Beneteau first 20 or Elan 210??

The boats are pretty racy. If that's what you want and know what you're getting into fine. But I wouldn't call them beginner's boats.

I saw a 21.7 knocked down in flat water last year. Ok, I didn't actually see it knocked down - someone else on the rail said "what's that?" when he spotted something in the water about a mile away and after a bit of head scratching and muttering we recognised it when it started to come upright. Was only about F5-6 IIRC. The race crew on it were probably fine with dealing with it, but I doubt whether a normal cruising crew/family would be.
 
lpdsn said:
The boats are pretty racy. If that's what you want and know what you're getting into fine. But I wouldn't call them beginner's boats.

I saw a 21.7 knocked down in flat water last year. Ok, I didn't actually see it knocked down - someone else on the rail said "what's that?" when he spotted something in the water about a mile away and after a bit of head scratching and muttering we recognised it when it started to come upright. Was only about F5-6 IIRC. The race crew on it were probably fine with dealing with it, but I doubt whether a normal cruising crew/family would be.
Click to expand...

The problem with statements like this is that it is entirely dependent on what the boat in question was actually doing. The difference between racing and cruising the same boat is very significant. I used to own and race a Hunter 707 and there was literally no wind in which we would reef. I remember a number of times the whole fleet ragging their mains upwind in 35 knots of wind because you didn't want to be with out a full main for the sleigh ride downwind. Naturally in that state boats might occasionally get flattened, but that was all part of the racing. In cruising mode, properly reefed, the 707 was a very stable and safe boat, due to the high ballast ratio in a bulb and good form stability. Multihull sailors are even more aware of the differences between cruising and racing as the consequences are more severe.

So yes they are racier than many older designs, but I would think just as suitable for beginners.
 
No decent yacht should be so lightly ballasted as to be so easily knocked down.

If you want high performance thrills & spills, get a hot dinghy, which will be a lot more fun and is easily recovered from a capsize !
 
Seajet said:
No decent yacht should be so lightly ballasted as to be so easily knocked down.

If you want high performance thrills & spills, get a hot dinghy, which will be a lot more fun and is easily recovered from a capsize !
Click to expand...

Hmmm im not sure the term "yacht" precludes things that race. Im not sure how much ballast those ac72s have??
 
Well I couldn't say ' cruiser ' because of the racing bit, didn't mean something like a J class with paid crew and the owner in a smoking jacket of an evening ! How about ' keelboat with a lid ' ?

The ballast ratio would indeed be interesting; I was rather surprised a couple of years ago when a Jaguar 21 lift keeler on a mooring near me was knocked over by a gust and stayed over - no-one aboard - and was simply flipped back upright by a bloke in a passing dinghy !!!
 
Last edited:
Seajet said:
Well I couldn't say ' cruiser ' because of the racing bit, didn't mean something like a J class with paid crew and the owner in a smoking jacket of an evening ! How about ' keelboat with a lid ' ?

The ballast ratio would indeed be interesting; I was rather surprised a couple of years ago when a Jaguar 21 lift keeler on a mooring near me was knocked over by a gust and stayed over - no-one aboard - and was simply flipped back upright by a bloke in a passing dinghy !!!
Click to expand...

I think I know an ideal 22 foot boat, lifting keel, tough as nails..............
 
Seajet said:
Tell me more about this fine epitome of seaworthiness & grace ...:)
Click to expand...

Well when was the last one made?? I think the op was looking for a new or nearly new boat.

I think that in 15 years time there is going to be a dearth of second hand quality boats as there seem to be so few being made and sold now??
 
About 5 years ago I was asked to go and check out an A22 which had been 90% completed and kept under cover, a real ' barn find ' !

Andersons folded in 1982 but we still have the moulds, there has been interest lately in either buying the moulds or hiring them for one-offs; I am under a bit of pressure at the moment to provide the plans for quite a few people, so it seems one can't keep a good design down. :)
 
Seajet said:
About 5 years ago I was asked to go and check out an A22 which had been 90% completed and kept under cover, a real ' barn find ' !

Andersons folded in 1982 but we still have the moulds, there has been interest lately in either buying the moulds or hiring them for one-offs; I am under a bit of pressure at the moment to provide the plans for quite a few people, so it seems one can't keep a good design down. :)
Click to expand...

Thats great. But the numbers of boats being made not including ben/jen/bav must be tiny.
 
Agreed, but a lot of people who prefer a high quality design would rather go for a secondhand A22 rather than something which might turn over and spit them and who knows, family they care about over the coaming, while they try standing on the keel dinghy style to get the thing back upright ?! :rolleyes:
 
Seajet said:
Agreed, but a lot of people who prefer a high quality design would rather go for a secondhand A22 rather than something which might turn over and spit them and who knows, family they care about over the coaming, while they try standing on the keel dinghy style to get the thing back upright ?! :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Sure, but my worry is that in 10-15 years time people will be looking at a 35 year old boat to make that choice.
 
One of the great things about a grp boat with an all-wood interior is that one can keep it all up to date; my A22 has a modified interior and ball bearing blocks throughout - inc mast sheaves & deck organisers etc - and modern kit all over, probably moreso than a BenJen trendy wotsit ! :)
 
Hunter 20;

at a glance of the ad', non-gymballed cooker, forehatch under the boom / kicker, silly open plan interior with no privacy.

What's the ballast ratio ?

You could buy an Anderson AND a Contessa 32 for less ! :rolleyes:
 
Seajet said:
One of the great things about a grp boat with an all-wood interior is that one can keep it all up to date; my A22 has a modified interior and ball bearing blocks throughout - inc mast sheaves & deck organisers etc - and modern kit all over, probably moreso than a BenJen trendy wotsit ! :)
Click to expand...

Does it smell new??!!
 
J/92?

If I was to go for an older boat which has crossed my mind I would want to go for something bigger than what I intially suggested.

I have been looking at a few ideas over the past few days, I really like the look of the J/92 anyone have any experience of these?

Mike
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top