I am interested in finding a good boat that will suit me and my wife. I have a fair bit of sailing experience (raced Minnows and then a laser and have also sailed a windrush 14 a fair bit) and I have also spent a few seasons crewing on an S80. My wife is not very experienced at all though.

I want a fairly cheap boat that will be fun to take out on the river or inshore type racing around the place. Probably prefer a centreboard type boat rather then a keel boat but only because of the cost.

I like the look of boats like the 420 etc but worry my wife won't ever want to get on a trepeeze. It also needs to be able to handle weight as I am 6'4" and weigh 120kgs.

Any ideas appreciated.

A TS is a possibility but will need a lot more research.

Does anyone know of any clubs that hire any types of boats out for seasons at a time at all?

You don't really comment on what kind of sailing you want to do, apart from "I want a fairly cheap boat that will be fun to take out on the river or inshore type racing around the place".

There are good solid keelboats around at very reasonable prices (I paid $11k). Have a look over at www.tophatyachts.org and you'll see that the Top Hat is a very capable cruising yacht, with full head room, full keel and has a vivid history. Originally designed in the 60s by Primrose and Illingworth for the Port Philip Bay JOG racing, but eventually used as pocket circumnavigators.

Not all that fast, but have good handicaps if you're really going to go racing.

Michael

420's arn't hard to get out on the wire. i race one at the moment. they are great boats to learn on to and are fairly forgiving, they don't nose dive.

MG .. 2 ppl boat no kite or trap hull design more like a 16fter than the 420 style shape .. slef taking headi i think . with a small pole to hold out jib for square running
NORTHIES.. very very similare hull share to a mg but with a kite and 1 trap line .. still fast with out the kite thou

nick0 said...

MG .. 2 ppl boat no kite or trap hull design more like a 16fter than the 420 style shape .. slef taking headi i think . with a small pole to hold out jib for square running
NORTHIES.. very very similare hull share to a mg but with a kite and 1 trap line .. still fast with out the kite thou

I think you got the two boats the wrong way around...

Northie .. 2 ppl boat no kite or trap
MG .. was same hull, now slightly changed... kite and 1 trap

Neither class take weight very well. 120kgs would generally be high for a combined weight letalone just the skipper