Four 21

[steviewhitts]

Hi,
I have recently purchased a Four 21 which as the name suggests is a 21 foot masthead sloop. It was apparently built by a company called Aquamarine in Lymington who built between about 1965 and 1978. I have tried searching in every way I can think but can find little info about these boats. If anyone knows anything about them or can point me in the right direction I would appreciate it. Is there an owners club or class association ?
Cheers
Steviewhitts

 

[Stilllife]

Hi I've owned a Four 21 for around four years. She is well built and comfortable. Performance is what you would expect from a small twin keeler ie not much good to windward. The diesel manages about 5 knots max. I keep mine on a drying mooring and she seems happy to take the ground twice a day. I'm not aware of a class association, perhaps we should form one.

 

[bob_tyler]

I think that they were built by Robert Ives in Christchurch in the 60's and 70's and designed by him. A tubby little boat, twin keeled if I remember right, and very solid. The GRP in those days tended to be thicker and stronger than today.

 

[steviewhitts]

Hi Stilllife,
Thanks for the reply - the more I see of mine the more I am happy at having bought her. At present stored ashore until next wednesday - cant wait to get afloat and see what we can do. Mine was built in 1977 and is sail number 85 which I guess is one of the more recent ones built. Will keep you posted as we go along - where are you based ?
steviewhitts

 

[Stilllife]

Hi , The boat was in fact designed by John Powell. Ours is sail No90 so must be the same vintage as yours. We keep her at Gravesend in Kent. She was launched on Friday, I got the stick up on Saturday and went sailing today. All went well and I'm especially pleased with a large foresail I aquired during the winter . Good luck with your lift in. I've a fair amount of information about the boat and engine (a Petter 6HP) if you need any help sendme a private post, best wishes Still Life.

 

[davey]

Robert Ives Four-21 problems

This is a very late reply I know but it may be of use to someone. There is a design problem with the stemhead roller/chainplate on these boats as the fitting is secured with a secret tang. On a boat that I found for a friend the tang failed during a beam-reach across Brixham Bay. This caused the boat to impersonate a yawning crocodile - not nice! (and the survey "All chainplates secure" was not worth the paper it was written on). Luckily the Samson post saved the day. The next problem was how to force down the deck for glassing and bolting as it was felt that ratchet belts would just slide up and off. I wanted to remove the fitting and get a stainless steel strap welded onto it but this idea was dismissed by the owner who said that he didn't want his yacht looking like a fishing boat. Instead an internal bottle screw was used. The actual forcing-down of the deck was achieved with a rising tide and a concrete boat dock. The boat was sailed underneath the dock and a prop was used between the boats deck and the "ceiling". Incidentally the stemhead roller fitting had a dent in it so at some time in the boats life it must have been "dinged". Presumably this cracked the secret tang. Another major snag with these boats is the bronze seacock/strainer for the Petter Mini-6. This is just about OK for cold British waters but it will NOT cope with the jellyfish in Portuguese waters. A large basket type strainer needs to be fitted instead and an engine overheat alarm. With these modifications the boat has made it to the West Indies. (It is the fin keel version). Good luck!