Buying a boat, Keeping a Wife
What a previous poster said, something about taking your wife's opinion into account (or maybe getting the boat she wants) is an excellent idea.
Wife that likes to pack everything along: There are some like that and I've got one. We're talking pickup truck loads!
Trailerable boat book: There is a somewhat recent book out about trailerable boats. Well, maybe in the last couple years or so. That might be a good resource while you're looking.
San Juan: There are two San Juan boats - one a local design from, I think, the Tacoma area, and the other a Southern California design/manufacturer. One has more of a trunk cabin and the other more of a streamlined cabin. The one with the trunk cabin looks more "cruiser" like and I *think* is the Tacoma one.
Mast setting: When checking out the different boats, be sure to find out about how the mast is set and be very sure to find out how difficult it is to set it. At one point several years ago I was looking at a Catalina 25 and they come with a standard rig and a tall rig. The tall rig ones, even though they are only a couple feet taller (or so), are more difficult to set.
Northwest boat: If you've already been sailing then you know the wind here varies from drifter to industrial strength. My recommendation would be to go for something that can handle that range. If you plan to sail saltwater then consider a fixed keel or something that will provide the stability of one. Secondly, a tall rig for the light wind days otherwise you'll be motoring and that means carrying fuel along - either in containers or in an on-board fuel tank.
And speaking of drifter vs industrial strength, it's easy to get both within a relatively few minutes as the wind follows channels much like water does. Go from the lee of a protected land mass and abeam a valley where the wind is channeled and you go from light wind to heavy wind. So one really needs to prepare for both situations. Having a boat that can handle the heavier winds is a good idea.
Sails: On a used boat the sails can be blown-out and baggy. This will make for uncomfortable sailing as the boat will heel in light gusts. Be sure to take sail replacement costs into account when buying the used boat. They aren't cheap.
What a previous poster said, something about taking your wife's opinion into account (or maybe getting the boat she wants) is an excellent idea.
Wife that likes to pack everything along: There are some like that and I've got one. We're talking pickup truck loads!
Trailerable boat book: There is a somewhat recent book out about trailerable boats. Well, maybe in the last couple years or so. That might be a good resource while you're looking.
San Juan: There are two San Juan boats - one a local design from, I think, the Tacoma area, and the other a Southern California design/manufacturer. One has more of a trunk cabin and the other more of a streamlined cabin. The one with the trunk cabin looks more "cruiser" like and I *think* is the Tacoma one.
Mast setting: When checking out the different boats, be sure to find out about how the mast is set and be very sure to find out how difficult it is to set it. At one point several years ago I was looking at a Catalina 25 and they come with a standard rig and a tall rig. The tall rig ones, even though they are only a couple feet taller (or so), are more difficult to set.
Northwest boat: If you've already been sailing then you know the wind here varies from drifter to industrial strength. My recommendation would be to go for something that can handle that range. If you plan to sail saltwater then consider a fixed keel or something that will provide the stability of one. Secondly, a tall rig for the light wind days otherwise you'll be motoring and that means carrying fuel along - either in containers or in an on-board fuel tank.
And speaking of drifter vs industrial strength, it's easy to get both within a relatively few minutes as the wind follows channels much like water does. Go from the lee of a protected land mass and abeam a valley where the wind is channeled and you go from light wind to heavy wind. So one really needs to prepare for both situations. Having a boat that can handle the heavier winds is a good idea.
Sails: On a used boat the sails can be blown-out and baggy. This will make for uncomfortable sailing as the boat will heel in light gusts. Be sure to take sail replacement costs into account when buying the used boat. They aren't cheap.
There's a video out of an attempt to capsize one (check the archives of the small boat hunter owner's forum). There are times I've thought I might want a larger, heavier, more substantial boat with more classic lines, but there are always compromises. We can take our 23.5 to other lakes when we want, can tow it with a Dodge Dakota, and don't have to worry about winter storage fees. We finally had to pull it from our marina slip last weekend, and it'll sit in our yard 'til spring. You could probably find a good enough deal on a 23.5 that you could resell it in a couple of years for what you bought it for If your needs change.
