Buying a Daysailor. Your Thoughts?!?!

[Flotsam]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I humbly seek your advice in boat purchases. I am seeking a daysailor with plenty of space for four adults for half day cruises. The idea is off a trailer, across the bay, retract the keel and up on a beach for a picnic/fishing/etc.

I have been looking at the Hunter 170, Precision 185 and American 18. I can get a fantastic deal on an ODay Daysailer. I have open use of a Potter 19 which has unrealistically small top side space and points like a barge.

Suggestions, Thoughts, Comments...
Thanks

Brett

 

[Jim]

My advice get the ODay

you'll lose a lot on the resale of a new boat. I think you are going to like sailing and want to move up in a year or three.

 

[aa.aunins]

Daysailer forum

The O'Day Daysailer has tremendous support on their forum and you will get all the help you would ever want and more. Only you will know what boat is best for you but if you look around on the Daysailer forum it might help you decide which boat you'll want. http://www.daysailer.org/forum/index.php

 

[CalebD]

I've never sailed a barge...

so I would not know how it pointed into the wind. The WW Potter 19' is allegedly blue water capable but more likely a small coastal cruiser which is more than you are looking for, or so it seems.
I have sailed an O'Day 17' Daysailor and while it is a fun boat I am not sure how much more room you're going to have with 4 people plus fishing gear than the Potter or anything else in this size range you seem to be considering. Still, the Daysailor is a good starter boat as previously noted.
Where are you intending to sail it?

 

[jviss]

Consider a Rhodes

If you are going to leave it in the water, consider a Rhodes 19, keel version. Just about the best daysailer ever, in my opinion.

Another option is a cat boat - the roomiest of all small sailboats. The Marshall Sanderling is in the same price range as a Rhodes, probably carries twice as many people.

 

[BobM]

My 2C

If I was routinely taking out four adults for half days I'd probably go a little larger. Personally I like the Ranger 20 or even the Chrysler 20. Both are likely to be much more stable plus offer a small cuddy cabin to sleep two, hold a porta-potti with enough privacy to employ it, add some storage space...etc...but it will still be easy enough to walk the mast up and trailer.

The Ranger has a unique circular table below that collapses to form a queen berth. With canvas it seems like it would be a pretty versatile boat and they have a big following, mostly on the west coast.

The Chrysler is heavy for its size with a swing keel and a large roomy cockpit.

I tripped across the attached article on the 185. I don't know if this is something precision has addressed already or not, but I caution you to research it a bit more, at minimum.

Where are you planning on sailing?

 

[Nik]

Let's not forget about the Mac's

I have a 1987 MacGregor 26D that is just great. Can pick them up at a good price and though, yes a bit spartan. Handles well enough, takes 12" with the board up so it is easily beached and relaunched. I like the water ballast, easier on the tow vehicle. Just another option to look into.

Nik

 

[sinnettc]

Go bigger . . .

. . . if you're routinely sailing with 4 adults. I have a Catalina 16.5, which I'm selling, and a Catalina Capri 22 that we just bought. I think the 16.5 is comparable to the Oday 17 (there's a newer 19 in the next slip). Four adults can be done (the book says 2-4 adults) but someone's going to be spending a lot of time on the downhill side or aft of the skipper. Neither would be where I'd want someone if the wind comes up or if you need to tack or jibe quickly. I'd love to sell it to you but I don't think you'd be happy with it in the long run.

Four adults on the Capri 22 would not be a problem unless the wind *really* comes up strong. Frankly I'd want someone working the jib on the low side anyway in that case and the other two on the high side for rail meat.

Go with whatever's going to give you the most cockpit room.

My 2 cents . . .

Chris
FKTR Catalina Capri 22 #893 "Verboten"
Catalina 16.5 #851

 

[Paul F]

Consider the Flying Scott

If you are sailing in lake or protected water consider the Flying Scott. It is a fun fast boat at 19 feet there is ample room for four. I had one for about five years and only sold it because the condo does not allow trailers. Good link on the boat below.

 

[Flotsam]

Wow! Great Advice...Thanks!

Sailors,

I will be sailing in local lakes in the berkshire mountains of Massachusetts, Buzzards bay out of Provincetown/Welfleet harbor and southern Connecticut coast. I live in western Mass. and would have frequent opportunity to sail after work in local lakes. This restricts my overall size an mandates certain keel design. The local lakes would be my most frequent opportunity to sail and I would be hard pressed to buy a boat that is too big to do this.

Thanks for pointing out the inital cost and resale value. I would spend less on an ODay upfront and get more back later. I will read the ODay forums and strongly consider this option.

The warning on the Precision 185 is noted and appreciated. Ive read the whole lot of it from the gentlemen with the issue and learned quite a bit. Be sure to read the response from the presicion dealer. It makes good reading. I would like to comment further but I would spoil the fun for a reader.

Read First - http://www.my-precision-185.com/

Then Read - http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/precisionarchives2/index.cgi?read=17228,my,precision,185

The stability of the daysailors I have been considering is quite varied. The roundest and least stable is the Precision 185, followed by the Hunter 170 and then the flat American 18. The rigging all seems very sililar. Im not sure where the ODay Daysailor falls and would appreciateany insight.

I will loofk further into the Catalina 16.5, Falcon 16, Ranger 20 and Chrysler 20. I believe the Rhodes 19 has a retractable keel option. I could google it but if you know please chime in. The MacGregor 26D looks fantastic and may be my next step or even a short term rental for a vacation. The price is definately good but may be a tad bit big for my requirements.

Thanks for all the great input!!!. If you have somthing to sell (or have seen somthing) that may work for me and your not too far away please contact me.

Brett
Brettt@microcal(dot)com

 

[jviss]

Rhodes

Yes, the Rhodes 19 has a centerboard version. These are the boats I learned on (the keel version) out of City Island back in the '70's. They are solid, stable, reasonably fast boats that hold their value, and everything is available for them, as they have a large following. Start here: http://www.rhodes19.org

I encourage you to look into cat boats, a very traditional New England boat with a huge capacity for people. Many have cuddy cabins with wood stoves, diesel auxiliaries bunks, etc., even in small (18 to 22') boats ('though the 18 and up boats may be beamy enough to be "wide loads" on the highway; I think anything wider than 8' i a wide load, and the Marshall 18' cat boat has a 8'6" beam).

Neither of these are inexpensive, though. A newer Rhodes 19 on a traler with sails and motor is in the $15,000 to $20,000 neighborhood. A 25 year old Marshall Sanderling (18) is about the same.

 

[Ray T]

Oday Mariner 19

If you haven't made up your mind yet you might take a look a the Oday Mariner 19 centerboard. I race against one on our lake and it is a solid performer. It does well in light or stronger winds. It has a cuddy cabin and the price is right. Ray T