ok you ask so the story is.......
Previously had a 23.5. good boat. got (3 foot itis) and wanted a 26. Sold the 23.5 but couldn't find a good 26 that I could afford and close enough for me to go get. A couple of years passed. Then I stumbled upon this 26. It was a very good deal, but had been neglected very badly. I bought it knowing it was a project and needed work. I'm going to blame this part on the wife because she didn't think progress was happening fast enough on the 26 and wants to sail now. I was in a tizzy trying to get everything done on the 26 and the stress levels are building... Then I came across the 23.5 fairly close and reasonably priced, and almost ready for the water. So we decided to get the 23.5 and use it now, and that gives me the leisure to work on the 26 at a comfortable pace and do it right instead of rushing it.
Now on a side note, I am very familiar with the 23.5 and had not even been on a 26 when I started looking.
1st note is the 26 is considerably larger than the 23.5. I know its only 3 foot but man its a lot of 3 foot.
it is more difficult to rig, and tow.... (have not done it yet but assume to launch also).
the 23.5 rigs easier and tows wonderfully.
The interior on the 26 is weird. The boat is way bigger, but sleeping arrangements are better on the 23.5.
The V birth is actually useable on the 23.5 but not so much on the 26.
The table in the 26 is huge and eats up all the interior space. People have modified them to make them smaller, but either
way the table is just in the way at all times. So I just removed it and it opens up the interior greatly. This however makes the
V birth unusable for adults because you had to spin the table around to extend the v birth in order to use it. We like the room so much better without the table and we plan to just modify our sleeping arrangements and just use the aft birth and settee's to sleep on. The enclosed head is nice on the 26, though it in itself eats up a lot of real estate....
Ok, now I just rambling... so the plans..... Use the 23.5 now and work leisurely on the 26 getting it in top shape.
Then switch over to the 26 later, and I'll probably just keep the 23.5 for a trailer boat... I know the 26 can trailer, but believe me its much more envolved....
