I have sailed in the past but am currently rather rusty; I need to get my instincts back. We have two young children and live on a lake and want to buy a sailboat that could handle either 2 adults or me with 1 or 2 children. We want it to be safe (doesn't capsize easily) and easy so I can teach them all to sail and eventually let the kids go out on it themselves. I was thinking of a sunfish because of the single sail, but my husband is good sized and they use larks or other dinghies often on this lake as it often has a stiff breeze. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
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The Capri 14 (W.D. Schock) is a keeled
version of the Lido 14 and is often used for the purposes you describe if you will be keeping the boat in the water. These boats have been made for quite a long time and I'm not familiar with newer boats in this class. I sailed the Lidos quite a bit and managed to never capsize but it is possible, 14 ft. boats like these are pretty comfortable for 2 to 4 people as you describe.
version of the Lido 14 and is often used for the purposes you describe if you will be keeping the boat in the water. These boats have been made for quite a long time and I'm not familiar with newer boats in this class. I sailed the Lidos quite a bit and managed to never capsize but it is possible, 14 ft. boats like these are pretty comfortable for 2 to 4 people as you describe.
O'day Day Sailer vs Rhodes 19
You may want to consider the O'day Day Sailer. At 16'9" it has great cockpit space and is relatively stable for this type of boat. Another option is the Rhodes 19 that is larger but more stable.
You may want to consider the O'day Day Sailer. At 16'9" it has great cockpit space and is relatively stable for this type of boat. Another option is the Rhodes 19 that is larger but more stable.
capri 16/catalina 16
Capri 16 renamed Catalina 16 has 450lb keel, nice cockpit, small cabin inside can sleep 2. Easy to handle alone, and can fit 4-5 in the cockpit. I have one on our lake and it is a wonderful little boat. abe
Capri 16 renamed Catalina 16 has 450lb keel, nice cockpit, small cabin inside can sleep 2. Easy to handle alone, and can fit 4-5 in the cockpit. I have one on our lake and it is a wonderful little boat. abe
Hi Molly, how about a different direction?
I might suggest a larger more forgiving boat with a sizeable ballast. This kind of boat will be more stable, more comfortable and provide a few more family options. So rather than going small, I might suggest a Hunter 25, Catalina 25, or O'Day 25. These boats are easy to sail, have plenty of room, can be acquired for a small amount. These boat are also an investment that your family will not soon outgrow. Don't let their size intimidate you. We just bought a Hunter 25.5 as our first boat. We only knew a little about how to sail and found our new boat wonderful. As an alternative, the Catalina 22, Hunter 23 or O'day 23 are also quite good but are a little more "tippy" than their larger counterparts and don't have the family space as the others. That said, they are still priced similarly but are a little more trailerable if that's a consideration. By going to a keel boat, you're getting into a boat that will be difficult to capsize. Things happen more slowly and your "larger" husband (I'm a "VERY larger" guy and speak from experience) doesn't have to jump around the boat to keep it balanced.
I might suggest a larger more forgiving boat with a sizeable ballast. This kind of boat will be more stable, more comfortable and provide a few more family options. So rather than going small, I might suggest a Hunter 25, Catalina 25, or O'Day 25. These boats are easy to sail, have plenty of room, can be acquired for a small amount. These boat are also an investment that your family will not soon outgrow. Don't let their size intimidate you. We just bought a Hunter 25.5 as our first boat. We only knew a little about how to sail and found our new boat wonderful. As an alternative, the Catalina 22, Hunter 23 or O'day 23 are also quite good but are a little more "tippy" than their larger counterparts and don't have the family space as the others. That said, they are still priced similarly but are a little more trailerable if that's a consideration. By going to a keel boat, you're getting into a boat that will be difficult to capsize. Things happen more slowly and your "larger" husband (I'm a "VERY larger" guy and speak from experience) doesn't have to jump around the boat to keep it balanced.
CL16 very nice and stable daysailer
You can check the CL16 on CLsailboats.com They're a great boat and fit the discription of what you need. They very stable, easy to sail, solo or with others, have plenty of storage, and they're currently manufactured. Good luck with with your descision. Bob
You can check the CL16 on CLsailboats.com They're a great boat and fit the discription of what you need. They very stable, easy to sail, solo or with others, have plenty of storage, and they're currently manufactured. Good luck with with your descision. Bob
Falcon or O'Day Day Sailer Type
I looked up your lake and saw that the area is about 200 acres which isn't all that large. The depth seems good except for where the upper lakes join with the lower lake so there it could get a tad shallow. Map link: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfw_pond.htm For such a small lake you wouldn't need a large boat for carrying "stuff" along so a day sailer type would be good. The Falcon is a circa mid 60's boat, fractional sloop rig with a cuddy and swing-up rudder. Some had swing-up rudders as well which is a really nice feature especially if you want to beach the boat. The seats lifted up for stowage under. Length is 15ft-10ins. McVay Falcon web page: http://www.victoriayachts.com/vicsite/index.html Boat for sale: http://oday.home.att.net/ca/ad0388.htm The O'day Daysailer, recommended by Mr Damon, is very similar to the Falcon, a newer design and a tad larger. There were a lot of these boats built so there should be more available on the used market. This site has some listed for sale: http://oday.home.att.net/classifieds.htm Both boats would be very suitable for your purpose. Additionally, with a trailer you could take tow the boat to other bodies of water for new experinces. I would imagine a boat could be found in rough but sailable condition for under $1,500. An older used boat isn't going to look that pretty - oxidized, scratches, old lines, old sails, etc., but they don't cost as much as a new one either. Recommendation: Since you say it gets very windy I'd suggest having a reef put in the mainsail so sail area can be reduced. These are good family boats.
I looked up your lake and saw that the area is about 200 acres which isn't all that large. The depth seems good except for where the upper lakes join with the lower lake so there it could get a tad shallow. Map link: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfw_pond.htm For such a small lake you wouldn't need a large boat for carrying "stuff" along so a day sailer type would be good. The Falcon is a circa mid 60's boat, fractional sloop rig with a cuddy and swing-up rudder. Some had swing-up rudders as well which is a really nice feature especially if you want to beach the boat. The seats lifted up for stowage under. Length is 15ft-10ins. McVay Falcon web page: http://www.victoriayachts.com/vicsite/index.html Boat for sale: http://oday.home.att.net/ca/ad0388.htm The O'day Daysailer, recommended by Mr Damon, is very similar to the Falcon, a newer design and a tad larger. There were a lot of these boats built so there should be more available on the used market. This site has some listed for sale: http://oday.home.att.net/classifieds.htm Both boats would be very suitable for your purpose. Additionally, with a trailer you could take tow the boat to other bodies of water for new experinces. I would imagine a boat could be found in rough but sailable condition for under $1,500. An older used boat isn't going to look that pretty - oxidized, scratches, old lines, old sails, etc., but they don't cost as much as a new one either. Recommendation: Since you say it gets very windy I'd suggest having a reef put in the mainsail so sail area can be reduced. These are good family boats.
although...
although I sail an O"Day (which I love to pieces) and an O"day 192/20 would be a nice boat, take a look at an Ensign. They are GREAT daysailors 24 ft. with a full keel, easy to sail, can be trailored, big cockpit with high backs, has a large class following with Many fleets all over the North East
although I sail an O"Day (which I love to pieces) and an O"day 192/20 would be a nice boat, take a look at an Ensign. They are GREAT daysailors 24 ft. with a full keel, easy to sail, can be trailored, big cockpit with high backs, has a large class following with Many fleets all over the North East
CC mercury
I learned to sail in one of these. They are very sea worthy come in both keel and centerboard versions and at 15 feet are not too big for the Lake. Check them out at community boating. Actually better idea join community boating and spare the trouble and expense of boat ownership.
I learned to sail in one of these. They are very sea worthy come in both keel and centerboard versions and at 15 feet are not too big for the Lake. Check them out at community boating. Actually better idea join community boating and spare the trouble and expense of boat ownership.
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