I need some advice. I have never sailed, but i want to start. I have been looking at boats around 22 ft (Tanzer or similiar). Also, the 26ft MacGregor. I do want a boat we can overnight on, trailerable is not important. If anyone has advice or warnings for a total newbie it would be appreciated. thanks,
first time buyer
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Many options..
With so few limitations there are so many boats available.We had a catalina 22 which we sold for more than we paid for it.This is perhaps the the most popular boat ever made in this size range.The aftermarket and factory support are very tough to beat.
With so few limitations there are so many boats available.We had a catalina 22 which we sold for more than we paid for it.This is perhaps the the most popular boat ever made in this size range.The aftermarket and factory support are very tough to beat.
Good Starter
22' Catalina is a very good starter boat. And, as already said, lots of support. Then if you decide you really do like sailing, you can get something bigger in a couple years.
22' Catalina is a very good starter boat. And, as already said, lots of support. Then if you decide you really do like sailing, you can get something bigger in a couple years.
If you must
I always recommend that you sail on as many different boats as possible before deciding what boat to purchase. There is nothing as valuable as hands-on experience in determining what features are important to you. If you feel you must buy a boat now (and we've all been there), then you can't go wrong with a Catalina 22. Buy the one you find that is in the best condition with the newest engine. If you decide that it is the boat for you in the long run, great. If not, the resale value is terrific.
I always recommend that you sail on as many different boats as possible before deciding what boat to purchase. There is nothing as valuable as hands-on experience in determining what features are important to you. If you feel you must buy a boat now (and we've all been there), then you can't go wrong with a Catalina 22. Buy the one you find that is in the best condition with the newest engine. If you decide that it is the boat for you in the long run, great. If not, the resale value is terrific.
Bombs away
I am going to get blasted for this response, but with 30 years on the water I gotta say don't go with the Mac 26. The old ones do sail well, but are very lightly built. The new ones are lightly built and don't sail well. Mac owners will disagree. Tanzer, Catalina, ODay, Rhodes are some decent smaller boats. I suppose the Macs are fine for small inland lakes where conditions will not get really testy. If land might be out of sight you want something more than a Mac.
I am going to get blasted for this response, but with 30 years on the water I gotta say don't go with the Mac 26. The old ones do sail well, but are very lightly built. The new ones are lightly built and don't sail well. Mac owners will disagree. Tanzer, Catalina, ODay, Rhodes are some decent smaller boats. I suppose the Macs are fine for small inland lakes where conditions will not get really testy. If land might be out of sight you want something more than a Mac.
Don't spend to much money
for a starter boat that you may quickly outgrow. The advantage of a 22' is that they are trailerable providing you with the opportunity to sail different venues. From your post I gather you are more concerned with the ability to overnight comfortably. The Mac is not a very good sailer but at anchor or at a marina it provides you more than most. The catch is that you may now be thinking about overnighting in your local waters but once you gain some knowledge and confidence you may decide to expand your Horizon's and that is where the 22 will show its shortcomings. The Mac 26 although larger is also a boat for protected waters. If you are still not interested in trailering and have a place where you can keep a boat in the water I would suggest you look for a 27' either a catalina or a Hunter. Used 27s can be purchased for just a slightly higher price than a 22 and the accomodations will be much roomier. You are talking a marine head as opposed to a porta-poty, a galley and berths for 5 persons. It can also be easier to learn to sail on a 27 than on a 22 as they are heavier and more forgiving. Do your homework, shop around and perhaps take a sailing class before commiting money to a wrong boat.
for a starter boat that you may quickly outgrow. The advantage of a 22' is that they are trailerable providing you with the opportunity to sail different venues. From your post I gather you are more concerned with the ability to overnight comfortably. The Mac is not a very good sailer but at anchor or at a marina it provides you more than most. The catch is that you may now be thinking about overnighting in your local waters but once you gain some knowledge and confidence you may decide to expand your Horizon's and that is where the 22 will show its shortcomings. The Mac 26 although larger is also a boat for protected waters. If you are still not interested in trailering and have a place where you can keep a boat in the water I would suggest you look for a 27' either a catalina or a Hunter. Used 27s can be purchased for just a slightly higher price than a 22 and the accomodations will be much roomier. You are talking a marine head as opposed to a porta-poty, a galley and berths for 5 persons. It can also be easier to learn to sail on a 27 than on a 22 as they are heavier and more forgiving. Do your homework, shop around and perhaps take a sailing class before commiting money to a wrong boat.
Benny is spot on, as is said
If you want to sail and never have you should take a basic keel boat course at a local sailing school. Do this with your significant other if you want them to enjoy it too. It might set you back a bit (my local sailing school charges $645 per person) but you will get to try out their boats (in my case the Benneteau 22' - a nice boat but a little pricey and small). Otherwise make friends with people who sail and want crew for a race or a day sail. Hang out at boating clubs on race days. Since you are new to this, the reason everyone mentions trailoring is because it is the cheapest way to own a boat as opposed to paying mooring or slip or winter storage fees. If you have the space to store the boat when not in use (eg., driveway, back yard, barn etc) it will save you the expense of winter storage. The thing to keep in mind is that the price of your first boat is just the admission price to a potentially expensive hobby, pastime, passion etc. I ended up buying a 1967 27' Tartan for $4K with a partner (the previous owner also owned an Irwin 32' which was his new boat - motivated seller) but we have both spent more than that in our 4 years of ownership and use of this great boat. The Tartan 27' is an older boat and hence the alluringly low price for a lot of boat: head/holding tank, engine, sleeps 4, heavily built hull and rigging, full keel with centerboard... I want to do more overnighting on my boat and it is equipped for it but you really need to figure out a budget for yourself as far as sailing, whether cruising, racing or just day sailing. I have also sailed on the Mac 26S and although the rigging was alarmingly lighter than my Tartan I liked it. It has enough room for sleeping 6 and sails pretty well and is even fast for its size (@ 6.8 knots hull speed). Trailering a sailboat is a bit of an art form as well: stepping the mast, adjusting the shrouds and stays and mastering the art of backing up the trailer on the ramp. I have never been on a Catalina 22 but there are lots of people on this board that have enjoyed theirs. Try it. You might like it.
If you want to sail and never have you should take a basic keel boat course at a local sailing school. Do this with your significant other if you want them to enjoy it too. It might set you back a bit (my local sailing school charges $645 per person) but you will get to try out their boats (in my case the Benneteau 22' - a nice boat but a little pricey and small). Otherwise make friends with people who sail and want crew for a race or a day sail. Hang out at boating clubs on race days. Since you are new to this, the reason everyone mentions trailoring is because it is the cheapest way to own a boat as opposed to paying mooring or slip or winter storage fees. If you have the space to store the boat when not in use (eg., driveway, back yard, barn etc) it will save you the expense of winter storage. The thing to keep in mind is that the price of your first boat is just the admission price to a potentially expensive hobby, pastime, passion etc. I ended up buying a 1967 27' Tartan for $4K with a partner (the previous owner also owned an Irwin 32' which was his new boat - motivated seller) but we have both spent more than that in our 4 years of ownership and use of this great boat. The Tartan 27' is an older boat and hence the alluringly low price for a lot of boat: head/holding tank, engine, sleeps 4, heavily built hull and rigging, full keel with centerboard... I want to do more overnighting on my boat and it is equipped for it but you really need to figure out a budget for yourself as far as sailing, whether cruising, racing or just day sailing. I have also sailed on the Mac 26S and although the rigging was alarmingly lighter than my Tartan I liked it. It has enough room for sleeping 6 and sails pretty well and is even fast for its size (@ 6.8 knots hull speed). Trailering a sailboat is a bit of an art form as well: stepping the mast, adjusting the shrouds and stays and mastering the art of backing up the trailer on the ramp. I have never been on a Catalina 22 but there are lots of people on this board that have enjoyed theirs. Try it. You might like it.
If You've Never
sailed before, taking the class is the way to go. You'll get a taste for what it's really like on a small keelboat, gain a bit of knowledge about how that particular boat (or boats) has been thought out, and what you might prefer or not prefer so much in a tidy little yacht of your own: the size of the cockpit, ease of moving around the boat, the layout and ease of use of the controls & equipment, the belowdecks layout, etc. A little bit of knowledge going into the market is better than none. And definitely take the class together. Who knows: you may decide that sailing was a romantic idea, but not for you after all, in which case the class was an educational weekend on the water that will save you many dollars and much frustration in the long haul. The encouragements to go down to the marina, talk to people, make friends, and "sail on as many different boats as you can" is all good in theory, but most people simply don't have the time or inclination to devote a season to this kind of independent study. You really can't go wrong with a 22' weekender in good shape: there's really no reason to invest in this kind of time-consuming hands-on research when it's so easy to get it right in a production weekender. I'm a former Catalina 22 owner. The 22' weekender, as a class, is a good choice for a first-time boat handler (I want everyone to learn in a sailing dinghy, but something this size is okay, too). I disagree with Benny's comments about a larger boat being more "forgiving," which just means that the results of the mistakes you make will not be readily observed in a larger, heavier boat, which in turn will allow you to be a poorer sailor for a longer time. There's nothing tricky about handling a C22 or any other small keelboat of its type, and it's a great learning platform. If the wife can deal with the porta-potty, I think the smaller craft is actually better to learn on than a 26-27ft. vessel, just because it IS more responsive to both your input and the surrounding conditions. You'll KNOW when something isn't right, and quickly learn what to do about it. A sailboat like this will do everything you say you want, and train you for the "next" boat, should there be one. Others' input about lower costs of trailering & easier resale are all true, as well. Fair Winds, Jeff
sailed before, taking the class is the way to go. You'll get a taste for what it's really like on a small keelboat, gain a bit of knowledge about how that particular boat (or boats) has been thought out, and what you might prefer or not prefer so much in a tidy little yacht of your own: the size of the cockpit, ease of moving around the boat, the layout and ease of use of the controls & equipment, the belowdecks layout, etc. A little bit of knowledge going into the market is better than none. And definitely take the class together. Who knows: you may decide that sailing was a romantic idea, but not for you after all, in which case the class was an educational weekend on the water that will save you many dollars and much frustration in the long haul. The encouragements to go down to the marina, talk to people, make friends, and "sail on as many different boats as you can" is all good in theory, but most people simply don't have the time or inclination to devote a season to this kind of independent study. You really can't go wrong with a 22' weekender in good shape: there's really no reason to invest in this kind of time-consuming hands-on research when it's so easy to get it right in a production weekender. I'm a former Catalina 22 owner. The 22' weekender, as a class, is a good choice for a first-time boat handler (I want everyone to learn in a sailing dinghy, but something this size is okay, too). I disagree with Benny's comments about a larger boat being more "forgiving," which just means that the results of the mistakes you make will not be readily observed in a larger, heavier boat, which in turn will allow you to be a poorer sailor for a longer time. There's nothing tricky about handling a C22 or any other small keelboat of its type, and it's a great learning platform. If the wife can deal with the porta-potty, I think the smaller craft is actually better to learn on than a 26-27ft. vessel, just because it IS more responsive to both your input and the surrounding conditions. You'll KNOW when something isn't right, and quickly learn what to do about it. A sailboat like this will do everything you say you want, and train you for the "next" boat, should there be one. Others' input about lower costs of trailering & easier resale are all true, as well. Fair Winds, Jeff
An Afterthought
Some schools allow students to rent boats from their stable of vessels after successful completion of their course(s). Taking a few different boats out for daysails/overnight weekend trips will help you discriminate a bit between makes and models, and what amenities you deem necessary.
Some schools allow students to rent boats from their stable of vessels after successful completion of their course(s). Taking a few different boats out for daysails/overnight weekend trips will help you discriminate a bit between makes and models, and what amenities you deem necessary.
Class with the Significant Other
As others have said, taking the class with the S.O. is a great investment. If my wife took the same training as I did, our ability to sale as a team would be much better.
As others have said, taking the class with the S.O. is a great investment. If my wife took the same training as I did, our ability to sale as a team would be much better.
Does Never Mean not even a Passenger??
My experience has been that you either love sailing or hate it!!! Sailing involves a lot of thinking just to go a couple of miles an hour....or feeling overwhelmed. I love sailing and used to do a lot of windsurfing . None of our 4 children have had much interest in sailing. If you like planning and thinking and going slow yo might like sailing. You might want to consider getting some small sailboat like a sunfish or laser and sail it. It is easier to learn on a small boat. Then if you like sailing buy a bigger boat. Some people never want to go past the smaller boats. I met a man who had been sailing dinghys(racing) for over 20 years. He had never owned a larger boat and had no plans to buy a larger boat. Something like a Catalina 22 is cheap and readily available and is a good learning boat too. Cold water is a factor in a smaller boat but many people don't sail when the water gets cold even when they own larger boats.
My experience has been that you either love sailing or hate it!!! Sailing involves a lot of thinking just to go a couple of miles an hour....or feeling overwhelmed. I love sailing and used to do a lot of windsurfing . None of our 4 children have had much interest in sailing. If you like planning and thinking and going slow yo might like sailing. You might want to consider getting some small sailboat like a sunfish or laser and sail it. It is easier to learn on a small boat. Then if you like sailing buy a bigger boat. Some people never want to go past the smaller boats. I met a man who had been sailing dinghys(racing) for over 20 years. He had never owned a larger boat and had no plans to buy a larger boat. Something like a Catalina 22 is cheap and readily available and is a good learning boat too. Cold water is a factor in a smaller boat but many people don't sail when the water gets cold even when they own larger boats.
starter boat
First time buyer............ I used to have a Catalina 22 and it was great little boat. I now have a 25' O'Day. I cannot tell you what a HUGE difference there is between a 25 and a 22. Doesn't really sound like much 3 feet...... but the difference is tremendous! Also 25' and up usually have an enclosed head that provides some degree of privacy (the ladies really appreciate that). Also, if you bring guests aboard overnight an enclosed head vs porti=potti is a huge plus. If overnighting is your priority vs trailing ability..... I would definately be looking at at least a 25 footer. You will be a much happier camper. Good luck ken in sacramento
First time buyer............ I used to have a Catalina 22 and it was great little boat. I now have a 25' O'Day. I cannot tell you what a HUGE difference there is between a 25 and a 22. Doesn't really sound like much 3 feet...... but the difference is tremendous! Also 25' and up usually have an enclosed head that provides some degree of privacy (the ladies really appreciate that). Also, if you bring guests aboard overnight an enclosed head vs porti=potti is a huge plus. If overnighting is your priority vs trailing ability..... I would definately be looking at at least a 25 footer. You will be a much happier camper. Good luck ken in sacramento
Take a class
Just want to ad my 2 cents and agree with those who recommend taking a class, although I wouldn't necessarily do it with the significant other. Hanging out at a marina and talking to folks is also good advice. Also, you can always hitch a ride as crew to get a feel for whether or not you actually like sailing.
Just want to ad my 2 cents and agree with those who recommend taking a class, although I wouldn't necessarily do it with the significant other. Hanging out at a marina and talking to folks is also good advice. Also, you can always hitch a ride as crew to get a feel for whether or not you actually like sailing.
Starter boats
If you are new to boating, you should be aware that almost everyone uses length as the measure of a boat, but its really misleading. As just pointed out, the difference between a 22 and a 25 is enormous, but that is primarily because the volume of the boat goes up with the cube of the length. Volume and displacement are what affect the price and livability a lot more than length. Length is primarily shorthand, though it does determine the size of your dock space. Once you are out of the dinghy and small open boat classes (like a Daysailer), the next big breakpoint comes at around 25 feet, where boats tend to begin having inboard engines. While there are exceptions, inboards are relatively rare below 26 feet, almost universal above 27. Knowing your waters and whether you want to be trailerable also will help you determine whether you want a fixed keel or some sort of centerboard or lifting keel arrangement. If you opt for trailerable, be aware that the process for raising and lowering the mast can be time consuming and may require multiple hands. In my case, the couple of years we tried trailering I found that the effort to raise and lower the mast and set up the rigging took away a great deal of precious sailing time and made singlehanding almost impossible. In the lower 20's in length I found that the O'Days (last made around 1990) were reasonably sturdy and seakindly and there are lots of them around for reasonable prices. There are great email interest groups where you can get lots of advice on specific boats and what to look for and potential problem areas. There are many good potions and older boats make a great starting point if you shop carefully. Its usually a buyer's market out there, but watch out for the truly neglected boat. Happy sailing.
If you are new to boating, you should be aware that almost everyone uses length as the measure of a boat, but its really misleading. As just pointed out, the difference between a 22 and a 25 is enormous, but that is primarily because the volume of the boat goes up with the cube of the length. Volume and displacement are what affect the price and livability a lot more than length. Length is primarily shorthand, though it does determine the size of your dock space. Once you are out of the dinghy and small open boat classes (like a Daysailer), the next big breakpoint comes at around 25 feet, where boats tend to begin having inboard engines. While there are exceptions, inboards are relatively rare below 26 feet, almost universal above 27. Knowing your waters and whether you want to be trailerable also will help you determine whether you want a fixed keel or some sort of centerboard or lifting keel arrangement. If you opt for trailerable, be aware that the process for raising and lowering the mast can be time consuming and may require multiple hands. In my case, the couple of years we tried trailering I found that the effort to raise and lower the mast and set up the rigging took away a great deal of precious sailing time and made singlehanding almost impossible. In the lower 20's in length I found that the O'Days (last made around 1990) were reasonably sturdy and seakindly and there are lots of them around for reasonable prices. There are great email interest groups where you can get lots of advice on specific boats and what to look for and potential problem areas. There are many good potions and older boats make a great starting point if you shop carefully. Its usually a buyer's market out there, but watch out for the truly neglected boat. Happy sailing.
Best bet
Go for the biggest boat you can afford -- my friend's first sailboat was an O'Day 34 -- never sailed before -- he learned pretty quickly and is delighted. It is SO hard to sell a boat now, my advice is get the one you wnat to keep and don't look back. You'll outgrow a 22 in a week.
Go for the biggest boat you can afford -- my friend's first sailboat was an O'Day 34 -- never sailed before -- he learned pretty quickly and is delighted. It is SO hard to sell a boat now, my advice is get the one you wnat to keep and don't look back. You'll outgrow a 22 in a week.
Green Boats
At my Marina there are a lot of green boats...not used sitting idle. There are a couple of catalina 25s right next to my boat. One had a plant growing out of the hull near the waterline. A lot of people buy first and then decide that they don't like sailing. Or the buy one and find that the family doesn't want to hang out at the lake. But there are a lot of unused boats. As noted it is a buyers market which is great when you are BUYING....it really sucks when you are selling. One year we were busy and didn't sail but once or twice for the year. The good news was that our boat was a Macgregor 26 sitting on a trailer in my mother in laws barn. It cost us nothing and after a washing we put the boat back in the water. But a boat sitting in the marina cost money. If you buy a small daysailer on a trailer and don't like it even if you can't sell the boat no problem. But if you buy a 25' boat at the marina without a trailer you are probably going to pay $100/month for a slip you may have to pay $500 to get it hauled for the winter and this moeny adds up fast. It's worth the money if you enjoy sailing as we do... At one marian (turner marina in Mobile) he had several boats that the owners had stopped paying slip fees. He was trying to sell the boats to recoup some of his money. Personally I wish that they would kick out boats that aren't used. They are ugly and take up slip space that active boaters would like to use. I had to wait over two years to get in at my present marina.
At my Marina there are a lot of green boats...not used sitting idle. There are a couple of catalina 25s right next to my boat. One had a plant growing out of the hull near the waterline. A lot of people buy first and then decide that they don't like sailing. Or the buy one and find that the family doesn't want to hang out at the lake. But there are a lot of unused boats. As noted it is a buyers market which is great when you are BUYING....it really sucks when you are selling. One year we were busy and didn't sail but once or twice for the year. The good news was that our boat was a Macgregor 26 sitting on a trailer in my mother in laws barn. It cost us nothing and after a washing we put the boat back in the water. But a boat sitting in the marina cost money. If you buy a small daysailer on a trailer and don't like it even if you can't sell the boat no problem. But if you buy a 25' boat at the marina without a trailer you are probably going to pay $100/month for a slip you may have to pay $500 to get it hauled for the winter and this moeny adds up fast. It's worth the money if you enjoy sailing as we do... At one marian (turner marina in Mobile) he had several boats that the owners had stopped paying slip fees. He was trying to sell the boats to recoup some of his money. Personally I wish that they would kick out boats that aren't used. They are ugly and take up slip space that active boaters would like to use. I had to wait over two years to get in at my present marina.
Here's What I Did...
I started out looking for Catalina 22's. Even people who know little about sailing have heard of a Catalina 22. The criteria I had when I was looking for my first sloop-rigged boat last year was: -Easy to sail -Easy to transport so I could check out different lakes before settling on one (pretty hard to do with a fixed keel boat unless you have lots of $$ to burn) and we could take it on vacation to more distant lakes -Great parts availability -Great on-line community for advice -Enough space to enjoy staying on it for a weekend -Great re-sale -Less than $5K acquisition cost I figured I'd buy a 22 then get something bigger in a couple of years when I'd gained more experience. As I was looking at boats, I found a 1985 MacGregor 25. I could see pretty quick what the difference was between 22 and 25 feet. It was well-equipped, very good price, and since I'm a tinkerer, still areas I could improve. Most people who talk about Mac's being crappy boats have never even set foot on one. Can't say I'm a huge fan of the "power sailor" 26X & M models they have been building for the last 12 years or so. Of course, I've not sailed one but I have talked to quite a few people who have and do own one. Anyone who has sailed on my boat has been impressed with the sailing manners, sailing well on all points of sail and speed. The 26D and 26S models, collectively referred to as 26C (classic) by reputation are good sailing boats and you might like the full rear berth better on a 26C than you would like the sleeping arrangements on an M-25. You may also find your first mate doesn't care to sail, but would rather be along for the ride. My wife enjoys our boat but isn't as passionate as I am about it, so basically even when she's along, I'm still single-handing. Get something you can single-hand in case you find yourself going alone or if your wife just enjoys kicking back and reading and doesn't want to be bothered with handling "those rope thingies". I've had the opportunity to sail a Hunter 260, 28.5, 31, and 33, Catalina 22 and 27, and Cal 25 and I have to say I'm never ashamed to go back to my Mac 25. I can find something I like better about each boat and something I like less vs. my own boat. Each boat has it's place. Until you get up into the fixed keel boats, you are going to find trade-offs. If you buy a boat which trailers and launches easily, it will be more tender than a fixed keel boat due to the nature of ballasting and likely won't have as much cabin space. If your goal is primarily day-sailing with occasional sleep-overs, a smaller boat will work for you. If you are dreaming of camping on the water for a few nights to a week, you'll want something bigger w/ full standing head-room. My opinion is the H-260 could be a good starter boat for someone who really wants space in a trailerable boat, but IMO, it doesn't sail as well as a C22 or M25. The pedestal wheel version is not a great single-hander for a newbie w/o auto-pilot. All the control lines, though led aft, are too far forward to stay at the helm to tack or jibe. As well, until you get going in a good wind, they seem to have a fair amount of side slip, pretty much the case with most centerboard boats w/o some sort of stub keel. I'm just not a huge fan of water-ballasted boats as of yet. The M26C's are water-ballasted FYI. The main annoyance I find on my 25 and what you will find on an M26C or any 22 foot boat is a lack of head room. A lot is going to depend on what you want to spend too. Since you are new to sailing, and don't know if you will even really enjoy it, start out with the goal of finding a cheap C-22 in good shape (there are a couple hundred for sale on line in any given week if you look up all the various on-line classifieds and individual marinas, just Google "Catalina 22 for sale") and go from there. Find someone who "has" to get rid of their boat. I don't have a problem being the beneficiary of other people's misfortune when it comes time for someone to have to sacrifice an asset to pay bills, move, or whatever. If your path leads you in a direction like I got led, so be it. Another reason to buy a trailerable boat first time around is fixed keel boats generally have a longer sales cycle because a prospective buyer has to add in transportation/rigging/etc. costs unless you live in a coastal area with lots of sail boats or the Great Lakes. Best of luck with it. Aside from the "stay away from MacGregor" comments I pretty much agree with all else said here.
I started out looking for Catalina 22's. Even people who know little about sailing have heard of a Catalina 22. The criteria I had when I was looking for my first sloop-rigged boat last year was: -Easy to sail -Easy to transport so I could check out different lakes before settling on one (pretty hard to do with a fixed keel boat unless you have lots of $$ to burn) and we could take it on vacation to more distant lakes -Great parts availability -Great on-line community for advice -Enough space to enjoy staying on it for a weekend -Great re-sale -Less than $5K acquisition cost I figured I'd buy a 22 then get something bigger in a couple of years when I'd gained more experience. As I was looking at boats, I found a 1985 MacGregor 25. I could see pretty quick what the difference was between 22 and 25 feet. It was well-equipped, very good price, and since I'm a tinkerer, still areas I could improve. Most people who talk about Mac's being crappy boats have never even set foot on one. Can't say I'm a huge fan of the "power sailor" 26X & M models they have been building for the last 12 years or so. Of course, I've not sailed one but I have talked to quite a few people who have and do own one. Anyone who has sailed on my boat has been impressed with the sailing manners, sailing well on all points of sail and speed. The 26D and 26S models, collectively referred to as 26C (classic) by reputation are good sailing boats and you might like the full rear berth better on a 26C than you would like the sleeping arrangements on an M-25. You may also find your first mate doesn't care to sail, but would rather be along for the ride. My wife enjoys our boat but isn't as passionate as I am about it, so basically even when she's along, I'm still single-handing. Get something you can single-hand in case you find yourself going alone or if your wife just enjoys kicking back and reading and doesn't want to be bothered with handling "those rope thingies". I've had the opportunity to sail a Hunter 260, 28.5, 31, and 33, Catalina 22 and 27, and Cal 25 and I have to say I'm never ashamed to go back to my Mac 25. I can find something I like better about each boat and something I like less vs. my own boat. Each boat has it's place. Until you get up into the fixed keel boats, you are going to find trade-offs. If you buy a boat which trailers and launches easily, it will be more tender than a fixed keel boat due to the nature of ballasting and likely won't have as much cabin space. If your goal is primarily day-sailing with occasional sleep-overs, a smaller boat will work for you. If you are dreaming of camping on the water for a few nights to a week, you'll want something bigger w/ full standing head-room. My opinion is the H-260 could be a good starter boat for someone who really wants space in a trailerable boat, but IMO, it doesn't sail as well as a C22 or M25. The pedestal wheel version is not a great single-hander for a newbie w/o auto-pilot. All the control lines, though led aft, are too far forward to stay at the helm to tack or jibe. As well, until you get going in a good wind, they seem to have a fair amount of side slip, pretty much the case with most centerboard boats w/o some sort of stub keel. I'm just not a huge fan of water-ballasted boats as of yet. The M26C's are water-ballasted FYI. The main annoyance I find on my 25 and what you will find on an M26C or any 22 foot boat is a lack of head room. A lot is going to depend on what you want to spend too. Since you are new to sailing, and don't know if you will even really enjoy it, start out with the goal of finding a cheap C-22 in good shape (there are a couple hundred for sale on line in any given week if you look up all the various on-line classifieds and individual marinas, just Google "Catalina 22 for sale") and go from there. Find someone who "has" to get rid of their boat. I don't have a problem being the beneficiary of other people's misfortune when it comes time for someone to have to sacrifice an asset to pay bills, move, or whatever. If your path leads you in a direction like I got led, so be it. Another reason to buy a trailerable boat first time around is fixed keel boats generally have a longer sales cycle because a prospective buyer has to add in transportation/rigging/etc. costs unless you live in a coastal area with lots of sail boats or the Great Lakes. Best of luck with it. Aside from the "stay away from MacGregor" comments I pretty much agree with all else said here.
Big Boat
I agree to some extent with Benny and frmreily about getting the biggest boat you can afford, as pointed out earlier a bigger boat is more forgiving. I learned on a 19 foot Lightning, (I think), and a 21 foot Hunter. When I got ready to buy I did a lot of looking and talking and the gist of it was if you get something too small you're gonna be trying to sell up in a year or so. I actually bought a 35.5 and was amazed at how much easier to sail it was than the smaller boats I learned on. I will agree that the size depends on what you're gonna do with the boat. My wife and I like to spend weekends on the boat and like the comfort and room of the bigger boat although it is much more difficult to get ready for a sail and put the boat to bed than a smaller boat would be. So I'd say if you're gonna be happy daysailing with an occasional weekend the smaller boat would do okay but if you're gonna want to spend a good bit of time on the boat go with bigger.
I agree to some extent with Benny and frmreily about getting the biggest boat you can afford, as pointed out earlier a bigger boat is more forgiving. I learned on a 19 foot Lightning, (I think), and a 21 foot Hunter. When I got ready to buy I did a lot of looking and talking and the gist of it was if you get something too small you're gonna be trying to sell up in a year or so. I actually bought a 35.5 and was amazed at how much easier to sail it was than the smaller boats I learned on. I will agree that the size depends on what you're gonna do with the boat. My wife and I like to spend weekends on the boat and like the comfort and room of the bigger boat although it is much more difficult to get ready for a sail and put the boat to bed than a smaller boat would be. So I'd say if you're gonna be happy daysailing with an occasional weekend the smaller boat would do okay but if you're gonna want to spend a good bit of time on the boat go with bigger.
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