What kind of Daysailer should I buy? After taking about 15 years off from sailing (got married and had a few kids) I finally repaired my 10' 10'' Mirror Dinghy and got back on the water. I have been bitten by the sailing bug again! Now I want to get a little larger boat. Here's my situation: My wife is not big into sailing so it usually be me with up to three kids (two 8 year olds and a 6 six year old) or me by myself. We don't live on the water so it'll be stored and transported on a trailer each outing. Will be sailed on a local lake in Connecticut or on Long Island Sound. So far I have given serious consideration to either an O'Day Javelin or O'Day Daysailer, but don't know a whole lot about any other possibilities and don't want to narrow my choices unnecessarily. Also, when is a good time to pick up a used boat? Is it in the fall when people realized they haven't used thier boats much or in the spring for the upcoming season? Thanks, Dan
Need help deciding on a Daysailer
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Only offering my experience
Dan, a similar thing happened to me in 1995 when we moved back near water with two small kids. My wife wasn't big into sailing either. I was able to buy a 16' Rebel (a midwest one-design) that was trailerable and that I could step the mast on alone. As far as recommending a boat, my suggestion is to see what popular day sailors are in your area and choose accordingly. It's not only reassuring to have other, similar boats out there, but it'll give you nearby "authorities" to help you troubleshoot issues. I'd also suggest buying in the fall when people have finished with their boats and are thinking about upgrading. Get a boat at a good price (plenty of sites like this one give historic sale prices), knowing you'll plunk a little more money into it. Find storage that will let you get into the boat during the winter, and spend some time that first winter getting to know your boat and checking for soft spots, working hardware, good lines and halyards, etc. Good luck and fair winds. Mike
Dan, a similar thing happened to me in 1995 when we moved back near water with two small kids. My wife wasn't big into sailing either. I was able to buy a 16' Rebel (a midwest one-design) that was trailerable and that I could step the mast on alone. As far as recommending a boat, my suggestion is to see what popular day sailors are in your area and choose accordingly. It's not only reassuring to have other, similar boats out there, but it'll give you nearby "authorities" to help you troubleshoot issues. I'd also suggest buying in the fall when people have finished with their boats and are thinking about upgrading. Get a boat at a good price (plenty of sites like this one give historic sale prices), knowing you'll plunk a little more money into it. Find storage that will let you get into the boat during the winter, and spend some time that first winter getting to know your boat and checking for soft spots, working hardware, good lines and halyards, etc. Good luck and fair winds. Mike
Daysailer
I had an O'Day Daysailer for a number of years and found it a great little boat. There are several iterations available, lots of them out there and their pretty inexpensive and pretty easily trailerable. One thing to think about with any of these daysailers is whether you are going to have to step the mast every time you sail. If you do, its a bit of a pain on most of them, and when you look at one you should go through the process and see how long it takes and whether you can do it with one person.
I had an O'Day Daysailer for a number of years and found it a great little boat. There are several iterations available, lots of them out there and their pretty inexpensive and pretty easily trailerable. One thing to think about with any of these daysailers is whether you are going to have to step the mast every time you sail. If you do, its a bit of a pain on most of them, and when you look at one you should go through the process and see how long it takes and whether you can do it with one person.
If I were looking for a trailerable sail boat
I would list the features that I find desirable and the ones that are essential. Then I would look for any make that had a shape that was pleasing to me. I would walk around on it and in it to see if it was as strong as I wanted under foot. If the trailer came with the boat I would inspect it carefully for rust, I would pull a bearing cap and check for grease. But I would not narrow my choices by choosing a make first.
I would list the features that I find desirable and the ones that are essential. Then I would look for any make that had a shape that was pleasing to me. I would walk around on it and in it to see if it was as strong as I wanted under foot. If the trailer came with the boat I would inspect it carefully for rust, I would pull a bearing cap and check for grease. But I would not narrow my choices by choosing a make first.
Deja Vu All Over Again
I just went through a very similar progression but have moved to the non-trailerable stage. One thing that was very challenging with the trailering approach was stepping the mast by myself. I had an O'Day 15 that was a bit of a challenge on my own due to the way the mast mounted to the boat. I would look for something that uses what I would call a hinge and pin arrangement. That way, you can lock in the base and walk the mast to vertical. Another thing to consider is how often your crew (children) will need to use the potty. Nothing worse than having to head to the dock because nature called - again... For this reason, I would look to something with a cuddy cabin where you can put a porta-potty. Growing up, we had an O'Day Mariner which was trailerable and a great boat for daysailing. I don't have any connection to them now but I remember them fondly. I saw one on this site at the link below. Please feel free to contact me for any Southeastern CT specific info. Best of luck. Paul
I just went through a very similar progression but have moved to the non-trailerable stage. One thing that was very challenging with the trailering approach was stepping the mast by myself. I had an O'Day 15 that was a bit of a challenge on my own due to the way the mast mounted to the boat. I would look for something that uses what I would call a hinge and pin arrangement. That way, you can lock in the base and walk the mast to vertical. Another thing to consider is how often your crew (children) will need to use the potty. Nothing worse than having to head to the dock because nature called - again... For this reason, I would look to something with a cuddy cabin where you can put a porta-potty. Growing up, we had an O'Day Mariner which was trailerable and a great boat for daysailing. I don't have any connection to them now but I remember them fondly. I saw one on this site at the link below. Please feel free to contact me for any Southeastern CT specific info. Best of luck. Paul
few other ideas
You might check out a West Wight Potter - easily trailered 19 footer is kind of like a jaunty floating camper. It has a portapotty, sink, and space to sleep four. It might be ideal for a dad and three kids who mainly daysail from a trailer, but who decide to camp out once in a while. From my experience with my Hunter 216 daysailer, I would have to say the portapotti or a builtin head is a requirement if you want to really enjoy being out. Also, a place for the kids to lay down out of the sun/cold wind is probably key. Shelter and a toilet are what got my partner to sail with me. You might consider an older small cruising boat with an easily maintained outboard as an alternative to a daysailer. While it limits your trailerable horizons, it might open your horizons on the sound. Just a thought.
You might check out a West Wight Potter - easily trailered 19 footer is kind of like a jaunty floating camper. It has a portapotty, sink, and space to sleep four. It might be ideal for a dad and three kids who mainly daysail from a trailer, but who decide to camp out once in a while. From my experience with my Hunter 216 daysailer, I would have to say the portapotti or a builtin head is a requirement if you want to really enjoy being out. Also, a place for the kids to lay down out of the sun/cold wind is probably key. Shelter and a toilet are what got my partner to sail with me. You might consider an older small cruising boat with an easily maintained outboard as an alternative to a daysailer. While it limits your trailerable horizons, it might open your horizons on the sound. Just a thought.
Daysailer
Have you thought about a San Juan 21? It's a good performing swing keel boat that's at home on a medium lake or in sheltered coastal areas. A large number are sailing in the Seattle area as well as the east coast. I have mine set up for singlehanded sailing. The mast is easy for one person to raise or lower; if you want some excitement, you can fly the spinnacher. You can pick up a used one for under $3000. You can get more information on it at Jim Hubbard's web site: www.sanjuan21.net.
Have you thought about a San Juan 21? It's a good performing swing keel boat that's at home on a medium lake or in sheltered coastal areas. A large number are sailing in the Seattle area as well as the east coast. I have mine set up for singlehanded sailing. The mast is easy for one person to raise or lower; if you want some excitement, you can fly the spinnacher. You can pick up a used one for under $3000. You can get more information on it at Jim Hubbard's web site: www.sanjuan21.net.
How about a Catalina 22
I was in the same situation that you are in fourteen years ago, a wife that was not crazy about sailing and a four year old daughter. I was looking at daysailersat first untill a salesman at one of the marinas showed me a ten year old C22 and started telling me the advantages of a small cruiser. The following year I bought a 1973 C22 (19 years old at the time) and have enjoyed it ever since. Most of my sailing has been daysailing but I have gotten my wife to go on a couple weekend trips up the bay and a few picnicks on a local island. Some of the advantages of a small cruiser are that it is much more stable than most daysailers, Has some sort of head in the cabin, has plenty enough room to sleep 5 adults get, and out of the sun or weather. I have been sailing my boat for 14 years and hope to do so for many more. The boat is easy to rig, launch, and recover single handed once you figure out a system that works for you. I sure am glad that I talked to that salesman way back then, If I had bought a true daysailer I probably would have upgraded to a bigger boat or given up on sailing. Barry Broyles C-22 #1909 Brighteyes
I was in the same situation that you are in fourteen years ago, a wife that was not crazy about sailing and a four year old daughter. I was looking at daysailersat first untill a salesman at one of the marinas showed me a ten year old C22 and started telling me the advantages of a small cruiser. The following year I bought a 1973 C22 (19 years old at the time) and have enjoyed it ever since. Most of my sailing has been daysailing but I have gotten my wife to go on a couple weekend trips up the bay and a few picnicks on a local island. Some of the advantages of a small cruiser are that it is much more stable than most daysailers, Has some sort of head in the cabin, has plenty enough room to sleep 5 adults get, and out of the sun or weather. I have been sailing my boat for 14 years and hope to do so for many more. The boat is easy to rig, launch, and recover single handed once you figure out a system that works for you. I sure am glad that I talked to that salesman way back then, If I had bought a true daysailer I probably would have upgraded to a bigger boat or given up on sailing. Barry Broyles C-22 #1909 Brighteyes
Thanks for the great ideas!
While I'm still not any closer to deciding what boat to buy, I have a better idea of what I'm looking for. Pretty sure it will be a small cruiser with a porta-potti! Someone has suggested an O'Day 22. I'd like to get a look at one and see how the 'stub' keel impacts launching the boat at smaller boat ramps. If anyone has experience with I'd like to hear it. Unfortunately, the Mariner link provided by 'Grateful Dad' is no longer active...so I presume the boat is sold. In any event, I'll be searching for boats here and on Craig's List. Thanks again, Dan
While I'm still not any closer to deciding what boat to buy, I have a better idea of what I'm looking for. Pretty sure it will be a small cruiser with a porta-potti! Someone has suggested an O'Day 22. I'd like to get a look at one and see how the 'stub' keel impacts launching the boat at smaller boat ramps. If anyone has experience with I'd like to hear it. Unfortunately, the Mariner link provided by 'Grateful Dad' is no longer active...so I presume the boat is sold. In any event, I'll be searching for boats here and on Craig's List. Thanks again, Dan
Day Sailer
The Catalina 22 is my idea of the perfect daysailer/family cruiser. Small cuddy cabin, easy to single hand, easy to rig and launch, relatively inexpensive. Over 15,000 of these boats were built a wide range of years are available. Catalina is again producing two updated versions of this boat because of its popularity. Check out the C22 National Association webpage at: http://www.catalina22.org/ Also the sailors.com C22 forum is a wealth of info on this classic boat.
The Catalina 22 is my idea of the perfect daysailer/family cruiser. Small cuddy cabin, easy to single hand, easy to rig and launch, relatively inexpensive. Over 15,000 of these boats were built a wide range of years are available. Catalina is again producing two updated versions of this boat because of its popularity. Check out the C22 National Association webpage at: http://www.catalina22.org/ Also the sailors.com C22 forum is a wealth of info on this classic boat.
O'Day Mariner
I think that an O'Day Mariner would be a good choice for a trailable sailboat. They have the same hull as the Rhodes 19 which makes them a pretty fast boat, and it has a little cuddy cabin to get in out of a passing shower. I'm not sure if the cutty can accomodate a head, but that would be a big deciding factor for me, if I was looking for a small trailerable boat. You need a boat that is easy to get on and off a trailer, and one that will allow you to get the mast up and down with ease. I'm afraid that if you get anything larger than that, you'll need a truck to pull it. I trailered my O'Day 222 for 8 years and although it was a great boat, it took a lot of work to get it ready to launch. I still have this boat today, but now it stays in the water. The best time to buy a boat is anytime you can find one that you like. Just take your time and ask a lot of questions. Smooth Sailing
I think that an O'Day Mariner would be a good choice for a trailable sailboat. They have the same hull as the Rhodes 19 which makes them a pretty fast boat, and it has a little cuddy cabin to get in out of a passing shower. I'm not sure if the cutty can accomodate a head, but that would be a big deciding factor for me, if I was looking for a small trailerable boat. You need a boat that is easy to get on and off a trailer, and one that will allow you to get the mast up and down with ease. I'm afraid that if you get anything larger than that, you'll need a truck to pull it. I trailered my O'Day 222 for 8 years and although it was a great boat, it took a lot of work to get it ready to launch. I still have this boat today, but now it stays in the water. The best time to buy a boat is anytime you can find one that you like. Just take your time and ask a lot of questions. Smooth Sailing
V-6 3.3L Dodge Minivan pulling Mariner or 22?
I have spent most of my time focusing on the boat. Joe raises a good point about the tow vehicle, I'm driving a '97 Dodge Grand Caravan with 3.3L v-6. I would think that would be sufficient to pull with a Mariner or 22.
I have spent most of my time focusing on the boat. Joe raises a good point about the tow vehicle, I'm driving a '97 Dodge Grand Caravan with 3.3L v-6. I would think that would be sufficient to pull with a Mariner or 22.
Boat towing
Your boat choices are very good and your vehicle will do fine with the Mariner or Daysailer. Ask the folks on the Catalina website about the 22'; I think you may be fine, as well. One BIG consideration... your van is probably front wheel drive. When the ramp is wet (usually) and steep (sometimes) and you have a fair amount of weight in the back of the vehicle (boat and trailer), the front wheels can "unload" and you'll spend the afternoon trying to get up the ramp, spinning your tires. I have assisted quite a few front wheel drivers over the years, with my 4WD Jeep, that found themselves in this situation. It can be both frustrating and embarrassing, not to mention "The Admiral" may take a dim view of your motoring abilities in front of a crowd. However, the gas money you save while sailing can be put into a new (pick a vehicle) gas guzzler 4WD!! Good luck!
Your boat choices are very good and your vehicle will do fine with the Mariner or Daysailer. Ask the folks on the Catalina website about the 22'; I think you may be fine, as well. One BIG consideration... your van is probably front wheel drive. When the ramp is wet (usually) and steep (sometimes) and you have a fair amount of weight in the back of the vehicle (boat and trailer), the front wheels can "unload" and you'll spend the afternoon trying to get up the ramp, spinning your tires. I have assisted quite a few front wheel drivers over the years, with my 4WD Jeep, that found themselves in this situation. It can be both frustrating and embarrassing, not to mention "The Admiral" may take a dim view of your motoring abilities in front of a crowd. However, the gas money you save while sailing can be put into a new (pick a vehicle) gas guzzler 4WD!! Good luck!
OhTooToo
There is a reason the O'Day 22 has a stub keel - so that it will be easier to launch. Once it is in the water, the short keel makes the boat a dog going upwind, unless you have one of the later ones that has a centerboard too. They are pretty nice boats and might be what you want/need. But run, don't walk away from one of the early non-centerboard boats. Otherwise you will spend the afternoon watching all the others pass you going upwind.
There is a reason the O'Day 22 has a stub keel - so that it will be easier to launch. Once it is in the water, the short keel makes the boat a dog going upwind, unless you have one of the later ones that has a centerboard too. They are pretty nice boats and might be what you want/need. But run, don't walk away from one of the early non-centerboard boats. Otherwise you will spend the afternoon watching all the others pass you going upwind.
Catalina 22 or Flying Scot
The C22 may actually be less expensive and the cabin is nice but IMHO the Scot has no equal among open daysailers. It is easy to sail, forgiving, light, draws less than a foot with the centerboard up, seats six adults and all their gear comfortably and has good performance potential. People have already posted links for the Css, so here are a couple of links for more information about the Flying Scot: http://www.flyingscot.com/ http://www.fssa.com/ Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
The C22 may actually be less expensive and the cabin is nice but IMHO the Scot has no equal among open daysailers. It is easy to sail, forgiving, light, draws less than a foot with the centerboard up, seats six adults and all their gear comfortably and has good performance potential. People have already posted links for the Css, so here are a couple of links for more information about the Flying Scot: http://www.flyingscot.com/ http://www.fssa.com/ Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
oday 22 shoal keel
Oday 22's with shoal keels are nice boats with good sails and proper rig tuning can be pretty quick. they just don't point into the wind very close. but downwind sailing is good and can hold it own against some larger boats. The ballast is 800# of encased lead not a rusty cast swing keel thats impossible to get to while on a trailer and only held on by a 1" pin and 1/8 wire rope. They are about 300lbs lighter than a catalina 22 but heavier than Macs of this size. The body lines are also rounded not square and boxy like a catalina. Also theres a full bulkhead wall that separates the v berth and head from the rest of the cabin for privacy not found on many boats this size most have wide open cabins with porta potties under the v berth "could you wake up and go out in the cockpit so I could use the head". Remember these are trailer sailers they are meant to go fast behind a tow vehicle. if you want something fast in the water buy a fixed keel boat with a racing hull that stays in the water. Boats like a freedom 21,tanzer 22, or a capri 22 will get you there quick.
Oday 22's with shoal keels are nice boats with good sails and proper rig tuning can be pretty quick. they just don't point into the wind very close. but downwind sailing is good and can hold it own against some larger boats. The ballast is 800# of encased lead not a rusty cast swing keel thats impossible to get to while on a trailer and only held on by a 1" pin and 1/8 wire rope. They are about 300lbs lighter than a catalina 22 but heavier than Macs of this size. The body lines are also rounded not square and boxy like a catalina. Also theres a full bulkhead wall that separates the v berth and head from the rest of the cabin for privacy not found on many boats this size most have wide open cabins with porta potties under the v berth "could you wake up and go out in the cockpit so I could use the head". Remember these are trailer sailers they are meant to go fast behind a tow vehicle. if you want something fast in the water buy a fixed keel boat with a racing hull that stays in the water. Boats like a freedom 21,tanzer 22, or a capri 22 will get you there quick.
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