Not the country song but reading the "Small Boats Are Not Small" reminds me of the principle that every boat owner actually has two boats: the one you have and your next one! Whether the sailor is able to trade frequently or has kept the same boat for years, each shares ideas about a bigger/better boat that would do things the current vessel won't. This thought comes into play in choosing a first boat. Granted, sailing dinghies and daysailors is superb training and lots of fun. But, if your immediate goal is family weekend cruising, it makes little sense to buy a boat to learn on knowing you really want some sleeping room and a head. Far better to crew for a while, take some courses or rent occasionally to gain skills and then go ahead and get the boat you really want. I don't mean that you should delay getting a boat but it does take some time to shop around and decide which boat best suits your needs. Spend some of that time sailing other people's boats! This is, of necessity, an oversimplification but the main point is that you can get stuck with a boat that doesn't meet your needs or take a financial drubbing if you do sell after owning for only a short period. I got lucky with my first boat, a Gale Force 20, which was a great little boat, very forgiving and tough as nails but woefully small for weekending with children and painfully slow for club racing. I bought my H-25.5 six months later and still had the 20! Fortunately a buyer came along shortly and I could quit paying for 2 slips!! Naturally, I immediately began looking around for my next one but 8 years later still haven't found a boat I like better for our lake and my sailing. "Big" and "Small" are relative terms with sailboats. A 28 footer is a big boat on many inland lakes but is quite small for ocean voyaging. It is amazing how small a 39 footer gets after living aboard with 4 others for a week! Another phenomenon is how quickly a big boat becomes comfortable to sail even if your only previous experience was in smaller boats. It does take practice, study and experience but moving from daysailors to cruisers doesn't take years. I'm not talking about crossing oceans or sailing around the world as these comments are aimed at the sailing on lakes, bays or fair weather coastal sailing that the vast majority of us do. My last thought is to enjoy what you have. My 15 year old 25.5 is a much better boat than any that I haven't yet bought !! Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"
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Hi
Do you sail from Black Oak Hollow marina and if so I would like to know if an old friend of mine is still kicking? Crazy Dave
Do you sail from Black Oak Hollow marina and if so I would like to know if an old friend of mine is still kicking? Crazy Dave
Black Oak Dock
Hey Dave, Yes, I do sail out of Black Oak, home of Cherokee Lake Sailing Club. Who is the old friend? Dick
Hey Dave, Yes, I do sail out of Black Oak, home of Cherokee Lake Sailing Club. Who is the old friend? Dick
I couldn't agree more
I just wish I had money for each of those times when a disgruntled sailor sold his/her near-new boat for pennies on the dollar...so I could buy it off them!! My personal favorite for a starter boat is the Flying Scot. It is trailerable, easy to sail, responsive, roomy (I have seen 8 adults on a Scot) and the performance envelope is pretty wide (from docile gunkholing to flat-out planing). There are lots of them out there and they are very affordable. Peter S/V Raven
I just wish I had money for each of those times when a disgruntled sailor sold his/her near-new boat for pennies on the dollar...so I could buy it off them!! My personal favorite for a starter boat is the Flying Scot. It is trailerable, easy to sail, responsive, roomy (I have seen 8 adults on a Scot) and the performance envelope is pretty wide (from docile gunkholing to flat-out planing). There are lots of them out there and they are very affordable. Peter S/V Raven
the 25.5
Hi Dick.... Just purchased a 25.5 (1984) at Lake Allatoona outside of Atlanta, GA. Sweet sailor and very roomy for this size vessel. I wanted to ask you if you ever replaced your cabin opening ports or the interior plastic opening parts themselves. Mine are in sad condition and I get nothing from the Hunter factory on replacement types. Appreciate any advise. Great spring sailing to you Bob "Loose Change"
Hi Dick.... Just purchased a 25.5 (1984) at Lake Allatoona outside of Atlanta, GA. Sweet sailor and very roomy for this size vessel. I wanted to ask you if you ever replaced your cabin opening ports or the interior plastic opening parts themselves. Mine are in sad condition and I get nothing from the Hunter factory on replacement types. Appreciate any advise. Great spring sailing to you Bob "Loose Change"
Ports and Hatches
Bob, I haven't had to replace any of the ports on my 25.5 but JSI carries the Gray ports which my boat came with. Congratulations on your new boat! I love mine for lake sailing. I've had Honey Bear for about 8 years and don't know of anything I'd trade for, new or used for my kind of sailing and family requirements. Dick
Bob, I haven't had to replace any of the ports on my 25.5 but JSI carries the Gray ports which my boat came with. Congratulations on your new boat! I love mine for lake sailing. I've had Honey Bear for about 8 years and don't know of anything I'd trade for, new or used for my kind of sailing and family requirements. Dick
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