I am considering buying a First 235 to daysail/weekend around the coasts of Florida... is the First 235 a boat capable of handling 3 to 4 feet waves with 10 to 15 knots wind with ease... what can it handle and with what level of confort.... thanks in advance for any help/comments/personal experiences.... Gabriel
- Status
Coastal cruising
Gabriel, I guess the first question would have to be what is your sailing experience? If you pick a good weather window and monitor the weather closely I would say the boat could handle the conditions. The main factor is going to be the amount of sailing experience you and your crew have. Charlie
Gabriel, I guess the first question would have to be what is your sailing experience? If you pick a good weather window and monitor the weather closely I would say the boat could handle the conditions. The main factor is going to be the amount of sailing experience you and your crew have. Charlie
In short, Yes...with
I own a First 235 and live on the coast in lower North Carolina in Wrightsville Beach. This is an NC barrier island with 10 minute sail to a great deep water inlet with direct access to the Atlantic (you can be in the ocean in no time). I sail the F235 off the coast from two - four times a week throughout the year. In short, the F235 can handle the ocean conditions fine for short coastal cruising. I have been out in 25knts with higher gusts for periods with a 6ft swell running, this solo and with an 89 wing keel. There are a few simple mods mentioned in the site below that will even help matters more. Also, while the F235 does not have the most ballast in the world, with attention paid to your weight, tuning and sail trim, you can still keep her pretty flat. She also has an excellent reefing system that can be optimized further. Lastly, it is a deck stepped mast with rigging not designed to venture over 40 miles offshore if met with bad weater. But she handles great in the ocean and is relatively DRY due to freeboard and hull design. As Charlie said, I would pay attention to the weather and be close enough to be able to make it back to a safe port if weather really deteriorates; that being said, the F235 is built very well and is more solid than many boats in this range though nothing like a true mini-cruiser ie Flicka, Pacific Seacraft Dana, etc, etc. Then again, the F235 will eat these boats for lunch speed-wise and is much more performance oriented. The F235 has a tremendous interior, perhaps one of the most cleverly designed boats in this size and performance range. There are quite a few in your area with some more sailing in the Florida Keys. For more info on the F235, check out http://beneteau235.com kh http://Beneteau235.com
I own a First 235 and live on the coast in lower North Carolina in Wrightsville Beach. This is an NC barrier island with 10 minute sail to a great deep water inlet with direct access to the Atlantic (you can be in the ocean in no time). I sail the F235 off the coast from two - four times a week throughout the year. In short, the F235 can handle the ocean conditions fine for short coastal cruising. I have been out in 25knts with higher gusts for periods with a 6ft swell running, this solo and with an 89 wing keel. There are a few simple mods mentioned in the site below that will even help matters more. Also, while the F235 does not have the most ballast in the world, with attention paid to your weight, tuning and sail trim, you can still keep her pretty flat. She also has an excellent reefing system that can be optimized further. Lastly, it is a deck stepped mast with rigging not designed to venture over 40 miles offshore if met with bad weater. But she handles great in the ocean and is relatively DRY due to freeboard and hull design. As Charlie said, I would pay attention to the weather and be close enough to be able to make it back to a safe port if weather really deteriorates; that being said, the F235 is built very well and is more solid than many boats in this range though nothing like a true mini-cruiser ie Flicka, Pacific Seacraft Dana, etc, etc. Then again, the F235 will eat these boats for lunch speed-wise and is much more performance oriented. The F235 has a tremendous interior, perhaps one of the most cleverly designed boats in this size and performance range. There are quite a few in your area with some more sailing in the Florida Keys. For more info on the F235, check out http://beneteau235.com kh http://Beneteau235.com
thanks.....
thanks for your replies.... they really helped my experience as well as my crew, is 10 years plus with 34+ size boats daysailing/weekend cruising... thus my small boat ignorance... Kelly, exellent links thansk.... Gabriel
thanks for your replies.... they really helped my experience as well as my crew, is 10 years plus with 34+ size boats daysailing/weekend cruising... thus my small boat ignorance... Kelly, exellent links thansk.... Gabriel
- Status