Pandora 22

[dellboy]

I'm looking at a Pandora 22 (fin keel) as 1st boat/project, in need of tlc. Can anyone advise on their build quality and seaworthiness for coastal sailing as there seems to be a lack of info on net?
Many thanks Nick

 

[Sniper]

We had a Pandora for about 6 years (bilge keeler) The fin keel ones sail very well for their size. The rig is bullet proof as a masthead with twin lowers. They are not overcanvassed so a little slow in light winds but very well suited for coastal sailing if you don't need standing headroom.

One recurring problem is with the mast step. The inner lining is supported on two ply bulkheads which can start to push through the lining. Likewise, the beam underneath the mast can give, leading to problems. This is eminently fixable; I saw another Pandora with a replacement ring bulkhead which did the job very well.

The layup is quite heavy for the size of boat so unless there has been damage it is unlikely to give problems. The cockpit is quite large so room for the family.

 

[Seajet]

The Pandora in its various guises was very successful, probably more in racing than cruising but there's no reason not to travel almost anywhere in one.

They can look a bit scruffy with age, a hard life racing won't help appearances so your TLC should reap dividends.

The only drawback I can see is the fin keel, have you got a mooring sorted ? On the South Coast, deep water moorings are expensive, the annual cost for a 22' fin keeler would be prohibitive, but at other places around the UK like Wales or Scotland it should be OK.

 

[SHUG]

Had one as my first cruiser ** years ago. It was called PANCHO and had been the National champion
Anyway........great boats out in all weathers but with a couple of weaknesses.The mast step and the rigging attachment points. You can put in a hardwood mast support to avoid dishing of the deck and we put in reinforcing brackets to link the hull to the D-ring in the deck. So look out for concavity at the mast and convexity at the rigging attachment. Oh ...and the forehatch tends to leak and you sometimes find they have been replaced with a Lewmar or the like or fiberglassed up solid.
Good luck.

 

[lancerno1]

I had a bilge keeled Pandora a few years ago - she was an ideal little boat- sailed well, simple, no real faults she was a bit cramped for 4 of us but we did cruise the French coast and Channel Islands a number of times living aboard for 3-4 weeks at a time.
I did remove the ply half bulk heads and made up a metal tube mast support which did seem to work. It certainly made a bit more living space.

 

[sailorman]

very good boats fun to sail.
we couldn't afford one so had the Prelude for 3 years.
build quality ok & they have stood the test of time, the original Trotter by Van der Stadt must be over 40 yrs old now.

 

[dellboy]

Thanks for your help guys, sounds promising

 

[Mike2309]

I have a Pandora too, bought it just over a year ago. I agree on all the positives above, and the reservations about the forehatch - it's an odd shape and difficult to keep watertight, and since I've never used it in earnest I'm thinking I will glass it up solid.
The problem of the bulkhead-or-pole mast support is still under consideration. Mine has had a pole fitted which makes accessing the forepeak quite a gymnastic exercise. So I shall probably revert to a bulkhead.
There is one other issue - the outboard well. Water swilling around inside it when you are sailing is pretty noisy unless you have a plug in it - in which case where is your outboard? Hanging on the transom rail? - and you'll haul it off there and put it in the well everytime you want to use it? so where will you put the plug then? (too big for the cockpit lockers)

While i'm at it - the fin keel. I'm lucky to live right on the shore of a sheltered bay where I've laid a mooring just 200 yards from my front door, and I have a friendly relationship with a crane owner who launches and recovers the boat for me. I wouldn't like to pay the going rate either for the mooring or the cranework!

 

[CRASHED AGAIN]

Hi Dellboy,
I have a Pandora 22 needing some repair work, for sale at an actractive price, if you don't mind doing a bit of work. You can [edited] private message me for details.
Cheers, Chris.