How long have you owned your boat?

[Steve Dion]

Bought it new!

We bought our 1985 H'31 new in April of 1987. Paid $40k plus sales tax. Just paid it off this past summer. It has been a very good boat. The only real problem has been the compression post. We do regular maintenance on the boat and generally keep her nice and clean. We generally have the bottom repainted every two or so years. Some of the hardware has started to show it years. We still have the original upholstery.

 

[Dakota Jim Russell]

5 years and love it

Don't plan to change boats for some time.

 

[Paul Michaelis]

Longtime Santana 30 owner

I have a WD Schock Santana 30 since new in 1976. This boat is one of the finest, most under-rated boats available. It pointshigh, goes fast on any tack is stiff and will stand up to impressive winds without becoming troubled and best of all, it has been a tight boat free of leaks or problems. She is on her third suite of working sails, has been Awlgripped and has a blister free bottom. What more can you ask of a boat?Sailing and boating for 53 years.

 

[Fred Kanouse]

How old is my boat

Bought it new in 83. Have sailed it approx. 1200 mi. a year on Lake Michigan.Added radar and replaced instruments this year. i have not have any major problems in all these years.

 

[Jim Kittelson]

Old but New

"My Boat" is #1385 and I bought it four years ago. The story has it that somebody bought it off the floor at the Twin Cities boat show in 1974, sailed it around Lake Minnetonka a few times, and decided that it would be fun to take it out on Lake Superior. A little blow came up and scared him so badly that he returned home and sold the boat to its only other owner in the intervening 25 years or so.Everything on "My Boat" is done by hand. They are the original sails, including a Genoa, and the only things I've added are a few pins, a couple of shackles and a tiller tamer. It's got a potty but no miniature galley, and I solo-sail most of the time--hence the tiller tamer to help in raising and lowering the sails and the time that I lost the jib shackle and had to crawl out on the top deck to reattach the jib with the bow line.It's got a crack in the transom, and I'm trying to track down a leak into the port side bunkers that comes whenever I lower the keel and get a good 15-knot (about the upper limit for it) stiff breeze. I've had the bottom sanded and repainted.I love that boat because it seems so nimble and, given a good, steady wind can make a 180 degree turn in about a 10 foot square--that is, 10 X 10.If a plain old 22 without any gadgets were available, I might go for it. But the Mark II doesn't do it for me. It's pricey and looks like an elegantly shaped bath tub. I figure it probably sails that way, too.

 

[Colin Nielsen]

She is just right - we have put a lot into her

We have had our boat two years and have added so many things - upgraded all electrical systems, added extra storage, full enclosed our cockpit, cockpit cushions, custom sheets, amp meter, high output alternator, plus many others. She is fully paid for and I don't believe we would get out of her what we paid and have since invested into her. She is just right to handle for the two of us and see no need to take on more debt and more boat.

 

[Eileen Johnston]

Perfect Design in our "Coolbeans"

We have a late model 1990 Legend 37.5. We bought it in December, 1995. It will be paid off in three years and it's the best investment we have ever made. We love the interior of this model and will probably keep it until we get too old to sail!

 

[Jim]

3 week's old

We just purchased a 1992 Catalina 28, hull 209 and we love it. We have sailed on Lake Huron the last three years aboard our 1987 Capri 25. We found we wanted to spend more time on the boat rather than just day sail. We were looking at 30 footers that were a little older when Jeff Allen at Torreson's marine in Muskegon said "not to miss this boat". We loved it immediately were able to buy a newer boat with everything we needed. The boat has been well maintained and we just love it.

 

[Ed Wahlers]

Old beaut

Bought boat (1981)this spring. Very satisfied. Solid

 

[Susan Hopkins]

Good marketing exercise

and kudos to you for asking.We have owned our boat for one year. It's a '96 Hunter 26, purchased used (obviously) in mint condition. It seemed perfect for our intended use and budget and has lived up to our expectations in every way. We saw it new at the boat show last October, immediately started looking for used, and found it within one week.Are we not buying a larger boat because of money: yes--and more importantly, perceived value. Already dreaming of a slightly larger boat in the 30-foot range, particularly because hot, pressurized water and a shower would be so nice to have. However, two factors immediately stop me in my tracks. (1) I found that the interiors of the 30-ish foot boats at the Annapolis boat show last weekend were configured in a way I did not care for. The interiors are shrunk-down versions of those found on much larger boats, resulting in a space that feels cramped and claustrophibic, too much "stuff" crammed in, and berths in which a tall person could not be very comfortable. Our H26 feels much larger in comparison. We are a cruising couple with no kids and rarely have guests. One of the reasons we sail is to escape the daily grind and we crave sailing performance (above all) and perceived luxury at anchor. Give us an interior option that feels spacious and comfortable for two people. (2) The cost of a new 30-footer, compared to what we paid for our then-four-year-old H26, amounts to a whopping extra $57,000 (not including interest on the loan). It just does not seem to be worth what we would be gaining.The changes we expect to make to avoid upgrading to a newer or larger boat: We may go from trailer launching to putting it in a slip. Our liesure time is limited and getting on and off the water quickly is a consideration. We have added a Sunshower, worked out how to carry extra water, ice, and fuel safely, and added a battery.

 

[Rae Smith]

Beneteau First 285

I bought my 285 new in 1989 at a boat show in New Brunswick,I sail mostly single handed, I have the boat fixed up to meet my needs, Doyle stackpack is great , chartplotter, autohelm ,and radar , also have laptop with The Captain , backed up with paper charts, a cabin heater and now a Bimini which keeps the sun off of me. I dont really need any bigger boat and I can go any where I like.Rae

 

[max Munger]

C30 for 22 years

Happy sailing the same boat all these years. No problems with boat or systems. Never got around to a bigger boat. Now that it is just my wife and I,its all we need. Race every Wed and weekends, cruise when we have time.Refurbished with all new Garhauer gear.Great Boat!

 

[David L. Miller]

Twenty Years and counting

Ok, we bought our 37' cutter in 1981. No, I don't want to sell it, I've gotten used to sailing it and it is the perfect size for my wife and I. Having a heater in the Pacific North West is a must, and upgrading to a better alternator was important for pleasurable extended evenings in the dark autum waters. We recently added a good windless to help aging elbows . We have found that Hunter has been very helpful in replacing worn aging parts (sailors excluded). She sails very well upwind which has proven important in my sailing experience. She's an old dependable family retreat, why replace her?

 

[Mitch Simmons]

Great for two!!

Ordered my H33 from the factory in 1980, launched it Memorial Day weekend on Lake Norman, NC. My wife and I had been sailing/weekending a '76 Chrysler 22 for the four prior years and had developed a "wish list" for a larger boat that included hot water heater and shower, "real" standing headroom, max ventilation (openings ports and hatches), forward v-berth for two 6-footers, stand up shower, inboard diesel,nav station, water tankage for a long weekend, and above all, it had to be a good sailor. We looked at and sailed an H30, but were not taken with it. When we went aboard an H33 at a boat show, however, we fell in love with the aft head, 11 opening ports, 3 hatches, 3 mushroom vents the galley layout, etc. The boat has lived up to our expectations for over 21 years in light air and heavy, lake sailing and ocean sailing. She will do hull speed (7 knots)in 15 knots of wind and balances well. In addition to a marine battery charger, ammeter, instruments, VHF, GPS, and stereo, I added vertical teak access doors under the fold out double berth, teak cockpit coaming boxes, the pedestal guard, backstay tensioner, boom vang and 150 jenny. The 15 horse Yanmar has been bullit proof and never failed to start. It is good on fuel, but strains to move almost six tons of boat against a tidal current. Over the years, my wife and I have talked about a bigger boat and we can afford it, but each time we reach the same conclusion...why?

 

[Dave Spitler]

Haven't Found One Better

I've owned my 1982 MacGregor 25 for seven years. I've trailered it to over 20 lakes, in ten states, putting more than 10,000 miles on the trailer. I've sailed it in the Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico, the ICW and the Great Lakes. It has stood up to the roughest waters without breaking and will still cruise along at 3kts in a 5kt breeze. A friend of mine bought a brand new Mac 26 with a full jib on a roller furling and he can't keep up with my 19 year old sails. As a matter of fact, his boat will not tack through a 25kt breeze without starting up the motor.

 

[Amy]

1979 S2 9.2 C "Seven Sunday's"

My wife and just bought our boat this past June, it's our first boat but we plan to keep her for some time. We love the center cockpit and the interior layout.Except lots of cleaners and elbow grease we haven't added anything yet. However long range plans include a full refit(Sails,Rigging,Electronics,etc),Short term we would like Radar as soon as we can afford it.In 5-10 years we plan to sell the house and cruise up the coast and maybe the Sea of Cortez and a Coconut Run?We like the ease of handling in the 30 foot range and would rather have a fat Kitty, than a bigger boat. Fair Winds to All

 

[John Rollins]

14 months

Have lived aboard my 460 for little over a year. Moved up from a 380 (great boat). Still making minor changes so that I can call it home. Love it.JR

 

[SailboatOwners.com]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 10/14/2001:How long have you owned your current boat?36% 0-2 years31% 2-5 years17% 5-10 years16% 10 or more years

 

[Barry P. Broyles]

Nine and one half years.

I Bought my 1973 Catalina 22 # 1909 9 1/2 years ago. It was a basic boat with only 6 control lines: main halyard, jib halyard, main sheet, jib sheets, boom dounhaul

 

[GERALD SOBEL]

DON'T GET A MACGREGOR

I WAS IN THE MARINA SINGLES SAILING CLUB BACK IN 96, AND GETTING TIRED OF SAILING IN BOATS THAT WERE TOO BIG (FLOATING DOCKS),AND BEING CREW. i WANTED TO GO WHERE I WANTED TO GO. SO I FOUND A MACGREGOR IN THE CLASSIFIEDS WITH EVERYTHING FOR ABOUT 1500 DOLLARS. BUT WHEN I TOLD THE SENIOR MEMBERS ABOUT IT THEY TOLD ME TO FIND A CAL 24 IF I COULD. SO EVENTUALLY I DID, FOR $450.00, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CRUISE READY, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY. ON THE WAY TO THE BOATYARD TO GET IT PULLED OUT AND PRESSURE WASHED I NOTICED THAT IT WAS GOING ANYWHERE EXCEPT WHERE I POINTED THE BOW. AS I PULLED INTO THE CEMENT TRAVEL LIFT DOCK AT ANACAPA MARINE THE OUTBOARD DIED AS I WAS APPROACHING THE CEMENT SEA WALL AT SOME SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO NOSE THE BOW INTO A BUMPER TIED TO THE WALL AND GENTLY BOUNCED OFF. PHIEUWW !!! WHEN THEY HAULED THE BOAT OUT AND WASHED IT DOWN WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE NOZZLE PATCHES OF "NEW" BOTTOM PAINT CAME FLYING OFF, AND THE RUST ENCRUSTED CENTERBOARD WAS EATEN AWAY AND BARELY HANGING ONTO ITS MOUNTING PIN. SO, HOW IN THE HECK DID I END UP WINNING THE SUNDOWN SERIES FOR 2001 OF THE MARINA DEL REY VENTURE MACGREGOR FLEET (VMG)...5 SETS OF 5 RACES EACH?? AGAINST 2 ERICSON 27s, AN ISLANDER 28, AND OFTEN BEATING ALL BUT 0NE MACGREGOR 26s WHO WERE IN GROUP 'A'?? I'LL TELL YOU: LEARNING TO TIME GOOD STARTS: "STAY WITHIN RANGE OF THE STARTING LINE"; READ A GOOD BOOK ON SAIL TRIM, KEEP A SHARP EYE ON YOUR SHROUD AND SAIL TELLTALES AND KEEP THE SIAILS CONSTANTLY OPTIMALLY TRIMED, AND IF NEED BE HEAD DOWN AS THE WIND WEAKENS, AND POINT UP AS IT FRESHENS. THAT'S HOW. LEARN HOW TO TACK SO YOU DONT LOSE ALL YOUR BOAT SPEED. AND YES, IT DOES TAKE PRACTISE; ITS ALL TO EASY TO GET RUSTY AT IT IF YOU DON'T KEEP AT IT. BUT THE REWARDS OF SAILING A GOOD RACE AGAINST TOUGH COMPETITION IS FABULOUSLLY EXHILLERATING. AND, OFTEN, IF YOU DON,T WIN, YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT CORRECTING YOUR MISTAKES THAN WHEN YOU DO, AND THE EXPERIANCE MAKES YOU THAT MUCH BETTER A SAILOR THAN BEFORE. AND NO,I DIDN'T MEAN TO PUT DOWN MACGREGORS, THEY ARE VERY GOOD BOATS, BECAUSE IF YOU BEAT ONE YOU'RE DOING QUITE WELL.