CAn anyone give an opinion or comparison of the Vanguard 17 Nomad, Hunter 170, or Catalina Capri 16.5 or something else similar? I'd like to return to some casual daysailing with my wife and 3 young children and need a relatively sedate dry riding boat. I want a centerboard model. I can moor it just off our beach, too. Thanks for any and all opinions, Erik
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I cant comment on the models you seem
interested in as I have not sailed any of them. My experience has been with a smaller 14' daysailer I have owned for many years. I love these smaller boats and the way you really feel the water and boat. I once rented an O'Day 16 on Bermuda and that was a blast. My main comment would be to get onto these different boats (on the water) before buying one. This might mean finding places to rent the different models or invite yourself along for a quick sail with someone who owns one to check out how it handles. Try before you buy. My other comment is that even though the boats you are looking at are larger than my 14 footer you might find that taking a family of 5 out on a boat this size results in a crowd in the cockpit. Therefore, you will want a large cockpit which might point you at some of the nice Cat boats that are around. They are quite stable and have lots of space for crew but can be more expensive than some of the production boats you mentioned. Otherwise consider taking out fewer people than 5 at a time; the boat will respond better and you will have more room to handle the lines and tiller. I also own a 19' Lightning that is a racer and would not recommend it as a family daysailor as it has a working cockpit with lines all over the place and plenty of places that little ones could get in trouble. Lightning racers normally use a crew of 3 (max) to handle all the lines. You want a much simpler boat than this for family outings. Good luck.
interested in as I have not sailed any of them. My experience has been with a smaller 14' daysailer I have owned for many years. I love these smaller boats and the way you really feel the water and boat. I once rented an O'Day 16 on Bermuda and that was a blast. My main comment would be to get onto these different boats (on the water) before buying one. This might mean finding places to rent the different models or invite yourself along for a quick sail with someone who owns one to check out how it handles. Try before you buy. My other comment is that even though the boats you are looking at are larger than my 14 footer you might find that taking a family of 5 out on a boat this size results in a crowd in the cockpit. Therefore, you will want a large cockpit which might point you at some of the nice Cat boats that are around. They are quite stable and have lots of space for crew but can be more expensive than some of the production boats you mentioned. Otherwise consider taking out fewer people than 5 at a time; the boat will respond better and you will have more room to handle the lines and tiller. I also own a 19' Lightning that is a racer and would not recommend it as a family daysailor as it has a working cockpit with lines all over the place and plenty of places that little ones could get in trouble. Lightning racers normally use a crew of 3 (max) to handle all the lines. You want a much simpler boat than this for family outings. Good luck.
I learned on a Hunter 170 and it is a great little boat----for a two hour trip. I would recommend that you take a look at a bigger boat, for instance a Mac 26S or 26D. You will not out grow that boat with your family, you can buy one for less than $10000, the porta potty and a place to take a nap will come in handy, you can easily trailer it any where, you can camp on it for a whole week and with its' water ballast and swing keel you can bring it in close to your beach. This is a great idea and you'll be glad you did this some day.Life passes quickly and kids grow fast. fair winds
Good point Len
The Macgregor 26 has plenty of space for 5 people with a large cabin that is big enough to sleep 6. It gets a bit more involved setting up and maintaining a Mac 26 than a traditional daysailor but I would consider looking at this boat as well for a family of 5. Cons: You would probably want an 8 hp engine for a Mac 26. Someone has to empty the porta pottie. You might need a bigger vehicle to tow this rig any distance or up/down hills. More of a big boat feel when sailing with the high freeboard. You cant just leave this boat tied up on the beach. It should be trailered or kept at a slip/mooring ($). Too much napping in the cabin can make little ones seasick. Pros: You wont be too cramped with 5 people in the cockpit. Plenty of room for kids to nap in cabin. You can camp out on this boat (as previously noted).
The Macgregor 26 has plenty of space for 5 people with a large cabin that is big enough to sleep 6. It gets a bit more involved setting up and maintaining a Mac 26 than a traditional daysailor but I would consider looking at this boat as well for a family of 5. Cons: You would probably want an 8 hp engine for a Mac 26. Someone has to empty the porta pottie. You might need a bigger vehicle to tow this rig any distance or up/down hills. More of a big boat feel when sailing with the high freeboard. You cant just leave this boat tied up on the beach. It should be trailered or kept at a slip/mooring ($). Too much napping in the cabin can make little ones seasick. Pros: You wont be too cramped with 5 people in the cockpit. Plenty of room for kids to nap in cabin. You can camp out on this boat (as previously noted).
Thanks for all the great tips. I grew up on a Hobie 16 and have spent many hours as well on a sunfish, so I know all the joys of these low maintenance High thrill boats. I guess that's pretty important to me as well - low maintenance. Put it in the water in May, take it off the mooring in October, spend one day or less with annual maintenance, or pay someone else to paint the hull or do the major things. I thought about a cat, and still haven't ruled it out. But I think that occasionally the passengers might not like such a wet ride. I'll take a look at the Mac 26. My first thought, though is that it might be more boat than I want for now. Plus, I don't think my beach cove could handle a boat that long. Does anyone have an opinion on the Hunter 170 APC hull material? Is this one step beyond rotomolded? or essentially fiberglass-like? Thanks, Erik
O'Day Daysailer DSII
It really depends on the water you'll sail it on . I bought it for use on Lake Erie and that was, IMHO, a mistake. Too much water for not enough boat. If you're on a small inland lake, however, it's a great boat for the family as well as a good boat for kids to learn to sail on when they're old enough. It just so happens I have one available.
It really depends on the water you'll sail it on . I bought it for use on Lake Erie and that was, IMHO, a mistake. Too much water for not enough boat. If you're on a small inland lake, however, it's a great boat for the family as well as a good boat for kids to learn to sail on when they're old enough. It just so happens I have one available.
17 ftr oday daysailor
My first boat was a 17 ftr, oday daysailor, I learned well on that boat.I now have a 26 oday, actually I think it might be easier to sail. I have 3 children and they enjoy getting out of the sun and playing a game down below for awhile. I would look into something that you and your family can grow with. Oday has several 19 thru 22/23 ftrs that might meet your needs,also the catalina 22,s are very popular.Lots of them out there and therefore you have the pick of the crop.Easy to get close to the beach,stay over nite and a great boat to sail on. Good luck and get out there and check out a few models evenif you have to rent for the day
My first boat was a 17 ftr, oday daysailor, I learned well on that boat.I now have a 26 oday, actually I think it might be easier to sail. I have 3 children and they enjoy getting out of the sun and playing a game down below for awhile. I would look into something that you and your family can grow with. Oday has several 19 thru 22/23 ftrs that might meet your needs,also the catalina 22,s are very popular.Lots of them out there and therefore you have the pick of the crop.Easy to get close to the beach,stay over nite and a great boat to sail on. Good luck and get out there and check out a few models evenif you have to rent for the day
Yet another suggestion
For a family that size, you might look at a Flying Scot. They're beamy, stable for a centerboarder, and have a big cockpit. There are quite a few around the Gulf coast, I don't know about up north. They have been around forever and are pretty tough.
For a family that size, you might look at a Flying Scot. They're beamy, stable for a centerboarder, and have a big cockpit. There are quite a few around the Gulf coast, I don't know about up north. They have been around forever and are pretty tough.
Consider the Hunter 216
You should also consider the Hunter 216. It's a larger and heavier day sailer. It has a lead centerboard and your chances of turning over are minimal. Plus, lots of room in the cockpit for everyone to move around.
You should also consider the Hunter 216. It's a larger and heavier day sailer. It has a lead centerboard and your chances of turning over are minimal. Plus, lots of room in the cockpit for everyone to move around.
Consider a larger keel boat Captain
While you want to go around the next point, your children are going to get bored and someone will want a porta-potty. I think you need some kind of ballast to make it fun and stable, a cabin to get out of the sun, lay down, play games, read books, store some food and the porta-potty, especially if you're not the captain. Get the smallest boat that fits your needs, each of your needs. I have a h216. Huge cockpit, very small cabin, 500 lb lead centerboard so can be beached, positive buoyancy with the APC, high freeboard so is very dry, but new, so more expensive than other options, and rain can get in around the mast without great care. This, like others, is a great boat to help your family feel confident sailing. APC is 1/4 inch acrylic on the outside with 1-4 inches of foam and fiberglass inside. Tougher than fiberglass. If i had a mooring, i would start with a 26 foot boat also. But more importantly, get the boat your wife wants to trust your family in.
While you want to go around the next point, your children are going to get bored and someone will want a porta-potty. I think you need some kind of ballast to make it fun and stable, a cabin to get out of the sun, lay down, play games, read books, store some food and the porta-potty, especially if you're not the captain. Get the smallest boat that fits your needs, each of your needs. I have a h216. Huge cockpit, very small cabin, 500 lb lead centerboard so can be beached, positive buoyancy with the APC, high freeboard so is very dry, but new, so more expensive than other options, and rain can get in around the mast without great care. This, like others, is a great boat to help your family feel confident sailing. APC is 1/4 inch acrylic on the outside with 1-4 inches of foam and fiberglass inside. Tougher than fiberglass. If i had a mooring, i would start with a 26 foot boat also. But more importantly, get the boat your wife wants to trust your family in.
I Agree
I agree get a little bigger boat for your family. A possible used boat21 or 24 or 26 might be good,some thing for protection against the weather. When my kids were young we had a open boat and wished we had a little cabin. Nick
I agree get a little bigger boat for your family. A possible used boat21 or 24 or 26 might be good,some thing for protection against the weather. When my kids were young we had a open boat and wished we had a little cabin. Nick
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