Lake boat questions?

[Jerry Johnson]

Ok, have a question for those who have some small lake sailboats. I have 2 boats and now that we have the larger one that we just bought, thinking about putting one on the smaller trailer boats up for sale. The question is which one, I plan on keeping one to use around the house but not ever had any experience with smaller sailboats, I don't know which one to keep.
The first boat is a beautiful little Cape Dory Typhoon, looks like a mini version of a old clipper ship. It has beautiful lines with lots of wood and full keel all in a little 19 foot sailboat.

Number 2 is a Kent Ranger 20, very sleak with a short keel and very nice lines.
Both boats need to be cleaned and fresh paint but both sail and are in very good shape. I am really torn between the two because both are very well made but they are total opposites as far as looks, weight and sail ability. The Typhoon seems like you could sail through blue water while the Ranger looks fast and sleak.
What are your thoughts on both boats and which do you prefer? ?

 

[JohnVTX]

Whichever one is easier to set up, launch and retrieve.

 

[Pat]

I am not familiar with the Kent Ranger 20. I'm very familiar with the Cape Dory Typhoon as we have one at our club...
With the above noted, I have always admired the simple elegance and beauty of the Cape Dory. I think it comes down though to which you can enjoy the most on the water....and the ease at which you can use whichever one you choose...If the Cape Dory is a lot of work to get into the water, I would go with the the Kent Ranger boat.....it brings a Cape Dory no happiness to sit unused on a trailer with tears rolling down it's state registration number. Good Luck, Pat

 

[Jerry Johnson]

Here is the Kent Ranger.

 

[BudGates]

I agree with the others. The one that is easier to set-up and launch is the one that will get used the most.

 

[Jerry Johnson]

Here is the Cape Dory Typhoon

 

[Jerry Johnson]

Both boats setup time are around the same but the Dory requires deeper water and more wind. The Dory is around 2900lb with a 900lb leaded keel where the Ranger is about 2100lb with a 300lb keel.

 

[Siamese]

The Cape Dory is worth a lot more. People seem to want to pay more for the Cape Dory Typhoons than you'd think they'd be worth right now.

 

[BudGates]

Consider where you plan to sail and ask yourself a few questions. What are the lakes like? How deep are they? Will you be sailing all day or will you be spending a good share of the day anchored? What are the average winds like? What would you expect to be using the boat for? Will you be sleeping or preparing meals on the boat? Once you answer these questions you'll know which boat best suits you and will be used the most.

 

[Jerry Johnson]

Thank you all for your input and think I have made a discussion but still have some things that I want to look at first. Thank you all again.