Failure on inagural sail. Time to sell. . .??

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Clyde

Keep The Beneteau...

Great story. There aren't that many Beneteau First 26 in the US. I know that they were first built in 1984, but don't know when they discontinued the model 26. I haven't seen one at a marina. I think they replaced the model 26 with the model 260 Spirit, but the new model 260 Spirit is only sold in Europe. By your description of your inaugural sailing adventure, the model 26 must have a high freeboard, like a Hunter 260 or 270. The Hunter 260 uses water ballast and the 270 have a keel. Since there aren't very many Beneteau First 26 owners in the US, if need advice or want to talk with a similar size sailboat owner, then contact either a Catalina or Hunter owner. Great story, a real lessons learn for new sailors. Going from a wet sailboat like the "Sunfish" to a keel sailboat is like going from a bicycle to a motorcycle. The sailing principle may be the same, but you are going a lot faster and there is a lot more mass to control with the bigger boat. Most new sailors should enroll in either the US Sail or ASA course on "Basic Keel Boat" handling or buy a sailing manual. I know that you didn't ask for any sailing advice on this forum except whether or not to sell the boat, but I would advise you, as the other have on this forum to take a basic keel boat class or at least buy a sailing manual. If you take a sailing class, most boat insurance companies will give you a discount. Fair Winds. Clyde
 
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Daniel Schafer

THANK YOU for the advice, encouragement. . .

I want to express my appreciation for everyone's kind encouragement in regards to the trials and tribulations of my first "big" boat sailing experience. I have dreamt of the moment of sailing my own cruiser forever, needless to say it was quite not what I had envisioned via my rose colored sunglasses. Game Plan: I am trying to get into an ASA course this very weekend. I am 100% sure I will get certified ASAP. I have also re-thought taking my son out with us on these very first adventures. I think for the first few times out, we will leave him in safer hands until we can feel comfortable with the lake and the boat. Another suggestion made, that we will take advantage of, is talking and working with other folks at the marina and pay, beg, or bribe our way to having the experienced sailors show us the ropes. I greatly appreciate the advice, encouragement, and similar tales of humblement. Being the son of a single mother, I missed out on having the normal father son experiences. As soon as I learned that I was having a son, I have had to think of things that I could share with him. Sailing was one. Now he is 14 weeks old, and getting ready to be able to learn things from my wife an I. The pressure (perhaps in my head) is on. Thanks for keeping me on track, and putting this all in perspective. Rest assured, ASA school, light Southern wind, fellow sailors, and more/better planning is my charted course as we speak. After all, our young Jack isn't quite ready to cast off a line, and trim a sheet quite yet. And shoot, by the time he is asking for my car keys, surely I'll be semi-competant with at least docking my unruly steed.
 
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Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
more encouragement!

Dan: You should insist that your wife takes these lessons too. There is nothing you are going to tell her that is going to make her confident of a boats ability. When she takes these classes she will begin to understand the dynamics of sailing and have experienced sailors assuring her of a boats capabilities. Sailing with experienced sailors is just a good idea even after you get your certification. They will be able to explain how things sould work on YOUR boat. By the end of the summer, you will feel like you have done it for years. Happy Sailing!!!!!
 
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Clyde

Getting Experience Sailors To Help Is Easy…

You won't have to..."pay, beg, or bribe our way to having the experienced sailors show [you] the ropes." Most sailors at a marina would jump at the chance to sail on a sailboat they have not sailed before. Since the French made Beneteau First 26 is out of production and there are not very many of them in the US, it makes it more alluring to most sailors. I would recommend walking around the marina and talking with owners of sailboats that are similar in sized to your boat. Tell the boat owners that you are new to sailing and you are going to take the ASA course ASAP, but in the mean time you were looking for some sailing help. If I where at your marina, I would probably go over to your boat and look it over and check it out. I would first recommend that both you and your wife sail on my boat first before going out on yours. I would do this first to see how much sailing experience you had and if an emergency happened, I could sail my boat solo. After showing you and your wife some basic sailing instructions, we would then sail on your boat. Experience sailors do this all the time, sail with the new sailor out on their boat first, just in case you could not handle the local sailing conditions before venturing out on your boat. By the time young Jack is old enough to handle the jib sheet, his dad will probably be a "Blue Water" sailor by then. Fair Winds. Clyde
 
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Rob R.

Easy, Tex...

I know the feeling. It is a combination of feelings - disappointment, buyers remorse, a little bit of fear, and, of course, embarrassment. No one likes to look like a rookie... But we all are, and sooner rather than later. One thing I think we all forgot to address here is the "night before Christmas" factor. You just bought a big-assed present, and you probably couldn't wait to unwrap it. I was the same way, and had a similar experience (overheated the engine). On the way back to the dock, I was thinking "what did I get myself into? I just bought this boat and may have totalled a 4500 dollar engine on the first outing... I don't know what I'm doing, and I can't afford this." You are well on your way to right path. The ASA course will do wonders for you. Pester your dockmates. Don't be afraid to ask questions - and accept the answers. And if no one will take you out on one of their boats, just shoot down to Austin. I'll take you out on my C-27. Better days are ahead buddy - I assure you that! Take Care - Rob robrich@austin.rr.com p.s. - Did you get any of those T-Storms the other night? We had 69 mph gusts down here in Austin after the storm cells rolled over and past Dallas.
 
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Bob Camarena

Just remember not to yell.

Raising your voice doesn't help a bit and it usually means you don't know what you're doing. I learned my lesson when my wife and then 13 year old daughter just let go of everything (rudder, sheets, etc.) and sat with their hands folded in their laps until I calmed down. I've never raised my voice since (well, almost never). Also, despite every new sailor's delight in using the proper terms, sometimes it's more effective to say "pull on the rope near your right hand" instead of "harden up on the mainsheet." Color coding also helps, as in, "no, the blue rope, not the red one."
 
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Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
I AM NOT YELLING!

Bob: I must agree that yelling does no good. BUT, when the wind pipes up you have to yell for someone to hear you (assuming the position bow/stern). It would be good if everyone aboard understood what needed to be done without being told. This is usually what happens when the boys are sailing and the girls are sunnin'. I suppose if more of the ladies had the passion for sailing that the guys do thing would be a little bit calmer. But yellin' gets you no where! That goes for everyone!
 
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Don Alexander

Welcome to the Club!!

Daniel, Did you just get into a car, back it down the driveway and motor round the streets for an hour or so? I think not so why would you expect a boat to be any different. May I suggest you either take a professional lesson or two, or go sailing with someone who is experienced, and/or join a club. Good sailing. PS All fillies need breaking in GENTLY.
 
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Mark

Wicked Nasty

Rob, Yes, I was caught in the storms saturday night up here in Ft. Worth. Man oh man, 70mph wind, sideways rain...the whole nine yards. Got drenched running from the garage to the house (all of 20 yards or less) Some friends are still looking for their lawn furniture!!! As for a ride, I am in Ft.Worth and am always looking for a crew for my Mac 25. What lake are you sailing down in Austin? I did my scuba cert dives at Travis a number of years ago and brought along a little Sidewinder for non-dive related fun...ahh the days of Tex. A&M Sailing Club...bunch of boats at your beck and call!!! -Mark
 
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Mark

Opportunity??

Dan, Sounds like you want to sell your Benny...cheap!!!...how much and where can I pick it up??? Seriously, hang in there, it will get better. It is quite a step up from Sunfish to a real boat. You need a few times out with some experienced larger boat sailors and no wife and/or young kids. These distractions only make matters worse and lead you to give up after the first outing. I will gladly drive up from FtW to meet you at Texoma and go out for a spin or two or, if you want, you can come down here and have a go on my little money pit (Mac 25). Let me know... mark_snedecor@hotmail.com if you choose. -Mark
 
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Mark

No Mrs. allowed...

Doug, I will have to disagree with your opinion. In my experience, any relationship is contrary to learning. Take the husband out then take the wife out. I have taught many people (much to the dismay of my trans.) how to drive a stick shift automobile and have found that I have much better results with the average Joe Blow than someone or someones that are more than just friends. As with anything else, it usually turns into an "I can, why can't you" or simlar. With no "relationships" to get in the way the teaching experience seems to go much better. I have had "learning permit" drivers stopping and starting on major hills within two hours yet fought for days with experienced drivers that I was much "closer" too. In my opinion, one on one with an "unknown" is the best approach as there is no competition involved. I think Dan (or anyone) would be best served by gaining experience away from the family and bringing them up to speed (or having the Mrs. do some solo learning as well) later. -Mark
 
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Ron

YELLING!!!!

My wife and I use a pair of $20 (Captain Midnight) headsets. The range is about 300ft; 263ft more than we need. No YELLING, just normal speaking.. That's 20 bucks for the pair...
 
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Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Capt. Ron

Capt. Ron: I know that these headsets are good when you have time to grab your equipment. When there is an emergency and the wind is blowing 30 kts you need to SPEAK VERY LOUDY! Isn't this so? PS: How do these headsets work in high winds?
 
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Ron

SPEAK VERY LOUDLY

Yeah Steve, you are right. In high winds there is a bunch of noise, but you can still hear. We use them mainly for in and out of the slip. That way we don't have to put on a show for the neighborhood. Once we are under way we store them below and SCREAM at each other... Ron/KA5HZV
 
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Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Oh ya!

CAPT. RON: I AM GLAD YOU ARE NORMAL. Actually these headsets seem like a good idea for snugging up to an anchorage too. At the price that you can get them it is worth it just to have clear communications (and not have to HOLLAR).
 
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Rob R.

Mark..

Yup, I sail on Travis, keep my boat back in Cypress Cove, right near where they certify divers. As a matter of fact, I got lucky and was able to do some night sailing last night - beautiful... I actually get to to Dallas every once in a while on business - I'll look you up next time - love to see the lakes up there. Thanks - Rob
 
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Dave

Dock dunking

My wife and I, after a couple of years of sailing had our docking and yelling routine down pretty well, until one day when the wind was blowing pretty hard and we had some kind folks decide to help us in...unfortunately, my wife gets rattled pretty easily, and I start speaking in a louder voice, assuming that she will hear me better and....the net is that I managed to pull a young lady off the dock into the water (freshwater lake) and you can bet that was embarrassing! There will always be mistakes, the key is to keep them of the non life threatening kind...
 
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Dan

Wet ladies!

Dave, You sure you didn't just want to get that young lady wet? Docking accident....Good story, I'd stick with it too. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
 
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