What are some good performing boats that can be easily trailered and set up by one person? Thank you. Jim
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More specificity
Jim, can you be more specific about what you want to do with the boat? Will you want to sleep over, in an anchorage? Do you want a hot performer and aren't worried about amenities? Will you ever be out for several days and need to take along supplies? Every time you can describe something you want to do or not do with the boat, you eliminate some and cause some to emerge as contenders.
Jim, can you be more specific about what you want to do with the boat? Will you want to sleep over, in an anchorage? Do you want a hot performer and aren't worried about amenities? Will you ever be out for several days and need to take along supplies? Every time you can describe something you want to do or not do with the boat, you eliminate some and cause some to emerge as contenders.
Towing with...?
Jim: Other information needed is the type of tow vehicle you plan to use. A Chevy Suburban will tow 6,000 lbs. A Ford Ranger V-6 is a lot more limited. Let's hope you don't have a VW Bug! We've towed our boat 1,000 miles, one way, with our Mercury Grand Marquis. We sleep on the boat, and can spend a week aboard with moderate comfort. We are currently sailing out of Mentor Harbor, on Lake Erie. Key to a good answer: Tell us all you can. Rick Tenan s/v DevOcean
Jim: Other information needed is the type of tow vehicle you plan to use. A Chevy Suburban will tow 6,000 lbs. A Ford Ranger V-6 is a lot more limited. Let's hope you don't have a VW Bug! We've towed our boat 1,000 miles, one way, with our Mercury Grand Marquis. We sleep on the boat, and can spend a week aboard with moderate comfort. We are currently sailing out of Mentor Harbor, on Lake Erie. Key to a good answer: Tell us all you can. Rick Tenan s/v DevOcean
More info
Sorry for being so vague. I will be towing it with a Chevy Suburban. I am looking for something fast and fun. Amenities are secondary. Main challenge is I will usually be setting up and sailing solo, so it needs to be something I can do myself. I want to move it around so I can try different areas. Great Lakes to Gulf of Mexico and all in between. Thank you for opinions and ideas.
Sorry for being so vague. I will be towing it with a Chevy Suburban. I am looking for something fast and fun. Amenities are secondary. Main challenge is I will usually be setting up and sailing solo, so it needs to be something I can do myself. I want to move it around so I can try different areas. Great Lakes to Gulf of Mexico and all in between. Thank you for opinions and ideas.
Long list
There are Three categories for what you are looking for. I've listed a few choices in each. Dinghy - MX-ray, laser, MC-scow, Interlake, International 410, Flying 15, Thistle, Lightning,etc... look for competetive classes in the areas you'll travel. Even though your not planning on racing, the racing boats will provide alot of fun on the water. Daysailers - Precision 185, Catalina 18, Capri 18, Catalina Aero, Harbor 20, Beneteau First 211, Beneteau first 18. Look for light weight boats with swing, lifting or wing keels and big cockpits, ussually in the 16' to 20' range. Sport keel boats - Beneteau OD 25, Viper 830, J/80, Tripp 26, X-yachts X79, Merit 25, Melges 24, J-22, Santana 20 and any catamaran. Many of these boats might be disqualified by your criteria of easily launched and rigged as most have fixed keels and more complicated rigs. This is by no means a complete list of choices, but since your going to be singlehanding, a spirited daysailer like the precision, catalina or capri probable will fit your needs best. Photo is of a Capri 18
There are Three categories for what you are looking for. I've listed a few choices in each. Dinghy - MX-ray, laser, MC-scow, Interlake, International 410, Flying 15, Thistle, Lightning,etc... look for competetive classes in the areas you'll travel. Even though your not planning on racing, the racing boats will provide alot of fun on the water. Daysailers - Precision 185, Catalina 18, Capri 18, Catalina Aero, Harbor 20, Beneteau First 211, Beneteau first 18. Look for light weight boats with swing, lifting or wing keels and big cockpits, ussually in the 16' to 20' range. Sport keel boats - Beneteau OD 25, Viper 830, J/80, Tripp 26, X-yachts X79, Merit 25, Melges 24, J-22, Santana 20 and any catamaran. Many of these boats might be disqualified by your criteria of easily launched and rigged as most have fixed keels and more complicated rigs. This is by no means a complete list of choices, but since your going to be singlehanding, a spirited daysailer like the precision, catalina or capri probable will fit your needs best. Photo is of a Capri 18
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The most famous little sailboat
If you can get a Wayfarer 16, you'll have the same boat that has sailed big and little lakes plus alot of oceans. It reefs, has genoa and storm jibs, a spinnaker. It was made famous by Frank and Margaret Dye, who wrote a book about theirs called Wanderer, and whose boat is now in the British Naval Museum. The boat is 16 x 6 feet weighs 385#, trailers behind anything and has optional boomtent. It has sealing hatches. It can be set up in 15 minutes, launched at any ramp, by hand if need be. The boat is fairly fast, points well, has great final stability, and can be raced in classes, or--you can pile your tent etc under the bow and go cruising in it. There are wayfarer cruising associations in the US, Canada and especially in Britain. I recommend you search them out. (yess, I did own one for 8 yrs)
If you can get a Wayfarer 16, you'll have the same boat that has sailed big and little lakes plus alot of oceans. It reefs, has genoa and storm jibs, a spinnaker. It was made famous by Frank and Margaret Dye, who wrote a book about theirs called Wanderer, and whose boat is now in the British Naval Museum. The boat is 16 x 6 feet weighs 385#, trailers behind anything and has optional boomtent. It has sealing hatches. It can be set up in 15 minutes, launched at any ramp, by hand if need be. The boat is fairly fast, points well, has great final stability, and can be raced in classes, or--you can pile your tent etc under the bow and go cruising in it. There are wayfarer cruising associations in the US, Canada and especially in Britain. I recommend you search them out. (yess, I did own one for 8 yrs)
Siren 17
Jim, Although I don't know if it will satisfy your Fast criteria I have to put in a plug for my first production sailboat after my sail kit home made sailing canoe. The Siren 17 is a solid little boat at around 650 lbs. with a 145 lb. swing keel and furling genoa from the mid 80's. It was Canadian made and since you mentioned the Great Lakes, if that is your home base you could probably find one up there for a good price. It got me around a lot of lakes and ponds in central Mass and southern Vermont for a couple years and I've even seen one out on Greenwich Bay RI. It was the first in what became a long line of too many Christy Leighs according to her namesake :>) Stan "Christy Leigh" c320 #656
Jim, Although I don't know if it will satisfy your Fast criteria I have to put in a plug for my first production sailboat after my sail kit home made sailing canoe. The Siren 17 is a solid little boat at around 650 lbs. with a 145 lb. swing keel and furling genoa from the mid 80's. It was Canadian made and since you mentioned the Great Lakes, if that is your home base you could probably find one up there for a good price. It got me around a lot of lakes and ponds in central Mass and southern Vermont for a couple years and I've even seen one out on Greenwich Bay RI. It was the first in what became a long line of too many Christy Leighs according to her namesake :>) Stan "Christy Leigh" c320 #656
Trailor and sailer alone
I trailor with wife, sometimes friends, and 50% of the time alone. Have been sailing for over 40 years, trailorable and some not. Many times I rig and launch alone. Here is an address to check out of what I'm sailing now and love it. http://www.dieffenbach.biz/default.asp?contentID=15407
I trailor with wife, sometimes friends, and 50% of the time alone. Have been sailing for over 40 years, trailorable and some not. Many times I rig and launch alone. Here is an address to check out of what I'm sailing now and love it. http://www.dieffenbach.biz/default.asp?contentID=15407
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