Looking for the right daysailer.

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John G.

I want to buy a used daysailer that isn't to difficult to rig, launch or sail. I would like it to be 23' in length or less and as roomy as possible. It needs to be able to carry two adults and two young teenagers comfortably without getting us soaked in medium to light winds and hopefully it will not break the bank to purchase. I want to thank all of you in advance for any recommendations you may have! John G.
 
Jun 2, 2004
1,077
Several Catalinas C25/C320 USA
Catalina 22 or 25/250

Ask your question on the C25/250 forum...you'll get lots of good answers: http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/
 
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jr

23' O'Day

For the best all around I'd have to say an O'Day 23. Amazingly roomy for the size of the boat boat, cockpit big enough for four people and you can do some pretty good distance sailing in it. I sailed all around the coast of cape cod and around the islands. The previous owner sailed it from Mass. up to the coast of Maine, I wouldn't do go that far, but that is just me.
 
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Jeff D

More Info Needed

You need to provide more information such as are you going to trailer the boat all of the time? Do you want a cabin? Do you want a ballasted hull? Do you want an auxillary? D you want a head? Using a more traditional definition for a daysailor I would go for a Highlander or Flying Scot. These are pretty stable centerboard boats. Lightnings are not quite as stable and are also a great first boat. If you want a ballasted boat the Chrysler 20m is a big open cockpit boat. Catalina 22 is also good first boat. Very strong support but quite a bit heavier to tow. Best bet is to look around your sailing area and see what is popular then check to see fleet sizes through their national organizations. My personal opinion is that if you start with a smaller boat, do a little low key racing, you will learn to sail faster both in speed and learning curve. Even better yet crew for a racer.
 
Jun 6, 2004
43
Catalina 27 Dennis
Check out Com-Pac

Com-Pac has good trailer sailors. Search at yachtworld.com for used ones.
 
May 31, 2004
858
Catalina 28 Branford
THE key question....

Do you need an enclosed head? I don't claim to truly understand women, but I can say two things for sure: women don't like the Three Stooges, and they don't like to pee in front of everyone. If any of your crew are female, they will eventually insist on a having private place to pee on your boat. If you or they don't mind closing up the companionway and hatch and using a portipotti out in the middle of the cabin, then you have a lot of choices of acceptable daysailing boats. However, if you don't want to go through that exercise and want a boat with a head behind a cabin door, there is only one production boat 23 feet or less with this feature: the Oday 23. Find a later model with bow and stern pulpits and a deck anchor locker. A well-made, versatile boat. Not easy to trailer, but great for daysailing and the occasional overnighter. Prices range from 4-6K, depending on condition, location, trailer, etc.
 
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JOHN POPP , 1975 MARINER

great daysailer

All very good ideas for you form everyone. If you are looking for a boat that can handles a bit of sea and has a huge cockpit for the size, easy to trailer, has a port-a -potty and will not break the bank. Take a look at the Mariners on this site.Of course you can see i am bit partial to the model, but it seems to fit what you are looking for. good luck
 
Mar 23, 2004
119
- - Paradise, CA
Hunter 216 is a marvelous daysailer

I TOTALLY LOVE my Hunter 216 for use as a daysailer. It is light (1250 pounds before motor/gear), easy to trailer, easy to set up, and FAST. I do quite well in my club races against the Thistles, Windmills and 505s. I carry a porta potti for the women. They close the cutty "door". The ONLY disadvantage might be that it is too tender for some timid sailors or sailors that normally sail in high wind conditions. Myself, I have no problems...I simply reduce sail area when the wind kicks up. Things I like about the Hunter 216: Extremely LARGE, UNCLUTTERED cockpit. Could easily carry eight adults roomwise (the weight limit is six adults). Very easy to sail...I often singlehand. High freeboard which keeps everyone dry...I lake sail and the only time I threw spray was in a 30 mph wind (which, BTW, I sailed in with an unreefed main and furled jib...I should have reefed the main but I wanted to see how the boat handled when it was totally overpowered). Boat is really FAST. My maintenance was significant when I first got the boat until I discovered the products that make it reasonable (see archives). Cuddy got totally cluttered until I installed hooks all around the cuddy walls to hang stuff, like mooring lines. Limited cuddy interior is now tidy and uncluttered. I also removed the net partition between the cuddy and the area under the seats. Anchor, boarding ladder, etc. are stowed under the seat area on bath mats so they don't slide around.
 
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Mike W.

Smaller Daysailer

If you are looking for a first time boat, and you are a newer captain, I can rx what I got this past year - an Oday Daysailer (17'). Trailers easy, sets up in 20", stable, cockpit is perfect for four people, any size, no privacy for peeing though. Very easy rigging, depending on what's already installed, mine doesn't have a topping lift or vang and I'm leaning towards putting on a Garhauer rigid vang this spring so I don't have to rely on my wife to hold the boom into the cockpit as I lower the main?! And, you can pick one up for about $2000.00, give or take.
 
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Glenn Basore

Hunter 170

Take a look at the Hunter 170....... Plenty of room for six adults, open deck, easy to rig and sail, light and easy to tow behind most cars with a v-6. there are a lot of boats out there ! take your time to compare them. The Hunter 170 is strickly a day sail boat, no cabin, most peolpe who sail don't stay in the cabin any way.
 
Dec 16, 2004
22
Hunter 170 Panic Stricken
Hunter 170

I agree with you Glenn, the Hunter 170 is a very versatile boat to sail. It has a HUGE cockpit, has plenty of power, yet is easy to rig and sail. If you are looking for value, the H-170 has got to be one of the best values in a new boat. I think that it is very underpriced. Here is a link and a pic of my H-170. http://www.sailing-obsession.com/hunter170.html Danny
 
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