new on the water... We are looking into a 1995 Hunter Pac 23 for our family. We have NO SAILING EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!! Just wanting to jump in and learn. So, the boat we are looking at has no rear deck railings to add seats to. i cannot find them anywhere on line either. Any suggestions? thanks -kathleen ps-sorry for poor terminology/sailing jargon, will get better w/ time, like a fine wine!!!
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Step back and consider the options
Wow, what enthusiam for the sport of sailing. Now let's think about what you're considering. If you have NO sailing experience, IMHO you need to get some. What do I mean? Is there an opportunity for you to take sailing lessons, go out with other sailors to see what it's about, or are there nearby charter services where you can get a better understanding of different types of sailboats. Attempting to buy a very used (13 year old) boat without any experience seems to be asking for trouble; the boat will need TLC in the form of routine and upgrade maintenance, replacement fixtures/equipment, and like you mentioned stern rails. I've been sailing most of my life and chartered for over 5 years before buying my first boat. Even then, I knew little of what I was really getting into. I've since upgraded to a Hunter 386 and consider my learning curve over the years erratic at best. Do yourself a favor and take a long breath. Get involved with sailing, but hold on to the temptation to buy without any solid footing to guide your decisions. Again, just my opinions.
Wow, what enthusiam for the sport of sailing. Now let's think about what you're considering. If you have NO sailing experience, IMHO you need to get some. What do I mean? Is there an opportunity for you to take sailing lessons, go out with other sailors to see what it's about, or are there nearby charter services where you can get a better understanding of different types of sailboats. Attempting to buy a very used (13 year old) boat without any experience seems to be asking for trouble; the boat will need TLC in the form of routine and upgrade maintenance, replacement fixtures/equipment, and like you mentioned stern rails. I've been sailing most of my life and chartered for over 5 years before buying my first boat. Even then, I knew little of what I was really getting into. I've since upgraded to a Hunter 386 and consider my learning curve over the years erratic at best. Do yourself a favor and take a long breath. Get involved with sailing, but hold on to the temptation to buy without any solid footing to guide your decisions. Again, just my opinions.
stern rails and seats
Not sure this boat was designed to accept them. If not, the transom may not be sufficiently strong enough to withstand the stresses imposed by leaning on rails and especially the stress from sitting on rail mounted seats. In other words, the glass may not be strong (i.e., thick) enough to support them. Also, I'm thinking they wouldn't be a good idea regardless of the above solely based on the size of the boat and need to keep weight distribution centered. While sailing, you'd want the keep the weight in the cockpit, not at the stern.
Not sure this boat was designed to accept them. If not, the transom may not be sufficiently strong enough to withstand the stresses imposed by leaning on rails and especially the stress from sitting on rail mounted seats. In other words, the glass may not be strong (i.e., thick) enough to support them. Also, I'm thinking they wouldn't be a good idea regardless of the above solely based on the size of the boat and need to keep weight distribution centered. While sailing, you'd want the keep the weight in the cockpit, not at the stern.
Thank you
Thank you so much for your response, we have arranged to take sailing classes via a sailing club on a lake north of our home! Totally agree w/ educating, yet, I have a husband who is ready to purchase. I am on board b/c the boat he found already has all the equipment I wanted for pleasure cruising, and is reasonably priced (via our research). The sailing community is pretty close knit down here in the south w/ the lack of many bodies of water to sail upon. Although there is great sailing in the sound near pensacola... We have a seasoned sailor we are taking along to help with details we don't know about, I am sure this shall be a humorous event considering our lack of knowlegde. we will make sure not to damage the boat as we attempt this family venture! LOL
Thank you so much for your response, we have arranged to take sailing classes via a sailing club on a lake north of our home! Totally agree w/ educating, yet, I have a husband who is ready to purchase. I am on board b/c the boat he found already has all the equipment I wanted for pleasure cruising, and is reasonably priced (via our research). The sailing community is pretty close knit down here in the south w/ the lack of many bodies of water to sail upon. Although there is great sailing in the sound near pensacola... We have a seasoned sailor we are taking along to help with details we don't know about, I am sure this shall be a humorous event considering our lack of knowlegde. we will make sure not to damage the boat as we attempt this family venture! LOL
lack of any knowledge so evident from me!
It is around the cockpit we wanted them, since have found a boat that already has them in place along w/ the other options one would like, but not pay for in addition to purchase of the boat.... thank you!
It is around the cockpit we wanted them, since have found a boat that already has them in place along w/ the other options one would like, but not pay for in addition to purchase of the boat.... thank you!
New Sailors Great, welcome aboard...
Love your attitude. Mine is a Mac 21 and we have now cockpit railings. Cockpit if fairly deep and easy to stay in. Please make sure everyone has life vest and wears then ALL THE TIME except when tied to the dock. Birmingham means your sailing if fresh water lakes and rivers, go for it. It is great fun. Buy a book calle "Royce Sailing Illustrated" and you will have more than enough answeres to your questions. A few lessons will make your learning curve easier to deal with. Good luck. By the way, we have two hard and fast rules on our boat, no yelling at anybody and don't hit anything. Be calm and have fun...
Love your attitude. Mine is a Mac 21 and we have now cockpit railings. Cockpit if fairly deep and easy to stay in. Please make sure everyone has life vest and wears then ALL THE TIME except when tied to the dock. Birmingham means your sailing if fresh water lakes and rivers, go for it. It is great fun. Buy a book calle "Royce Sailing Illustrated" and you will have more than enough answeres to your questions. A few lessons will make your learning curve easier to deal with. Good luck. By the way, we have two hard and fast rules on our boat, no yelling at anybody and don't hit anything. Be calm and have fun...
Here is a good book.....
The Complete Sailor: Learning the Art of Sailing (Paperback) by David Seidman I recommend this book whole heatedly as a fantastic primer. Buy the boat and go have fun with your family. You will get a lot of advice to start with a dingy, take years of lessons, charter for several more years but the reality is that your family won't be happy with a dingy and you need to make mistakes to learn. I started sailing 15 years ago on a catalina 22 that I bought for $1500. I made plenty of mistakes, read, learned, sailed the crap out of that boat and sold it five years later for $2500. Make sure to have all the safety stuff down and have fun Tim
The Complete Sailor: Learning the Art of Sailing (Paperback) by David Seidman I recommend this book whole heatedly as a fantastic primer. Buy the boat and go have fun with your family. You will get a lot of advice to start with a dingy, take years of lessons, charter for several more years but the reality is that your family won't be happy with a dingy and you need to make mistakes to learn. I started sailing 15 years ago on a catalina 22 that I bought for $1500. I made plenty of mistakes, read, learned, sailed the crap out of that boat and sold it five years later for $2500. Make sure to have all the safety stuff down and have fun Tim
thanks brian and tim!
thank you for the encouragement. we leave tonight to head to NC to pick up the boat. we have three little girls, and buying a boat and jumping in is just how we have to do things, or you turn around and they are grown up!!! smaller boats would not fit all of us, so, here we go.... Will take all advice on safety and great books to read. we have a rule about lifejackets near lakes and streams set already, even on the pier! i will tell my husband about the no yelling and hitting rule!!! i think the first few times we will go w/ out the kids, and get a lesson under our belt. As you can tell, i have no problem meeting folks and asking advice, so It is good to hear from folks who are so forthcoming with kind words and tips for us. the boat is a 23.5 Hunter w/ an outboard motor. Has the rails, even really cute rail seats, nice cockpit cushions, clean interior (give me a little slack, i am a woman). Bottom of boats seams in good condition along w/ sails, ropes, etc.....it isn't like we know what to do w/ all that stuff yet anyway! if something breaks, we will learn how to fix it pretty fast. also planning on taking a small engine repair book, just in case!!!! oh yeah, and my large bottle of vino...kathleen
thank you for the encouragement. we leave tonight to head to NC to pick up the boat. we have three little girls, and buying a boat and jumping in is just how we have to do things, or you turn around and they are grown up!!! smaller boats would not fit all of us, so, here we go.... Will take all advice on safety and great books to read. we have a rule about lifejackets near lakes and streams set already, even on the pier! i will tell my husband about the no yelling and hitting rule!!! i think the first few times we will go w/ out the kids, and get a lesson under our belt. As you can tell, i have no problem meeting folks and asking advice, so It is good to hear from folks who are so forthcoming with kind words and tips for us. the boat is a 23.5 Hunter w/ an outboard motor. Has the rails, even really cute rail seats, nice cockpit cushions, clean interior (give me a little slack, i am a woman). Bottom of boats seams in good condition along w/ sails, ropes, etc.....it isn't like we know what to do w/ all that stuff yet anyway! if something breaks, we will learn how to fix it pretty fast. also planning on taking a small engine repair book, just in case!!!! oh yeah, and my large bottle of vino...kathleen
Things to make life easy...
I've had a 23.5 since 1999. Our first boat. I think you will really enjoy it. To make it more enjoyable there are a few things I would recommend: 1. Roller Furling jib. 2. PX powercleats for jib sheets 3. Rope clutches for halyards With 3 young girls you might want a tiller tamer for those times you will be effectively single handed (we have 2 lil girls aboard). I used the "cajun" version for a couple years and recently put a real one on... big difference!
I've had a 23.5 since 1999. Our first boat. I think you will really enjoy it. To make it more enjoyable there are a few things I would recommend: 1. Roller Furling jib. 2. PX powercleats for jib sheets 3. Rope clutches for halyards With 3 young girls you might want a tiller tamer for those times you will be effectively single handed (we have 2 lil girls aboard). I used the "cajun" version for a couple years and recently put a real one on... big difference!
Another good book
Welcome to sailing. A sport where you will never stop learning. I found Jerry Cardwell's "Sailing Big on a Small Sailboat" a good source for tips on fitting out a small boat and will give you the basics. Take some classes, practice safety and get out there. Fairwinds and never forget your camera.
Welcome to sailing. A sport where you will never stop learning. I found Jerry Cardwell's "Sailing Big on a Small Sailboat" a good source for tips on fitting out a small boat and will give you the basics. Take some classes, practice safety and get out there. Fairwinds and never forget your camera.
boat launching
No, we were out at lake mitchell! Not a sailing lake, but we had a blast! got some good wind and was a great time for the first time. We are planning on trying out Guntersville and Martin soon, as well as the bay in Navarre this summer!
No, we were out at lake mitchell! Not a sailing lake, but we had a blast! got some good wind and was a great time for the first time. We are planning on trying out Guntersville and Martin soon, as well as the bay in Navarre this summer!
Safety netting
With those cute little girls of yours, I'd look into the safety netting that you can run from the cockpit to the bow pulpit and back. It will give you more peace of mind when the kids go forward even in light wind days. I put it on for my grandkids. It was strong enough to keep my 220# son from sliding through the life lines one day last year when we were racing and he lost his footing.
With those cute little girls of yours, I'd look into the safety netting that you can run from the cockpit to the bow pulpit and back. It will give you more peace of mind when the kids go forward even in light wind days. I put it on for my grandkids. It was strong enough to keep my 220# son from sliding through the life lines one day last year when we were racing and he lost his footing.
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