I went sailing a few times with my buddy on his 26 foot boat and totally fell in love with it. I'd now like to get a boat for my wife and I to take weekend trips to the San Juans and other short adventures. I can't spend over $10,000 and would really like to stay below $5,000. I would need something I could trailer, which brings me to my first question... I've seen comments about retractable keels, is this what you need to use a standard boat launch? I've been boating all my life in motor boats, but sail boats have such deep keels, so the whole trailering thing is kind of a mystery to me. When people talk about having dual battery's does that mean that one battery is to start the motor and the other is to run appliances or do they both share duties. Do these require special alternators? With boats that have outboard motors hooked up, how are the battery's charged (Like with a 9.9 Evinrude their isn't a alternator... is there?)? I want enough interior space to sleep at least 4 adults, preferably 6. I'd like to have a cubby that had a alcohol stove, sink, porta-potty, possibly a shower (they don't seem real common to these smaller boats), and a place to put a microwave, and of course a vhf radio. I've mainly been looking at Hunters, Catalina's, and Pearsons because it seems people like those and have kind of avoided the Macgregor's and Bayliner's because they seem to be a bit cheaper, what would you recommend? I keep seeing the boats I'm looking at as being grouped in the "Sloop" category... what does that mean? Anyone care to direct me to a site or give me a quick list of what all the sailing terminology is... for one, sails... I don't know the difference between them and I keep seeing certain ones listed as being 150%... well that sounds good. As far as learning to sail, would you recommend taking a class, reading a book, or winging it? Like I said, I have sailed before, but only a couple of times. I did grow up using boats and being on the water, but only on motor boats. However, I really don't want to put my wife in danger by being reckless and not preparing properly. And lastly, do sailboats cost a ton to maintain? I know this is kind of a broad question, but I want to know if I spend around $5000 on a boat, take it out a couple times a month and store it on dry land when not in use (always doing a full fresh water rinse), will it still cost a lot to keep it up because of general maintenance? If you made it this far, thank you so much for taking the time to look this over. If you respond, thank you even more. Feel free to just put a web adress if you feel that it would be a useful resource for a beginner as myself. Thanks, Brent
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J
Jim Morrison
Lots of options
At $5000 you probably won't find a boat that really sleeps 4. Another option to running out and purchasing a boat right now is to sail with your friend in his 26 (offer to crew any time and you may get in lots of sailing). Owning a boat requires lots of time and money that you may not appreaciate at this point. Another option would be to go partners with your friend if he is ready to move up from his 26' sailboat. If money is a big factor I would suggest a Catalina. i know people think they are "cheap" boats, but I sailed one in Puget Sound for many years and even raced Swiftshore one year and probably got more use out of it than most people with "expensive" boats. The Catalina 22 is the largest I would personally consider trailering, and it does take considerable time to step the mast and launch. A fixed keel boat would probably not be practical to trailer. Incidentally, water balast isn't nearly as good as a traditional lead keel. Two batteries are better than one. Normally there is a master switch so you can run either one or both. How you use them is up to you. You can get outboard motors with alternators. Costly items to consider before purchasing are; Insurance, moorage, sail replacement and maintenance, engine maintenance, bottom paint, registration and licence, tax, survey, running rigging and fitting maint/replacement, safety gear. These things will require a bit more time and money than you first expect. I started with an 8' El Toro 35 years ago and have had 10 sailboats since (now an Ericson 29). Sailing is a wonderful experience and bigger isn't necessarily better. Good Luck. Write me if you have more questions.
At $5000 you probably won't find a boat that really sleeps 4. Another option to running out and purchasing a boat right now is to sail with your friend in his 26 (offer to crew any time and you may get in lots of sailing). Owning a boat requires lots of time and money that you may not appreaciate at this point. Another option would be to go partners with your friend if he is ready to move up from his 26' sailboat. If money is a big factor I would suggest a Catalina. i know people think they are "cheap" boats, but I sailed one in Puget Sound for many years and even raced Swiftshore one year and probably got more use out of it than most people with "expensive" boats. The Catalina 22 is the largest I would personally consider trailering, and it does take considerable time to step the mast and launch. A fixed keel boat would probably not be practical to trailer. Incidentally, water balast isn't nearly as good as a traditional lead keel. Two batteries are better than one. Normally there is a master switch so you can run either one or both. How you use them is up to you. You can get outboard motors with alternators. Costly items to consider before purchasing are; Insurance, moorage, sail replacement and maintenance, engine maintenance, bottom paint, registration and licence, tax, survey, running rigging and fitting maint/replacement, safety gear. These things will require a bit more time and money than you first expect. I started with an 8' El Toro 35 years ago and have had 10 sailboats since (now an Ericson 29). Sailing is a wonderful experience and bigger isn't necessarily better. Good Luck. Write me if you have more questions.
J
Jeff - Just Between Friends
Boat Selection
Brent - you are choosing a wonderful sport and activity you can easily share and enjoy with others. We're currently sailing a MacGregor 22 (our fourth boat) which we've had about 14 years. During that time we also had a Catalina 22 but enjoyed trailing and sailing our Mac more. The MacGregors are a little bit lighter that the Catalinas and sit lower on the trailer making it a little easier to launch or trailer. Rigging time will be the same with either boat. You should not rule out the MacGregor 26 series of boats. The older ones (early models) can be obtained for less than $10,000 and will usually have everything thing you need already on it. The problem will be finding one for sale - very few people let go of them once they have them. The Mac 26 has the most interior room of any trailerable sailboat, sleeps six, has a galley, head, table/dining area and typically a larger motor. The MacGregor company is one of the few sailboat companies still in business and they have produced nearly 35,000 trailerable sailboats. They would be a good choice. Regarding operational and maintainence expenses - Sails can last 20 ~ 30 years or longer if treated properly. If you keep your boat on the trailer then you don't need the expense of bottom paint (anti-fouling paint), replace your lines only as necessary (some of our lines are original '84 lines). We sail with a single battery to run our stuff (radio, lights, etc) but a larger boat should use two. I believe you will find yourself spending more money on the things you "want" for your boat than for things that need servicing. A good boat taken care of will yield very few maintainence issues. Enjoy! ~_/) ~
Brent - you are choosing a wonderful sport and activity you can easily share and enjoy with others. We're currently sailing a MacGregor 22 (our fourth boat) which we've had about 14 years. During that time we also had a Catalina 22 but enjoyed trailing and sailing our Mac more. The MacGregors are a little bit lighter that the Catalinas and sit lower on the trailer making it a little easier to launch or trailer. Rigging time will be the same with either boat. You should not rule out the MacGregor 26 series of boats. The older ones (early models) can be obtained for less than $10,000 and will usually have everything thing you need already on it. The problem will be finding one for sale - very few people let go of them once they have them. The Mac 26 has the most interior room of any trailerable sailboat, sleeps six, has a galley, head, table/dining area and typically a larger motor. The MacGregor company is one of the few sailboat companies still in business and they have produced nearly 35,000 trailerable sailboats. They would be a good choice. Regarding operational and maintainence expenses - Sails can last 20 ~ 30 years or longer if treated properly. If you keep your boat on the trailer then you don't need the expense of bottom paint (anti-fouling paint), replace your lines only as necessary (some of our lines are original '84 lines). We sail with a single battery to run our stuff (radio, lights, etc) but a larger boat should use two. I believe you will find yourself spending more money on the things you "want" for your boat than for things that need servicing. A good boat taken care of will yield very few maintainence issues. Enjoy! ~_/) ~
T
tom b. c-22
oh boy.. wait until the rest see this question...
first timer here also...find a book store..there's lots of books for info related to sailing, but of course classes are the best for learning. books will help with alot of the tech terms.. Just hope you have some time to read all the responses tho...you'll see....
first timer here also...find a book store..there's lots of books for info related to sailing, but of course classes are the best for learning. books will help with alot of the tech terms.. Just hope you have some time to read all the responses tho...you'll see....
B
Bill O'Donovan
Bigger is better
Size matters, not just for comfort but for range. It takes a lot less time and energy to reach the San Juans in a 29 than a 25. $5,000 will get you into a 29 with a mortgage on the balance. Make it part of a home equity loan so you can deduct the interest. Best debt you'll ever have.
Size matters, not just for comfort but for range. It takes a lot less time and energy to reach the San Juans in a 29 than a 25. $5,000 will get you into a 29 with a mortgage on the balance. Make it part of a home equity loan so you can deduct the interest. Best debt you'll ever have.
J
Jeff D
Trailer
Since you live in such a ggreat place to sail, you should look around for a drysail option. This is where you keep your boat on a trailer fully rigged and just have to drop it in the water whenever you want to go out. Saves a lot of effort. You can explore for years by switching drysail areas and this would allow you to get a bigger boat since you only have to trailer occassionaly. There are going to be a lot of choices for you, and in the smaller boat market, it is a buyer's market because people either want to get out of sailing or move up to a larger boat. Start with the link below and put in your wishes. Don't bother with a manufacturer since there are many good boats out there whose manufacturers are no longer in business but are great boats.
Since you live in such a ggreat place to sail, you should look around for a drysail option. This is where you keep your boat on a trailer fully rigged and just have to drop it in the water whenever you want to go out. Saves a lot of effort. You can explore for years by switching drysail areas and this would allow you to get a bigger boat since you only have to trailer occassionaly. There are going to be a lot of choices for you, and in the smaller boat market, it is a buyer's market because people either want to get out of sailing or move up to a larger boat. Start with the link below and put in your wishes. Don't bother with a manufacturer since there are many good boats out there whose manufacturers are no longer in business but are great boats.
A
Al Duquette
Take a chance
Take a chance and look on the net at all the possibilites for the trailor boat. www.Trailorsailor.com has a lot of information,check it out. a friend has bought a 74 23' Coronado and was never a sailor, after 4 weeks of leasons him and his wife love it.
Take a chance and look on the net at all the possibilites for the trailor boat. www.Trailorsailor.com has a lot of information,check it out. a friend has bought a 74 23' Coronado and was never a sailor, after 4 weeks of leasons him and his wife love it.
S
steve rainey
advice on first sailboat purchase 22-29ft
Buy Sailing For Dummies, general info, termologies...lots of WEB sites out there also. My advise is if you want to sail, go on overnight trips, and have the stuff in it you want, you need at least a 27ft. For the price, your looking at older boats prob built in the late 60 and 70s. Thats not a bad thing, just be sure to get a survey before you buy. Make sure its fiber glass and not wood. Get the SailBoat Trader Mag in all conv stores. Big consideration is the engine, inboard or outboard. older inboards usually need rebuilds for the price your looking at. Couple of years ago I bought a 30' Hunter built in 78. Love the boat, fast, responsive, paid $13K. Has inboard diesel rebuilt in 98. I'm upgrading it and sailing and hope to get something closer to a 40' in the future. It's all in what your going to use it for. My experience has been all my life, myself and what I've seen. If you have to trailor it, set up the mast and take it down, etc. after awhile you will tend not to go out as often. I have mine in a boat slip, ready to go. Costs a couple of hundred a month but to me its worth it. Utilities dockside, etc.. Nice place to hang out, like a floating appartment! You might also want to know that no matter what you buy I'd venture to say all sailors always want something bigger..or you could say if you can afford it, its probably not big enough. think thats just the way it is??? Common mistake is to buy to small, then have a hard time selling later on when you want something bigger. Good luck...
Buy Sailing For Dummies, general info, termologies...lots of WEB sites out there also. My advise is if you want to sail, go on overnight trips, and have the stuff in it you want, you need at least a 27ft. For the price, your looking at older boats prob built in the late 60 and 70s. Thats not a bad thing, just be sure to get a survey before you buy. Make sure its fiber glass and not wood. Get the SailBoat Trader Mag in all conv stores. Big consideration is the engine, inboard or outboard. older inboards usually need rebuilds for the price your looking at. Couple of years ago I bought a 30' Hunter built in 78. Love the boat, fast, responsive, paid $13K. Has inboard diesel rebuilt in 98. I'm upgrading it and sailing and hope to get something closer to a 40' in the future. It's all in what your going to use it for. My experience has been all my life, myself and what I've seen. If you have to trailor it, set up the mast and take it down, etc. after awhile you will tend not to go out as often. I have mine in a boat slip, ready to go. Costs a couple of hundred a month but to me its worth it. Utilities dockside, etc.. Nice place to hang out, like a floating appartment! You might also want to know that no matter what you buy I'd venture to say all sailors always want something bigger..or you could say if you can afford it, its probably not big enough. think thats just the way it is??? Common mistake is to buy to small, then have a hard time selling later on when you want something bigger. Good luck...
M
Michael O'
Change Criteria or Change Price
Great that you're looking to join the sailing community! My advice is to re-evaluate what you want and how much you can spend - kinda' like wanting a BMW with all the bells and whistles then looking for a $3000 bargain! How tall are you? I'm 6'2" and being "tall" can present a problem unless you're very willing to live with crouching in a 5'8" cabin. And taller is costlier, just as more LOA is costlier. You said, "I can't spend over $10,000 and would really like to stay below $5,000. I would need something I could trailer" - but a trailer will cost you nearly half that $5000 budget! And $10,000 WITH trailer will get you an older 25-footer like a Catalina or Hunter. Not an Ericson or Pearson...... (You can buy my Pearson 28, originally from Seattle! It's on a trailer, in great shape, and the price is $18,800.) As for your friends you want to take sailing (sleep 6 adults?!?), consider adopting our personal "rule" - sail 6, feed 4, sleep 2! At the price you're looking for, you'll get a portapotty, not a head, not a shower. One v-berth, two settees or a dinette. Not much in a galley. You'll have an absolute BALL, but you're friends are best turned out on the shore after a daysail. Reconsider the microwave, but definitely get a BBQ for the rail - you can grill burgers for your friends at the dock, drink beer in the cockpit, then send 'em off to a campground or hotel or home. You said, "I've mainly been looking at Hunters, Catalina's... and have kind of avoided the Macgregor's". Generally, the Hunters and Catalina's are the Ford's and Chevy's of sailboats - good, solid boats for general use. Your kind of use. McGreggor's you can kick a hole in without raising a sweat, and probably can bend the boom over your knee. We started with a Hunter 25, adapted to the 5'8" headroom for a few years before moving on. Could sleep two others on the settee's but never did. (The "rule", remember?) It was simplified maintenance. A nice boat to learn on, like the Catalina 25 or 22. And cost $8,200 on a two-axle trailer. For the price you're looking for (boat and trailer) check out an older Catalina 22 with a pop-top. That'll give you headroom, sleeping for you and one or two masochists you may bring along. Great beginner boat, learn-to-sail boat, and you can sail all around the Puget Sound in it. There's a grundle of 'em still sailing, and a great support group on the web. And if you're tall, well, just adapt, maybe take advantage of the pop-top! Friends of ours trailer their Venture 23 cutter all over the place. Somewhere different every weekend. He's 6'2" also, and I admire how they get along! It's a gorgeous little boat and quickly rigged at the ramp. I think they're in Jackson, WY this weekend.......... Word of caution - the cost of the boat is NOT the cost of owning it, any more than the cost of a used car is the cost of owning it. E.g., a boat's motor is the sails, not the outboard. New sails for a 25-footer can run more than you paid for the boat! Check out some beginning sailing books (e.g. Colgates Basic Sailing Theory) and you'll learn about sloops, as well as points of sail, etc. The site you were directed to is a great one. It's where you start - you'll wind up visiting Brokers to look at boats, but you should also check out "48 [degrees] North" for owner-listed boats. Come back to this site with your questions before making an offer - these folks have tons of experience and the "process" can be a bit daunting! Bundles of luck to you! Welcome to the sailing community! Michael O'
Great that you're looking to join the sailing community! My advice is to re-evaluate what you want and how much you can spend - kinda' like wanting a BMW with all the bells and whistles then looking for a $3000 bargain! How tall are you? I'm 6'2" and being "tall" can present a problem unless you're very willing to live with crouching in a 5'8" cabin. And taller is costlier, just as more LOA is costlier. You said, "I can't spend over $10,000 and would really like to stay below $5,000. I would need something I could trailer" - but a trailer will cost you nearly half that $5000 budget! And $10,000 WITH trailer will get you an older 25-footer like a Catalina or Hunter. Not an Ericson or Pearson...... (You can buy my Pearson 28, originally from Seattle! It's on a trailer, in great shape, and the price is $18,800.) As for your friends you want to take sailing (sleep 6 adults?!?), consider adopting our personal "rule" - sail 6, feed 4, sleep 2! At the price you're looking for, you'll get a portapotty, not a head, not a shower. One v-berth, two settees or a dinette. Not much in a galley. You'll have an absolute BALL, but you're friends are best turned out on the shore after a daysail. Reconsider the microwave, but definitely get a BBQ for the rail - you can grill burgers for your friends at the dock, drink beer in the cockpit, then send 'em off to a campground or hotel or home. You said, "I've mainly been looking at Hunters, Catalina's... and have kind of avoided the Macgregor's". Generally, the Hunters and Catalina's are the Ford's and Chevy's of sailboats - good, solid boats for general use. Your kind of use. McGreggor's you can kick a hole in without raising a sweat, and probably can bend the boom over your knee. We started with a Hunter 25, adapted to the 5'8" headroom for a few years before moving on. Could sleep two others on the settee's but never did. (The "rule", remember?) It was simplified maintenance. A nice boat to learn on, like the Catalina 25 or 22. And cost $8,200 on a two-axle trailer. For the price you're looking for (boat and trailer) check out an older Catalina 22 with a pop-top. That'll give you headroom, sleeping for you and one or two masochists you may bring along. Great beginner boat, learn-to-sail boat, and you can sail all around the Puget Sound in it. There's a grundle of 'em still sailing, and a great support group on the web. And if you're tall, well, just adapt, maybe take advantage of the pop-top! Friends of ours trailer their Venture 23 cutter all over the place. Somewhere different every weekend. He's 6'2" also, and I admire how they get along! It's a gorgeous little boat and quickly rigged at the ramp. I think they're in Jackson, WY this weekend.......... Word of caution - the cost of the boat is NOT the cost of owning it, any more than the cost of a used car is the cost of owning it. E.g., a boat's motor is the sails, not the outboard. New sails for a 25-footer can run more than you paid for the boat! Check out some beginning sailing books (e.g. Colgates Basic Sailing Theory) and you'll learn about sloops, as well as points of sail, etc. The site you were directed to is a great one. It's where you start - you'll wind up visiting Brokers to look at boats, but you should also check out "48 [degrees] North" for owner-listed boats. Come back to this site with your questions before making an offer - these folks have tons of experience and the "process" can be a bit daunting! Bundles of luck to you! Welcome to the sailing community! Michael O'
D
dan miles
Hunter 23
You need to buy my Hunter 23. Wing keel, four sails. Trailer. Lots of little upgrades including 30A shore power. Good condition. $5,800. This is a great starter boat and you can and will learn a lot after you get your own boat. Go to the bookstore and buy a basic sailing book to get started right. The only problem I see is your on the NW coast and I'm on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida panhandle. Good luck and messing about with boats is good therapy.
You need to buy my Hunter 23. Wing keel, four sails. Trailer. Lots of little upgrades including 30A shore power. Good condition. $5,800. This is a great starter boat and you can and will learn a lot after you get your own boat. Go to the bookstore and buy a basic sailing book to get started right. The only problem I see is your on the NW coast and I'm on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida panhandle. Good luck and messing about with boats is good therapy.
J
Jack
Michael O
Did you know that Venture 23 cutter that you like is one of those McGregors that you can "kick a hole in". I started with a Venture 222 by McGregor and had no problems while sailing it hard for 6 years.
Did you know that Venture 23 cutter that you like is one of those McGregors that you can "kick a hole in". I started with a Venture 222 by McGregor and had no problems while sailing it hard for 6 years.
M
Michael O'
Yep, Knew That.......
The point that I failed to make had nothing to do with the quality (or lack thereof) of the boat, but with the ability of the owners to enjoy it notwitstanding trailering and rigging everyweekend, 6'2" skipper, tiny accomodations, etc. My old H25 was no Mack Truck, but man I sure enjoyed that boat! As for McG's, they're okay and IMHO belong on lakes more than on the Puget Sound. Sorry for picking any scabs on that one, Jack, but was just responding when asked for an opinion! (That Venture 23 was CUTE! Would I have wanted it - no way. To each his own!) Michael O'
The point that I failed to make had nothing to do with the quality (or lack thereof) of the boat, but with the ability of the owners to enjoy it notwitstanding trailering and rigging everyweekend, 6'2" skipper, tiny accomodations, etc. My old H25 was no Mack Truck, but man I sure enjoyed that boat! As for McG's, they're okay and IMHO belong on lakes more than on the Puget Sound. Sorry for picking any scabs on that one, Jack, but was just responding when asked for an opinion! (That Venture 23 was CUTE! Would I have wanted it - no way. To each his own!) Michael O'
T
Tim
Quality
I think the deal with MacGregors is that they are more suseptable to misuse than other boats. But if you take good care of them they will last. There is no question that they are not built as strong as some other manufacturers. No offense to anyone with McGregors but I will take a Pearson, C&C or Tartan anyday over a MacGregor. Don't get me started on Bayliners! Tim
I think the deal with MacGregors is that they are more suseptable to misuse than other boats. But if you take good care of them they will last. There is no question that they are not built as strong as some other manufacturers. No offense to anyone with McGregors but I will take a Pearson, C&C or Tartan anyday over a MacGregor. Don't get me started on Bayliners! Tim
J
Joe
Join a sailing club....
...that will teach you to sail and let you rent their boats. After a few months you'll know way more and will be reasonable in your expectations.
...that will teach you to sail and let you rent their boats. After a few months you'll know way more and will be reasonable in your expectations.
B
Bob
Joe has a point
If you can get some sailing experience on several different boats you will begin to see which features are important to you and which ones don't matter much. Some people want stand-up headroom, which generally means a larger boat with more freeboard and a higher cabintop. I spend 99% of my sailing time in the cockpit, so visibility from the helm is real important to me and my Ericson 23 blister top fills the bill, though headroom is quite limited below. If you drysail from one marina, then the time it takes to rig the boat isn't too important, but if you want to trailer it to a new location every two weeks, rigging time becomes a major issue. It would be hard to go wrong with a Catalina 22 - if you find a nice one you can probably sell it in a few years for what you paid for it. They are very popular, easy to sail, and there's lots of info available. Plus, you don't have to have a 3/4 ton diesel to tow one. There's one for sale at my marina right now for $3500, with galvanized trailer. After a couple of years you'll have a much better idea of what you want in a bigger boat and will be giving the rest of us advice.
If you can get some sailing experience on several different boats you will begin to see which features are important to you and which ones don't matter much. Some people want stand-up headroom, which generally means a larger boat with more freeboard and a higher cabintop. I spend 99% of my sailing time in the cockpit, so visibility from the helm is real important to me and my Ericson 23 blister top fills the bill, though headroom is quite limited below. If you drysail from one marina, then the time it takes to rig the boat isn't too important, but if you want to trailer it to a new location every two weeks, rigging time becomes a major issue. It would be hard to go wrong with a Catalina 22 - if you find a nice one you can probably sell it in a few years for what you paid for it. They are very popular, easy to sail, and there's lots of info available. Plus, you don't have to have a 3/4 ton diesel to tow one. There's one for sale at my marina right now for $3500, with galvanized trailer. After a couple of years you'll have a much better idea of what you want in a bigger boat and will be giving the rest of us advice.
J
John Dawson
Scout around for boats
Get in touch with local Seascout groups if you want max value. On the east coast they receive more donated boats than they can use and sell them off at half value or less for raising funds. Many of them are older and require work, but you wouldn't believe what turns up. We just sold a nice 80s Hunter-30 for $7k, a Catalina-25 for $2.5k, and several Coronado-25s for $1k. I got my Cal 2-29 for $2500. Marinas here usually have abandoned boats that the yards consider nuisances, too. Not sure about the west coast environment. I would recommend a class for basic sailing and safety; it makes a good foundation for the learning curve.
Get in touch with local Seascout groups if you want max value. On the east coast they receive more donated boats than they can use and sell them off at half value or less for raising funds. Many of them are older and require work, but you wouldn't believe what turns up. We just sold a nice 80s Hunter-30 for $7k, a Catalina-25 for $2.5k, and several Coronado-25s for $1k. I got my Cal 2-29 for $2500. Marinas here usually have abandoned boats that the yards consider nuisances, too. Not sure about the west coast environment. I would recommend a class for basic sailing and safety; it makes a good foundation for the learning curve.
M
MArk
Something to consider
Brent, I have yet to find the perfect boat for myself, much less for someone else! I have an O'Day now but I had a MacGregor/Venture in the 80's that was a lot of fun. It was easy to trailer, setup and launch. It was strong and light due to hand fiberglass layup (unlike chopper gun construction of some others which I won't name that require greater thickness and weight for the same strength). The boat on the link below (in your neighborhood) is roomy (even has a pop-top) and fast. What's more, you don't need a Freightliner to tow it. With the centerboard up, the draft is slightly over one foot so you can go anywhere a power boat can. You can find more information about the MacGregor 26S on: www.macgregorowners.com which is also located on this site. Happy sails *_/), MArk
Brent, I have yet to find the perfect boat for myself, much less for someone else! I have an O'Day now but I had a MacGregor/Venture in the 80's that was a lot of fun. It was easy to trailer, setup and launch. It was strong and light due to hand fiberglass layup (unlike chopper gun construction of some others which I won't name that require greater thickness and weight for the same strength). The boat on the link below (in your neighborhood) is roomy (even has a pop-top) and fast. What's more, you don't need a Freightliner to tow it. With the centerboard up, the draft is slightly over one foot so you can go anywhere a power boat can. You can find more information about the MacGregor 26S on: www.macgregorowners.com which is also located on this site. Happy sails *_/), MArk
Here are some more ideas (and my two cents)
1) check the Hunter Smaller Boats forum (see link below or the pull-down menu on the Ask All Sailors Home page. Nuff said. 2) try crewing for different people. Boats and sailing are a matter of personal style and run the full gamut from hard-core racing to laid-back cruising. Crewing is probably the least expensive way to try different styles of sailing to find what works best for you. Offering to bring a cooler of cold beverages along will get you aboard even faster! 3) Read. "Sailing for Dummies" is an excellent first reference. If you really prefer smaller boats, here are a couple of other good books, which should be available at the bookstore or on line at barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com. "Handbook of Trailer Sailing" by Bob Burgess "Sailing Big on a Small Boat" by Jerry Cardwell 4) Headroom is limited in smaller boats. Go below on different boats and check them out because some boats "feel" bigger than others. I'm 6'2" and the headroom in my H23 is less than 5 ft, but I never feel cramped because the boat is designed so I'm always seated. 5) bigger is not always better. Bigger boats require more effort and money to operate, maintain, store and trailer. These costs are NOT proportional to length (third or fourth power would be my guess). 6) $5000 can get you a decent 22 to 24 ft boat with an outboard and trailer but you'll have to shop carefully and be prepared to replace a few things right off the bat. Try to find a boat with decent sails and a clean, dry interior. Anything else (including a dead outboard) can be fixed or replaced at reasonable cost. Trust me on this one. 7) Catalina 22's are hard to beat as a first boat. They are the marine equivalent of the (old) VW Beetle. 8) don't be afraid to ask questions. Most sailors are helpful and love talking about their boats. 9) Try to find a local basic sailing course, e.g. Red Cross or local club, preferably one that instructs on small open daysailers. They are usually inexpensive (aboout $100 or so). Postpone the ASA or US Sailing Basic Keelboat schools until you've had basic instruction and a year or two of sailing experience. 10) have fun! Peter H23 "Raven"
1) check the Hunter Smaller Boats forum (see link below or the pull-down menu on the Ask All Sailors Home page. Nuff said. 2) try crewing for different people. Boats and sailing are a matter of personal style and run the full gamut from hard-core racing to laid-back cruising. Crewing is probably the least expensive way to try different styles of sailing to find what works best for you. Offering to bring a cooler of cold beverages along will get you aboard even faster! 3) Read. "Sailing for Dummies" is an excellent first reference. If you really prefer smaller boats, here are a couple of other good books, which should be available at the bookstore or on line at barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com. "Handbook of Trailer Sailing" by Bob Burgess "Sailing Big on a Small Boat" by Jerry Cardwell 4) Headroom is limited in smaller boats. Go below on different boats and check them out because some boats "feel" bigger than others. I'm 6'2" and the headroom in my H23 is less than 5 ft, but I never feel cramped because the boat is designed so I'm always seated. 5) bigger is not always better. Bigger boats require more effort and money to operate, maintain, store and trailer. These costs are NOT proportional to length (third or fourth power would be my guess). 6) $5000 can get you a decent 22 to 24 ft boat with an outboard and trailer but you'll have to shop carefully and be prepared to replace a few things right off the bat. Try to find a boat with decent sails and a clean, dry interior. Anything else (including a dead outboard) can be fixed or replaced at reasonable cost. Trust me on this one. 7) Catalina 22's are hard to beat as a first boat. They are the marine equivalent of the (old) VW Beetle. 8) don't be afraid to ask questions. Most sailors are helpful and love talking about their boats. 9) Try to find a local basic sailing course, e.g. Red Cross or local club, preferably one that instructs on small open daysailers. They are usually inexpensive (aboout $100 or so). Postpone the ASA or US Sailing Basic Keelboat schools until you've had basic instruction and a year or two of sailing experience. 10) have fun! Peter H23 "Raven"
T
Tom
2nds on most of the advice...
My sailing career started in So. Cal at Adventura in Dana Point. They are (were?) a charter boat and sailing association. Members took lessons to get certified to use certain size boat and navigate to certian areas like the channel islands. My wife and I took lessons together, chartered the boats with new found sailing friends and brought some of our old friends into the club as well. Many of the members we met had previuosly owned their own boats, but found the club a much more economical and less labor intensive way to gain access to such nice boats ranging in size from 26 to 50 feet. We started this way because we wanted to learn about sailing, get a feel for if it was something we were interested in investing in, and also becuase it was the only way we could afford access to nice boats on our budget. After a few years we moved to New England and didn't find any charter membership companies. We purchased a 1990 MacGregor 26s and had that boat for 8 years. It served us well for our needs which included trailerability and easy launching. I've sailed all over New England in that boat. Now we have a Hunter 260 (1999) and it is about as large a boat as I want to take care of. I use it for daysailing and an occasional week end. It is trailerable, and I can single handed launch retrieve and sail the boat. It has plently of room for day sailing guests, but I woulldn't want more than 4 close friends or family on board over night. A MacGregor will handle more tough situations than you'll want to be in, is easy to trailer and launch and take care of. It is not too comfortable for lounging around on for multiple day cruises; although, I have many friends that spend 1 to 2 weeks on vacation each year with them. I'd recommend taking classes, chartering, crewing on other peoples boats for a year or two then if the bug is still biting, start searching for teh boat that meets your needs based on the experience you'll have by then. Good luck... Tom
My sailing career started in So. Cal at Adventura in Dana Point. They are (were?) a charter boat and sailing association. Members took lessons to get certified to use certain size boat and navigate to certian areas like the channel islands. My wife and I took lessons together, chartered the boats with new found sailing friends and brought some of our old friends into the club as well. Many of the members we met had previuosly owned their own boats, but found the club a much more economical and less labor intensive way to gain access to such nice boats ranging in size from 26 to 50 feet. We started this way because we wanted to learn about sailing, get a feel for if it was something we were interested in investing in, and also becuase it was the only way we could afford access to nice boats on our budget. After a few years we moved to New England and didn't find any charter membership companies. We purchased a 1990 MacGregor 26s and had that boat for 8 years. It served us well for our needs which included trailerability and easy launching. I've sailed all over New England in that boat. Now we have a Hunter 260 (1999) and it is about as large a boat as I want to take care of. I use it for daysailing and an occasional week end. It is trailerable, and I can single handed launch retrieve and sail the boat. It has plently of room for day sailing guests, but I woulldn't want more than 4 close friends or family on board over night. A MacGregor will handle more tough situations than you'll want to be in, is easy to trailer and launch and take care of. It is not too comfortable for lounging around on for multiple day cruises; although, I have many friends that spend 1 to 2 weeks on vacation each year with them. I'd recommend taking classes, chartering, crewing on other peoples boats for a year or two then if the bug is still biting, start searching for teh boat that meets your needs based on the experience you'll have by then. Good luck... Tom
G
Gift Packages
The Question Was a Plant!
How else to explain "What's a sloop?" The "$10K but only wanna spend $5K" was another clue. Wasn't the "no MacG" another? How about a simple answer: "Go to the library, boy!" "Learn to READ a boating book." GO FIND ONE instead of posting an incredibly basic question here. Big questions, the next thing you know he'll be asking "What's the best wife for a corhusker?" And you'll probably answer, in GREAT detail. Great to share, but, geez............. You folks have been answering a ghost. And you should all be out sailing (it's midnight now and I just came back from a GREAT sail).
How else to explain "What's a sloop?" The "$10K but only wanna spend $5K" was another clue. Wasn't the "no MacG" another? How about a simple answer: "Go to the library, boy!" "Learn to READ a boating book." GO FIND ONE instead of posting an incredibly basic question here. Big questions, the next thing you know he'll be asking "What's the best wife for a corhusker?" And you'll probably answer, in GREAT detail. Great to share, but, geez............. You folks have been answering a ghost. And you should all be out sailing (it's midnight now and I just came back from a GREAT sail).
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