HI All, I'm just thinking about learning to sail and then having done that getting a boat to sail on. My first thought is to get a small boat to get the techiques down ant then to slide up to a more adventurous sized boat. Is it worth the money to get say a used Sunfish, play around on it in the bay for a few month and then move up to a larger one. I looked at a 26 ft Hunter the other day and really felt comfortable in it. I think that sometimes being out alone wout be nice and then there would be those other times when a few friends would be to have along. I'd appreciate your thoughts. Jack
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Craig Coffman
learning to sail
My personal opinion is that it is easier to learn to sail on a small boat. The time between action & reaction is quick & so a new sailer learns quickly. Plus, if he lays it on it side, it's relativley a small issue vs a bigger boat. Small boats also move easier in light airs & this is the type of weather you might be inclined to pick for a "learn to sail" day. (Steady wind is probably "better", but that's from someone who already sails). All that being said, there is a lot to say for learning to sail on THE boat or a boat similiar to the type you will spend your time on. A lot of the mid-sized boats are pretty forgiving & easy to learn on. Plus, you don't have to get wet like you do with a Sunfish. What about finding someone with a Sunfish or larger daysailer to sail with vs. buying one? Then you can save your money for the boat you want. -- Craig Coffman
My personal opinion is that it is easier to learn to sail on a small boat. The time between action & reaction is quick & so a new sailer learns quickly. Plus, if he lays it on it side, it's relativley a small issue vs a bigger boat. Small boats also move easier in light airs & this is the type of weather you might be inclined to pick for a "learn to sail" day. (Steady wind is probably "better", but that's from someone who already sails). All that being said, there is a lot to say for learning to sail on THE boat or a boat similiar to the type you will spend your time on. A lot of the mid-sized boats are pretty forgiving & easy to learn on. Plus, you don't have to get wet like you do with a Sunfish. What about finding someone with a Sunfish or larger daysailer to sail with vs. buying one? Then you can save your money for the boat you want. -- Craig Coffman
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Sam Lust
Sunfish
Buy the Sunfish, sail it, beat it and yourself up learning. You'll have a great time and you'll know sailing from the bottom up. I started on boats of that sort many years ago and the feel never leaves you. And keep the sunfish. You'll enjoy it forever.
Buy the Sunfish, sail it, beat it and yourself up learning. You'll have a great time and you'll know sailing from the bottom up. I started on boats of that sort many years ago and the feel never leaves you. And keep the sunfish. You'll enjoy it forever.
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Rich
I agree, start small...
I agree with the previous two posters. I learned on a 12 footer. This gave me ample opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them. Then you can "fleet up" to bigger, which will be a snap to sail.
I agree with the previous two posters. I learned on a 12 footer. This gave me ample opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them. Then you can "fleet up" to bigger, which will be a snap to sail.
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Jim
Ditto the Sunfish
Nothing like learning on a small boat. Gives you a real "feel" for the water. It's wet. Wind shifts- puffs etc are much easier to feel on a small boat. Also agree that you should keep the Sunfish. Great fun! Enjoy!
Nothing like learning on a small boat. Gives you a real "feel" for the water. It's wet. Wind shifts- puffs etc are much easier to feel on a small boat. Also agree that you should keep the Sunfish. Great fun! Enjoy!
Start with something that is dry.
Jack: I disagree with starting with a sunfish. Start with a boat that has ballast and you can sail without having to worry about keeping it upright. You may learn the feel of these small boats, but they do not have the rigging and the other things that you will eventually need to learn about. A boat in the 23-26 range is a good starter, but you need to consider how long you are going to be happy with that size too. An excellent boat that is easy to rig and is not very expensive is a Hunter 30 in the 1975-1983 range. These boats can be picked up for $12-20K. They sail easy and are easy to maintain. They have enough room and ammenities for overnighting. They are extremly stable too. I personally started with a H'25 of these same era and loved it. The problem was that I immediately got BBF (big boat fever). Wanted a boat that I could stand up inside to put my pants on. There is very little difference IMHO between sailing a 30' and a 25', but you will be happier with the larger boat for a lot longer. The down side of the larger boat is that everything cost more. So you need to figure out what you are going to do with the boat and how you plan on using it.
Jack: I disagree with starting with a sunfish. Start with a boat that has ballast and you can sail without having to worry about keeping it upright. You may learn the feel of these small boats, but they do not have the rigging and the other things that you will eventually need to learn about. A boat in the 23-26 range is a good starter, but you need to consider how long you are going to be happy with that size too. An excellent boat that is easy to rig and is not very expensive is a Hunter 30 in the 1975-1983 range. These boats can be picked up for $12-20K. They sail easy and are easy to maintain. They have enough room and ammenities for overnighting. They are extremly stable too. I personally started with a H'25 of these same era and loved it. The problem was that I immediately got BBF (big boat fever). Wanted a boat that I could stand up inside to put my pants on. There is very little difference IMHO between sailing a 30' and a 25', but you will be happier with the larger boat for a lot longer. The down side of the larger boat is that everything cost more. So you need to figure out what you are going to do with the boat and how you plan on using it.
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Phil Teter
You may not like it
Get in cheep, it could be you want like sailing. I started with a used Snipe. 16 foot LOA with main and jib so I learned how to work with two sails from the start. I have been sailing a Hunter 20 for the last 14 years. Most of my sailing is single handed and I wouldn't want to single sail a much larger boat. I would like to have a Hunter 212.
Get in cheep, it could be you want like sailing. I started with a used Snipe. 16 foot LOA with main and jib so I learned how to work with two sails from the start. I have been sailing a Hunter 20 for the last 14 years. Most of my sailing is single handed and I wouldn't want to single sail a much larger boat. I would like to have a Hunter 212.
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TOMMY MCNAMARA
Popeye the sailor
My thoughts on the idea will flip ya. I am 70 and was a Power boater for 30 yrs and I always admired people who could sail.I was aware of the rules of the sea,which is important and very limited with time. Traded in my 38ft Trawler on a brand new 450 in 99,and took lessons. I think the only thing I learned was to face the wind when raising and lowering the sails and watch out for the boom. I must admit I powered it and made a few marks trying to back it in so I bow in, but I am looking foward to spring to try what I think will solve backing in.I live aboard and had to get fuel the other day for heat and found out that if I just bump it a little at a time in reverse instead of putting it into gear,the boat gets motion before the prop takes over to portside,Anyhooo Buying a boat with self furling,auto pilot, power winch I can sail tis thing alone[I hope]. I can go on all day,but what I am getting at,is all of the lines and gadjets on a big boat scared me more than sailing it, and you dont have these on a blowfish. If I were to do it again,up in heavan or hell. I would ask various sailors with various size boats to let me crew them and make up my mind,I find that sailors are great people and love to show you and show off their boats anytime,I would and lets give a hand to all you guys. I guess a lot depends on your wallet,age and what you wish to do. I got to get me a sailing dinghy this year. MCBUBBA720@AOL.COM
My thoughts on the idea will flip ya. I am 70 and was a Power boater for 30 yrs and I always admired people who could sail.I was aware of the rules of the sea,which is important and very limited with time. Traded in my 38ft Trawler on a brand new 450 in 99,and took lessons. I think the only thing I learned was to face the wind when raising and lowering the sails and watch out for the boom. I must admit I powered it and made a few marks trying to back it in so I bow in, but I am looking foward to spring to try what I think will solve backing in.I live aboard and had to get fuel the other day for heat and found out that if I just bump it a little at a time in reverse instead of putting it into gear,the boat gets motion before the prop takes over to portside,Anyhooo Buying a boat with self furling,auto pilot, power winch I can sail tis thing alone[I hope]. I can go on all day,but what I am getting at,is all of the lines and gadjets on a big boat scared me more than sailing it, and you dont have these on a blowfish. If I were to do it again,up in heavan or hell. I would ask various sailors with various size boats to let me crew them and make up my mind,I find that sailors are great people and love to show you and show off their boats anytime,I would and lets give a hand to all you guys. I guess a lot depends on your wallet,age and what you wish to do. I got to get me a sailing dinghy this year. MCBUBBA720@AOL.COM
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Mulf
Ditto the sunfish and ditto keeping it...
I bought my first Sunfish in 72 and sold it in 78 for a 16' day sailer and then for a 22' O'Day. Didn't get another Sunfish until my boy's were interested in sailing and sailiing the 22 with dad along wasn't their idea of fun. I found myself taking the Sunfish out on the Barnegat bay when the wind was blowing too hard to be sailing the O'Day. Nothing like planing a Sunfish in 15 knots wind!
I bought my first Sunfish in 72 and sold it in 78 for a 16' day sailer and then for a 22' O'Day. Didn't get another Sunfish until my boy's were interested in sailing and sailiing the 22 with dad along wasn't their idea of fun. I found myself taking the Sunfish out on the Barnegat bay when the wind was blowing too hard to be sailing the O'Day. Nothing like planing a Sunfish in 15 knots wind!
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Bruce Hill
Find a sailing club
Having always been boaters, my wife and I decided to take sailing lessons. Loved it, and we learned how to sail on our new 38 footer, now own a Passage 42. I think we did the right thing. If you learn on a Sunfish, you will get to know "how to sail from the ground up"...true, and good skills. If you learn on a bigger boat, you will learn how to sail AND how to cruise. You will have to deal with the mechanics of a cruising boat, as well as the logisitcs of cruising, i.e. navigation, provisioning, passagemaking. That's why we sail, a weekend on the water, a sense of accomplishment when you arrive home. So, I would join a sailing club, and learn how to sail on their boats, and rent their boats for a season. Since you are in Sarasota, you can charter a bigger boat to try it. Then, decide what to buy. Either way, take the time to become a sailor, it is time well spent.
Having always been boaters, my wife and I decided to take sailing lessons. Loved it, and we learned how to sail on our new 38 footer, now own a Passage 42. I think we did the right thing. If you learn on a Sunfish, you will get to know "how to sail from the ground up"...true, and good skills. If you learn on a bigger boat, you will learn how to sail AND how to cruise. You will have to deal with the mechanics of a cruising boat, as well as the logisitcs of cruising, i.e. navigation, provisioning, passagemaking. That's why we sail, a weekend on the water, a sense of accomplishment when you arrive home. So, I would join a sailing club, and learn how to sail on their boats, and rent their boats for a season. Since you are in Sarasota, you can charter a bigger boat to try it. Then, decide what to buy. Either way, take the time to become a sailor, it is time well spent.
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Ray Bowles
Where do you want to be next year?
Jack, My wife and I have never sailed before. We read everything we could find about sailing for 6 months from the local library and in the monthly sailing mags. Then after a very extensive 6 months study of all sailboats that would fit our sailing needs did we decide which one to buy. (used boat) We chose to buy a boat that we could use after we learned to sail rather than to buy a starter boat and then upgrade later. In the process of this search we found many fellow sailers (of much higher skill) that basically insisted we go sailing with them and they with us that took us thru this transition period. We now feel secure enough to venture out on our own, within reason, as we build our skills. The boat we bought is a 1995 Hunter 26'. Go for it! Ray
Jack, My wife and I have never sailed before. We read everything we could find about sailing for 6 months from the local library and in the monthly sailing mags. Then after a very extensive 6 months study of all sailboats that would fit our sailing needs did we decide which one to buy. (used boat) We chose to buy a boat that we could use after we learned to sail rather than to buy a starter boat and then upgrade later. In the process of this search we found many fellow sailers (of much higher skill) that basically insisted we go sailing with them and they with us that took us thru this transition period. We now feel secure enough to venture out on our own, within reason, as we build our skills. The boat we bought is a 1995 Hunter 26'. Go for it! Ray
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