Argie 15 Question

[europa]

Hi, I’m planning to finish building my Argie 15 this Spring, but I have to wait for the barn to get warmer up here in Vermont. I don’t plan to build a wooden mast, so I am interested in others experience using the mast from a 420, as has been suggested. I have watched Craigslist locally for used, but no luck. The choice buying new is to buy with or without rigging. Will the lengths of the 420 rigging work, with some adjustments, or should I buy unrigged and build up from that.

 Thanks, John 

 

[Major Tom]

I have supplied a lot of rigs for Argies built in South Africa which is where the design by Dudley originated from. The section I supplied was the same as we use on Sonnets, Extras and Dabchicks, a pear shaped section 63mm fore and aft and 49 mm sideways, with a built in track, weight 1kg/m. The section supplied was untapered. Anything your side if the pond with similar dimensions would be perfect.

 

[europa]

Thank you so much for the info. I will check that against what is available here. Interestingly, before I bought the kit for the Argie, I knew of Dudley through the Lotus Europa owners group.

 

[europa]

Let me clarify my question. I am interested in the length of stays, so they can be used on an Argie 15. Buying the "rigged" version of a 420 mast is a better "deal", if they can be used, with some adjustment, rather than thrown out.

 

[steveo]

I doubt the rig for the 420 will work for you. Each boat has its own length requirments for stays and the420 may or may not be longer in which case you certainly will have to re-swage if you plan to try use the fully rigged version.

 

[europa]

Steveo, thanks for your comments. I realize that the lengths of the stays will not match. I intend to check the rig specs of the two boats to see if rigged vs unrigged makes more sense financially, even if lengths need adjustment, since rigged comes with halyards, shrouds etc.