Topper Magno

I'd have a look at the Mirror, it's perfect for smallish children to learn in and easy to manoeuvre by yourself as its very light.  You can also get a decent one for not very much, less i'd have thought than a second hand feva/magno.  There's also likely to be more of them around on the secod hand market, and there's a great race circuit running with coaching as well.  Worth a look! (yes i know im biased but I've taught very small kids in them and they love the fact that they're better than an oppie but are still small enough to manage and they won't let you stay on the helm for long!)

I'd agree the Miracle is a nicer boat than the Magno - a cruiser racer in the true sense. The Comet Versa may also be worth a look.

For once BBSC I agree! Reefing them works if you know exactly how to do it and you do it either on shore or before you get hit by serious wind. They're perfectly sailable with the whole sail in an absolute howler anyway!

Edited by Calum_Reid

Hi Richard

I have a Magno and am very happy with it. I picked it up second hand from a family with small children who had loved it but who were changing for something bigger to take the dog as well.

I sail the Magno on my own no trouble as long as it isn't too windy, the boat isn't really set up for single handed sailing so tacking the jib is a bit of a stretch but I have no trouble with the kite by my self. When I sail two up everything is in the right place more or less and is comfortable for helm and crew partly as the boom is nice and high and the gnav is tidy. I have sailed the boat with my 12 year old brother and he enjoyed it, I have also taken various non sailing friends out for a spin and have had 4 adults out on one occasion with the kite up it stil went OK but tended to go through rather than over waves!

As for getting the mast up, easy, put the pin in at the foot, attach the shrouds, push it up from the back, when up grab the forstay and walk to the front, a one man job.

The boat isn't perfect, the kite can get jammed in the shute once in a while but only when we drop it too slow, the hull is a bit bendy, never bothered me, mostly well fitted out and all works as long as you rig it well. Plenty big enough for two adults and two small children, small enough to sail on your own and feels fast on a windy day. The boat isn't as stable as a wanderer or GP14, it will fall over if you try to push it but it's easy to get up and self drains in no time.

Try a Feva before commiting, I have sailed one a few times, it is a youth boat, if your children will sail it most ofthe time then you may squeeze in for the odd ride but it is a small boat, I'm 5'11" and found it horrible to sail, my legs were just too long, OK when fully hiked but in light winds or down wind it was just too cramped.

As a last point, my Magno is for sale unless I come in to some money very soon, I'd like to keep the boat as I sail with my girlfriend and various work and visiting friends quite a lot through the summer, but the Magno is not a fast single hander and that's the sailing I want to do more of so it has to go, and I can use club boats for the other stuff. If you want a go in my boat then I'd be happy to take you out if you can get down to Exeter.

Hector 

Originally posted by olly_love not sure how other people found it but i kept sliding to the stern alot

you dont slide back once you get used to it. Ive sailed a feva for the last 2 years and have been able to sail it nearly everday theres been racing, its a great boat when its windy because the kite is so small and the rudder is so big its really responsive.

a mirror sounds like a good idea too, plenty of other people to race against.