New member--where to start?

[Jughead135]

This site seems like a great resource, so I just registered. I'm not yet a sailboat owner, I'm seeking to avoid as many mistakes as possible while I rectify that!

Is there a section of this site more appropriate for me to ask newbie questions?


I've owned powerboats (runabouts, up to my current 27' bowrider) for years, but never a sailboat. I have experience bareboat chartering up to about 45' monohulls. We're at Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri--it's now time!! Looking for a small keelboat, probably 28' would be the outer limits (and lower 20s more like it). Trailerable a plus--not because I'll be hauling it anywhere, but to make it easy to haul/launch without a full-service marina. (Will seldom do so, but having the capability will be nice.)

I've got my eye on an O'Day 240; I'm going to see it in a few days. I have no idea what I don't know on the subject, but I'm sure it's legion. Any pointers on where I can ask a lot of (probably stupid) questions will be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Welcome to the site. Likely the best place to reach the most people of all skill levels is under "Ask all Sailors". You will get the best response by asking only one or two questions at a time otherwise it's too onerous to reply to a list of ten or more questions.

 

[dlochner]

What @Ralph Johnstone said.

The quality of your question will have a direct bearing on the usefulness of the answers you receive. A question like "My engine won't start. What's wrong with it?" Will unleash a torrent of well meaning answers that will be filled lots of "Well, if does xxxx, then maybe its this yyyy." Which in the end will be confusing and not lead to a solution. So well formed questions will yield useful and well formed answers.

Good photos are often a real plus. New boat shoppers often ask questions like "there are cracks in the gelcoat. Should I be concerned?" Without photos of the cracks showing both the cracks close up and where they are on the boat, the best you'll get is "Maybe, depends." Probably not the answer you wanted.

So, welcome ask away, there are no dumb questions, just poorly constructed questions.

 

[kappykaplan]

Likely the best place to reach the most people of all skill levels is under "Ask all Sailors".