Legend 326

[apollo]

Considering buying one of these, are they any good?

Not planning on crossing the Atlantic, just a low maintenance coastal cruiser thats easy to handle is what I am looking for.

Thanks in advance.

 

[sheppard]

We chartered one a couple of years ago and it is a great family boat. Very roomy and has a luxuriously spacious head/shower - and everyone loved the seats over the stern!

The only whinge that we had about it was the combination of a large main and small jib.

However we did look at them seriously at the boat show!

Happy sailing.

 

[apollo]

Interesting that you "whinge" about the rig, Legend make a big deal about how its easier to tack.

Did it give you problems?

 

[Guest]

All the comments that I read always seem to criticise the Legend rig - lack of backstay, swept back spreaders meaning inability to square out the boom, concerns about how strong it is, size of mainsail relative to jib, inability to get a tight forestay or induce mast bend etc. Presumably there must be plus points to such a rig, or they would not make them. What are they?

 

[sheppard]

Perhaps just not being the most experienced of sailors we generally find the jib easier to handle. The big main was just a bit harder to handle when it was blowing.

 

[PeteCooper]

The biggest drawback with Legends is that they are just plain ugly.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

The main advantage of no backstay is being able to have a very rounded leach profile, which is very efficient.....

 

[Stemar]

......but the disadvantage of such swept back speaders is that it's much harder to feather the main to depower it on a reach or get it far enough out to sail goosewinged without risk of a gybe.

Yes, I know we should rig a preventer. I do, but while it will stop the boom crashing over, but won't stop the mess if a big main gets backwinded at the wrong moment, and may even make it more likely.

 

[muminator]

Buying a boat is so personal, I think you need a clear idea of your "tick boxes" - what do YOU want from a boat?

We've got a 326 and it is the ideal boat for us at the moment. It has the comforts, it's light and well fitted for it's price. We're not looking for a racing yacht, we like to go out and enjoy sailing, then come back and be comfortable.
Having said that, we are relatively inexperienced (three years), so we find her easy to handle, and she sails a lot better than some people would lead you to believe. I would say a gybe preventer a good thing to have.

And she is NOT ugly!!!

 

[Twister_Ken]

If the Hunter's triangulated rig is such a jolly good idea, how come other builders haven't imitated it?

 

[TeamSpirit]

Had my 326 a year, great family boat, safe, robust and enjoyable to sail. Mine has furling main and genoa and is easy to sail single handed though would prefer a greater volume of sail area at times. Tried and tested and behaved impecably when coming downwind across from Cowes over Chichester bar in F7.( on poles with 9+nts showing on log). Only niggles are untidy wiring which I put right immediately, and the drinks holders on the pedestal which need a gimbal device to avoid waste (any inventers want a challenge).
If your looking for safe, family vessel this is a good choice - want to race and rally p'haps not.