Second Hand Phantom

Having sailed both the earlier Vandercraft Epoxy Phantoms and the now Ovington built Vandercraft Epoxy Phantom my personal opinion is there is little if any performance difference, the internal structure of the newer boats is different, but then again it changed from time to time as the earlier epoxy boats developed as well.
Much more important is the specific boat you are looking at buying, some will have had far harder lives than others, and it may well show.
I sailed Phantoms at between 85kg and 90 kg max, more towards the lower end, I used Seldon carbon spars and flat cut P&B sails, and yes I did manage to win races at opens and had top 5 race finishes at Nationals, OK generally in the lighter winds but every dog has his day...

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Roger Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 23 Mar 04 Location: Somerset Online Status: Offline Posts: 524	Post Options Post Reply Quote Roger Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Second Hand Phantom Posted: 26 May 10 at 9:55pm
	Having sailed both the earlier Vandercraft Epoxy Phantoms and the now Ovington built Vandercraft Epoxy Phantom my personal opinion is there is little if any performance difference, the internal structure of the newer boats is different, but then again it changed from time to time as the earlier epoxy boats developed as well. Much more important is the specific boat you are looking at buying, some will have had far harder lives than others, and it may well show. I sailed Phantoms at between 85kg and 90 kg max, more towards the lower end, I used Seldon carbon spars and flat cut P&B sails, and yes I did manage to win races at opens and had top 5 race finishes at Nationals, OK generally in the lighter winds but every dog has his day...

AlexM Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 10 Jan 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 857	Post Options Post Reply Quote AlexM Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 May 10 at 9:18pm
	agree with everything MB said. Alex

Merlinboy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 03 Jul 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3169	Post Options Post Reply Quote Merlinboy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 May 10 at 9:10pm
	Rich, I have not noticed any difference in performance to my Vandercraft epoxy boat to the new ovingtons. If you check out the recent European results the Vandercraft boats are very much in the mix. So IMHO they are equally matched. As for rig most people seem to go for a medium cut sail no matter their weight, i have just bought a slightly flatter but still medium cut sail as i lack a few important inches in hight and found i was getting over powered very quickly. Results with the new sail seem positive ATM. Bert is right the Phantom forum is the place to ask the question though. Good luck, you have made a wise choice.

bert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 23 Apr 05 Location: norwich usually Online Status: Offline Posts: 584	Post Options Post Reply Quote bert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 May 10 at 7:11pm
	Try the Phantom website & ask on the forum & there are a couple of boats on apolloduck at the moment. http://www.phantomclass.org.uk/site/
	Phantom 1181 AC-227 IC 304 blaze / halo 586

rich96 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 20 Jan 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 596	Post Options Post Reply Quote rich96 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 May 10 at 6:48pm
	Hi. I'm thinking about a second hand Phantom for club rcaing and some opens. Got a Rooster 8.1 but rather dispirited with the total lack of class events. I'm a little unsure about the relative performance of the older Vandercrafts or later Ovingtons ? Not expecting to win the Nationals I but do want a competetive boat and will hope to buy a recentish boat. Also not sure about what rig would suit (93kg). Any advice and general input on whats good or not would be great.