ARCONA 400
PRICE £125,000-£175,000 YEAR 2001-2010
The Swedish-built Arconas are designed to withstand the toughest sea conditions and have earned an enviable record. At the heart of the 400’s structure lies a substantial galvanised steel floor frame to which the mast, rigging and keel are firmly attached. The hull and decks are foam sandwich and her plywood bulkheads are bonded in.
The cast-iron stub keel came in varying lengths, to which was bolted a 2.7 tonne lead ballast bulb. She has a big wheel, but the mainsheet is easily reached from the helm. The primaries are also just a short stretch away and all controls are led aft.
There are no cockpit seat lockers in the three-cabin version, but the lazarettes are deep. A gated walkway leads to a short transom step.
Wide side decks enable secure access, and her coachroof drops gently towards the uncluttered foredeck, where the large chain locker also contains a windlass and furling drum.
The 9/10ths fractional rig sports a keelstepped, triple spreader mast and a 6:1 backstay tackle. Most had a double-ended mainsheet and a 110 per cent furling genoa. A bowsprit was optional for those wanting to fly an asymmetric.
She is fitted out to a high standard with mahogany joinery. She had one or two aft cabins and the option of a second heads. In the former the aft berth is wider, the heads larger and there’s a deep cockpit locker. Her saloon boasts ample headroom and straight settees. There is stowage aplenty and a central dropleaf table seats six people comfortably.
The U-shaped galley has twin sinks, fullsize cooker, fridge and generous stowage, while the heads are roomy. Under sail she is fast and agile. Perfectly balanced, she carries her way through a tack with little loss of speed and is exceptionally close-winded.