I was curious to know what is the maximum suggested length of a sail boat for 2 people to have? My girlfriend and I want a boat, but do not want one that we can not sail. Also any links to some pictures or floorplans to some boats would be wonderful as well. Thanks for any help on this topic. -- Devon
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Like all sailing questions, it depends. My kids would have their hands full on our legend 37. They don't have the physical strength to hoist the main. I don't have any problem single handing her as all the lines are lead to the cockpit. What do you want to do on a boat? Daysail, weekend trips, long voyages? All these things factor into the type of boat you need. You really don't need a generator on a daysailer but a long distance cruiser would probably say you are crazy if you don't have one. As a general rule smaller = daysailer, larger = long distance cruiser with 30' being "in the middle" somewhere. My first boat was a 30' and in spite of never sailing we had no problem learning "the ropes". Big enough for three kids, two adults and the dog. OBTW: Dogs require a dingy. Roosa family TRITIUM
Like all sailing questions, it depends. My kids would have their hands full on our legend 37. They don't have the physical strength to hoist the main. I don't have any problem single handing her as all the lines are lead to the cockpit. What do you want to do on a boat? Daysail, weekend trips, long voyages? All these things factor into the type of boat you need. You really don't need a generator on a daysailer but a long distance cruiser would probably say you are crazy if you don't have one. As a general rule smaller = daysailer, larger = long distance cruiser with 30' being "in the middle" somewhere. My first boat was a 30' and in spite of never sailing we had no problem learning "the ropes". Big enough for three kids, two adults and the dog. OBTW: Dogs require a dingy. Roosa family TRITIUM
Devon, check out the Passage 42 on...
this site. We purchased a 1991 model in 2002 and have sailed her several thousand miles in PNW waters. Most have been single handed. She is easy to sail, stiff and fast, with all the creature comforts we need. Terry
this site. We purchased a 1991 model in 2002 and have sailed her several thousand miles in PNW waters. Most have been single handed. She is easy to sail, stiff and fast, with all the creature comforts we need. Terry
Some good questions came up that I need to answer to get better details out there. I would like it for more longer term voyages. So would prefere a larger boat then a shorter one. I know that I would need a generator on board, but was curious if there were solar panels that are available that could be mounted? I also do not know anyone who has a boat or has even sailed on one, so there I am out of luck. I am in the Chattanooga area of TN and do not believe there are many marina around here at all. At least none that I have found. Thanks again to everyone who has responded. -- Devon
two @ 34'
I have a Pearson 34 - 1985, so halyards @ mast etc, not a lot of new style handling amenities. As long as I have someone reasonably competent to take the helm, I can do the rest. I can single hand w/autopilot in lighter winds (~10k). Does depend on age & fitness. I'm 54 in pretty good shape. In 10-15 years I'm expecting to need crew that will leave me at the helm.
I have a Pearson 34 - 1985, so halyards @ mast etc, not a lot of new style handling amenities. As long as I have someone reasonably competent to take the helm, I can do the rest. I can single hand w/autopilot in lighter winds (~10k). Does depend on age & fitness. I'm 54 in pretty good shape. In 10-15 years I'm expecting to need crew that will leave me at the helm.
All good advice
And there is no one perfect boat. Along with boat size and gadgets to make life easier you also need to factor in your own sailing skills. A well seasoned sailor can probably sail most any boat single handed. A novice would need to take care in a sailing dingy. Sure there are boats that can be sailed more easily than others short handed. It will all come down to personal preferences and skill level.
And there is no one perfect boat. Along with boat size and gadgets to make life easier you also need to factor in your own sailing skills. A well seasoned sailor can probably sail most any boat single handed. A novice would need to take care in a sailing dingy. Sure there are boats that can be sailed more easily than others short handed. It will all come down to personal preferences and skill level.
Ahoy Devon
By the sounds of your posts you are looking for a blue water boat. Blue water meaning Ocean crossing type. Blue water boats mostly use the KISS method, Not alot of bells and whistles. These things are expensive and will break in the worst possible place at the worst possible time. Furlers jam, radar quits, the auto pilot dies, the list goes on and on. Now the cost to maintain a larger boat is really up there. The maintentance cost for a thirty foot boat would be let's say 500 an year a 30 foot boat would be 900 a year and up and up. That being said, for a blue water boat for 2 people 36 feet would be about the biggest I would go, unless I really had big bucks. Fair Winds Cap'n Dave
By the sounds of your posts you are looking for a blue water boat. Blue water meaning Ocean crossing type. Blue water boats mostly use the KISS method, Not alot of bells and whistles. These things are expensive and will break in the worst possible place at the worst possible time. Furlers jam, radar quits, the auto pilot dies, the list goes on and on. Now the cost to maintain a larger boat is really up there. The maintentance cost for a thirty foot boat would be let's say 500 an year a 30 foot boat would be 900 a year and up and up. That being said, for a blue water boat for 2 people 36 feet would be about the biggest I would go, unless I really had big bucks. Fair Winds Cap'n Dave
Legend 37
We are in our mid-50's and sail a Legend 37 very comfortably. A 40-50 mile day is not out of the question. Two weeks ago we did a 45-mile run from NewBedford, MA to Portsmouth, RI. I have seen many couples on 38 - 41' Hunters and have two friends (different couples) currently sailing in th Caribe on a 41 and a 44, respectively. It is not out of the question to see couples on larger boats of 45 - 50 footers, (if they are rigged to be handled, as such). So, it all boils down to preference, experience and comfort.
We are in our mid-50's and sail a Legend 37 very comfortably. A 40-50 mile day is not out of the question. Two weeks ago we did a 45-mile run from NewBedford, MA to Portsmouth, RI. I have seen many couples on 38 - 41' Hunters and have two friends (different couples) currently sailing in th Caribe on a 41 and a 44, respectively. It is not out of the question to see couples on larger boats of 45 - 50 footers, (if they are rigged to be handled, as such). So, it all boils down to preference, experience and comfort.
The book "Cruising in Serafin" by Lin
and Larry Pardey is still in print and has a lengthy discussion on all of the questions that you have raised and that have been raised by others. They circumnavigated the world in a Lyle Hess designed 24 foot on deck engine less wooden boat and paid there way by working and writing.
and Larry Pardey is still in print and has a lengthy discussion on all of the questions that you have raised and that have been raised by others. They circumnavigated the world in a Lyle Hess designed 24 foot on deck engine less wooden boat and paid there way by working and writing.
Depends on how the boat is rigged.
also the crew demands change from anchoring, to sail handling, to docking, to racing, etc. Also it will change according to crew proficency and skill. For example...one vessel may have all the fenders and lines ready and attached before they come to the dock. Where as another vessel may try to do everything once they are at the dock.
also the crew demands change from anchoring, to sail handling, to docking, to racing, etc. Also it will change according to crew proficency and skill. For example...one vessel may have all the fenders and lines ready and attached before they come to the dock. Where as another vessel may try to do everything once they are at the dock.
It all depends on your skills
I have a friend with a 57 footer. He single hands it when there's no crew around. I wouldn't! 2 people's a lot more than 1, and - in my view - sufficient to handle just about anything that comes up in any boat IF your skills are up to it. Especially if you've rigged her so she can be single handed - ie all controls led back to the cockpit. Basically, you then have one person to handle the helm and all the sail controls, and another person free to handle whatever else comes up (like stuff breaking!) Personally, I like lazy sailing and would tend to think of 40 feet as a maximum if I were in your situation. But it all depends on your skills, the types of weather you're going to go out in, and the level of 'work' you want to be taking on. Dick
I have a friend with a 57 footer. He single hands it when there's no crew around. I wouldn't! 2 people's a lot more than 1, and - in my view - sufficient to handle just about anything that comes up in any boat IF your skills are up to it. Especially if you've rigged her so she can be single handed - ie all controls led back to the cockpit. Basically, you then have one person to handle the helm and all the sail controls, and another person free to handle whatever else comes up (like stuff breaking!) Personally, I like lazy sailing and would tend to think of 40 feet as a maximum if I were in your situation. But it all depends on your skills, the types of weather you're going to go out in, and the level of 'work' you want to be taking on. Dick
Docking
Lots of advice on sailing single handed or with one crew. Lots of couples sailing all sorts of sizes. We have a H41 and I single it and cruise with my wife. Sailing is not the problem when boat rigged well. Docking is the main challenge. Having lines ready and dealing with current and cross winds, this is where you need the ability to land safely without damaging your boat, yourself or neigbour boat. Tony
Lots of advice on sailing single handed or with one crew. Lots of couples sailing all sorts of sizes. We have a H41 and I single it and cruise with my wife. Sailing is not the problem when boat rigged well. Docking is the main challenge. Having lines ready and dealing with current and cross winds, this is where you need the ability to land safely without damaging your boat, yourself or neigbour boat. Tony
A good rule of thumb is---
I don't remember if it was Nathanial or Frances Herreshoff that said; a good rule of thumb for the size of a boat for each person is 10 feet per person. So, figure about a 20 or 22 foot sailboat. Myself, I prefer a 22 foot sailboat. They're easy to single hand on days when your girlfriend can't go sailing with you, and take it from an old codger who is approaching Geezerdom, when you've been married for 37 years, you'll probably wind up taking your dog with you, as I do.
I don't remember if it was Nathanial or Frances Herreshoff that said; a good rule of thumb for the size of a boat for each person is 10 feet per person. So, figure about a 20 or 22 foot sailboat. Myself, I prefer a 22 foot sailboat. They're easy to single hand on days when your girlfriend can't go sailing with you, and take it from an old codger who is approaching Geezerdom, when you've been married for 37 years, you'll probably wind up taking your dog with you, as I do.
Make sure you like asiling first!
Folks talking about a blue water boat but your post says you're in chattanooga. I've spent a lot of time in chattanooga and the only blue water you're likely to see is if you throw some tidy bowl in the tank! I'm up the raod in Knoxville. I started on a pregnant surfboard called an AquaFinn. Still have it. Then got a sailing dingy. I could stand up AND SAIL! Now I have an O'Day 25. Still sail mostly by myself. I girlfriend likes sailing but likes gardening more. If you intend to sail on the lakes in your area then you also have to think about sailing (tacking back and forth) a 40 foot boat in a 200 foot wide channel. AND if you stay in that area and decide you really don't like sailing as much as you thought you might you'll find out that it ain't easy selling a boat that size in your area. I hope you try and then love sailing. I wouldn't invest that kind of money to find out. We paid about $4,000. Go just to the 27-30 and you'll find a jump to 10 to 20 grand. A big difference. I had about $750 invested in the first two and had NO DOUBT when buying a bigger boat. Good luck. If you get up this way drop an email we have a club with a couple of hundred sailboats (sailboats only), whalenlaw@Bellsouth.net Mike
Folks talking about a blue water boat but your post says you're in chattanooga. I've spent a lot of time in chattanooga and the only blue water you're likely to see is if you throw some tidy bowl in the tank! I'm up the raod in Knoxville. I started on a pregnant surfboard called an AquaFinn. Still have it. Then got a sailing dingy. I could stand up AND SAIL! Now I have an O'Day 25. Still sail mostly by myself. I girlfriend likes sailing but likes gardening more. If you intend to sail on the lakes in your area then you also have to think about sailing (tacking back and forth) a 40 foot boat in a 200 foot wide channel. AND if you stay in that area and decide you really don't like sailing as much as you thought you might you'll find out that it ain't easy selling a boat that size in your area. I hope you try and then love sailing. I wouldn't invest that kind of money to find out. We paid about $4,000. Go just to the 27-30 and you'll find a jump to 10 to 20 grand. A big difference. I had about $750 invested in the first two and had NO DOUBT when buying a bigger boat. Good luck. If you get up this way drop an email we have a club with a couple of hundred sailboats (sailboats only), whalenlaw@Bellsouth.net Mike
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