420 dinghy, shall i buy one ?

[jez33]

ok as some of you might remember i asked advice from you all about cheep,fast and stable sailing dinghys for me to consider but what do any of you think about the 420?

is it just for youths or does that mean its for beginners regardless of age ect?

 

[Skyva_2]

What do you want to do with it?

Though I have not sailed one, it was too small for me, it looks a nice boat, SWMBO liked it, and it has all the gear inc spinnaker and trapeze, good for racing for a light crew.

Quite a technical boat to sail well, I would look at the class association website where there are guides inc one on buying a 2nd hand boat.
http://www.420sailing.org.uk/docs/uploaded/2ndHndGuide.pdf

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Depends how heavy you are!

The 420 is a great fun boat to sail, and in the right hands can be a little rocket ship....

Relatively easy to sail, and reasonably robust...

But.... they do tend to be a boat that is preferred by lighter crews... and used to be a favourite option for crews as they outgrew optimists.... less so nowadays as more modern designs have taken over... saying that, I wouldn't want to create the wrong impression... you wouldn't sink it, and it'll sail just fine with even a heavier crew on board

Don't know how much sailing experience you have, but if its limited, i'd tend to look towards something a little more allround such as a Mirror on the smaller side or an Enterprise for something a bit bigger....

 

[maxi77]

I would not describe a 420 as a beginners boat, rather it is the lead in training boat for olympic sailing.

For a beginner I would sugget a non trapeze dinghy suited to the weight of the crew which is not too high performance. Try talking to your local club or sailing school.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I'd disagree with Maxi (having learned to sail in Fireball!)

A 420 is a good little boat, quite capable of being cruised around by inexperienced sailors, like many of the other alternatives. However unlike - say - a Mirror or Enterprise (actually, I'd an Enty was less stable), it has a built-in route to more exciting sailing as experience increases. A kite and a wire offer a dose of whoop-de-doo when the time is right.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

I agree with Ken...... 420's are really easy to sail.... especially as they have a relatively small rig, and as such don't get overpowered so easily.

Also, just for information...... very few people now progress to a 420.... the more recent route has largely been via the 29'er or into a Feva....

Only thing i'd add, is that the learning curve would be easier in something like a Mirror or Enterprise, but not hugely.... and perhaps these two boats would offer other options such as a bit of river cruising in a way that a 420 would be less suitable for....... but i'd certainly not walk away from a good one at the right price without a good look....

 

[maxi77]

Points taken, though I would still say make sure the crew weight suits the boat, and if it is something of the size of a 420 perhaps something like an RS200 may give both the buzz of sailing something nippy and a decent class organisation.

I am well aware many take to trapezes well (I know some guys who insist on sailing Musto Skiffs) but equally many do not and starting with a boat designed to use a trapeze may not be the best thing.

It would be good to call in at either a decent dinghy sailing club or school to try some boats and get a better idea of what suits the needs.

Of course if dinghy cruiing is more the direction then one is looking at a different set of boats completely.

 

[jez33]

thanks for the replies.

will the 420 bea good boat sailing single handed ??
i will most likely be alone most of the time atleast ?

 

[fishermantwo]

I sailed a 420 for a season in the '70's. It had a forward mast position as well so it could be sailed cat rigged if required. Was not so good rigged this way. Pleasant easy boat to sail and not a strenuous boat to sail with trapeze. Much better performance with trapeze, rig is designed for trapeze and comes alive when used.

Should be cheap these days and so are 470s. Plenty of tired ones about but still usable.