[Seahawk]

I am not a sailor, although I have spent a lot of time on sailboats from 40 footers to day sailors. I have sailed all over the Bay Area (one of my Cousins was a very, very committed sailor ((we called him Jim de Leon just to get a rise)), Charleston, Pensacola, etc. I roomed with three All American sailors from the Naval Academy at one time and they taught me how to really sail.

I have owned a Prindle 18 (for years) and provided launch service on my boat ramp to a number of small day sailors.

But I am not, definitively not, a sailor. Why?

Because unless the winds are right and the water is right, sailing bores me to the point of Waterborne Seppuku.

That and sailors are the most prickly, know it all's this or any other sport has produced, with the exception of Horsewomen: bad company and I can't deny.

Here in the Potomac River and Chesapeake there is a race called the Governors Cup. I have been asked to crew a few times and refused. RACING sailboat Mustafa's make the average sailboat D-Bag appear docile and mute. It is that bad.

So, to the OP, you are too big for a day sailor with your experience level. The advice to get one was excellent but get a Cat instead...at your size and weight you'll need every bit of 18 ft.

Learn to sail, spend time on the water and be happy. Buy everything, and I mean everything except safety equipment, used. Pennies on the dollar.

Then, if you are still committed to the insanity, get a used MacGregor: None of the people you want to ENJOY sailing with you will care that the boat makes really cool sailors cringe even though the experts have probably never stepped foot on one.

Like they have any clue the real differences between a Morgan and a Mac.

Your friends, who again, just want to have a pleasant day on the water, will enjoy motoring back to the harbor at 20kts in August in Mississippi after the wind dies while the Dennis Connor wannabe's are sweating their asses off. The other cool thing about a Mac - maybe you just want to take Mom and Dad out for a sunset cruise without rigging sails. You can.

After that trial, then get serious about wood and the rest. Ease into this and ignore the purists...they are all insane.

Trust me on this. The last time I sailed was the day that the Navy Captain buddy of mine moved away with his Mac.

I loved that boat. If I ever get another boat of any kind, here in Maryland, it will be a Mac.