Potential Newbie

[wadman1@aol.com]

I am interested in purchasing a 30'. I grew up on the New Jersey shore sailing sunfishes as well as a 14' Oday with a main and a jib. I love to sail. Now that we have moved to the Baltimore Area I am interested in purchasing a boat that we can spend the weekends on. Technically I really am not familiar with all of the rigging / equipment terminology but I do feel that I have the natural ability to sail. I am 35 married with 3 kids and I am looking to spend between $20 and $25K. Would I be getting in over my head? I am going to take courses in Annapolis to get me acclimated to the boat and sailing a larger boat. I do want something I can grow into that I can eventually sail far away from reality! Please let me know your thoughts.Thanks in advance

 

[Gary Wilford]

Me too!

I could also give a complete "ditto" regarding this post and am interested too. ANyone with any advice, please e-mail. I have the same background and now have young kids who want to enjoy sailing. Thanks for the reply. Gary

 

[Gene Foraker]

Go for it!

That was pretty much what I did and the 30 was my first real boat. Annapolis at one time had a class on handling larger boats which was very helpful in docking and handling the "systems" aboard a larger boat. Sailing is no problem at all. My 1984 C-30 went for around that price range last year, but still had the original sails and no refrigeration. It was a fresh water boat, though, and was in pretty good condition with most of the other good options - M25 diesel, roller furling, larger winches, hot water, good charger, autopilot, etc.

 

[Tom Senator]

That's kind of what I did - Just Do It

That's kind of what I did. In the early 80's, when I was in College, someone I knew had a smaller (26 ft?) sailboat out of Portsmouth, NH and I used to crew overnights and weekends here and there. At that time I knew somewhere someday I would get my own boat and do the same. Beleive me, at that time, there wasn't anyway I could sail the boat without the owner, but I did learn the feel of it. In the late 80's and early 90's I joined a little local club that taught sailing on Lasers.... nothing big, but I learned all the basic concepts.So then I did it!! In 1992 I bought a 1980 Watkins 27 (15 hp very big and heavy almost like a 30ft boat) and just made sure the engine worked. (I had NEVER helmed a anything other than a Laser by myself before)I personally single handed that boat from Port Washington on Long Island, Thru Hell's Gate and the East river in Manhatten and anchored later that night in Horseshoe cove at Sandy Hook NJ. (And this was before I had a GPS or an Autopilot and also without being able to unfurl the original Jib).After I did that, I thought "Wow what an accomplishment". But really all it takes is Common Sense & Planning. Yes I was tense the whole day and I couldn't relax, but that's what its all about. YOU CAN DO IT !Now I take her on week long cruises on LI sound and out to Block Island.I have seen somewhere on the Jersey coast a place that will take people out for a weekend on a mid-sized cruising boat and teach people all the things that are needed to enjoy an overnight on the water. From Docking to cooking to anchoring to sailing, etc..I suggest you try and find a class like that.ps. After 8 years with "Betsy" (80 Watkins 27 -- take a look http://home.att.net/~tom.senator/index.html) I am sad to say I will have to be letting her go (I really don't want to..I love her) ...But it looks Like I will be officially taking posession of a 1999 Catalina 36 MKII on Thursday... When I first looked at that boat I thought "How am I ever going to handle her" ...But I know in a few months it will all fall into place just like my first "Big Boat"

 

[Steve Treppa]

Me 2!

Prior to my 1986 Cat 30 I had a Venture (remember those?) 21 (which is REALLY small for a 21 footer!) I learned to sail from a couple of buddies and bought the venture after a year of sailing. I held on to it for about 7 years (only sailed 4 of 'em!) and then pulled out the check book for the the 30!I was pretty intimidated the first time I took the helm and it didn't help that the wind was blowing about 30kts INTO the marina with 3 foot swells rolling right through my slip! (my poor rub rails!) but I got her in and now (after a year) she feels like a good old pair of comfortable shoes! I can turn her on a dime!

 

[Jeff Walker]

Be confident..

I think you'll find that the Catalina 30 is a lot easier to sail than some of the smaller boats. It is very stable and turns on a dime. In smaller boats, you can get excessive heel in light winds making fast moves around the boat difficult where the 30 will still be level and easy to get around on. This will certainly not be the fastest boat you ever sail on but it is ideal for a family just starting out. I have had mine for 10 years and still love it. Jeff

 

[LaDonna Bubak - Planet Catalina]

Perfect family boat

Good choice! Your learning curve will be extremely high for awhile but you'll get the hang of it faster than you think. And the C30 is a great size for a family that wants to weekend. Not too big to handle but not so small you're cramped.With that said, don't expect your first boat to be your last. You'll learn a lot, find out what you like & don't like, find boats you like better and eventually will sell her to buy your "dream boat" (till your next dream boat comes along!). Have fun!LaDonna

 

[Jeff Walker]

P.S.

Once you do find a boat in your price range, this board can give you a lot of insight as to sails, engine size, blistered hulls. and other things you should know about before you buy. Good luck, Jeff

 

[Kurt]

I'm in the same boat

My wife and I sailed a Capri 14.2 on a small lake for a few years and then really got bit my the sailing bug, so we decided to combine our love of the ocean with our love of sailing and bought a Cat 310 that we keep at a Marian by the shore and use as a weekend house and sailboat. Like you, we also took two ASA sailing courses and have two small children (ages 4 and 8) who live aboard with us and our dog.Bottom line is, it's been much more fun and yet much more intimidating than I thought it would be making the jump from the 14.2 to the 310. She's a lot easier and more forgiving to sail than the 14.2 is. Of course, she's also a lot harder to handle in a tight slip and a narrow channel under 20 knots of wind. There's a lot more maintenance and upkeep to keep on top of as well. But it's all definitley worth it. Sure, I'm tense and nervouse sometimes taking her out because I'm still getting up to my comfort level with her. I'm still learning the ropes, so to speak. But you have to start somewhere and I'm determined to make this work and confident that I will. I know it took me a few seasons to really get the complete hang of my 14.2 and I assume the same applies here. It takes time and effort, trial and error, but don't let that intimidate you. Remember, sailing is a sport. You have to learn it and then master it. You can't expect to jump on a pair of skis for the first time and ski the expert runs. First, you have to slip and fall and spend a lot of time improving your skills and building your confidence. Then one day you find yourself on a lift to the top of a beautiful mountain and you think, it was all worth it!So, I say, GO FOR IT! and relax and enjoy the ride!