420 as a single-hander?
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6131
Printed Date: 16 Jan 26 at 2:40am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: 420 as a single-hander?
Posted By: DiverSteve
Subject: 420 as a single-hander?
Date 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? |
Replies:
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 13 Nov 09 at 7:07pm
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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... |
Posted By: Mikey 14778
Date Posted: 13 Nov 09 at 10:48pm
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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. ------------- http://www.fireballsailing.org.uk/register/boat_info.php?sail_no=14778 - Fireball 14778 - 'Cruel and Unusual' http://www.draycotewater.co.uk - Draycote Water, fantastic ! |
Posted By: bert
Date Posted: 13 Nov 09 at 10:59pm
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This seem strange but nessa has a phantom for sale cheap at the moment - i beleave? how ever it might be sold. £250 ish ? ------------- Phantom 1181 AC-227 IC 304 blaze / halo 586 |
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 14 Nov 09 at 7:49am
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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. ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 14 Nov 09 at 10:06am
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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. ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: zailor
Date Posted: 14 Nov 09 at 2:31pm
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What sort of budget do you have?
The laser vago is technically a double hander but that hasn't stopped me or many others kicking the crew idea into touch ------------- |
Posted By: ChrisJ
Date Posted: 14 Nov 09 at 5:53pm
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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. |
Posted By: Paramedic
Date Posted: 15 Nov 09 at 7:45am
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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? |
Posted By: zailor
Date Posted: 15 Nov 09 at 4:59pm
Can I answer that? ------------- |
Posted By: n12fun
Date Posted: 15 Nov 09 at 8:59pm
oh please do i need a good laugh, and a long read |