Sailors...help me look for a boat!

Nathans_Dad · Nathans_Dad's Garage

Over the past few years I have slowly been kicking around the idea of buying a sailboat. I am basically a beginner, my dad has sailed boats since I was about 15, he sold his last one (a 43 foot boat on the Chesapeake) about 8 years ago. Back in high school we would race our 23 footer...although not very well. My main job was trimming the sails and such, every so often I would be at the helm.

Anyhow, that was 18 years ago. What I am thinking of now is trying to get back into sailing with my kids. I am thinking about a boat that would be easily trailerable, ideally would fit into my 3rd space in my garage and would be fairly easy to sail for a beginner yet quick enough to be raced in year or two. A boat that fits into a regatta type class would be ideal. Oh, and I want to spend less than 3k for the whole thing, trailer, boat and sails.

I was thinking either dinghy or catamaran, probably somewhere in the 15-18 foot range. Of course my eye is on the racing, sexy types but I know that isn't where I should start. I would like a boat with both a main and a jib. Spinnaker ability would be a plus, but I wouldn't be running a spinnaker for a year or so I would imagine.

Any ideas? Preliminary research has yielded the Thistle, the Wayfarer and maybe a Hobie 16. I also looked into the Laser but that seems to be mainly a one man boat and I really want something that can be handled with a one or two man crew so my son can help out.

charlesbahn · charlesbahn's Garage

Flying Scot- used at that price.

Normy · 04-30-2009, 04:18 PM

About 15 years ago, I owned a simple 18 foot open cockpit day sailer. It had a 5 hp British Seagull engine on the back, and was in decent, though not spectacular shape overall.

It did nothing fast, but it was fun to sail and pretty rugged. I had a great time with it, and would still own it if I hadn't changed jobs and could no longer afford to keep it. I'd like to find another one.

My recommendation is exactly what you've described- a 15 to 18 foot boat. Mine had a centerboard- a huge metal fin that was hinged and stuck out the bottom of the boat. The advantage of this is that if you started to run aground, it would just fold and you could turn toward deeper water before you got stuck.

The advantage of the day-sailer like the one that I had over a Hobie-cat is that you can take a bunch of friends along for a little day cruise. And while no where near as fast as that Hobie, it is just as much fun to sail.

Good luck!

N

RKC · 04-30-2009, 05:09 PM

Race? Hobie 16....

Family/friends? Hobie Getaway....I put 4 adults and 5 kids under 12 on a Getaway and still had a decent sail in Lake Michigan last summer...

Arkman · 04-30-2009, 08:05 PM

"Flying Scot- used at that price. "

+1

They are fast, stable, have a large racing class and parts are very available...I think the boat has been the same design for over 40 years (sound familiar).

Great for daysailing, good for kids. fun when its blowing. Motor mount available.

www.flyingscot.com

pwd72s · 04-30-2009, 11:35 PM

I also vote for a nice monohull dinghy. If you think you'd like to race, check out the popular classes in your area. 15-18 feet sounds about right...Thistle is a good class as long as there is an active fleet near you.

Oh, remember to measure the mast when thinking storage...

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

It all depends on how wet and how active you want to be. Do you want to have someone hanging on a trapeze? Do you mind going swimming? does the crew mind a dunking?

Cats are a whole nother world and are going to be wet and require an active crew. If you turtle them they can be a bear to right. They are fast and fun but very different from a monohull

all the smaller center board dinghy types are going to be very wet and some will require crew out on a trapeze. The smaller the boat the easier to single hand(it's often difficult to pry another body loose for a day on the water)

the dryest(though still not dry) are going to be the small keel boats like an Ideal 18.

It's always more fun w/ active one design fleets, look around your area to see what's active

Thistles, Flying Scot, Vanguard, Optimist are all great boats.

Jim Richards · 05-01-2009, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arkman

"Flying Scot- used at that price. "

+1

They are fast, stable, have a large racing class and parts are very available...I think the boat has been the same design for over 40 years (sound familiar).

Great for daysailing, good for kids. fun when its blowing. Motor mount available.

www.flyingscot.com

+1. The Scott was my first thought, as well. You need to look into what classes of boats race in your area, as they differ from region to region. I would also suggest you go slow with your kids because you want them to be confident in their and your skills before you throw in the pressure of racing. Everyone likes to be around a relaxed, confident skipper.

Also, be mindful that they might not be all that interested in the racing part of the activity.

targa911S · 05-01-2009, 05:09 AM

Thistle...Dragon...

crb07 · crb07's Garage

I grew up sailing/racing at a local sailing club. Find one in your area and see what the classes are (Thistle, Flying Snot, ect.) Sailing clubs are always looking for new members so you will probably be invited for a weekend and could even try out some boats. If your kids can get in a Jr. sailing program that will be a plus.

fuelie600 · 05-01-2009, 05:22 AM

I would check the local "yatch clubs" to see what they are racing. If you get into a boat in their active classes, you can always go racing when you are ready. If you buy a boat that nobody races locally, it will be harder to do.

You can also crew on a couple of different boats and see what you like.

The 18ft range is fun and can hold you and the kids for day sailing.

Hard-Deck · 05-01-2009, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuelie600

I would check the local "yatch clubs" to see what they are racing. If you get into a boat in their active classes, you can always go racing when you are ready. If you buy a boat that nobody races locally, it will be harder to do.

You can also crew on a couple of different boats and see what you like.

Sage

Rot 911 · 05-01-2009, 05:45 AM

What Chris said. Join the local sailing club. Many of them have boats you can rent or borrow. You might find that you don't like it as much as you did 18 years ago.

304065 · 05-01-2009, 06:18 AM

Flying Scot for sure, get one already rigged for racing.

I raced on big boats for a couple years and then got in the Scot and learned how to sail and race for the first time. Big boats focus on orchestration of operations- small boats it's trim/tactics all rolled into one. And a Scot fits on a trailer, and the discipline of setting up the rig every time you take it out will make you a better rig tuner.

drcoastline · 05-01-2009, 07:39 AM

I started sailing when I was 8 and have sailed/raced mostly everything from a sunfish up to a 45' J boat including several catamarans. It's is good advice to check your local sailing/yacht club to see what they are sailing and you can get help tweaking the boat from other members. I would advise staying away from a cat of any sort at this time. First they are very finicky you and your kids will become frustrated very quickly and may loose interest in sailing trying to get it to sail, especially when trying to come about into the wind. Secondly when they are moving even in light air can lift a hull very easily and unexpectedly and this may scare your kids away from sailing. Put a cat on hold until you have more experience. Two mono hull boats with classes through out the nation are the GP-14 and the O'day 22. Both fit your criteria of easy to to sail, trailer-able, have mains, jibs and spinnakers but most importantly are very stable platforms. Both can also be fitted with a small out board for when you have had enough and want to get home. The O'day is larger than you have described and may not fit your 3rd garage space but you will be able to grow into it and take more passengers and gear. It also has a small cuddy to store dry clothes, towels and food.

When you say kids that means at least two plus you. A 15-18 foot boat having three persons is going to be very difficult to manuver and you will have at least one person on the leward side of the boat. Basically sitting in the water which a young child or teen girl isnt going to like for long. Add to that trying to turn the boat. Three people trying to duck under the boom and swith sides. It's a receipe for disaster.

Do yourself a favor and go a little larger it will pay in the long run. If it were me I would buy a J-24' hands down the best small sail boat ever made. Deffinately not going to fit in the garage but still fits your critera and you can enjoy it for ever.

Good luck and have fun. It's a great sport.

drcoastline · 05-01-2009, 08:02 AM

Oops. Missed the $3,000.00 Budget. The J is going to be out of the picture. But for $5,000.00 it is possible.

Seahawk · 08:10 AM

A friend of mine owns this boat:

http://www.macgregor26.com/

It trailers perfectly, sails well, and when it is calm you can still have fun because the ballast can be emptied, the motor engaged and off you go.

I am no sailing purist and have no racing aspirations, (I've owned both a Prindle 18 and a Hobie 16) but this will be my next boat...after spending many days on the Chesapeake with "purists" I won't crew with anyone but the MacGregor owner.

Edit: I missed the budget as well

Jim Richards · 05-01-2009, 09:01 AM

Paul, I may be completely wrong but, IMO, MacGregors aren't a good choice if racing is a requirement. I think they are primarily daysailor/weekender boats. I don't think they are performance-oriented, or up to the stresses associated with racing. Once again, I could be wrong. I've been out of yacht racing for the past 5-6 years.

VincentVega · 05-01-2009, 09:06 AM

You're dead on Jim. Although, it's sure nice to fire up the big motor and get home when the weather decides it's boss.

Great idea to check into local sailing groups and/or racing. There is a pretty solid Cal group nearby and they have been very helpful in my case. Not to mention, most groups are pretty open and know where deals are and will most likely get a ride on a boat to test the waters.

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

First of all - find a club that's convenient to your house.

Go to one of their social events.

Find out what boats they sail there - but more importantly - find out what classes are racing there. Volunteer to crew.

Then determine what kind of boat. You don't want to be sailing a Thistle when they are all in FD's or Melges 24's.

Texas lakes are good for keelboats - you might be able to pick up a nice Soling, Sonar, etc - but again - you want to sail what the locals are sailing.

When I first moved to Florida - All my experience in college was lasers, 420's, 470's and Soling. In Florida they were racing Sunfish and Sonars. I bought a sunfish and raced it over five years.

Thistles are great boats, roomy - fast - but that big main can make them a handful in windy conditions like you get in Texas.