I have looked at your site and have enjoyed it.My question is I want to start sailing and need some guidence on a boat that I should be looking at for my first one. I would like something around 25 to 27 feet since I would like to use it for a cottage also for the summer months.I plan to take lessons this summmer because I know nothing about sailing but I think I will like it better than the small motor boat that I have now. What ever anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.
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Erie?
May we presume that you'll be (mostly) sailing the new boat on Lake Erie? What's your budget? ie: Used Sailboat Market in Central Canada: http://sailquest.com/market/ C&C 25: http://sailquest.com/market/models/cc25.htm C&C 27: http://sailquest.com/market/models/cc27n.htm Mirage 26: http://sailquest.com/market/models/mirage26.htm more (24' - 27') ... http://sailquest.com/market/models/models2.htm Regards, Gord
May we presume that you'll be (mostly) sailing the new boat on Lake Erie? What's your budget? ie: Used Sailboat Market in Central Canada: http://sailquest.com/market/ C&C 25: http://sailquest.com/market/models/cc25.htm C&C 27: http://sailquest.com/market/models/cc27n.htm Mirage 26: http://sailquest.com/market/models/mirage26.htm more (24' - 27') ... http://sailquest.com/market/models/models2.htm Regards, Gord
Some budget 'cottages'
Without knowing your budget, your maintenance/repair skills, or where you intend to berth and sail; I can only offer the broadest possible observation. Look for a Westerly 23-26', they are the original floating RV and are a very stable boat as well. THey have bilge keels, and so offer shoal draft without the problems of moving keels. Another 'cottage' boat is the Buccaneer 240 not as much boat as the Westerly, but very easy on the budget. This boat is strictly a lake/moderate waters boat. There are many others in that class. IF on the other hand you wish a more 'seaworthy' boat at the expense of living quarters it's hard to beat the smaller Cape Dorys, Typhoon(10'), Weekender(22') and the venerable CD-25(my favorite smsll sailor). The Cape Dorys and similer designs are all perfectly capable of coastal cruising. g'Luk
Without knowing your budget, your maintenance/repair skills, or where you intend to berth and sail; I can only offer the broadest possible observation. Look for a Westerly 23-26', they are the original floating RV and are a very stable boat as well. THey have bilge keels, and so offer shoal draft without the problems of moving keels. Another 'cottage' boat is the Buccaneer 240 not as much boat as the Westerly, but very easy on the budget. This boat is strictly a lake/moderate waters boat. There are many others in that class. IF on the other hand you wish a more 'seaworthy' boat at the expense of living quarters it's hard to beat the smaller Cape Dorys, Typhoon(10'), Weekender(22') and the venerable CD-25(my favorite smsll sailor). The Cape Dorys and similer designs are all perfectly capable of coastal cruising. g'Luk
Boats
We also needed a boat we could weekend on for the weekend. We wanted a boat that sailed well and also a boat that was a nice camper at the dock. The Buccaneer and the Westerly are both good boats they are better camper's then they are boats. Everything is a trade off on boat's and it usually comes down to space vs performance. But one boat the Hunter 28.5 a very popular model seems to have both. It has a nice open interior bigger than allot of 30 foot boats. It sail's very well to it's PHRF # and is a great sailing boat. They are a few for sail on Yachtworld and one on Lake Erie. With some of the smaller boat's after a season you may be looking for something with more space. Plus with something in the 28 and up size range you will feel more comfortable when on the Lake and you get into some 5 foot waves. Cliff
We also needed a boat we could weekend on for the weekend. We wanted a boat that sailed well and also a boat that was a nice camper at the dock. The Buccaneer and the Westerly are both good boats they are better camper's then they are boats. Everything is a trade off on boat's and it usually comes down to space vs performance. But one boat the Hunter 28.5 a very popular model seems to have both. It has a nice open interior bigger than allot of 30 foot boats. It sail's very well to it's PHRF # and is a great sailing boat. They are a few for sail on Yachtworld and one on Lake Erie. With some of the smaller boat's after a season you may be looking for something with more space. Plus with something in the 28 and up size range you will feel more comfortable when on the Lake and you get into some 5 foot waves. Cliff
Cliff's advice...
is excellent. If you can afford a 28.5 it is a wonderful boat to learn on and truely has the size and interior design that makes it comfortable out sailing or at the dock. The real beauty is that it has the feel of a 32 ft. boat and all the systems you'll need to learn about if you want to move up in size. I owned one for 8 years before moving to 35.5.
is excellent. If you can afford a 28.5 it is a wonderful boat to learn on and truely has the size and interior design that makes it comfortable out sailing or at the dock. The real beauty is that it has the feel of a 32 ft. boat and all the systems you'll need to learn about if you want to move up in size. I owned one for 8 years before moving to 35.5.
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