So I felt kind of bad getting on this website as I’m not yet a sailboat owner but after discussing it with my significant other we’ve decided to jump head first into the adventurous lifestyle of living aboard our boat. I’ve been searching all kinds of websites day and night for the perfect starter boat for us and if I’m honest I’m completely overwhelmed. I’ve been doing my fair share of reading and watching YouTube videos of different types of boats and the lifestyle of keeping up with maintenance, dealing with storage and renovation of the boat and just about everything else. I guess what I’m asking is where is the best place to start? Do I need certifications? And right now I’ve been looking at catamarans. Is that a good choice or should I be looking for a mono-haul? I’d appreciate anybody that would take their time to answer and sorry if I may come off like a newbie but that is what I am right now haha
Corpus Christi TX area need help learning
- Thread starter jamesw202
- Start date
Aloha, and welcome to the forum, James. You don't mention what experience you have so far with boating, and the choices of a liveabaord boat are many. Catamarans are nice, stable most times, but you can't load them up for cruising like a monohull. For a liveaboard, you would probably want something around 30', easy to handle and enough room for two people.
It seems like you have done your homework, but there is no substitute for experience. If you haven't done so, maybe crew on other boats for a while. In the mean time, take power squadron navigation courses, and cruising sailing courses.
Also, get out there and look at boats. Boat shows are a great way to see a variety of boats, even if you don't intend to buy a new one. Good luck, and let us know how you make out.
It seems like you have done your homework, but there is no substitute for experience. If you haven't done so, maybe crew on other boats for a while. In the mean time, take power squadron navigation courses, and cruising sailing courses.
Also, get out there and look at boats. Boat shows are a great way to see a variety of boats, even if you don't intend to buy a new one. Good luck, and let us know how you make out.
Welcome to the forum!!
Got to start somewhere.............
Where is the best place to start? Go sailing on other people's boats, join a sailing yacht club.......I started out with a Hobie 16, then windsurfers then chartered 37 ft sailboats for several years, purchased my first 31 ft sailboat and eventually my current 46 ft sailboat.
Do I need certifications? No, but sailing ASA certifications would be helpful and give you experience on docking, safety and generally sailing technique.
Right now I’ve been looking at catamarans. Is that a good choice or should I be looking for a mono-haul? Catamarans offer a large amount of living space, they are equivalent to buying 2 monohull sailboats and have a different sail experience vs. a monohull as they do not have the same amount of heel.
Got to start somewhere.............
Where is the best place to start? Go sailing on other people's boats, join a sailing yacht club.......I started out with a Hobie 16, then windsurfers then chartered 37 ft sailboats for several years, purchased my first 31 ft sailboat and eventually my current 46 ft sailboat.
Do I need certifications? No, but sailing ASA certifications would be helpful and give you experience on docking, safety and generally sailing technique.
Right now I’ve been looking at catamarans. Is that a good choice or should I be looking for a mono-haul? Catamarans offer a large amount of living space, they are equivalent to buying 2 monohull sailboats and have a different sail experience vs. a monohull as they do not have the same amount of heel.
To start out I would start with a simple boat to handle and sail. I went through your very dilemma last year, and I decided on a trailer sailor. I wanted a MacGregor 26X but couldn’t find one in my price range. I did find a MacGregor 25, which is a bit simpler to handle and manage than the 26 would have been. Mainly due to the traditional iron keel on the 25 instead of the water ballast the 26 uses.
The MacGregor boats of any size are great starter boats, they were built by Roger MacGregor and marketed for the average Joe that wanted to learn how to sail. They are easy to handle, you can learn how to sail in a day and they will not sink (unless the styrofoam has been removed). Best part is they are light enough that most vehicles can tow them. If you are going to want to do some overnight sailing you will want no smaller than a 17, but preferably a 22, 25, or any of the 26’s.
Also these boats hold their value quite well. You may pay between $2000-10,000 for one depending on model but in a couple of years you can usually sell them for the same or better so long as the condition has not deteriorated.
The MacGregor boats of any size are great starter boats, they were built by Roger MacGregor and marketed for the average Joe that wanted to learn how to sail. They are easy to handle, you can learn how to sail in a day and they will not sink (unless the styrofoam has been removed). Best part is they are light enough that most vehicles can tow them. If you are going to want to do some overnight sailing you will want no smaller than a 17, but preferably a 22, 25, or any of the 26’s.
Also these boats hold their value quite well. You may pay between $2000-10,000 for one depending on model but in a couple of years you can usually sell them for the same or better so long as the condition has not deteriorated.
Thank you so much for some of your insight! I actually looked into crewing on others boats a little bit and would really like to do that as well to gain the experience and knowledge I need to be able to do it on my own and I understand there are only so many things I can do to learn but the best way is always hands on. The only experience I really have boating is just using small salt water fishing boats that my family has owned and as a teenager I had been on a few family friends sail boats and I’ve always loved it. But I understand experience is the most important factor!
Thanks a bunch for taking time to reply! I actually have looked into some ASA courses and booked one for later this months just so I can become familiar with everything and get some hands on wxpieeence.
I can’t tell you how relieved I am to know my situation probably isn’t that unique! I’ll definitely look into the MacGregor boats. My plan as of right now is to try to sail to Florida along the coast hopefully within the next couple of years. I have a tendency to bite off more than I can chew and want to make sure I do this to the best of my ability and get a bunch of opinions on the subject of doing something crazy like this!
Contact Doug dot weakly at yahoo dot com. He's local to CC has been a J24 Texas Circuit guy forever and, at one time, had a J/35 that I almost bought (too deep for my lake). Great guy, can probably give you some local guidance. Tell him Fitzgerald from the Wichita J/24 fleet, aka "OutraJe" told you to contact. Good luck in the future. Welcome aboard!
