Any sailors?

tadd · 06-15-2015, 03:40 AM

Anybody sail on the board? Looking for some advise.

I used to sail when I was young up thru high school... almost every day. Basically lived on the water between dads place on the intercostal waterway in Florida (marker 21 anyone?) and moms place on the Chesapeake bay :-).

However its been 25 years since I have been on the water, but I've got the itch again and will be at the point in a year to consider having a 30-40' to run the wife and I for long weekend trips on the bay. With the Unimog I can pull and launch anything,

, and have plenty of acreage to store it.

So my question is what would be the recommendation to get for the next year or so to get my skills back again. I seem to recall that 30ish feet is about as big as a single hand can run, but that was before the roll up jibs

.

Thoughts anyone?

t

74-911 · 04:29 AM

I recently sold my 34 footer which my wife and I sailed all up and down the TX Gulf Coast for years, no problems handling at all (just need to be very cognizant of the weather and don't do anything stupid). Biggest problem on Gulf coast and intercoastal is running aground.

A good friend has a 42 footer he and his wife sailed (or motored) from TX to Maine mostly on the intercoastal.

As far as building your skills up for a year, something like a Catalina 22 is easily trailerable and you can overnight on. The sails are small enough that you can handle them manually but a small roller furler is really convenient. You can pick up a used one with trailer for very little and it is a good refresher boat. You can easily single hand a 30' footer but trailering one may be a different story. I would think something in the 22-27 foot range with a swing keel would be a good for refreshing and trailering.

drcoastline · 04:22 AM

Hi Tadd,

I am a sailor for most of my life. Started in Sunfish at about 7 yrs old all the way up to off shore racing on Beneteau's, Hinckley's, J boats and a 36 MacGreggor Cat.

There are plenty of good training boats to get your skills back. Most boats now a days can be single handed if set up.

What is your budget for a boat? What do you want to do during the training period? Day sail, over night, weekend?

I also see you are in MD, fair to assume you will be sailing the Chesapeake?

tadd · 06-15-2015, 05:00 AM

dr:
Ultimate plan is for the wife and I to be able to 'bug out' from work and 'escape' in the decade or so to the run up to 'retirement'. We are both feeling the pressure of being 'maxed out' in the seniority of our jobs... senior stuck as it were

.

So being able to load the pups, food and just head out when her schedule and mine overlap for three or four days at a stretch on the 'big' boat. We are mulling over her having a camper trailer and I getting a boat. We then just decide, hit the store, and go for a trip overland or over water

.

As for the short term training boat, I think I'd be happy with a day boat cause I would just take a tent and camping gear like when I was a pup if I wanted a weekend. Wife don't ken that too much, so if a day boat, it will be to destinations we can 'room' at. Mostly it would be me getting back on the water.

It would be around the Chesapeake, but at some point it after getting out of the rat race it would be nice to do a 6 months trip down to Fl via the intercostal.

This is all squishy, cause we are still pushing this around.

Ill buy used. I be handy with tools and have 'worked' on boats before, so that might be something a bit more rough that get worked on till it is ready to use. Big boat would be around $25k ish (cost of a used camper).

I need to nose around the classifieds cause I am way out of touch to what money buys anymore.

VincentVega · 06-15-2015, 05:00 AM

Looking for a project? I'll give you my old Cal25 on the Magothy just north of the bay bridge. Not easily trailered but a tank of a boat you can have a ton of fun with.

Seahawk · 06-15-2015, 05:22 AM

The extent of my sailboat ownership has been an 18ft Prindle Catamaran I was given, but since I am a good mate, I have sailed with a lot of my friends who own sailboats or rent them from the Navy Patuxent Sailing Club, all of it on the Chesapeake.

Here are my observations:

- Owning a non trailer-able sailboat gets old. I sail on arguably the prettiest part of the Chesapeake, where the Bay meets the Patuxent River, up from the Potomac River. Even so, sailing in the same waters over and over becomes tedious.

- Large sailboats are one trick ponies. The big boats just are not as much fun as smaller, more nimble boats.

- The big boats are slow and underpowered when the wind is light. I have sailed with guys that NEVER use power, finding that an affront to all thins sail. Zipping back to the pier at 1kt blows (pun intended).

So, my favorite sailboat, one I am going to consider buying when I have more free time, is the Mac 26, now the Tattoo 26. It trailers like a dream, quick set up, ramp launched and can tow skiers!

I love the thing. It is probably not for the hardcore sailor, but it does so many things well that I envision only needing the one boat since I like to get places in a hurry, fish and do other things than just sail.

That plus I can take it any place I want to sail or boat.

Under power | Tattoo Yachts

My buddy that owns it uses it as a camper as well.

VincentVega · 06-15-2015, 05:31 AM

Quote:

- Owning a non trailer-able sailboat gets old. I sail on arguably the prettiest part of the Chesapeake, where the Bay meets the Patuxent River, up from the Potomac River. Even so, sailing in the same waters over and over becomes tedious.

I guess it depends on where you are, but I dont get sick of it 1 bit. There are hundreds of miles of shoreline to explore, rivers, towns, anchorages... Not to mention going offshore, down the ditch... At the same time, I like to just tie off the tiller and cruise down the Magothy or under the bridge and call it a day.

Seahawk · 06-15-2015, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VincentVega

I guess it depends on where you are, but I dont get sick of it 1 bit. There are hundreds of miles of shoreline to explore, rivers, towns, anchorages... Not to mention going offshore, down the ditch... At the same time, I like to just tie off the tiller and cruise down the Magothy or under the bridge and call it a day.

Just my opinion. This area is really beautiful from the water as well.

Jim Richards · 06-15-2015, 05:55 AM

VincentVega's offer is a pretty good one!

But, if you do decide to get your own "trainer" sailboat, I'd suggest you take a look at the Beneteau First 235 with a wing keel.* Easy to trailer and the cabin is very efficient, including a chart table and marine head. With the wing keel, you'll be able to go more places where the water's too shallow for some of the other boats. The fractional rig will be easier to single-handle in a breeze. And, it's a boat that you'll have no trouble reselling when it's time to get your big boat. Check it out...

Beneteau First 235 - A pocket racer with cruising aspirations! beneteau235.com
Beneteau First 235 Forums :: Index

* Disclosure - I don't own a Bene 235, but would definitely buy one if I was going to stick around the DC metro area longer-term and sail/cruise on the Chesapeake.

LWJ · 06-15-2015, 06:22 AM

I would take up VincentVega!

I started out on dingies in Scout camp and bought a Macgregor 21 a few years ago. The Mac was very cheaply built and not very well engineered but a very fun boat. It was cheap and the guy I bought it from claimed he had slept 4 people in it but I don't know how that is possible. I moved up to a C&C 27 (thanks in part to Notfarnow's comment a while back for drawing my attention to C&C's!). Old Cals, Pearsons etc are built well and cheap to buy. The East coast and South have killer deals compared to West coast pricing. You need to simply buy something and get started-like the Cal25 mentioned earlier!

As I write this, I am feeling the ache from taking my boat out yesterday on the Columbia to celebrate Father's Day with my FIL and have some fun at the same time. We had a perfect wind from the NW and sailed 4ish miles up and down river without a single tack!

Good times are ahead!

Larry

Jolly Amaranto · 06-15-2015, 06:48 AM

I never get tired of sailing. I have lost count of how many times I have been out on Galveston Bay. The scenery is not particularly spectacular but it works for me. I started out on a Sunfish class boat (Starfish) and sailed my dad's 30 foot Westerly more than he ever did. Most folks go through many boats over the years so go with the 20 something foot trailer-able boat till you decide when you want go move up.

Manda Racing · Manda Racing's Garage

I learned to sail(?) this past year at Harbor Sailboats in San Diego. AsA classes. I'm content on the $75 Capri J27's. I'm still trying to get out of irons all the time. I can rent up to a 38 iirc but $350 for weekend.

Walking the docks-- I thought I would have to pay 45k--65k. Min. For a bareboat.

My wife owned a Morgan hull#1 "Rage" 54 that won SF to Hawaii a couple times so her idea of a weekender is a Swan '47. 400k

We enjoy sitting in the clubhouse hot tub at the end of a day in Harbor Island, drinking wine and watching all the pretty ladies in their slips.

I look forward to reading your post after you go out again and if it comes right back. What a legendary area you live in for sailing.

nota · 06-15-2015, 07:27 AM

sailing is currently going foiling
light strong new stuff like carbon fiber allows boats to get up and fly
but at very high cost

the Mac 26, now the Tattoo 26 is a poor sail boat compromised to trailer and power
the cal 25 is a better sailor but slow under power and hard to get on a trailer [needs a lift/crane]
if you can keep it on a mooring/anchor it would get more use then trailer sailing it
docks/slips can cost alot depending on location and demand

bigger boats with roller unfurling are eazyer to sail with less crew
but as I call then unfurling they will do that in a storm so get the kind with a slot
so you can get the sail off the furler it also allows changing the sail eazyer

74-911 · 06-15-2015, 07:27 AM

Your boat options are endless depending on what you want to do. However, if your wife is like most females, a good head which offers some privacy should be at the top of your list of requirements for any boat.

gatotom · 06-15-2015, 07:33 AM

I guess the question is where do you sail? Never sailed the chesepeake, my youngest son has, from what I have been told, it can be very shallow. Myself, I would not be bored, I am sure there is miles of shoreline to discover.

I sail in the PNW, the San Juan Islands, Gulf Islands and Alaska. Never get bored out here. We have a 1980 C&C 36' that regularly sails in the 9K + range. It is currently up for sale, view it on craig's list seattle. Trading up to a Tartan 3800 not so much for the extra room just a newer design that should sail about or alittle better than the C&C.

I can easily sail the C&C by myself, its not the sailing, leaving the slip, anchoring or grabbing a mooring that is hard by yourself, it would be bringing it in the slip. Remember, sailboats don't have brakes, so current, wind direction and your speed are huge factors.

My advise, take up VincentVega's free offer, then when you tire of the ride, its your problem to get rid of it. Go get a boat and start sailing, enjoy.

drcoastline · 06-15-2015, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadd

dr:
Ultimate plan is for the wife and I to be able to 'bug out' from work and 'escape' in the decade or so to the run up to 'retirement'. We are both feeling the pressure of being 'maxed out' in the seniority of our jobs... senior stuck as it were

.

So being able to load the pups, food and just head out when her schedule and mine overlap for three or four days at a stretch on the 'big' boat. We are mulling over her having a camper trailer and I getting a boat. We then just decide, hit the store, and go for a trip overland or over water

.

As for the short term training boat, I think I'd be happy with a day boat cause I would just take a tent and camping gear like when I was a pup if I wanted a weekend. Wife don't ken that too much, so if a day boat, it will be to destinations we can 'room' at. Mostly it would be me getting back on the water.

It would be around the Chesapeake, but at some point it after getting out of the rat race it would be nice to do a 6 months trip down to Fl via the intercostal.

This is all squishy, cause we are still pushing this around.

Ill buy used. I be handy with tools and have 'worked' on boats before, so that might be something a bit more rough that get worked on till it is ready to use. Big boat would be around $25k ish (cost of a used camper).

I need to nose around the classifieds cause I am way out of touch to what money buys anymore.

How many and how big are the pups?

Vincentvega makes you a nice offer. A Cal25 is a nice cruising boat. I don't want to draw any hard conclusions based on the limited information you posted but, my guess is the Cal25 and anything in that class which in my opinion is 27 feet and under will grow real small real fast. A large part of my sailing experience has been racing J-24's. A J-24 is a fast boat as sail boats go. We have reached speeds of 15 knts. which is about 17 MPH. Understand I said "reached" not sustained. This is in a race boat optimaly tuned in 20+ knot winds (23 mph) More often than not we were happy with 10-12knts.(11-13 MPH) in those conditions. The The average 25 foot boat will do about 5.5 knts (6 MPH). cabin space in a 24/25 foot boat is about that of a 10'-12' camper. Picture this, You hose your wife down with your garden hose then ask her to sit in a 10' camper as you drive along a road full of pot holes as you drive 6MPH. No TV to watch, she can't read because she will get motion sick. She asks you to pull over so she can walk the "pups and stretch her legs. Your reply will be OK honey I'll pull over in 45 to 75 minutes. What do you think will give out first, your sailing carreer or marriage?

Here is my suggestion based on limited information. You are lucky you don't live that far from one of the great sailing capitols Annapolis and not far from there Deal. Before you buy anything take a few sailing lessons on some small fractional rigs. A GP-14, O'day Javellin, etc. After you get a few sails under your belt buy a boat in the same size range and practice. The mechanics of boats like the GP-14 are very similar to the larger boats, and they're trailerable. Take your wife on a few weekend trips to Annapolis or Deal and charter with a boat with a captain for a day sail of various sizes and manufacturers 25, 30, 35, 40 etc. Be the crew for the captain, this will give you practical experience on a larger boat. You will see how they feel and handle. How the lines are set up. What you like and don't like. Tiller, center wheel, pod navionics, Sloop, Ketch, Yawl? Your wife will get a feel for the size and ergonomics of the cabins. What she likes and disikes. Refrigerator vs. cold locker. V berth sizes, Heads with separate shower stall vs. Head with a hand held shower. Room for the pups. You get the idea. Annapolis has a great sail boat show in October. Go get on the boats, many manufacturers will give you a test sail.

In the alternative MacGreggor makes a 26 foot trailerable sail boat. Drive to where you want to go, set it up sail for a few hours pull it out take it to the local camp ground and use it as a travel trailer.

KFC911 · 06-15-2015, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drcoastline

...... What do you think will give out first, your sailing carreer or marriage?
.....

An old friend has his 30' Morgan for sale down in Jax. I met his "wife" for the first time probably 25 years ago as we were in a regatta to St. Augustine when another buddy owned the boat. She was "INTO" it for a few years....good times, many good times. I don't think she's been on the boat in the past decade

.

drcoastline · 06-15-2015, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC911

An old friend has his 30' Morgan for sale down in Jax. I met his "wife" for the first time probably 25 years ago as we were in a regatta to St. Augustine when another buddy owned the boat. She was "INTO" it for a few years....good times, many good times. I don't think she's been on the boat in the past decade

.

...and that's a 30 foot boat. I am not in any way trying to discourage tadd from sailing. Just trying to make sure they enjoy the sailing life. In MY experience men especially young men enjoy and tolerate far more than women especially comfortable women. A boat that is to small with out amenities to make one comfortable will not be fun. It will become a point of contention.

greglepore · 06-15-2015, 03:21 PM

Listen to the good Dr. I've had a bunch of boats, and my sailboats have all been around 28-30ft. You have to have an s/o that likes to rough it a bit, and isn't afraid of adventure. Mine is ok with the camping bit, but one day on the Miles river in winds that suddenly picked up to 25 or so with a jammed roller furling really messed with her head. I had to go forward and wrestle the sail while she helmed. No big deal in the scheme of things but it was new to her and freaked her out. She's ok with sailing but hasn't forgotten it, and I'm reluctant to rely on her in a tight corner now.

intakexhaust · intakexhaust's Garage

If interested, contact me offline.
Any Pelican sailors? FS - 61ft Pedrick w/Perkins

Practically in your backyard... by water that is

Take it in the shallows but caution the mast height for bridge clearance. Solo capable.