Good to have you aboard!
Folks, if and when John gets a Sirius, watch out!! I've seen pictures and posts of John's Sandpiper, Jenny, and John spares no expense, and talent when it comes to owning a sailboat.
John I say this with the greatest amount of praise and respect. What you did to Jenny is remarkable!
John, there are several albums on the Yahoo Siriusowners site, that might interest you.
Have you gone to look at some boats? Mine is still in the water at the Barrie Marina. She'll come out just after Thanksgiving. You're welcome to come up and view her, if you would like to have a no hassle look at one. Having said that, there's usually at least one Sirius in every marina.
In my mind, a Sirius is the next logical step up from a Sandpiper. The Sandpiper is a terrific little trailerable sailboat, and I really enjoyed mine. They tow well, set up quick, and sail superbly. They're just a little short on space.
With the Sirius, the biggest plus for me is the pop top, which gives you full 6' standing headroom, while at anchor. The little galley is workable, although I still like to cook in the cockpit. A proper fold down table is another great feature. The V berth is very spacious, and the head is tucked away on the starboard side behind the dinette, which gives better privacy.
The Sirius is naturally a bit heavier for towing. I have a pick up so there was no difference for me. I'm sure a class ll hitch will suffice. There is a bit more rigging to set up, and it took me a few goes at it until I got comfortable. I raise and lower the mast without an A frame. I can do it solo, but I do feel better when I have and extra hand. However, there are skippers who prefer a mast raising aid, and there are pictures in the Yahoo album.
I have been quite pleased with her sailing characteristics. Even with my old baggy sails, I can get up to 5-6 knots with a decent breeze. The only time I've been in nasty weather was this summer in the North Channel. In very rough seas, she took it all in stride while motoring. We kept going while others in our group headed back to the anchorage for safety! I have a 6hp extra long shaft Nissan, and never felt underpowered. Once we got around the island and the winds where in the right direction, she sailed like a witch! Of course, it's wise to rig up a good reefing system for when you need it.
So fire off any questions you may have, and we'll try and help you out
Here's a couple pictures for you:
Best regards, Eric
Caught me in a tack:
Tied to shore/pop top up:
Anchored close to shore, North Channel:
