We're on a quest to purchase a boat and have some comparison questions between these two boats. The Passage has the center cockpit and wonderful aft stateroom going for it but I'm wondering if there is any tradeoff in sailing performance between the boats. I've read postings here that the Passage needs about 10 KTS to move it. When I read the specs it seems the Passage has similar demensions and a larger sail plan. Is it the same basic hull or a different design under the water? Does the 43 have the " sugar scoop transom? No pictures on this site. On boats we've chartered it's been great for swimming and boarding the dink. We are planning to spend most of our time off the west coat of Mexico unless we decide to go to the Caribbean first. considering Mexico we expect light air performance to be a big plus. Any and all comments and suggestions would be appreciated.
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Shameless plug
Ken, My parents have a 1991 Legend 43. It is currently in San Carlos, Mexico. They have decided to build a catamaran as my dad likes tinkering and he's got nothing left to tinker with on the 43. It has a swim platform. The 43 & 42 do share the same hull. Their boat has a feathering prop and has excellent light air performance. They also have a cruising spinnaker which helps. They just spent 4 months cruising from San Diego to the Sea of Cortez. Had a wonderful time. The boat performed very well and they (as did we on our boat) got to sail a lot. Anyway, the 43 seems like a good choice for Mexico. My parents added an inner forestay, storm jib, a Spectra Watermaker, 850 ah of batteries, alternator, regulator, weather fax receiver, etc. for their cruise. I don't know which boat would actually perform better. I would think the 43 just because of its lower center of gravity, but they have different rigs (the 43 is fractional, the 42 masthead) so I don't know. The 43 rates about 89 PHRF, which is pretty good for a 43 footer.
Ken, My parents have a 1991 Legend 43. It is currently in San Carlos, Mexico. They have decided to build a catamaran as my dad likes tinkering and he's got nothing left to tinker with on the 43. It has a swim platform. The 43 & 42 do share the same hull. Their boat has a feathering prop and has excellent light air performance. They also have a cruising spinnaker which helps. They just spent 4 months cruising from San Diego to the Sea of Cortez. Had a wonderful time. The boat performed very well and they (as did we on our boat) got to sail a lot. Anyway, the 43 seems like a good choice for Mexico. My parents added an inner forestay, storm jib, a Spectra Watermaker, 850 ah of batteries, alternator, regulator, weather fax receiver, etc. for their cruise. I don't know which boat would actually perform better. I would think the 43 just because of its lower center of gravity, but they have different rigs (the 43 is fractional, the 42 masthead) so I don't know. The 43 rates about 89 PHRF, which is pretty good for a 43 footer.
Shameless Plug II
We own a 95 Legend 430. I guess it depends on how much time one plans to spend on the aft stateroom. We love the boat, rear cockpit and easy access from the water, so didn't worry about the smaller aft stateroom. She is fairly easy for me and my 5' 100# wife to handle. We too use a poleless spinnaker for down wind, but at about 5k of wind she does quite well wing and wing. The only addition to ours has been the installation of (4) 8d batteries, larger converter and alternator..If you make it to San Diego and would like to get together my e-mail is mckee119@hotmail.com
We own a 95 Legend 430. I guess it depends on how much time one plans to spend on the aft stateroom. We love the boat, rear cockpit and easy access from the water, so didn't worry about the smaller aft stateroom. She is fairly easy for me and my 5' 100# wife to handle. We too use a poleless spinnaker for down wind, but at about 5k of wind she does quite well wing and wing. The only addition to ours has been the installation of (4) 8d batteries, larger converter and alternator..If you make it to San Diego and would like to get together my e-mail is mckee119@hotmail.com
P42 is fast enough
Of course, we have a folding prop on ours, so that must be it, but I just returned from 2 weeks sailing it on the Chesapeake Bay and nobody beat us. We even went head to head close hauled with a Naval Academy boat, I think they are 44 foot SparkmanStevens, and he could not gain on us. We tacked down the bay against a Hunter 410, a little smaller but newer, and after about 2 hours we were over a mile in front. We left everyone in our dust. With our drifter for downwind, we do 3 kts in 6 kts of wind, 4 kts in 8 of wind, and about the same speeds up to 50 degrees off the wind. I have no complaints about the speed of the P42 at all.
Of course, we have a folding prop on ours, so that must be it, but I just returned from 2 weeks sailing it on the Chesapeake Bay and nobody beat us. We even went head to head close hauled with a Naval Academy boat, I think they are 44 foot SparkmanStevens, and he could not gain on us. We tacked down the bay against a Hunter 410, a little smaller but newer, and after about 2 hours we were over a mile in front. We left everyone in our dust. With our drifter for downwind, we do 3 kts in 6 kts of wind, 4 kts in 8 of wind, and about the same speeds up to 50 degrees off the wind. I have no complaints about the speed of the P42 at all.
Cruising comfort v. Speed
Ken, my wife and I have a P42 in which we've cruised about 25,000 miles. On the coconut milk run from Mexico through the South Pacific to New Zealand and back we cruised in the company of a Legend 43. The speeds of our two boats were just about identical through the easy light air sailing and the bigger blows as well. I need to warn you that we are more into comfort than speed. Having said that, we prefer the P42. We like the safety of the center cockpit. The radar arch provides an excellent structure for attaching safety harness tethers and handholds. The elevation of the center cockpit gives a better lookout, and provides more protection against getting pooped by following breaking waves. It also keeps you a bit more out of the weather and seas. We like the dodger/bimini support of the radar arch as well. Although following breakers sometimes (but very rarely) broke on the sun deck, they NEVER flooded the cockpit. We also LOVE the aft stateroom. We live and cruise on our boat, and often have family and friends on board. It's really great to have a large comfortable space to always have to ourselves. We have sailed a bit on aft cockpit boats, but not on a Legend, so I cannot attest to its particular advantages. The aft cockpit allows you to keep a closer eye on your sail shape, but, as I said, we are not into speed enough to care. I'm certain that you'll love your boat, regardless of whether you purchase the Legend or the P42. Good luck.
Ken, my wife and I have a P42 in which we've cruised about 25,000 miles. On the coconut milk run from Mexico through the South Pacific to New Zealand and back we cruised in the company of a Legend 43. The speeds of our two boats were just about identical through the easy light air sailing and the bigger blows as well. I need to warn you that we are more into comfort than speed. Having said that, we prefer the P42. We like the safety of the center cockpit. The radar arch provides an excellent structure for attaching safety harness tethers and handholds. The elevation of the center cockpit gives a better lookout, and provides more protection against getting pooped by following breaking waves. It also keeps you a bit more out of the weather and seas. We like the dodger/bimini support of the radar arch as well. Although following breakers sometimes (but very rarely) broke on the sun deck, they NEVER flooded the cockpit. We also LOVE the aft stateroom. We live and cruise on our boat, and often have family and friends on board. It's really great to have a large comfortable space to always have to ourselves. We have sailed a bit on aft cockpit boats, but not on a Legend, so I cannot attest to its particular advantages. The aft cockpit allows you to keep a closer eye on your sail shape, but, as I said, we are not into speed enough to care. I'm certain that you'll love your boat, regardless of whether you purchase the Legend or the P42. Good luck.
43 a bit speedier
I owned a 42 and chartered a Legend 43 once; also sailed several ocean passages on a 430. I believe the 43's are superior sailors, but I'd choose the 42 again based on the deck layout and cabin.
I owned a 42 and chartered a Legend 43 once; also sailed several ocean passages on a 430. I believe the 43's are superior sailors, but I'd choose the 42 again based on the deck layout and cabin.
A VOTE FOR THE 430
WE HAVE HAD OUR 430 FOR A YEAR NOW AND VERY MUCH LIKE THE OPEN MAIN SALOON. WE LOOKED AT BOTH THE 42 AND THE 430, FINALLY DECIDING THAT WE WOULD SPEND MUCH MORE TIME IN THE SALOON THAN INTHE AFT STATEROOM WITH THE LIMITED HEADROOM. WE HAVE BEEN MOST SATISFIED WITH OUR DECISION.
WE HAVE HAD OUR 430 FOR A YEAR NOW AND VERY MUCH LIKE THE OPEN MAIN SALOON. WE LOOKED AT BOTH THE 42 AND THE 430, FINALLY DECIDING THAT WE WOULD SPEND MUCH MORE TIME IN THE SALOON THAN INTHE AFT STATEROOM WITH THE LIMITED HEADROOM. WE HAVE BEEN MOST SATISFIED WITH OUR DECISION.
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