Seriously considering either a 31' beneteau oceanis or a Hunter 290.. I sail with and without my family and have been sailing a 26' sonar. I know a sonar is quite a different animal .. but is the leap from 26' to 31' gigantic? Will i be able to sail solo ? Someone recommended to stop at 28'... but feel like i'm gonna grow out of it ...and want bigger.. will auto nav be enough?
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Terry Cox, Hunter 42, Belle-Vie
Next Boat
Dear Sailing Enthusiast, My first cabin boat was a 1996 H26 water ballast. Loved the boat. Sailed it on a inland lake solo most of the time. We kept it for 4 years and moved up last year to a 1993 H33.5. This too is a great boat and unfortunately the Admiral still doesn't like to sail as often as I. I find it an easy boat to single hand even in winds 20-25 knots. Just know your limits and the boats (read reef early). It's helps to have most lines lead into the cockpit and to have the jib winches within easy reach from the wheel for tacking. Docking will probably be the most challenging at first. With a little fore thought and some extra hands the first dozen times or so it will soon be just as easy as your old boat has become for you. Good Luck! Jeff
Dear Sailing Enthusiast, My first cabin boat was a 1996 H26 water ballast. Loved the boat. Sailed it on a inland lake solo most of the time. We kept it for 4 years and moved up last year to a 1993 H33.5. This too is a great boat and unfortunately the Admiral still doesn't like to sail as often as I. I find it an easy boat to single hand even in winds 20-25 knots. Just know your limits and the boats (read reef early). It's helps to have most lines lead into the cockpit and to have the jib winches within easy reach from the wheel for tacking. Docking will probably be the most challenging at first. With a little fore thought and some extra hands the first dozen times or so it will soon be just as easy as your old boat has become for you. Good Luck! Jeff
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Gregg
I owned a 290......
for a couple of seasons. It was my first boat, and a joy to sail. Not at all too big for single handing, and the furling sails sure helped. Simple systems to maintain, too. Depends on the size of your family/crew. You may find that you will outgrow a boat this size - and I wouldn't stop at 28 feet. If you have any questions about the 290, drop me a note. Good Luck Gregg sailingpilot1@yahoo.com
for a couple of seasons. It was my first boat, and a joy to sail. Not at all too big for single handing, and the furling sails sure helped. Simple systems to maintain, too. Depends on the size of your family/crew. You may find that you will outgrow a boat this size - and I wouldn't stop at 28 feet. If you have any questions about the 290, drop me a note. Good Luck Gregg sailingpilot1@yahoo.com
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Dragonfly B331
B331 easy to sail
We started with a Starwind 223, went to a B285 and now have a B331. The B331 is easier to sail than the other two. It is well designed with all the lines to the cockpit. The in-mast furling is a big reason for the difference. Dragonfly has a Maxi Prop. This makes it easier to back. I can back into my slip easier now than with my B285. If you can handle a 26, you should be able to handle a 33-35 foot boat without any problems. Sailing won't be the problem. Docking will be different, so take it easy the first few times in and out. Go slow, plan ahead, watch the wind and practice in calm conditions before you have to dock in 25 knt side winds. As for a stop at 28...buy what meets your need and fit your budget. If you have a family bigger is better. The B311 has lots more room than the Hunter 290. Don't forget to look at the B323 or B331 in new boats or the B321 and B331 in new to you boats. I admit, I'm biased. I like the Beneteau's over the Hunters. I have friends who prefer the Hunters. Don't overlook the Catalina's or an O'Day if you can find one. A friend has an O'Day 322. It has a great cabin layout and is very easy to sail. If in dought, crew on a bigger boat or take lessons/charter a bigger boat. Good luck.
We started with a Starwind 223, went to a B285 and now have a B331. The B331 is easier to sail than the other two. It is well designed with all the lines to the cockpit. The in-mast furling is a big reason for the difference. Dragonfly has a Maxi Prop. This makes it easier to back. I can back into my slip easier now than with my B285. If you can handle a 26, you should be able to handle a 33-35 foot boat without any problems. Sailing won't be the problem. Docking will be different, so take it easy the first few times in and out. Go slow, plan ahead, watch the wind and practice in calm conditions before you have to dock in 25 knt side winds. As for a stop at 28...buy what meets your need and fit your budget. If you have a family bigger is better. The B311 has lots more room than the Hunter 290. Don't forget to look at the B323 or B331 in new boats or the B321 and B331 in new to you boats. I admit, I'm biased. I like the Beneteau's over the Hunters. I have friends who prefer the Hunters. Don't overlook the Catalina's or an O'Day if you can find one. A friend has an O'Day 322. It has a great cabin layout and is very easy to sail. If in dought, crew on a bigger boat or take lessons/charter a bigger boat. Good luck.
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nick maggio
290 is easy to sail solo (HI Gregg)
I sail my 290 solo all the time the arch makes it easy also,bigger is better with aa family.Hi gregg hows the new boat. nick
I sail my 290 solo all the time the arch makes it easy also,bigger is better with aa family.Hi gregg hows the new boat. nick
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Dan
I single my C30
and she is actually easier to single than my previous C25. we a little thought and proper rigging, go for it.
and she is actually easier to single than my previous C25. we a little thought and proper rigging, go for it.
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Wright Ellis
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Mike
Solo a Catalina 42
I've soloed in 35kts of wind and never had a problem. I just make sure I'm tied in because there's nobody there to turn the boat around if I fall overboard. All the lines run to the cockpit. I have an autopilot and furling headsail and mainsail. I'd get as big a boat as you can afford under 42 feet. After that, everything gets to heavy for a single person to handle. ie Removing a headsail where the furler had jammed.
I've soloed in 35kts of wind and never had a problem. I just make sure I'm tied in because there's nobody there to turn the boat around if I fall overboard. All the lines run to the cockpit. I have an autopilot and furling headsail and mainsail. I'd get as big a boat as you can afford under 42 feet. After that, everything gets to heavy for a single person to handle. ie Removing a headsail where the furler had jammed.
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J.B. Dyer
Size is Relative
I've sailed everything from an 8 foot dingy to a 50 foot sloop. Every boat that I've sailed seemed big when I first got on it, but after a few hours it didn't seem that big at all after getting accustomed to the size. The same thing will happen to you. If you get the 31 and get used to it's size and the way it handles, it won't seem big at all and you might start thinking about a bigger boat, it's called biggerboatitus. I do agree with Wright though, the bigger the boat, the more complex and awkward it is to put out, and to get back into the slip. The bigger the boat, the more complex the systems, therefore, more maintenance, bigger slip fees, more money for bottom paint, more dollars in general and more time spent tied up and not sailing. I've had a 34 footer for several years now and it seems small, but you know what? It's still big enough for me.
I've sailed everything from an 8 foot dingy to a 50 foot sloop. Every boat that I've sailed seemed big when I first got on it, but after a few hours it didn't seem that big at all after getting accustomed to the size. The same thing will happen to you. If you get the 31 and get used to it's size and the way it handles, it won't seem big at all and you might start thinking about a bigger boat, it's called biggerboatitus. I do agree with Wright though, the bigger the boat, the more complex and awkward it is to put out, and to get back into the slip. The bigger the boat, the more complex the systems, therefore, more maintenance, bigger slip fees, more money for bottom paint, more dollars in general and more time spent tied up and not sailing. I've had a 34 footer for several years now and it seems small, but you know what? It's still big enough for me.
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Mark
27 to 37 footer
I would go bigger, the jump from our 27 to a 30 footer which I sailed with a friend was no change at all. After an hour or so I was completely confident with it so, since we needed more family room we moved to the C36. Again the first couple of months in and out were a bit scary but that was more from the inboard diesel and the wheel as compared to my 27 with OB and tiller. Once out on water I think the C36 is easier to single since I now have roller furling and a more stable platform from which to sail from. My biggist problems come from single handed dockings in 15-20 knts of cross wind that I get in Long Beach. I'm on the upwind side of a single finger dock. This leaves no room for error else I get blown down on my neighbor. The feeling of accomplishment that comes with SH a boat is priceless!
I would go bigger, the jump from our 27 to a 30 footer which I sailed with a friend was no change at all. After an hour or so I was completely confident with it so, since we needed more family room we moved to the C36. Again the first couple of months in and out were a bit scary but that was more from the inboard diesel and the wheel as compared to my 27 with OB and tiller. Once out on water I think the C36 is easier to single since I now have roller furling and a more stable platform from which to sail from. My biggist problems come from single handed dockings in 15-20 knts of cross wind that I get in Long Beach. I'm on the upwind side of a single finger dock. This leaves no room for error else I get blown down on my neighbor. The feeling of accomplishment that comes with SH a boat is priceless!
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David Foster
Size is not about sailing
It's more about complexity, mass, and power. My wife can easily push our 27 footer away from the dock. But our friends say that when they moved up to 34 feet, she could puch all day, and nothing seems to happen. Both are easy to single hand when sailing in a balanced configuration. Power means that the force on the jib sheet (or any running rigging) goes up with the cube of the mast (and boat) length. I can take up most of the slack in a good wind on our 27 footer. But it was the winch all the way on the Catalina 34 we chartered last summer. As already mentioned, complexity and cost also seem more related to the cube of the length. So it's really up to you. Choosing a sailboat is all about the trade-offs. And that's a big part of the fun. David Lady Lillie
It's more about complexity, mass, and power. My wife can easily push our 27 footer away from the dock. But our friends say that when they moved up to 34 feet, she could puch all day, and nothing seems to happen. Both are easy to single hand when sailing in a balanced configuration. Power means that the force on the jib sheet (or any running rigging) goes up with the cube of the mast (and boat) length. I can take up most of the slack in a good wind on our 27 footer. But it was the winch all the way on the Catalina 34 we chartered last summer. As already mentioned, complexity and cost also seem more related to the cube of the length. So it's really up to you. Choosing a sailboat is all about the trade-offs. And that's a big part of the fun. David Lady Lillie
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Tom S
I also did a 27 to a 36 foot jump
When I first saw the 36 I turned to my S/O and said "Jeez Honey, I'm not so sure....This looks awefully big". (it was a 1999 Catalina 36MKII) 2 weeks later I'm backing it into the slip alone. So I agree with everyone else, its all relative and after a little while even the big boats don't feel that big. Also, once you are in open water, sometimes bigger boats are easier to sail (up to a point) 2 things already mentioned that will make the world of difference on anyboat, but more so when they get bigger is 1) having all lines brought back to the cockpit and 2) autopilot. I find these things really help, BTW, I have no problems sailing the boat alone in steep 8-10 foot sea's and 25-30 knots of wind. But also I should note it really matters on what type of boat you sail. Some are a handful and some are sweet sailing and have very good manners. The Catalina 34 and 36 have already been mentioned twice before and I think this is why all of us have had easy transitions to almost 10 foot bigger boats.
When I first saw the 36 I turned to my S/O and said "Jeez Honey, I'm not so sure....This looks awefully big". (it was a 1999 Catalina 36MKII) 2 weeks later I'm backing it into the slip alone. So I agree with everyone else, its all relative and after a little while even the big boats don't feel that big. Also, once you are in open water, sometimes bigger boats are easier to sail (up to a point) 2 things already mentioned that will make the world of difference on anyboat, but more so when they get bigger is 1) having all lines brought back to the cockpit and 2) autopilot. I find these things really help, BTW, I have no problems sailing the boat alone in steep 8-10 foot sea's and 25-30 knots of wind. But also I should note it really matters on what type of boat you sail. Some are a handful and some are sweet sailing and have very good manners. The Catalina 34 and 36 have already been mentioned twice before and I think this is why all of us have had easy transitions to almost 10 foot bigger boats.
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Windship
Too Big??
The largest boat to be singlehanded was 'Club Mediterranee'A 236 foot Fore and aft rigged three masted schooner. You can do it. The only thing that would limit the size of MY boat would be my ability to aford to purchase and maintain her. Dennis
The largest boat to be singlehanded was 'Club Mediterranee'A 236 foot Fore and aft rigged three masted schooner. You can do it. The only thing that would limit the size of MY boat would be my ability to aford to purchase and maintain her. Dennis
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