Practical dream boat?

[Gunni]

One of the saddest developments of the last few years has been the loss of some great classic sailboats, Sabre, Hinckley, Valiant, Ericson; and I wonder how long Tartan can hang on. If you adopt one take good care of her, these are the classics, and built to last.

 

[Brian S]

Dream boat:

It's not really a half sunk boat. The guy made it an operating boat that looks like that. He motored around marinas freaking people out.

 

[RussC]

It's not really a half sunk boat. The guy made it an operating boat that looks like that. He motored around marinas freaking people out.

WAY too much time on his hands.

 

[Franklin]

Dream boat: Pogo 30.

I saw a slightly larger one of those (Pogo 12.50) in French Polynesia a few months ago. It looked like a racer to me without a backstay so it really caught my attention (me being a Hunter owner without a backstay). I looked it up and they called it a cruiser and that shocked me...a cruiser that can do 20 knots on the ocean. I was like 'yeah, right' but then read it had a draw keel so that pretty much ruled it out for being a racing boat.

 

[Jackdaw]

I saw a slightly larger one of those (Pogo 12.50) in French Polynesia a few months ago. It looked like a racer to me without a backstay so it really caught my attention (me being a Hunter owner without a backstay). I looked it up and they called it a cruiser and that shocked me...a cruiser that can do 20 knots on the ocean. I was like 'yeah, right' but then read it had a draw keel so that pretty much ruled it out for being a racing boat.

I've done 1000s of miles in that boat. The backstay-less nature of the Pogo is different than that of Hunters. Due to it speed potential, the apparent wind stays so far forward that that sail never needs to be eased to the spreaders. Its there because of the fat-top mainsail.

It would be my 'dream boat' but right now the size makes it impractical for my current water. Maybe soon the new Pogo 36. Oh yea.

 

[LANCE ON CLOUD NINE]

I would have to sail her first, but I could really see myself in a long term relationship with a tiller steered S&S 30.

 

[Jackdaw]

I would have to sail her first, but I could really see myself in a long term relationship with a tiller steered S&S 30.

Nice call. Going to be amazingly well built... but I personally find lots of her lines awkward.

 

[LANCE ON CLOUD NINE]

I will also say that I totally get the Pogo 30! I have googled it a hundred times! Love the simple but high quality interior a lot. Just not sure that I would love a cockpit that felt like I was sitting on....rather than in? A test sail or charter could go a long way to answer that question.

 

[NotCook]

What is it, and WHY?

Well...
I like Gunni's answers. Unfortunately, in nearly every case, ours are just the opposite. The problem is, we just fell in love with her despite all the impracticality of the vessel. Let that be a warning. Buy with your head, and not with your heart.

It would be your ONLY boat: Well, OK, not counting the dink.

You have to own it for at least 10 years - We should finally have it paid for about then.

You have to be able to maintain it TOP condition, plus buying at least 1 full set of new sails - Parts are hard to come by, and most systems are custom or no longer available.I dread the day when we have to replace these worn out old sails!

You have to be able/willing to deal with all operational costs. - and there are many. Something is always breaking. It's a good thing we are retired, or we would never be able to get enough of the routine maintenance done.

Your regular crew has to be able to SAIL it comfortably in expected local conditions - I have single handed it on a few occasions, but there really is little point in doing so. The whole idea is to share it with friends. We have a few loyal crew members, only maybe one of which would be a capable alternate captain without me aboard. Continually working to elevate the skill level of the various crewmembers, but not everyone is up to the task of managing an 80,000# vessel.

What is the dream boat, and WHY? I'm thinking a Sunfish...

 

[SOCAL C50]

I would love to get a Pacific Seacraft Orion. I have always wanted one but money is tight. I'll probably end up with a Catalina 30, I had a C 30 25 years ago and loved it, I am a coastal sailor so I don't need a passage maker and I sail solo most of the time BUT my wife would probably go more often if I had a "comfortable boat" to hang out in.

 

[Jackdaw]

I will also say that I totally get the Pogo 30! I have googled it a hundred times! Love the simple but high quality interior a lot. Just not sure that I would love a cockpit that felt like I was sitting on....rather than in? A test sail or charter could go a long way to answer that question.

The biggest thing to get used to in a Pogo cockpit is the open area and the width. The sitting on the deck is very natural. And the boat is actually very easy to sail.