I'm relatively new to sailing (taken a few lessons, gone out single-handed several times in a 14' rental, and did some sailing years ago in a 19), but really enjoy it a lot. Enough, in fact, that I'm very seriously considering purchasing a boat. My wife seems to enjoy being out on the water too (as do our kids, ages 5 and 3), though she's not as convinced that we need a boat. So, I'm trying to find something that will fit our needs/desires and budget, and that's been an interesting task.
A little about us: we live in the Philadelphia suburbs, about 20 minutes from Peace Valley Park and about 45 minutes from Lake Nockamixon. We're also about 45 minutes from the Delaware River (both North and South of Philadelphia), and about 2 hours (with moderate traffic) from the New Jersey shore, including Ocean City, Stone Harbor, Avalon, etc. Peace Valley is where my wife and I took lessons, and although the lake is small, we like it. It's never too busy, and the people seem nice. Peace Valley won't allow boats bigger than 16'. Lake Nockamixon does allow larger boats, as does (obviously) the Delaware and shore. We currently own a 2005 Honda Pilot (though we're starting to think it may be time to update that vehicle), which will have a towing capacity of 3500 lbs once I get the appropriate transmission cooler and install it. One last bit of background info: my in-laws have a condo in Avalon, NJ, and they (and we) hope that we'll be using it fairly often next season. Oh yeah, sorry, one other bit of background: my boys and wife have all insisted that the boat MUST have a cabin. It can be SMALL, but it must have a cabin.
After weeks of scouring the Internet, it looks like we may be netting out with a Rhodes 22 or a Hunter 23. I've seen other Rhodes 22's and one Hunter 23, and both seem like well designed boats. There are two different Hunter 23's for sale in our region (both 1986 vintage), and both look to be in decent shape and are within (or close to) our budget. The Rhodes is a 1979, and does not have the in-mast furling system. There's also an S2 6.8 for sale nearby (not sure of the year). The Rhodes and Hunters are on trailers, the S2 is not. Assuming, for the sake of argument, that all three boats are in roughly comparable condition and are roughly the same price, can anyone offer any recommendations for a family-friendly boat that's sailable single handed (since my wife will likely be distracted by our kids)? We'll probably mostly be day-sailing, with the occasional overnight "camping" experience for me and the boys (though that will mostly be dockside camping). I'd like something that COULD be taken out in the ocean occasionally, though that may not wind up being the most frequent of our use cases. I suspect either Lake Nockamixon or the Delaware River will be her primary home, though I may be wrong!
I've read reviews on all of these boats, and they all seem to have their strengths and weaknesses. I'm not seeing that any one of them is really a "better" boat than the others. But if I'm missing something, your feedback would be appreciated!
A little about us: we live in the Philadelphia suburbs, about 20 minutes from Peace Valley Park and about 45 minutes from Lake Nockamixon. We're also about 45 minutes from the Delaware River (both North and South of Philadelphia), and about 2 hours (with moderate traffic) from the New Jersey shore, including Ocean City, Stone Harbor, Avalon, etc. Peace Valley is where my wife and I took lessons, and although the lake is small, we like it. It's never too busy, and the people seem nice. Peace Valley won't allow boats bigger than 16'. Lake Nockamixon does allow larger boats, as does (obviously) the Delaware and shore. We currently own a 2005 Honda Pilot (though we're starting to think it may be time to update that vehicle), which will have a towing capacity of 3500 lbs once I get the appropriate transmission cooler and install it. One last bit of background info: my in-laws have a condo in Avalon, NJ, and they (and we) hope that we'll be using it fairly often next season. Oh yeah, sorry, one other bit of background: my boys and wife have all insisted that the boat MUST have a cabin. It can be SMALL, but it must have a cabin.
After weeks of scouring the Internet, it looks like we may be netting out with a Rhodes 22 or a Hunter 23. I've seen other Rhodes 22's and one Hunter 23, and both seem like well designed boats. There are two different Hunter 23's for sale in our region (both 1986 vintage), and both look to be in decent shape and are within (or close to) our budget. The Rhodes is a 1979, and does not have the in-mast furling system. There's also an S2 6.8 for sale nearby (not sure of the year). The Rhodes and Hunters are on trailers, the S2 is not. Assuming, for the sake of argument, that all three boats are in roughly comparable condition and are roughly the same price, can anyone offer any recommendations for a family-friendly boat that's sailable single handed (since my wife will likely be distracted by our kids)? We'll probably mostly be day-sailing, with the occasional overnight "camping" experience for me and the boys (though that will mostly be dockside camping). I'd like something that COULD be taken out in the ocean occasionally, though that may not wind up being the most frequent of our use cases. I suspect either Lake Nockamixon or the Delaware River will be her primary home, though I may be wrong!
I've read reviews on all of these boats, and they all seem to have their strengths and weaknesses. I'm not seeing that any one of them is really a "better" boat than the others. But if I'm missing something, your feedback would be appreciated!
