C420 Sailboat, Building A Boat, Teen Boy

[jyl]

Anyone here a sailor?. Anyone build boats?

For my son's last week of summer vacation, I got him into a teenagers' beginning sailing class at the local sailing club. He is doing it with his friend and dance partner. They are in C420 sailboats, and having a great time. Well, how could you not have a great time, on the water with a pretty girl in the sun and morning breeze.

As I suspected, he really likes sailing so far. His high school has a small sailing club/team, and he's thinking about joining this fall.

I know very little about sailing or sailboats, but I wanted him to have this experience and to go further with it if he wants to. At least so far, the cost seems very manageable. I think the school sailing team has some boats, and a used one costs a few thousand dollars if we did ever have to procure our own. I've heard the line about a boat being a hole in the water that you pour money into, but how big a money pit can a C420 really be?

Now, he likes to build things, and thus he did some research. At the wooden boat building center in Port Townsend WA, there are one week classes in which you build and take home a small boat. For example, you can build a 12' lapstrake dinghy with mast, sail, rigging. I think it is the Chesapeake Light Craft's "Passageway Dinghy". There is a class in November, and we have friends in Port Townsend who would be happy to house him. If he can't do it in November, there will be another class in the spring. I know he can't race this boat, it would just be for fun.

Any general thoughts about teens, sailing, small boats, building a boat, etc? Should I quickly steer him away from this path, does it lead to ruination and drink?. For him, or for me? Encourage him to hang out with his videogaming buddies or down at the skate park where the wholesome kids are?

[nota]

sail other peoples boats
schools clubs or even private owners

they need crew
the cost is minimal
you ain't stuck on one type of boat

[gatotom]

We have had a C&C 36' 1980 sailboat for 11 yrs in a 38' slip in Anacortes. Yearly cost with slip fees, electricity, insurance and repairs which I do myself is 5K.

By my estimates after raising 3 children, a boat is a bargain. I have no idea what a C420 sailboat is.

[jyl]

It is a 12' sailboat, a standard type used in school sailing teams, live on a little trailer or just pulled up on dock. Seems it would be a very small hole in the water. Anyway I'm informed the school team has a fleet of boats.

[jrj3rd]

My son and I built one of Chesapeake Light Craft's Eastport Prams when he was 11. Sure it doesn't get used very much (he is now 24) but I would do it again in NY second just for the time we spent together doing it. Memories are worth something. CLC's kits are very well done. Build something together. It will mean more and he can pass it on to his kids.

[Nostril Cheese]

Ex of mine had a sailboat. I grew tired of working on a boat very quickly.

[drcoastline]

John, I think your question is a bit facetious, but I'll answer it any way. Encourage your son to sail and to take the boat building class. BTW- do it with him you will bond and make great memories. Sailing teaches all sorts of skills. Trouble shooting, People management, communication, cooperation skills in a crew boat, Navigation, how to read the sky, water and wind. Boat building teaches many skills as well and is highly satisfying when you are sailing what your hands built. Competitive sailing is great fun, generally no drugs are involved the camaraderie is great. I began sailing when I was about 10 and have friendships that still last.

After the initially purchase the costs of maintaining a 420 will be minimal, unless he becomes really competitive. Then you will be buying new sails every other season and maybe even a new boat. The 420 is a smaller version of the 470 which has been an Olympic class boat since the early 70'.

[VincentVega]

CLC makes nice kits. They are local to me and a nice bunch of folks if that counts for anything. There are much cheaper ways to get on the water but a CLC kit is a great experience. I went out on a Passagemaker a few years ago and it is a nice little boat. Nice that it can row, sail and take a small motor so its not a one trick pony. The take apart option is nice too.

[LWJ]

John,
I have a sailboat in Portland on the columbia. I am happy to go out with you and your son. Willamette sailing school is supposed to be the ticket for teens. They have a summer camp as well. No thoughts on building other than there is a wooden boat building coop in town that has lots of tools, wisdom, and is super cheap.

Ruination and drink? Most certainly.

Larry

[sailchef]

I have a life long friend who started out on J-24 's and now races J-105's. He travels the northern hemisphere and is sponsored by a very large Sail manufacturer. For him, it has been a 50 year long love of the sport.

Another friend has a classic 1960's era 38' wooden cruiser. He probably spends more time on his boat than the first friend. He's always oiling or varnishing or sewing something, as well as working on all the electrical and mechanical. His boat rarely leaves the dock.

They both love what they do. Sailing isn't for everyone, but for some it can be contagious.

Start out slow, learning to sail is a great adventure. If its meant to be you'll be looking at bigger boats soon enough.

I think every young man should experience all the trials and tribulations that sailing has to offer.

[osidak]

My son just joined his school's sail team. At 12 he is unable to compete until next year but he is spending this year going to all the practices and we will go to some of the competitions as well so he gets a feel for what is going to go on. He loves it. For the team they are using brand new c420's (420cm or 13'9" boats) - My father bought him a Holder14 about 2 years ago as well.

We are located in NC - the school team travels from New Orleans to Florida to Connecticut for competitions.

[biosurfer1]

Originally Posted by jyl

but how big a money pit can a C420 really be?

I bet that's the same thing the previous owner of your future boat thought too

[jyl]

Thanks everyone!

Larry, if you want to take the boat out sometime, we'd love to crew. Well, he'll crew and I'll get in the way.

[RedBaron]

Get him into it; I regret not doing it when I was young. Its a fun sport to be a part of in college. One of my buddies was on the sailing team and they were a very tight group. It was one of the few teams that consisted of normal people with some cute girls and wild parties.

[Kraftwerk]

Building boats is a whole other way to understand the nautical world. I would fully encourage that in a kid . You are a lucky parent if the kid is not in front of a screen all day.
Sailing is great. I sail all year 'round, race all winter ; Frostbiting it's called. (This summer has been difficult to get the time on the water oddly enough.) Sailing is a good thing on many levels. Get the kid racing. They will learn everything 10x faster. Also consider the spirit of competition: good sportsmanship is alive and well in sailboat racing, generally. It is a skill he will have for life. There is something to be said for being on the water comfortably and harnessing the wind while respecting the forces of the sea and nature. 1000x more so if the boat was built by the person sailing it.. Amazing kid you have there.

[jyl]

Is the Portland co-op "Rivers West"?

[vash]

this is "dad of the year" stuff. nice!!

i dont know crap about sailing, but i do recognize an involved dad.

[scottmandue]

My dad bought a beat up dingy so he and my brother could do father son time... boat leaked a lot so they put a layer of fiberglass on it (lot of mess/work), then it broke the wood mast, they built a new mast but by then my brother lost interest (he discovered girls).
I took over the boat (but my dad had lost interest by that time because it was such a PITA). I laid a fresh gel coat on it and had many fun days with my friends (no professional or club training, all self taught).

But I digress,

Wouldn't be cheaper/easier to find a C420 on craigslist and just hit the water?

[LWJ]

I think Rivers West is correct. I have a buddy who belongs. I can connect you if desired. Stupid cheap. I would do it if I had more time.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Wouldn't be cheaper/easier to find a C420 on craigslist and just hit the water?

This would be a solid strategy during the first year. Then see if a project still interests him.