Swin Ranger - Sailability

[Guest]

Has anyone experienced sailing a Swin Ranger 22. I would appreciate any comments on seaworthiness, seakindly sailability etc.
Is she a good boat for a beginner?
Any info appreciated.
Thanks
Neil

 

[stretch33]

Mate of mine's got one, he mainly motors about. His is ketch rig and to be fair don't sail at all. Think he only hauls the washing up on a run as it won't sail to w/w at all. Very shallow draft so plenty of leeway. We often congregate on it tho as its got plenty of room in it. Always welcome for a cuppa on it.

 

[LadyInBed]

I had one for 15 years. Mine was standard bermudan rig, with boom roller reef main and roller genoa. Don’t touch the ketch rig - the mains and foresail are too small and the mizzen is poked on the transom and just gets in the way! The only improvement that I thought would improve the sailing ability would have been to put a 2ft bowsprit on, as there was quite a bit of weather helm.
The engine was a 7.5hp Yanmar 1GM with a 3 blade prop which would keep her going at 5 knots all day (and night) using about 1/2 gal an hour. 6ft headroom, tiller and wheel steering with all round viz. Sleeps 4.
I used to do Weymouth - CI's in it regularly. You pick your weather, F3 was pleasant, F4 was just right, F5 well reefed and a bit bumpy. Easy to sail single handed with an Autohelm, if the weather's wet you can sit inside and still keep a good lookout.
The only reason I sold it was because the family and I had grown it and I wanted something bigger to cope with heavier weather and longer distances. Though having said that, I took my Swin Ranger to the Med twice, via the canals, so living on it for five months at a time.

 

[paulrossall]

When I was berthed in Farndon marina at Newark the boat next to me was a 22ft Swin Ranger and the owner lived on it as he was working on a cantract locally. He normally sailed it out of Preston, or somewhere near there, so did his sailing in the Irish Sea. It was a sloop and he had sailed it in some difficult conditions and spoke very highly of it's sea-worthyness. It did not sail up to wind very well but he just turned the engine on. It has incredible accomodation for a 22ft boat and appeared to be very strongly constructed. He had removed the guard rails and stantions as there was not enough room to move forward easily and he had fitted a very strong stainlees steel hand rail round the cabin roof to hold on to when going forward. I was very impressed and would consider buying one if I end up sailing on my own.

 

[Guest]

Many thanks for the replies.
I will start trying to sail one in ernest this winter.
I took a test run and found her a bit uncomfortable in a following sea and had some difficulty in maintaining heading, however we do like the accommodation!
Thanks agains for the comments

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: following sea

Get rid of the Main and just use the Genoa.