I'd like Your Opinion on my Choice for First Sailboat . . .

[Tim R.]

Spend a little more

Looking at Yacht World, this boat will probably give you the best bang for your buck. Get a survey and you may be able to get her for $10,000http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/boatDetails.jsp?&units=Feet&currency=USD&ro=8&r=1915153&rs=yachtworld.com&rt=Cruiser&boat_id=1915153&checked_boats=1915153&type=%28Sail%29&Ntk=boatsEN&hmid=0&sm=3&enid=0&cit=true&luom=126&currencyid=100&boatsAddedSelected=-1&No=60&ftid=0&slim=quick&spid=110&Ns=PAll_sortPrice%7C1&is=false

 

[Kidd]

If you are truly limited to the budget you have quoted,

My personal oppinion is you should go with a smaller boat in better condition. My first sailboat I built in my garage. It is a 17 foot daysailer with a kat-ketch rig. Wanting something I could camp on without having to go to the trouble of pitching a tent, My wife bought me a Hunter 20 for Christmas. This boat is in very good condition and was kept up and restored well by the previous owners. I sail mostly on lakes and protected waters and admittedly am a trailer sailor. My tow vehicle is a Ford Ranger pickup which is barely adequate for this boat or I would have gone with a 22 footer of some kind (probably Catalina). I have gotten by so far using my propane grill for cooking and a forespar gimbaled stove for coffee. There is a porta potty for emergencies only. I try to overnight around campgrounds that have facilities. I know this limits your potential sailing grounds but it also allows me to go sailing on a small budget. If the wife/significant other is ok with your original criteria, consider this option. I do agree with the other opinions that to buy a boat of the size you are talking, within those budget restrictions, you will spend a lot of money and time getting the boat in condition to sail. As much as I enjoy getting my boats ready to sail, I would rather be on the water. Just another option to consider. I just reread your original criteria. I do not know anything about the conditions you sail in over there in Hawaii. It might be hard to find a boat in my size range seaworthy enough for your inter-island hops. My Hunter 20 is definately not a bluewater boat.

 

[Stu Jackson]

9 out of 10 crossings???

I wouldn't want to be with you, or BE you on that 10th one! Sir, you should not invest in a coastal cruiser if you're planning inter island trips that "require" you to be somewhere, like coming home on a certain date and time, because, as almost all of us here know, or should know or may have forgotten:"The one sure thing that can KILL you is sailing on a schedule."Period.If you're really serious about sailing between the islands, get a boat that's built for it. The Flicka's a good idea, but most of the ones that will qualify will be well beyond your price range.In that case, if I were you, I'd take the advice of earlier posters, and get something to sail in the LEE of the island and learn what you're doing by actually SAILING your own boat. By the time you finish fixing it up, you may end up getting some of your investment back, given your limited market. Emphasis on SOME.By then, after a certain period of time, you will have gotten "into it" and begun learning what different kinds of boats there really are out there, and what their capabilities are, so YOU can make an informed decision for and by yourself.My recommendation is don't listen to any of us when we suggest specific boats, just get your feet wet (not literally ) and learn a lot more before you go poking around the corner and risk your life.

 

[Captain E]

Coastal cruisers

My question is, can you find alot of coastal cruiser boats in Hawaii? If so, how did they get there? If they are, they must be selling it for a GOOD reason. Its easy to sail there via trade winds, getting back is the hard part. I've heard people cross the Pacific in plans to go around the world, only to abandon the idea and have their boats left in Hawaii. You might be able to snatch up a blue water boat thats been left behind. Bottom line, you live in the ocean, get a blue water boat.

 

[JW]

From original poster (thanks again for advice)

Thanks again to everyone who responded.1) I will take the Cal 25, Tartan Ten, and Pearson 28 into consideration. I also plan to have a look at the boat in the yacht world link (thanks for the search.) The craigslist.com ad text on that boat put me off--but it is worth a look.2) I never wrote anything about sailing inter-island on a tight schedule. My job is flexible with dates. I wouldn't do it. That 10% figure I guessed at is my estimate of how often I might run into channel conditions that no one could have ever predicted. Remember, the farthest distance from a harbor I intend to sail is 16 miles--the midpoint of the Kaiwi channel. I don't really want to be me in that scenario either. But I'll have done the best I can to prepare.3)The 88cents per foot per month mooring ball is if you supply your own ball set up. It is at a harbor somewhere in these islands. If I promote it, it will not be that way for long. Only for those who dig deep in their questions, and meet with that particular harbor master. Do call around--you shall find it.4) Once again, 7500 is an ideal price. I can go slightly higher. Not over 10K. I have some money set aside for maintenance. It is a cash only endeavor.5) I'll spend 50K on my Pacific Ocean blue water cruiser as boat #2--for now, I want to get to Maui and back. I think that is a reasonable starting goal.6)There are hundreds of small light day sailers here that never leave their island or particular coastline. Many barged here. Some built here. I would find it tortuous to see Molokai only 32 miles away, but not having the confidence to cross that channel. Then again, that channel sees immense swells on certain days.7) I appreciate my location every day, believe me.Thanks, Signing off, JW