new to sailing

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trinybwoy

hey all. i am preety new to boating,actually i have never sailed before. i got a sail boat this weekend from my girl friend's aunt. it has been sitting in her back yard for about two years, so she gave it to me. im really excited about sailing but i have absolutely no clue of what to do, where to start.lol from what i can manage to determine , i beleive its a catalina 25, 1978 model, spent about 2days researching pix. it needs a sail , which i am having slight difficulty locating. my aunt says that they but a new motor on it and did alot of fiberglass work. there is also a trailer for it, but it is rusted out, so i am in the market for a used trailer. i am also looking into taking some boating classes in an effort to learn a thing or two and get my boating License. there are just a few questions i have for anyone that is eager to answer. i am 22years old still in college, so money isnt at the point where i want it to be..lol whats the "average "cost of ownership of a sail boat? like maintainance of it, insurance etc. whats a good price of a trailer? the boat is approx 27" . i was able to guestimate the cost of new sails to be $800+ based on some quotes . and finally is there anything else a new "sailer" should be aware of??? thank you all in advance for taking the time to read and reply!
 
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Cap'n Ron

Marine Swap meets!

They are all over the place check sailing rags. Also, used sails can be purchased from local sail lofts at a good price, or bulletin boards at the chandlery. A Catalina is a good solid boat,even the older 70's versions. Watch out for blisters, quite common and the "Catalina Smile". A good used set of sails for that boat, they do NOT have to come from a Catalina - could come from a lesser vessel, say a hunter, are fairly easy to come by and will work fine. This is how I came by all my sails as a sailing kid. Good Luck, sailing will teach you so much, and there will be many good decent folks to help you out too. Try a 'Power Boat Squadron' first, free class organised by the USCG check your local directory or ask in the chandlery (boat hardware store). Further, pick up a copy of "The Annapolis Book of Seamanship" by John Rossmainere. For rigging use "The Complete Riggers Apprentice by Brian Toss. These good sail books can be found on Amazon used especially for college kids....;-) Welcome aboard Mate!
 
Apr 19, 1999
1,670
Pearson Wanderer Titusville, Florida
Welcome aboard, Trinybwoy

Can't say I know exactly where Brigantine is, but hopefully you're near a West Marine or a large bookstore like Barnes & Noble or Borders. You can also try online at amazon.com. However you do it, treat yourself to a copy of Sailing for Dummies by JJ Isler and Peter Isler. It's simply written yet full of information for the new sailor. For under $20 you will be on your way to a lifetime of sailing enjoyment. Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
 
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trinybwoy

thank you

thank you very much for the replies i have been scouraging the web for books i can read online i came across this website http://learntosailonline.com/ classess u can take online. would you guys recommend this for a 1st time learner? i would definetly be paying barnes and nobles a visit tomorrow!
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,348
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
If you're on a budget, try your local

library. Many don't have anything about sailing, but some do. Before you spend any $$ on that online course, lurk around www.boatus.com, there's plenty to absorb there for free. Welcome aboard.
 
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Phil

trinybwoy

HI I am retire, started sailing two yrs ago,I never knew knowing nothing about sailing either, so good place to start you can go library and get some real good book and won't cost in a dime since you are in college. Try looking for sailing club in your area for summer, they will be glad to teach you as much as possible and you can get involve with club activity in sailing and learning from them at same time.The club I belong to you don't have to own a sailboat, and I enjoy outing every year. In meantime you can save money to take sailing lesson from ASA courses. I have taken lesson 101 103 104 and navagation classes, now all I need is a boat and more experience. Good luck and welcome aboard kid and enjoy freedom of the sea.
 
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trinybwoy

cleaned up the boat this weekend

hey guys, i have been dewing extensive reading in the last week,i pride myself in knowing quite a bit of the names of of the different parts of the boat, lol i spent the entire day cleaning up the vessel, it was under some trees for the last 4years, lol. so i power washed the entire thing, some of the paint came off. so i plan to repaint it. which comes to question #1 : i just want to repaint the top of it, what sort of paint do i use? the previous owner started to repaint it but stopped half way, so the boat is current two different shades of "greenish/blue" lol based on my readings and research, the boat has about everything needed for it to sail in terms of the mast, boom, ropes etc. i found two sails in the bow of the boat ,so that saves me quite a bit. i also found a bag full of life jackets and two new fire extinguishers . the inside of the boat is damn and has water at the bottom. i saw two new pumps, never used, so i guess i will eventually use them to pump the water out. question 2! : the paint is chipped and peeling badly inside the boat, should i power-wash the inside, and repaint it? or should i scrape the paint off by hand and then repaint? question 3 : the keel looks rusted out :( and i see that there is a whole at one end that i assume is used to hoist the keel into the closed position wen in transport? how can i fix this? i dont really any other mechanism inside the boat beside a hole through here a cable my reside. question 4 : the outboard was brought 2nd hand from the previous owner's friend for $500 . im not sure how to operate it, lol. the name i see on the outboard is "evinrude" and has a 9.9 on the outside. i assume that is the horse-power. the tiller and rudder are rotted out. i plan on making a replacement. it doesnt seem to hard. its only wood. there are brand new lights and an anchor, but i dont see the chain and rope for it, so i will have to buy some. i have about 27 photos to upload somewhere for you guys; viewing pleasure. i will let you know as soon as its up!!! i am also seriously considing moving my boat up to my house in newark, so i may be able to use it in lake Hopatcong. now the bulk of my money will be spent on a trailor! thank you soooo much for your input!!! it means alot.
 
Jan 2, 2008
547
Hunter 33 (Cherubini design Forked River, Barnegat Bay, NJ
Suggestion:

Do yourself a favor and save a whole lot of heartache. Look for masts and go hang out on a Saturday morning. You might luck into a club trying to get a race day together or just somweone willing to take you as crew on a day sail. Crew is ALWAYS needed and most of us are happy to train. The best way for you to learn is to join in with others. If you connect with a good captain there might even be free beer! My club in Forked River races very casualy about one Saturday a month. We always need crew. If you're interested, and are willing to drive up to Forked River I will guarantee you'll get a spot on a boat. An extra body could enable us to field one more boat in a race. There is always a party afterwards and I'll make sure you get a hamburger. If you're interested e-mail me through this site. (Clicking on my name highlighted in blue tahes you to e-mail.
 
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New Sailer

sailing for dummies

I'm a new beee to sailing myself. But there is a book out there called sailing for dummies which I think you would find very useful.
 
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