My grandkids are at the age (10 - 14) where I’d like to introduce them to sailing. I’m located in the Atlanta GA area and find that there’s not a lot of boats to chose from. I learned to sail on a Laser and have a slight bias in that direction.
I’d ideally like to spend less than $2500 on a boat & trailer and buy something that should hold its value fairly well in case this pipe dream fizzles out.
Right now I’m seeing:
1984 Chubasco Snipe w/trailer. $2,000
2001 Laser w/trailer $3,200
A couple of Sunfish for $1,000 - $1200
Catalina Capri 15 $1200
A couple of Zuma for $900 - 1200
Any thoughts and/or recommendations would be most appreciated.
At their age, I’d pick a dinghy. That’s the best for learning to sail. Not a keel boat. And then I’d pick the boat(s) that promise to be the most fun for two kids and a grandpa!
They don’t weigh enough yet to sail a laser, unless you get a radial rig with a smaller sail. The Laser is a one man boat, they temped to cost more too, because they’re an active, one design racing class.
Sunfish are sure fun for a kid, but they would have to take turns. That’s strictly a one man boat. When I was 10 years old I love sailing the Sunfish, but one is not enough for two kids and a grandpa
The capris 15 sounds great for two kids or Two adults. A good price too if everything is in good working order.
Two Zumas for two brothers? How much fun is that?!?! That’s awesome! And you can go with them. I think I’d pick that, personally. My sons first boat was a Pico. Pretty similar. My daughters first boat was a funny little 13 footer that she could sail solo at age 12 and about 100 pounds, similar to a zuma. It was big enough to hold an adult and one kid, for teaching purposes. We sailed alongside in a different boat at first. After a couple of days they would head off on their own without us, We turned the kids loose on the lake with a radio to call for help,if they needed it.
I vote for the two zumas or the capris 15. Both would be awesome fun for all three of you.
Remember, you’re looking for a boat that is fun and that they’ll learn quickly on. If you trade up in a season or two because they want something different, no problem. I don’t mean to be spending your money frivolously, but if depreciates a couple of hundred bucks when you sell it in a year.. do you really care?!? If they learned to love sailing, it was money very well spent!