- Status
Ask around
Your best source for information on your lake are the local sailors. Also how deep is the water in the marina? Are there shallow areas in the lake? Other than that just look for the boat that makes you smile! We sail on Lake Wawasee in Indiana and are very happy with our H260. There are a few 27 ft Catalinas on the lake but they are very restricted where they can go. There is a large sandbar in our lake with water as shallow as three feet. With our 260 I can actualy sail across that area by raising the centerboard and bringing up the rudder about halfway. Also our favorite waterside restaurant is on a channel of the lake and we are the only sailboat that can get there.
Your best source for information on your lake are the local sailors. Also how deep is the water in the marina? Are there shallow areas in the lake? Other than that just look for the boat that makes you smile! We sail on Lake Wawasee in Indiana and are very happy with our H260. There are a few 27 ft Catalinas on the lake but they are very restricted where they can go. There is a large sandbar in our lake with water as shallow as three feet. With our 260 I can actualy sail across that area by raising the centerboard and bringing up the rudder about halfway. Also our favorite waterside restaurant is on a channel of the lake and we are the only sailboat that can get there.
Trailerable
John, I think you'll want something trailerable so you can get to bigger water if you want. Pretty much the maximum trailerable boat out there is the Hunter 260 or the previous model the 26. I have the Hunter 240 myself.
John, I think you'll want something trailerable so you can get to bigger water if you want. Pretty much the maximum trailerable boat out there is the Hunter 260 or the previous model the 26. I have the Hunter 240 myself.
Need more info
You need to decide if the boat is going to stay in a slip. If so,what are you going to use it for, a summer weekend retreat, racing, daysailng, singlehanding etc.. I can tell you that on my 10 mi lake a 38-40 ftr. is not all that unusual. Unfortunately, you rarely see them out sailing much less even opened up. Size of toys urge I guess. Perhaps lack of crew. Overall I think 25-30 ft is the norm these days. Can hold your family and friends, provide a small retreat, some creature comforts and can still be single or short handed. If you want to trailer thatis a whole different ball game.
You need to decide if the boat is going to stay in a slip. If so,what are you going to use it for, a summer weekend retreat, racing, daysailng, singlehanding etc.. I can tell you that on my 10 mi lake a 38-40 ftr. is not all that unusual. Unfortunately, you rarely see them out sailing much less even opened up. Size of toys urge I guess. Perhaps lack of crew. Overall I think 25-30 ft is the norm these days. Can hold your family and friends, provide a small retreat, some creature comforts and can still be single or short handed. If you want to trailer thatis a whole different ball game.
Trailerable
John, I think you'll want something trailerable so you can get to bigger water if you want. Pretty much the maximum trailerable boat out there is the Hunter 260 or the previous model the 26. I have the Hunter 240 myself.
John, I think you'll want something trailerable so you can get to bigger water if you want. Pretty much the maximum trailerable boat out there is the Hunter 260 or the previous model the 26. I have the Hunter 240 myself.
trailerable!!!
We lived in east Tennessee for 10 years with a trailerable sailboat. For a couple of years a Helsen 22 and then a Macgregor 26S. The Helsen was a pain to sleep aboard because you slept on the dinette. The Mac had a large aft berth. During most winters I trailered the boat home and put it in a barn. A few winters we sailed all winter. We moved the boat around every couple of years. Watauga lake,South Holston lake,Douglas lake and Cherokee lake. This kept the sailing interesting. Once or twice a year we would trailer somewhere for a week. Kentucky lake which is huge, Panama City Florida, Charleston South Carolina. I towed the boat behind a Chevy S-10 4.3 liter V6 with no problems. The Mac weighed less than the Helsen and was faster. It is very hard to move a large sailboat around!!! In many smaller lakes there is no way to even paint the bottom as there are no lifts available. The swing keel on the Helsen was a great bottom finder. With both boats we were able to run the bow onto the bank to get off the boat. In this size range it is easy to gunkhole. A friend with a 35 foot boat has to hire a crane and a flatbed tractor trailer to take his boat out of the water. Even then he has to do it on a weekday when the ramp isn't so busy. Tom
We lived in east Tennessee for 10 years with a trailerable sailboat. For a couple of years a Helsen 22 and then a Macgregor 26S. The Helsen was a pain to sleep aboard because you slept on the dinette. The Mac had a large aft berth. During most winters I trailered the boat home and put it in a barn. A few winters we sailed all winter. We moved the boat around every couple of years. Watauga lake,South Holston lake,Douglas lake and Cherokee lake. This kept the sailing interesting. Once or twice a year we would trailer somewhere for a week. Kentucky lake which is huge, Panama City Florida, Charleston South Carolina. I towed the boat behind a Chevy S-10 4.3 liter V6 with no problems. The Mac weighed less than the Helsen and was faster. It is very hard to move a large sailboat around!!! In many smaller lakes there is no way to even paint the bottom as there are no lifts available. The swing keel on the Helsen was a great bottom finder. With both boats we were able to run the bow onto the bank to get off the boat. In this size range it is easy to gunkhole. A friend with a 35 foot boat has to hire a crane and a flatbed tractor trailer to take his boat out of the water. Even then he has to do it on a weekday when the ramp isn't so busy. Tom
small lake, big boat
What really matters on the decision on putting a boat on a small lake is how the boat will be docked, (are there big enought docks). Is the water deep enough for a good sail shore to shore and not just down the middle. How big a boat can the marina handle such as pulling and putting in. I am on a smaller lake than that and have a 36 foot boat. There are 4 sailboats 40 feet and over. Sure it is a lot of tacking, but still just as much fun. (also I can be on the lake and sailing 35 minutes from work.)
What really matters on the decision on putting a boat on a small lake is how the boat will be docked, (are there big enought docks). Is the water deep enough for a good sail shore to shore and not just down the middle. How big a boat can the marina handle such as pulling and putting in. I am on a smaller lake than that and have a 36 foot boat. There are 4 sailboats 40 feet and over. Sure it is a lot of tacking, but still just as much fun. (also I can be on the lake and sailing 35 minutes from work.)
20 Foot Catboat
On our lake, which is considerably larger, there is a beautiful little 20' catboat (single sail, wide beam, shoal draft with centerboard) that tools around all the time. The wide beam gives you more creature comforts below compared to a conventional 20' monohull, the centerboard allows you to be in very shallow water, and many of them have EZ step masts for trailer-ability. The gaff rig looks very classic, besides. Check out the photo! Com-paq makes a very nice catboat if you've got $35K to shell out.
On our lake, which is considerably larger, there is a beautiful little 20' catboat (single sail, wide beam, shoal draft with centerboard) that tools around all the time. The wide beam gives you more creature comforts below compared to a conventional 20' monohull, the centerboard allows you to be in very shallow water, and many of them have EZ step masts for trailer-ability. The gaff rig looks very classic, besides. Check out the photo! Com-paq makes a very nice catboat if you've got $35K to shell out.
thank you
Thanksfor the advice. The boat I buy will be kept on a mooring but should not be too big so that you must use a crane to move it. Since I will be using the boat with family I need both cabin and cockpit space. It sounds like something in the 22 to 28 ft range should do.
Thanksfor the advice. The boat I buy will be kept on a mooring but should not be too big so that you must use a crane to move it. Since I will be using the boat with family I need both cabin and cockpit space. It sounds like something in the 22 to 28 ft range should do.
- Status