Over my head?

higgs · Jul 1, 2009

Another boat in this range to consider is the Catalina 22 or the O'Day 20 and 22.

These boats will not be difficult for you to adjust to after 10 years on a board boat. The concept is exactly the same and the larger boat will be much more forgiving than the Sunfish. I think if you are proficient with the Sunfish you are probably ready for the move up w/o lessons. Perhaps whomever you buy the boat from will agree to take you out for your first sail. That is not uncommon.

I think the only thing you will have to adjust to is handling the bigger boat under power - docking, etc.

Dave D · Jul 1, 2009

Have you ever been sailing on a "real" sailboat? I would suggest finding someone at the lake where you sail and see if you can't go for a sail or two. Maybe buy a lunch or some after sailing beverages. I think for the most part a 22' would so two of you OK for an overnight "camping style" but if you would like to take another person or two from time to time, you might step up to 24-26. I have an H26 and have spent the night several times with my wife and 2 daughters, but with my son now, we're starting to get kind of tight. take your time, find out first if it's something you would do regularly enough to justify the expense (especially ongoing), then finds the right boat for you: swing or fin keel, wheel/tiller, sail plan, cabin size, etc...will you trailer each time? dry lot w/ mast up or down? wet slip? many considerations. All that said, I went sailing twice on a 33' then jumped right in and bought my 26' and God am I glad I did. If you jump in, find someone with experience to go out with you a couple of times to get the safety fundamentals and learn your boat.

sailingdog · Jul 1, 2009

I would recommend taking a basic keelboat class... like an ASA 101 course... It will give you a good solid foundation to work from. I'd also recommend getting and reading Dave Seidman's book, The Complete Sailor.

It is the best primer for novice sailors I've found thus far and is well written with good illustrations and covers a wider depth and breadth of material than most learn-to-sail books do. About $16 at the bookstore.

CharlieCobra · Jul 1, 2009

Over your head? I never sailed in my life before I bought my V-21 and went out and did it. Within a year I was sailing a 38' yawl in nasty conditions. Like the commercial says, "Just do it".

luv2sail67 · Jul 1, 2009

Over your head? I don't think so...

Hi - I say go ahead and do it - jump right in. We did this past summer. Prior to buying our boat we did take a 7 day basic cruising course in the North Channel which is an amazing cruising destination with a captain and got our first level certification. We were then qualified to rent a sailboat and went on our own. Check out www.cycnorth.ca they arranged for our training, and also rented us the boat for another week once we were certified. We have never had so much fun!

There are great books that go over the basics of safety and sailing fundamentals - if you read these - like "sailing for dummies" or of course the bible "chapman's pilotting" - you'll be able to absorb the teaching and feel very confident in short order. Don't let anyone tell you you have to learn on a small boat either - we learned on a 42 foot Hunter - and then rented a 36 Catalina for a week once we were certified. You'll want to understand the basics of weather and how to get yourself out of trouble, but if you do your homework you should be just fine.

Renting first - can be a great adventure.

Benny · Jul 1, 2009

"Easy" and "small" do not necessarily go together. A larger full keel boat can be more forgiving and stable than a tender trailerable. Take a sailing course and go in other peoples boats before purchasing. To purchase the wrong boat can be expensive.

tks · Jul 1, 2009

I agree with Charlie...just do it. After learning how to sail on Snipes and Sunfish in Nebraska, I moved to California and bought a Hunter 340 as my first "big" boat and sailed it in mild, moderated and a few harse conditions over the last 6 years. I normally sail by myself, after work. I have no difficulty. While you might benefit from some instruction as a confidence booster...remember we gain more experience each time we go out.

r.oril · Jul 1, 2009

I am with the "Jump in and get wet" group. My last boat was a 21 footer before I got my 26D some 40 years later. First time out was a walk in the park. Second time out was no wind. Third time out I got knocked down and I learned allot. Put a brake on the boom, reef the sail and learn to duck! When that boom comes flying by with out a brake to slow it, WOW!

Ross · Jul 1, 2009

When I decided I wanted to learn to sail i bought a 15 foot grumman canoe and rigged it with a sail and outriggers and learned to sail it. From there I made the jump to my Islander 30. It has not been a mistake.

Banooma · Jul 1, 2009

I think the bigger question in moving to a boat that size is whether you'll be trailering it, or keeping it docked or moored someplace. Trailering a Sunfish is a piece of cake. Trailering a 20 foot boat is a different story. It's not difficult, but it will never be as simple to set up or take down as the rigging on a Sunfish. After my Sunfish, I sailed an open hulled Boston Whaler Harpoon, which was a wonderful step to take... but it also came with having to use a boat ramp (instead of launching from a beach), stepping a mast- including the stays, mounting the motor, and rigging the jib and main sail. When we moved up to a Hunter 23 with a fixed keel it was an easy decision to not trailer it, and keep it at a marina. It gets you out on the water faster, and actually we were much more eager to sail more frequently knowing that 1.5 hours wouldn't be consumed with the overhead. I don't think you'll be disappointed or overwhelmed by the sailing aspect of owning a boat that size. If you can sail a Sunfish, you can probably sail just about anything.

Pat T · Jul 1, 2009

I think you will do fine...

... in a 22. You have experience and know how to sail already. I actually bought my first boat, a 25 foot Catalina and didn't know how to sail at all. I took a few classes and then took my boat out with someone who knew how to sail.
So I'm agreeing with the rest of these guys - go for it and find a buddy to help you get started. Find a boat and buy it. It's July already and this is the Midwest !!

Steve L22188 · Jul 1, 2009

Go For It!

I messed around with a friend's Sunfish and then got hooked after only 3-4 sails. Bought an O'Day 240 and had it for 15 years -- then moved up to an O'Day 302. I, too, sail on a Kansas lake (Lake Perry near Lawrence). You can do this!

Two great pieces of advice I got when we started looking for a boat:

1. Don't go too small. I'm glad we started with a 24' boat -- was big enough to spend an evening on, handled me and my sailing buddies pretty well -- and it was actually easier to sail than the Sunfish.

2. If you have kids (especially girls) get a boat with an enclosed head. Kids won't want to bring their friends to the boat to sail if the toilet facilities don't offer some privacy.

I read everything I could get my hands on the first year I had the boat. Then I'd go out on the boat and practice what I'd read. Go for it. You can do this. Best of luck.

BobM · Jul 2, 2009

Very Important Advice

Does your Wife like sailing already? If she has never been I have a VERY important piece of advice.

If she is even a trifle afraid of boats, or water, or gets motion sick, or shows any signs of nervousness when you try new things....don't take her on the boat the first few times. Get your feet wet first. Figure out the boat. The first season sailing and learning is a challenge for most. Take a friend instead. Get used to solo sailing. It is easy on a boat that size as you really don't need any mechanical advantages and everything is within reach. Don't scare her while you are going through the learning process.

However, if she is an adventurous spirit and / or rides her own Harley. Go for it and drag her along. I also recommend that you take a course together if you take a course. Or at least hang around the dock and find a fellow sailor to go out with you. We are a friendly bunch. I met a number of sailors fitting out far from home last year and it was no problem getting help with the in the water alignment and subsequent shake down from a neighbor.

bffatcat · Jul 2, 2009

new sailor

Get the right boat for where you are sailing. See what most of the other sailors have in your area. Be it keel or Keel CB Is the water deep or shallow? Talk to some of the experienced sailors in your area. Get some insight on what works and what dosent. Good luck

larryw · Jul 10, 2009

If you know how to sail already, you should do fine, but, know that the actual boat is only a part of the equation. Lakes may be a little different, but in the Pacific Ocean, there is more to it; what does that buoy mean? What does that color water indicate. Who has the right of way in this situation? What can I expect the guy on the high horsepower boat going too fast to do? There's a million variables. How's your marlinspike seamanship? And I agree with not taking your SO along on the first few attempts unless she's a real adventurous type.

Bob Poff · Jul 10, 2009

Another jut do it.
I had never been on a sailboat in my life when I bought my Mac 22 sixteen years ago.
I have to admit though, teachng myself to sail it also taught me some humility.

rardiH36 · Jul 10, 2009

Re: Here is one

Hi:

Just a head's up that the list of things to look for when buying an older sailboat is considerable and explanation of each is more detailed that can be summarized in forum postings.

You might want to check if a local Borders might have in stock (it's available in the SF area, but maybe not in Kansas?):

"Inspecting the Aging Sailboat" by Don Casey.

Alternatively, a search on the internet probably will yield a checklist or two.

When I bought my 1980 Hunter 36 a couple of years ago, the items/checklist in the "Inspecting" book gave me the confidence to make the offer. This was my first boat purchase. Later, the pre-purchase surveyor's report looked very similar to the list I made. The format of the book is very straight-forward and easy to follow.

Taking your time evaluating a boat's condition is important because, anything needing repair on a boat will cost $'s. Don't know the asking/settlement price of the Hunter 20 you might look at, but if you end up needing to make extensive (or even minor) repairs or upgrades ... the cost (and associated time/aggrevation) can be considerable as a % of an older boat's purchase price. Check out the repair cost and availability of repair of any doubtfuls before buying. I notice from the picture the boat is without an outboard engine. Factor that in. In today's economy, other similar boats might be available with engine included .... and for not much more money. (Example: Two years ago I looked at an older Catalina 25 in apparently okay condition located in Sausalito. The owner had been unable to sell for quite some time. Asking price had been reduced to$4500 -- which included a two year old new and virtually unused 8hp outboard (honda or mercury brand) mounted on the stern. West Marine was selling the same engine in the $1500-$1800 range. When looking at this boat -- and I was tempted -- my wife and decided we would need a larger boat to enjoy SF Bay sailing, so I didn't pursue.)

regards,

Stu Jackson · Jul 10, 2009

Internet search not required

It's right here, I bookmarked it and here ya go:

http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=102541

Over my head?

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