multiple combinations of uses, so perhaps it wasn't necessary to add this feature, especially since the footbraces for the rower retain water and dust.
In nav
On the water, the Fusion has a very healthy behavior. Its pinched bow and wide hull give it a reassuring approach while providing good gliding sensations for a boat of this category. The large cockpit makes it very easy to move around, keeping the various maneuvers under control. The height of the boom secures these maneuvers and limits the risks of impact. I voluntarily draw the boat to test its righting abilities. We lean without fear on the solid aluminum centerboard to take the mast out of the water, and we easily grab the abseiling straps to go back on board.
Pricing
Distributed in France by Marcon Yachting, the Fusion is available in a basic version at 3850 euros TTC and the spinnaker kit is charged 1050 euros. A Pro version is available with a larger mainsail (6,45 m²) and vertical battens (rollable on the mast), for 3990 euros.
