Vanguard Volant 18

[cptdondo]

I have a line on a Vanguard Volant 18. I know little to nothing about this boat; apparently it has spent most of its life in a garage with little use, and from the pictures it looks complete and nearly new.

From what little I've been able to gather it's more of a racing boat, but how is it for general small-ish lake use? I want to use it to putz around on a lake with my 3 year old grandson. Light winds, no waves.

The boat comes with main, jib, spinnaker (YAYA!) and all the rigging looks complete and usable.

I'm going to look at it tomorrow with cash in hand, so please let me know if this is a bad idea. I'm an ok sailor that's seriously out of practice

 

[shemandr]

I didn't find it on sailboatdata.com. It's hard to assess without some facts.
Some things to consider are if it's a wet boat, if it's stabile enough not to capsize, easy to rig, and maybe fun to sail. With a 3 year old I would look to stablity from capsize rather than racing. Scaring you grandson should wait until he's a teen.

 

[Ted]

The Vanguard Volant 18 has a sail area to displacement ratio of 50.22. Although I have never sailed one I'd say it's going to be a quick and responsive boat. In other words it's going to be a handful with just you and a 3 year old. I raced a 17 foot Thistle in my younger days that had a sail area to displacement ratio of 47.63 which is slightly less than the Volant. Three adults hiking going upwind was the norm when the wind speed exceeded 12 knots true. In my opinion the Volant is a bad idea for your intended use. Here's a link to a couple of comments from other people about the Volant.

vanguard volant for beginner

I was wondering if anyone had an opinion of a Vanguard Volant for a beginner sail boat. When I say beginner I mean I've read a few books on sailing but never sailed. How likely are they to capsize? how easy to right? how difficult to single hand? I have done a ton of kayaking and a small amount...

forums.iboats.com

 

[Will Gilmore]

VANGUARD VOLANT - sailboatdata
It looks like a great boat for a lake, but maybe not for a three year old passenger. I would guess she was a wet boat.

Here's another link that might have good information https://forums.sailinganarchy.com/threads/1981-vanguard-volant-information.226855/

If you're not a veteran with that boat, she looks over-canvassed and easy to flip.

-Will

 

[PaulK]

If you came across this in your Google search: https://forums.sailinganarchy.com/threads/1981-vanguard-volant-information.226855/
you would probably pass on this boat. They speak of it being similar to a Flying Dutchman - which means it is definitely a handful. It seems the centerboard is pushed down with a bungee cord arrangement that is inside the centerboard trunk and apparently difficult to set up. Other posts discuss the myriad blocks and lines for adjustments. There do not seem to be many of these boats around, and there may be a reason for that.

 

[shemandr]

I’d look at a CD Typhoon for this use. Trailerable so could be brought to your lake. Way more stable. Way more dry. Way less scary to a child. OP doesn’t have a line on one but that isn’t the way to pick a boat. Many other designs are possible.