I am looking to purchase my first sailboat. I am a complete novice and plan to trailer the boat rather then keep it in the water. I want to use the boat to sail in the Delta and SF Bay and will sleep on it overnight periodically with my wife and 2 children. I have been looking at the Catalina 22 and 250 and the Hunter 240 and 260 aswell as the MacGregor 26. Which one would those of you with experience recommend? All thoughts and opinions appreciated.
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As a "Complete Novice"
I'd say don't buy anything right away. Join a local sailing club, make it known you want to go out on different types of boats. If folks in your area are anything like those in this area, if you tell them you're wanting to compare models to buy, they'll be just about fighting to get you on their boats. We're all proud of what we own, and deep inside, like the "validation" that comes from convincing others we made a good choice. Seriously, sailing on a few different models will give you a better guage of what to buy. Also, talk to the owners, a LOT. I had this "vision" of keeping my boat on a trailer as well, not knowing what a pain it was to step and unstep the mast, and what a pleasure it is to have it in a slip, ready to go with a few minutes notice.
I'd say don't buy anything right away. Join a local sailing club, make it known you want to go out on different types of boats. If folks in your area are anything like those in this area, if you tell them you're wanting to compare models to buy, they'll be just about fighting to get you on their boats. We're all proud of what we own, and deep inside, like the "validation" that comes from convincing others we made a good choice. Seriously, sailing on a few different models will give you a better guage of what to buy. Also, talk to the owners, a LOT. I had this "vision" of keeping my boat on a trailer as well, not knowing what a pain it was to step and unstep the mast, and what a pleasure it is to have it in a slip, ready to go with a few minutes notice.
Listen To Herb
and take at least a basic sailing course.You don't want to make an expensive mistake and you and your family will probably enjoy checking out different boats.Your wife will eventially be in command so get her involved.Having her take a sailing course with you would be a good idea.Do it right and you'll have years of fun.
and take at least a basic sailing course.You don't want to make an expensive mistake and you and your family will probably enjoy checking out different boats.Your wife will eventially be in command so get her involved.Having her take a sailing course with you would be a good idea.Do it right and you'll have years of fun.
Buy Used And Plan On Selling
I would recommend you buy used and look for boats with the best resale value. With a family of four and if you all learn to love the activity, my guess is you'll move up to a bigger boat. A used Catalina is easy to find, easy to sale, and holds its value.
I would recommend you buy used and look for boats with the best resale value. With a family of four and if you all learn to love the activity, my guess is you'll move up to a bigger boat. A used Catalina is easy to find, easy to sale, and holds its value.
Listen to Herb and Ken
Mark, I have my current boat because the PO bought it without involving his wife (who hadn't sailed) first, so try some sailing before buying. This will give you some time to think about trailer sailing vs. a slip. I have done both and we use our boat far more often with it in a slip. Kevin
Mark, I have my current boat because the PO bought it without involving his wife (who hadn't sailed) first, so try some sailing before buying. This will give you some time to think about trailer sailing vs. a slip. I have done both and we use our boat far more often with it in a slip. Kevin
buy something
Hello Mark, If you want a boat, then buy one. Like others have written, don't buy a new one. You can find nice older Catalina 22's, in nice, sail away condition, for $5,000. It won't be new (it will be in the early 80's) but it will look and sail fine. If you find you love sailing you'll want a bigger boat. If you don't like it, you'll end up sailing it. Heck, maybe you'll even keep it. My point is that if you buy the boat for a decent price you will be able to sell it for about the same. Last year I bought a catalina 22. Trailer sailed it all year. Loved sailing, hated the rig, launch, recover routing. I put the boat on a mooring this year and it was great. Wanted a bigger boat, found one and bought it. I sold the C22 in 1 week to the first person who saw it. The C22 is a great boat to learn on. It might be OK for 4 people for a night, but it will be tight. Good luck, Barry
Hello Mark, If you want a boat, then buy one. Like others have written, don't buy a new one. You can find nice older Catalina 22's, in nice, sail away condition, for $5,000. It won't be new (it will be in the early 80's) but it will look and sail fine. If you find you love sailing you'll want a bigger boat. If you don't like it, you'll end up sailing it. Heck, maybe you'll even keep it. My point is that if you buy the boat for a decent price you will be able to sell it for about the same. Last year I bought a catalina 22. Trailer sailed it all year. Loved sailing, hated the rig, launch, recover routing. I put the boat on a mooring this year and it was great. Wanted a bigger boat, found one and bought it. I sold the C22 in 1 week to the first person who saw it. The C22 is a great boat to learn on. It might be OK for 4 people for a night, but it will be tight. Good luck, Barry
Macgregor 26
The old style 26 is a pretty good boat especially if you will keep it on a trailer. I had a 1988 Mac for about 8 years. We towed it behind a Chevy S10 with a 4.3 liter automatic with no problems. It had surge brakes on the trailer. The mac weighs 5-600#s less than a Catalina 22. My wife and daughters liked the enclosed head!!!! The berth under the cockpit is large even if it is a little low. The mast was easy to raise and lower. We could have the boat in the water with 15-20 minutes. Getting it back on the trailer was a little more work. The Mac was a surprizingly good sailer especially in light winds. If you are going to keep it at home on a trailer it is hard to beat a Mac 26. I don't like the new Mac 26 it can't decide if it's a stinkpot or a sailboat. An added feature of the Mac 26 is that it's unsinkable!!!!
The old style 26 is a pretty good boat especially if you will keep it on a trailer. I had a 1988 Mac for about 8 years. We towed it behind a Chevy S10 with a 4.3 liter automatic with no problems. It had surge brakes on the trailer. The mac weighs 5-600#s less than a Catalina 22. My wife and daughters liked the enclosed head!!!! The berth under the cockpit is large even if it is a little low. The mast was easy to raise and lower. We could have the boat in the water with 15-20 minutes. Getting it back on the trailer was a little more work. The Mac was a surprizingly good sailer especially in light winds. If you are going to keep it at home on a trailer it is hard to beat a Mac 26. I don't like the new Mac 26 it can't decide if it's a stinkpot or a sailboat. An added feature of the Mac 26 is that it's unsinkable!!!!
Look before you leap!
Mark, keep in mind that whatever you buy, it'll likely be your first, with larger boats down the line. So be sure to keep in mind resale, and get something that's popular locally. That'll also help with your learning, as local sailors who sail the same type of boat (especially if you decide to race) accelerate your learning curve. With a family of 4, and on a trailer your choices are limited if you want a comfortable weekend. The larger boats you mention will do it. But the only place that has a lot of well-used trailersailors in Norcal is Folsom lake. In SF Bay and Delta, you see mostly in-water boats. And you can get a good Cal 2-27 or Catalina 27 for under $10K, much less than the 250 or Hunters. And with those, you can do some longer sails like to Monterey when you're up to it. It's good idea to join a club and sail as crew on other boats for awhile. That way you'll learn what you want and don't want, and learn from others. A sailing club like OCSC also helps with both the learning and deciding. Good luck, and welcome to a great sport in a great location!
Mark, keep in mind that whatever you buy, it'll likely be your first, with larger boats down the line. So be sure to keep in mind resale, and get something that's popular locally. That'll also help with your learning, as local sailors who sail the same type of boat (especially if you decide to race) accelerate your learning curve. With a family of 4, and on a trailer your choices are limited if you want a comfortable weekend. The larger boats you mention will do it. But the only place that has a lot of well-used trailersailors in Norcal is Folsom lake. In SF Bay and Delta, you see mostly in-water boats. And you can get a good Cal 2-27 or Catalina 27 for under $10K, much less than the 250 or Hunters. And with those, you can do some longer sails like to Monterey when you're up to it. It's good idea to join a club and sail as crew on other boats for awhile. That way you'll learn what you want and don't want, and learn from others. A sailing club like OCSC also helps with both the learning and deciding. Good luck, and welcome to a great sport in a great location!
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