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420 as a single-hander?

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DiverSteve View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote DiverSteve Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: 420 as a single-hander?
    Posted: 13 Nov 09 at 6:28pm
Being strapped for cash at present I see that I can pick up a 420 very cheaply.  With over 10m of mainsail and a mast position for sailing single-handed it looks to have fair potential but, as with all compromises, I am sure it falls short of dedicated single-handers such as say the Solo.  Does have more scope for the occasions when crew are available.  Opinions please?
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winging it View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote winging it Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Nov 09 at 7:07pm
It really depends what sort of sailing you want to do, and also to some degree where you are going to sail.  If you just want to cruise around on a small lake or gravel pit a 420 would be ok, but if you want to sail regularly, perhaps on the sea, and also to race, I would keep looking round.

Most 420s are cheap because they have taken a lot of a hammering, so they won't have much life left in them.  What sort of sailor are you - height, weight, experience level, and where do you plan to sail?
the same, but different...

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Mikey 14778 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Mikey 14778 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Nov 09 at 10:48pm
It sounds like a good idea to me. It's bound to be a lot more interesting than a Solo, and although the old ones
are a bit floppy by comparison with new ones, that doesn't mean they're useless. But you would need to be fairly
adept at helming from the wire.
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bert View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote bert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Nov 09 at 10:59pm

This seem strange but nessa has a phantom for sale cheap at the moment - i beleave? how ever it might be sold.

£250 ish ?

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winging it View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote winging it Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Nov 09 at 7:49am
it isn't sold!  I barely advertise it because I don't really want to let it go....but it is cheap.

pm for details.


Edited by winging it
the same, but different...

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Rupert View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Nov 09 at 10:06am
If you are looking for a glass boat at the dead cheap end of the market to much around in, then something like a 420, which is pretty underpowered, would be OK, especially inland. Having a jib in the lighter stuff is good, and then, if you really can move the mast forwards and just have the main, it would work when the wind picked up. Could be fun.
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zailor View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote zailor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Nov 09 at 2:31pm

What sort of budget do you have?

I cant see the kite working too well on your own.

 

The laser vago is technically a double hander but that hasn't stopped me or many others kicking the crew idea into touch

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ChrisJ View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote ChrisJ Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Nov 09 at 5:53pm

Although the 420 was designed to provide 2 mast step and shroud positions to allow the mast to be re-positioned when sailing without a jib.... not many of them were actually built that way. Certainly, any of the newer ones (built in the last 8-10 years) wont be able to move the mast.

A dedicated single hander would be better, or a smaller boat that would allow you to sail single handed but with 2 sails, would be better. Look for an OK, Solo, Phantom for older single handers; or Mirror, Heron, Graduate for smaller s-person boats.

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Paramedic View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Paramedic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 09 at 7:45am

You can get a glass solo for less than £500 of a similar construction standard to a equivalent age 420. None of these older GRP boats were well built by todays standards, but if it's what you can afford i think you'll be better of with a proper singlehander than a codged about two man boat.

Whats wrong with a Laser?

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Post Options Post Options   Quote zailor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Nov 09 at 4:59pm
Originally posted by Paramedic

 

Whats wrong with a Laser?

 

Can I answer that?

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