I am searching for a sailboat for myself and grandaughter. Neither of us have sailed before but I am willing to take class for keelboat cert. I have been focusing on a Macgregor 25 for convenience (trailerable), stable and good learner and could spend an overnight or two. I know there are other alternative swing-keel boats which could fit the bill but I'm not knowlegable enough about them. Does anybody have any suggestions? Since I'm in Colorado (and that's where we would sail) there are not a lot of Macgregors available and I'd like some options. My budget is in the $5000 range! Also any other pointers would be greatly appreciated.
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Try Catalina's and Hunters
It really depends what's available in your area or driving range,but catalina's and hunters,macgregers are all pretty good for trailering,some will tell you one is better than the other,it really depends whats for sale in your area,just check to make sure what ever you get is in good safe condition to take out sailing.
It really depends what's available in your area or driving range,but catalina's and hunters,macgregers are all pretty good for trailering,some will tell you one is better than the other,it really depends whats for sale in your area,just check to make sure what ever you get is in good safe condition to take out sailing.
I was looking like you
I was looking like you and I really liked the Catalina 22. If fact that is what I would have purchased but a Hunter 25 came up that was to good a deal to pass up. The McGregor 25 is also a great boat as I have a friend with one and have sailed it often. Can't go wrong with the most popular three brands Catalina,Hunter or McGregor. Just my 2 cents worth.
I was looking like you and I really liked the Catalina 22. If fact that is what I would have purchased but a Hunter 25 came up that was to good a deal to pass up. The McGregor 25 is also a great boat as I have a friend with one and have sailed it often. Can't go wrong with the most popular three brands Catalina,Hunter or McGregor. Just my 2 cents worth.
Learn to sail first...
...before you even think about buying a sailboat; who knows, you might get seasick. There are sailing classes that the City of Boulder Parks Department provides on the Boulder Reservoir; it's really inexpensive. If you are going to be sailing mainly in Colorado, I would take sailing lessons there; mountain sailing is different due to the wind shifts through the gaps in the mountain passes. There is a sailboat broker in Lyons, Colorado that also gives sailing lessons. Since you haven't sailed before I would recommend starting with the basic Sunfish. It's been years since I lived in Colorado; I seem to remember that the mountain lake in Colorado didn't have any good places to anchor overnight. There were moorings you could rent on some of the lakes and reservoir. Owning a sailboat includes other costs besides what you paid for it. You have to include boat license, maintenance, trailer license plates, insurance, etc. $5,000 will get you either a newer daysailor or small old weekender sailboat. Fair Winds, Clyde Boulder City Parks http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5536&Itemid=2105 The Anchorage http://www.marina42.net/cgi-bin/p/m42p-home.cgi?d=the-anchorage
...before you even think about buying a sailboat; who knows, you might get seasick. There are sailing classes that the City of Boulder Parks Department provides on the Boulder Reservoir; it's really inexpensive. If you are going to be sailing mainly in Colorado, I would take sailing lessons there; mountain sailing is different due to the wind shifts through the gaps in the mountain passes. There is a sailboat broker in Lyons, Colorado that also gives sailing lessons. Since you haven't sailed before I would recommend starting with the basic Sunfish. It's been years since I lived in Colorado; I seem to remember that the mountain lake in Colorado didn't have any good places to anchor overnight. There were moorings you could rent on some of the lakes and reservoir. Owning a sailboat includes other costs besides what you paid for it. You have to include boat license, maintenance, trailer license plates, insurance, etc. $5,000 will get you either a newer daysailor or small old weekender sailboat. Fair Winds, Clyde Boulder City Parks http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5536&Itemid=2105 The Anchorage http://www.marina42.net/cgi-bin/p/m42p-home.cgi?d=the-anchorage
Trailerable
With your budget I'd look at the Catalina 22. There are about 15,000 made since 1969 so lots to choose from. Check out yachtworld.com and lurk on the trailer sailor forum at http://www.trailersailor.com/. There is a national association where you can get sailing and maintenance tips. Go to: http://www.catalina22.org/ http://www.catalina22.org/nsa/PDFFiles/Why-I-Belong.PDF There are lots of good boats out there; however, I always think about selling before buying. You will eventually be in the position of trying to unload your boat someday so think ahead. You'll want a boat that has a good reputation and is well known. You might also want to look at this link before deciding on a trailerable. http://kobernus.com/hunter260/index.html
With your budget I'd look at the Catalina 22. There are about 15,000 made since 1969 so lots to choose from. Check out yachtworld.com and lurk on the trailer sailor forum at http://www.trailersailor.com/. There is a national association where you can get sailing and maintenance tips. Go to: http://www.catalina22.org/ http://www.catalina22.org/nsa/PDFFiles/Why-I-Belong.PDF There are lots of good boats out there; however, I always think about selling before buying. You will eventually be in the position of trying to unload your boat someday so think ahead. You'll want a boat that has a good reputation and is well known. You might also want to look at this link before deciding on a trailerable. http://kobernus.com/hunter260/index.html
Catboats
I have a Com-Pac Picnic Cat daysailor, and it is a great easy to launch-and-retrieve, easy to trailer, stable, easy to sail small craft. No cabin, so huge cockpit. Com-Pac, Marshal,and others make somewhat larger catboats with small cabins, also easy to sail and trailer, but difficult to find within your budget. For $5K, and if you are 'mooring in the driveweay',and don't plan to overnight, I think you will be looking at older boats. The Catalnia 22 is a great boat, but not the easiest to launch and rig etc. I also agree that taking classes, renting for the day etc to get the feel of, and some skill at, sailing before investing in a boat would be the best way to go. I hope you get out on the water! There is nothing like it! Roger Katty Bay PC #123 Cape Cod
I have a Com-Pac Picnic Cat daysailor, and it is a great easy to launch-and-retrieve, easy to trailer, stable, easy to sail small craft. No cabin, so huge cockpit. Com-Pac, Marshal,and others make somewhat larger catboats with small cabins, also easy to sail and trailer, but difficult to find within your budget. For $5K, and if you are 'mooring in the driveweay',and don't plan to overnight, I think you will be looking at older boats. The Catalnia 22 is a great boat, but not the easiest to launch and rig etc. I also agree that taking classes, renting for the day etc to get the feel of, and some skill at, sailing before investing in a boat would be the best way to go. I hope you get out on the water! There is nothing like it! Roger Katty Bay PC #123 Cape Cod
Cal 21
I have a 21' 1973 Cal and have been very happy with it. I just fell into the deal, although I was looking. $2200 for it, with trailer, motor, and ready to sail. At that price I knew that, although the boat was in good condition, I could put money into it-and I have! Leave money aside for after-purchase expenses. Mine came with 6 kids life-jackets. Four good adult jackets times $90 is $360 on to your cost, and it's not like they're optional. Pick-up Don Casey's Complete Guide to sailboat Maintenance. $60 at west marine, cheaper on line. You'll want it later for maint., but has a good, lengthy section on "surveying" your boat. Between that and what's available in your area, you can bounce specific boats off the salts on this site for input. Believe me, they ain't shy about telling you what they really think! There are probably "better" boats than my Cal in the 21' range, but I don't know about them, and am really happy with what I have. If I become "educated" and decide that I just can't live with this POS I bought, I figure it'll be tough to not sell it for what I paid. Another words; if the price is right, buy it, and sail it. If you don't like it sell it.
I have a 21' 1973 Cal and have been very happy with it. I just fell into the deal, although I was looking. $2200 for it, with trailer, motor, and ready to sail. At that price I knew that, although the boat was in good condition, I could put money into it-and I have! Leave money aside for after-purchase expenses. Mine came with 6 kids life-jackets. Four good adult jackets times $90 is $360 on to your cost, and it's not like they're optional. Pick-up Don Casey's Complete Guide to sailboat Maintenance. $60 at west marine, cheaper on line. You'll want it later for maint., but has a good, lengthy section on "surveying" your boat. Between that and what's available in your area, you can bounce specific boats off the salts on this site for input. Believe me, they ain't shy about telling you what they really think! There are probably "better" boats than my Cal in the 21' range, but I don't know about them, and am really happy with what I have. If I become "educated" and decide that I just can't live with this POS I bought, I figure it'll be tough to not sell it for what I paid. Another words; if the price is right, buy it, and sail it. If you don't like it sell it.
inexpensive
Buying your own sailboat is very inexpensive in the 18 to 25 foot trailerable range. $5,000.00 will buy something very nice and ready to sail if you do your home work. Use it for 2, 3, or 5 years and you will recover your $5,000 upon resale. Your only cost is maintenance and additional accessories as stated, you may not recover those cost. Hang out at a couple marinas on the weekends and talk to the sailors, they will gladly fill you in on their boats and may take you out. Establish how you want to sail; 18 to 21 foot for day trips, easy to rig and launch, 22 foot and the MacGregor 25 swing for overnighters and longer stays, 25 footers are too big for trailering every time.
Buying your own sailboat is very inexpensive in the 18 to 25 foot trailerable range. $5,000.00 will buy something very nice and ready to sail if you do your home work. Use it for 2, 3, or 5 years and you will recover your $5,000 upon resale. Your only cost is maintenance and additional accessories as stated, you may not recover those cost. Hang out at a couple marinas on the weekends and talk to the sailors, they will gladly fill you in on their boats and may take you out. Establish how you want to sail; 18 to 21 foot for day trips, easy to rig and launch, 22 foot and the MacGregor 25 swing for overnighters and longer stays, 25 footers are too big for trailering every time.
One other thing
to consider. Older boats no longer in production, and there are many, will present challenges when looking for replacement parts. Catalina and Hunter afford an easy source for replacement parts. If you intend to keep it for awhile be prepared to address the maintenance issues.
to consider. Older boats no longer in production, and there are many, will present challenges when looking for replacement parts. Catalina and Hunter afford an easy source for replacement parts. If you intend to keep it for awhile be prepared to address the maintenance issues.
Differences
There is a marked difference between a trailerable sailboat and a trailer-sailer. The former can be pulled out and towed home for the winter, then re-launched in the spring. But it is too large or heavy or difficult to rig to do that several weekends a month. The latter can be launched/recovered every weekend if you want, because the mast is easy to raise, the boat is easy to pull, and it will float off the trailer on about any ramp. Once you get above 21-23 ft most boats are more of a production to launch and set up than the average guy wants to do more than once or twice a year. If it's a hassle, you end up deciding not to go. So make sure that what you buy, if you intend to pull the boat out frequently, is more than just a boat with its own trailer.
There is a marked difference between a trailerable sailboat and a trailer-sailer. The former can be pulled out and towed home for the winter, then re-launched in the spring. But it is too large or heavy or difficult to rig to do that several weekends a month. The latter can be launched/recovered every weekend if you want, because the mast is easy to raise, the boat is easy to pull, and it will float off the trailer on about any ramp. Once you get above 21-23 ft most boats are more of a production to launch and set up than the average guy wants to do more than once or twice a year. If it's a hassle, you end up deciding not to go. So make sure that what you buy, if you intend to pull the boat out frequently, is more than just a boat with its own trailer.
Advice
There are certain advantages to learning on a more simple boat such as a centerboarder like a Flying Scot. (fssa.com) The Scot is a very successful fiberglass one design that is stable and is a great daysailor. Roomy cockpit and hard to capsize. It is also competatively raced all over the country. Used boats are in your price range and are very easily sold when you want to move up. Easily lauched and towed with a 4 cylinder vehicle such as a Subaru.
There are certain advantages to learning on a more simple boat such as a centerboarder like a Flying Scot. (fssa.com) The Scot is a very successful fiberglass one design that is stable and is a great daysailor. Roomy cockpit and hard to capsize. It is also competatively raced all over the country. Used boats are in your price range and are very easily sold when you want to move up. Easily lauched and towed with a 4 cylinder vehicle such as a Subaru.
First Boat
Start out with a "day sailor" 15'- 20' Learn on it for a year or two...it will be more fun and a heck of alot cheaper than starting with a 25' boat.
Start out with a "day sailor" 15'- 20' Learn on it for a year or two...it will be more fun and a heck of alot cheaper than starting with a 25' boat.
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