I am looking to buy a trailerable swing keel/centerboard type sailboat to use in the Delta and SF Bay. It has to be easy to launch as I don't want to deal with hoists, thus the swing keel requirement and I cant afford to keep it in the water. The boat will be used for cruising, not competition, and has to be not a whole lot more then 3000lbs as I will be trailing it with an Isuzu Trooper that has a max tow rating of 5000lbs. I have considered boats such as the Catalina 22, the Hunter 23 or 23.5, the Mac 25 and 26's and others. All oppinions welcomed and invited. I am also on a budget of about $5,000.
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G
gary
The best boat
While I was stationed there I bought my Macgregor 26D. I have sailed it all over the bay and into alot of the rivers and down the coast to LA. It weighs just under 3000lbs. My tow vehicle at the time was a toyota pickup with a v-6, had now problems. I have retired in seattle and have sailed all over the puget sound and san juans with the same boat, still no problems. You just can't go wrong with a Mac.
While I was stationed there I bought my Macgregor 26D. I have sailed it all over the bay and into alot of the rivers and down the coast to LA. It weighs just under 3000lbs. My tow vehicle at the time was a toyota pickup with a v-6, had now problems. I have retired in seattle and have sailed all over the puget sound and san juans with the same boat, still no problems. You just can't go wrong with a Mac.
H23 may not be best.
I have a H23, and I would not want to have to raise and lower the mast each time I wanted to use the boat. Other than that, it is a great boat. What ever you do, be sure you start sailing as soon as possible. Sometimes I think it is the only thing that keeps me sane. Also it is good for the kids and wife. Good Luck Bill Leathen
I have a H23, and I would not want to have to raise and lower the mast each time I wanted to use the boat. Other than that, it is a great boat. What ever you do, be sure you start sailing as soon as possible. Sometimes I think it is the only thing that keeps me sane. Also it is good for the kids and wife. Good Luck Bill Leathen
C
chris
Mark
we had a catalina 22 before we moved up to a hunter 27. the catalina 22 was fun but was quite honestly too small for sf bay. as you know the winds here can change from 5 knots to 15-20 knots within an hour. my wife just never felt safe in the catalina 22. since we have had the hunter 27 she can't wait for the winds to come up! the extra 5 feet adds beam and quite a bit of freeboard, and our H27 actually performs better with every increasing knot. a 27 is of course, not trailerable. but we kept our 22 at a marina as well (coyote point) because it is extremely convient. we are sailing ten minutes after we get to the marina! my two cents chris
we had a catalina 22 before we moved up to a hunter 27. the catalina 22 was fun but was quite honestly too small for sf bay. as you know the winds here can change from 5 knots to 15-20 knots within an hour. my wife just never felt safe in the catalina 22. since we have had the hunter 27 she can't wait for the winds to come up! the extra 5 feet adds beam and quite a bit of freeboard, and our H27 actually performs better with every increasing knot. a 27 is of course, not trailerable. but we kept our 22 at a marina as well (coyote point) because it is extremely convient. we are sailing ten minutes after we get to the marina! my two cents chris
$5.75/ft for a berth with electricity.
Mark: Some things to consider. The price for a berth will run from about $6.00/ft/mo or less. If you trailer a boat, you will be paying a premium for a trailer (probably about a years berthing). I believe that you also pay more for boat insurance. You also will find that you NOT use the boat nearly as much if it is on the trailer. We live in Carson City and travel to Rio Vista most every weekend during the spring and summer. Our boat is ready to sail. If you are on a trailer you will be longer getting to your destination and then 1-2 hours of setup for each splash. Then you have the time to put it away each time. You will also consume more fuel in you vehicle for the two each trip. Then you have launch fees. There are a lot of boats sitting in slips ready to sail at very good prices, so think about the real cost and your time before you think that you are going to save a lot of money by being a trailer sailor. We sail out of Hidden Harbor Marine (www.hiddenharbormarina.com). They charge 5.75/ft/mo including electricity. There are other nice marinas in the delta that you can get for less. If you are planning on sailing the bay, you may want a little more than a Cat 22, but there are plenty of them out there.
Mark: Some things to consider. The price for a berth will run from about $6.00/ft/mo or less. If you trailer a boat, you will be paying a premium for a trailer (probably about a years berthing). I believe that you also pay more for boat insurance. You also will find that you NOT use the boat nearly as much if it is on the trailer. We live in Carson City and travel to Rio Vista most every weekend during the spring and summer. Our boat is ready to sail. If you are on a trailer you will be longer getting to your destination and then 1-2 hours of setup for each splash. Then you have the time to put it away each time. You will also consume more fuel in you vehicle for the two each trip. Then you have launch fees. There are a lot of boats sitting in slips ready to sail at very good prices, so think about the real cost and your time before you think that you are going to save a lot of money by being a trailer sailor. We sail out of Hidden Harbor Marine (www.hiddenharbormarina.com). They charge 5.75/ft/mo including electricity. There are other nice marinas in the delta that you can get for less. If you are planning on sailing the bay, you may want a little more than a Cat 22, but there are plenty of them out there.
Santana 2023 or Potter 19
Before my wife and I moved up to a Hunter 340 we had a Santana 2023C. It is the one water ballast boat build for SF Bay - this is where it was tested. Great boat, light for trailering, and very livable for a weekend or more. It is also very fast. The 2023 "C" has more of a cruising deck and cabin top, while the 2023 "A" has more of a racing look. The hull is the same on both, but the interior is a bit differnet in the 2 versions. There is also an "R" version that is for racing - again the same hull but a taller mast with other fine tuned features. That boat can beat a J 24. Another recommendation is a Potter 19. I owned a West Wight Potter 15 for 20 years and it was a fabulous boat. My son and I would stay on it for several days in the Delta and it was tight but a blast. I also took it from Long Beach to Catalina for a few days. Great boat!! The 19 is very livable, but not very fast. The Potters also have a great club - The Potter Yachters, otherwise known as the Northern California West Wight Potter Association. They have a good website and a ton of owners who are happy to offer insight and help. They also have many club sails - 1 or 2 a month through the greater bay area and delta. There is currently a 19 for sale in Latitude 38 classifieds. Rob
Before my wife and I moved up to a Hunter 340 we had a Santana 2023C. It is the one water ballast boat build for SF Bay - this is where it was tested. Great boat, light for trailering, and very livable for a weekend or more. It is also very fast. The 2023 "C" has more of a cruising deck and cabin top, while the 2023 "A" has more of a racing look. The hull is the same on both, but the interior is a bit differnet in the 2 versions. There is also an "R" version that is for racing - again the same hull but a taller mast with other fine tuned features. That boat can beat a J 24. Another recommendation is a Potter 19. I owned a West Wight Potter 15 for 20 years and it was a fabulous boat. My son and I would stay on it for several days in the Delta and it was tight but a blast. I also took it from Long Beach to Catalina for a few days. Great boat!! The 19 is very livable, but not very fast. The Potters also have a great club - The Potter Yachters, otherwise known as the Northern California West Wight Potter Association. They have a good website and a ton of owners who are happy to offer insight and help. They also have many club sails - 1 or 2 a month through the greater bay area and delta. There is currently a 19 for sale in Latitude 38 classifieds. Rob
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