What brand & model sailboat would ya'll recomend for a fist timer? It has to be trailerable is the main thing. I'd like your input on the Macgregor, Catalina & Hunter boats. Thanks, Paul
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Depends ...
Catalina is the best quality, best resale... Hunter is good. Lots of dealers, service. I have no experience with MacGregor... A difficult choice is keel/ballast... If you will sail in big water areas (great lakes, large bays, etc), stay away from water ballast. It is not very stable. A Catalina 22 or 25 are my favorites.
Catalina is the best quality, best resale... Hunter is good. Lots of dealers, service. I have no experience with MacGregor... A difficult choice is keel/ballast... If you will sail in big water areas (great lakes, large bays, etc), stay away from water ballast. It is not very stable. A Catalina 22 or 25 are my favorites.
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Different approach... Maybe if you supplied us with a little info... Where will you be sailing? A small lake or Kentucky Lake? Is the lake deep or shallow? Do you want a boat for day sailing only, do you want something with a cabin for escape from the sun when you want to take a break, do you want to overnight, do you want to cruise? What are your personal capabilities for maintenance? By honest. Can you do your own repairs? Trailerable can mean anything from a Laser to a Catalina 27. What is the capability of your tow vehicle? Do you have a vehicle capable of hauling 4 tons including a trailer? Where will you keep the boat? Driveway / home or at a marina parking / storage area? What is your budget? My general feelings: Hunter is the best quality, best resale... Catalina is good. Lots of dealers, service. MacGregors...
IMO, you should consider Hunter, Catalina and O'Day. My personal preferences for trailerable boats are O'Days.
Different approach... Maybe if you supplied us with a little info... Where will you be sailing? A small lake or Kentucky Lake? Is the lake deep or shallow? Do you want a boat for day sailing only, do you want something with a cabin for escape from the sun when you want to take a break, do you want to overnight, do you want to cruise? What are your personal capabilities for maintenance? By honest. Can you do your own repairs? Trailerable can mean anything from a Laser to a Catalina 27. What is the capability of your tow vehicle? Do you have a vehicle capable of hauling 4 tons including a trailer? Where will you keep the boat? Driveway / home or at a marina parking / storage area? What is your budget? My general feelings: Hunter is the best quality, best resale... Catalina is good. Lots of dealers, service. MacGregors...
IMO, you should consider Hunter, Catalina and O'Day. My personal preferences for trailerable boats are O'Days.Go to Yacht World
Paul, Go to yachtworld.com and do an advance search for the size and location of boat you think you are interested and see what is on the market. There are all types of boats on the listing so look at them and see what you think you would want in a boat and that should help narrow your search. Then at that point, ask around and on this forum if anyone has experience with the models you are interested. Enjoy and good luck in your quest...
Paul, Go to yachtworld.com and do an advance search for the size and location of boat you think you are interested and see what is on the market. There are all types of boats on the listing so look at them and see what you think you would want in a boat and that should help narrow your search. Then at that point, ask around and on this forum if anyone has experience with the models you are interested. Enjoy and good luck in your quest...
Well...
Sorry, should have included this to begin with. Planned use would include some overnighting with my wife and son so a cabin w/head is a must. The lakes I'll be on most of the time are deep (Tim's Ford & Guntersville Lake). Repairs & Maintenance I would do myself. Not gonna trust some IDIOT at the dealer like on my last boat (18' Steary stern drive). I have done fiberglass repair, self-taught, and I do all my own maintenance on our cars, motorcycles and farm tractor but know when it is over my head and call in an expert. Towing capacity is not an issue (Dodge Ram 2500 w/ Cummins diesel) but would like to be able to tow with our V8 Dakota. The boat would be stored at home in a gravel turn-around area in front of our barn or, if I can move a few things around, in an overhang on the barn. Budget is in the low to mid 20's with lower more desirable. I would like to get the most bang for my buck. Let me hear your HONEST opinion of the boats. If you like you can e-mail me at: pbford@lcdoe.org Thanks, Paul
Sorry, should have included this to begin with. Planned use would include some overnighting with my wife and son so a cabin w/head is a must. The lakes I'll be on most of the time are deep (Tim's Ford & Guntersville Lake). Repairs & Maintenance I would do myself. Not gonna trust some IDIOT at the dealer like on my last boat (18' Steary stern drive). I have done fiberglass repair, self-taught, and I do all my own maintenance on our cars, motorcycles and farm tractor but know when it is over my head and call in an expert. Towing capacity is not an issue (Dodge Ram 2500 w/ Cummins diesel) but would like to be able to tow with our V8 Dakota. The boat would be stored at home in a gravel turn-around area in front of our barn or, if I can move a few things around, in an overhang on the barn. Budget is in the low to mid 20's with lower more desirable
. I would like to get the most bang for my buck. Let me hear your HONEST opinion of the boats. If you like you can e-mail me at: pbford@lcdoe.org Thanks, PaulO'Days
Most of my experience has been with O'Days. In general they are well built, forgiving, solid boats with good performance. The manufacturer is out of business, but a former employee bought the inventory and parts are available. There is a very active O'Day community here and on the Sailnet boards that helps out with repairs, tuning, parts, etc. That said, I would look at an O'Day 23, 24, or 25. They are large enough to be comfortable for an overnight, but still small enough to efficiently trailer and rig at the ramp. Each has portapotti or marine head capability. Each has shoal keel and/or centerboard models so decide which you would want for your waters. Centerboard has better performance but shoal draft has less maintenance and no extra CB trunk in the cabin If you will leave the boat in the water and trailer home for winter storage, I will add the O'Day 26. I think it is a bit large for frequent rigging. Although I have a 22, I left if off due to your higher budget and sleeping req's. It is easy to rig but a bit cramped for a 3 person overnight. Brad
Most of my experience has been with O'Days. In general they are well built, forgiving, solid boats with good performance. The manufacturer is out of business, but a former employee bought the inventory and parts are available. There is a very active O'Day community here and on the Sailnet boards that helps out with repairs, tuning, parts, etc. That said, I would look at an O'Day 23, 24, or 25. They are large enough to be comfortable for an overnight, but still small enough to efficiently trailer and rig at the ramp. Each has portapotti or marine head capability. Each has shoal keel and/or centerboard models so decide which you would want for your waters. Centerboard has better performance but shoal draft has less maintenance and no extra CB trunk in the cabin If you will leave the boat in the water and trailer home for winter storage, I will add the O'Day 26. I think it is a bit large for frequent rigging. Although I have a 22, I left if off due to your higher budget and sleeping req's. It is easy to rig but a bit cramped for a 3 person overnight. Brad
a couple of boats to consider!
if you primarly are putting it in the water for the weekend or 3 or 4 days you might want to consider, if you can find one would be a (mega 30,built by C&C in the late seventys early eightys) 8'beam w/power motor to raise and lower keel. trailerable. Seidelman also built a 29 and 30 trailerable about the same dimensions. these usually sell for about 10k
if you primarly are putting it in the water for the weekend or 3 or 4 days you might want to consider, if you can find one would be a (mega 30,built by C&C in the late seventys early eightys) 8'beam w/power motor to raise and lower keel. trailerable. Seidelman also built a 29 and 30 trailerable about the same dimensions. these usually sell for about 10k
!988 Macgregor
We had one for 7 years. A lot of boat and great light air performance. Probably the easiest boat to trailer. The mast is so lightweight that I could push it up myself and easy to lower to go under bridges. I wouldn't take mine in the open ocean but used it at Panama city,charleston harbor and kentucky lake. I don't like the newer model as it can't decide to be motorboat or sailboat. But there is one at our marina and the owner is very happy. for a first boat I recommend that you don't put a lot of money in the boat. We got busy one year with motorcycling and me flying and we just left our Mac in a barn all year. Cost us nothing and after a little cleanup it was ready to use. If you have a boat that you have to keep at a marina the bills keep coming in even if you don't go sailing. Fiberglass and dacron last almost forever if kept dry and out of the sun.
We had one for 7 years. A lot of boat and great light air performance. Probably the easiest boat to trailer. The mast is so lightweight that I could push it up myself and easy to lower to go under bridges. I wouldn't take mine in the open ocean but used it at Panama city,charleston harbor and kentucky lake. I don't like the newer model as it can't decide to be motorboat or sailboat. But there is one at our marina and the owner is very happy. for a first boat I recommend that you don't put a lot of money in the boat. We got busy one year with motorcycling and me flying and we just left our Mac in a barn all year. Cost us nothing and after a little cleanup it was ready to use. If you have a boat that you have to keep at a marina the bills keep coming in even if you don't go sailing. Fiberglass and dacron last almost forever if kept dry and out of the sun.
A few boats come to mind
The O'Days might be a great place to start shopping. I agree that the 25 and 26 are very nice boats and "workable" on a trailer. I've seen O'Days stored next to people's homes. There are a couple of Hunters that might be worthy of consideration. The 240, 260 and 26 would seem to meet your requirements. A little "tippier" than the O'Days of the same size, but still solid boats. The Hunter 23 also fits. Lots of them around and they're fun to sail. The 25.5 is marginaly trailerable and a real bargain: big / roomy and a good sailer. Catalina has a couple of variations of the 250 that are worthy of consideration. The 250 wing keel is nice and easy to sail. Within this category are a lot of other boats. A walk around the marina over the weekend might be revealing. Ask what the owners think of their boats. Just as a possible option, you might want to consider the difference in cost of trailering and renting a slip. Think about not just the $$ but how much your time's worth and the hassle of rigging the boat every time you want to go out. For the first couple of years, do you want the hassle of launch / rig, and pick-up / drop the mast every time you sail? That will eat up a couple of extra hours out of your sailing day. Good luck.
The O'Days might be a great place to start shopping. I agree that the 25 and 26 are very nice boats and "workable" on a trailer. I've seen O'Days stored next to people's homes. There are a couple of Hunters that might be worthy of consideration. The 240, 260 and 26 would seem to meet your requirements. A little "tippier" than the O'Days of the same size, but still solid boats. The Hunter 23 also fits. Lots of them around and they're fun to sail. The 25.5 is marginaly trailerable and a real bargain: big / roomy and a good sailer. Catalina has a couple of variations of the 250 that are worthy of consideration. The 250 wing keel is nice and easy to sail. Within this category are a lot of other boats. A walk around the marina over the weekend might be revealing. Ask what the owners think of their boats. Just as a possible option, you might want to consider the difference in cost of trailering and renting a slip. Think about not just the $$ but how much your time's worth and the hassle of rigging the boat every time you want to go out. For the first couple of years, do you want the hassle of launch / rig, and pick-up / drop the mast every time you sail? That will eat up a couple of extra hours out of your sailing day. Good luck.
my favorite so far, is a catalina22
just redid the boat, have had it out once, but hope to keep going, little small for a four nite vacation, but it did ok. A working motor, although my 2hp was a little too small and died on the trip, it kinda worked. my wife who is five ft tall, did keep bangin her head on the forward berth area,and she really didnt like the porta-potti arrangement.I never used it.Well, I did, but only standin up,or was it kneeling.Sittin down, forget it. Other than that,we had alot of fun.Look forward to other adventures in it.
just redid the boat, have had it out once, but hope to keep going, little small for a four nite vacation, but it did ok. A working motor, although my 2hp was a little too small and died on the trip, it kinda worked. my wife who is five ft tall, did keep bangin her head on the forward berth area,and she really didnt like the porta-potti arrangement.I never used it.Well, I did, but only standin up,or was it kneeling.Sittin down, forget it. Other than that,we had alot of fun.Look forward to other adventures in it.
Hunting Down the Hunter
We started with a Precision 15 and then moved up to a Hunter 21...the following year, we moved up again to a Hunter 240. We really love the room that Hunter allows for both in the cabin and in the cockpit. The 240 is large enough to do a weekend aboard and it has water ballast so it is trailerable. (It also has this great system for raising the mast...I can do it alone!) As this sailing season winds down, we are again being bitten by the "bigger bug" and we are looking at larger boats...Hunters included. (That means we have a 240 for sale!) Hope this helps...my best advice...do your homework.
We started with a Precision 15 and then moved up to a Hunter 21...the following year, we moved up again to a Hunter 240. We really love the room that Hunter allows for both in the cabin and in the cockpit. The 240 is large enough to do a weekend aboard and it has water ballast so it is trailerable. (It also has this great system for raising the mast...I can do it alone!) As this sailing season winds down, we are again being bitten by the "bigger bug" and we are looking at larger boats...Hunters included. (That means we have a 240 for sale!) Hope this helps...my best advice...do your homework.
Thanks
Thanks Colleen, I have narrowed the search down to a Cal 25 or Hunter 25. Still can't decide so I'll just have to keep looking. Again, Thanks for your advice. Paul
Thanks Colleen, I have narrowed the search down to a Cal 25 or Hunter 25. Still can't decide so I'll just have to keep looking. Again, Thanks for your advice. Paul
Paul, as you can see from the responses ... we are all somewhat biased toward makes we have experience with. Permit me to add my 5 cents.. My first (and only) sailboat was a Mac 25. I bought it new in San Francisco and now it is at home ... in Brandon, MS. My first tow vehicle was a 6 cylinder Chevy Nova. It towed the boat with no problems ... the Mac25 trailers beautifully! Because it is so light, you will hardly notice it if you tow it with a Pickup or SUV! This particular boal deisgn has achieved an incerdibly successful balance between size, weight, appearance, practicality, and ... PRICE. It's ideal for an inexperienced as well as the experienced sailor. It also is perfect for a small family starting out in sailing! For details of what is included in a typical Mac25, I invite you to visit the ad for MY Mac25 (look under "Mac 25 for sale in MS) ... it's for sale due to medical reasons. A photo of the boat on its trailer is included in the ad. But, since I'm obviously biased toward the Mac25, please visit the "Owners comments" section of this website ... for a crossection of "no holds barred" observations from OTHER owners of the Mac25 ... real interesting reading! kes@kesmac.net
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