New Dinghy but what. Help.

Interesting comparison, the 420 & 3000. The 420 feels initially less stable than the 3k, but it will hang on longer before capsizing. Thus I capsized my 420 once in three years, and when I got a Laser 2 (=3k) I thought it was much more stable, yet I capsized appreciably more often!

I’d say the 400 is more akin to the 420 than the 3k, in that it will hang on when it heels, but because of its size it is a less fidgety than the 420.

Originally posted by MerlinMags Beware teaching your own spouse/children to sail. Especially not in a race. It can all backfire and they end up hating it if you so much as raise your voice above a whisper. There must not be a single moment of urgency!

Agree with that 100%

Thought it maybe more like the 420 as they both have a more rounded hull than say a 3000.
Would people class the rs400 as more or less stable than the 420?

Depends what you have in mind by stable. As I recall, the 400 feels slower to react in heeling (because of its mass?) but it is a lot more powerful, so it's more a case of steering for balance whereas a 420 you can bully with body movement.

At the risk of stating the obvious and spoiling the testosterone feeding frenzy, why not invest in some lessons for your wife using a club or centre's training boat?  Once she has been taught to sail by someone else (very much your preferred option unless you know a good divorce lawyer) BOTH of you will be much better placed to choose a boat you both like.

Edited by winging it - 31 May 14 at 7:38pm