Suggestions on a boat for me.

[tchodgd]

I'm looking to by a small sailboat (say a 22 footer) and I'm not sure what to buy. Here is my situation:

I have to get under a bridge with a clearance of 28' 6"
I will be doing some coastal sailing, but mostly in the lower and middle Chesapeake bay.
I will be sailing solo most of the time
I will be weekending now and then
I will need something used, around 5 k. but no fixer upper.
I will be mooring the boat near my home. (no dock)

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Dave.

 

[garylinger]

I have had an O'Day 22 for many years and used it on the middle/lower Chesapeake and Patuxent River. I also used it in Cape May, N.J. for several summers. It is a good daysailer and occasional overnighter. It draws about 2 1/2 - 3 feet of water, fits on a trailer (currently on the trailer) and is fairly easy to sail. If you are interested in more specific info about this model of boat (or this boat in particular - it is for sale) you can contact me directly.

 

[tchodgd]

Mail me the specifics on your boat, I'm interested.

Dave.
tchodgd@tcc.edu

 

[sailaway78]

Buying a boat

IF you have the cash, now is a good time to be a buyer. The market is to say the least, depressed at this time. If I were you, I think I would seriously consider a trailerable boat, as the bridge clearance you listed will somewhat limit you otherwise. Boats in the 22 or so size trailer fairly easily, don't require a diesel dually to pull them, and allow you nearly unlimited flexibility.

 

[tchodgd]

I really don't have any place to store the trailer without renting a spot, but I can walk my dingy down to the water and be off. I would just rather have the boat moored rather than rig the thing everytime I wanted to sail.

thanks for the comments.

 

[Shane Wallace]

Dude I got a 24 foot neptune loaded just for you!



See link.

http://neworleans.craigslist.org/boa/992463660.html

It's in Pensacola Florida sittin on her trailer.

 

[Benny]

If you do not intend to trailer get a boat with a fixed keel. It will be more stable and free of the problems associated with swing keels or centerboards. When on the market for a used boat "you cannot pick the color". Start by making a list of the things that you want in a boat For example, you may want a boat 22-25', with a fixed keel, a bimini top, fairly new sails, a good outboard in the 5-6hp range, a porta potty, non-pressurized alcohol stove, sail covers and good cushions for $5,000. Once you have your list look for the boats that meet that criteria. You are most likely to run into Hunters, Catalinas and Odays as they were massed produced. In the best case scenario you may find two or three boats that meet your criteria and then it would be the time to ask for advice in deciding brand or type would be better. I would stay away from water ballast boats as probably their main characteristic is that you can shed the ballast for trailering but in your case you are not interested in it so why pay for something you do not need. Take your time and look at lots of boats before making a final decision.

 

[Capt. Kermie]

Trailerable

The single best option on a trailerable in your situation is the ability to un-step the mast to go under a bridge. Some of the trailerables have a mast raising sytem that entails the use of a gin pole with a brake winch on it. You can use this to lower your mast aft after un-pinning the forestay in order to get under the bridge you mentioned. The boat will likely be 4-5 feet above the water plus an additional 26-30 feet for the mast and you are at or over 30 feet of clearance for the bridge. As long as the boat you choose has the flexibility of dropping the mast enough to get under the bridge you are good to go.

 

[DanW9494]

Air draft

As long as the boat you choose has the flexibility of dropping the mast enough to get under the bridge you are good to go.

Otherwise you are looking at an 18-19 foot boat.

An O'Day 192 will possibly scrape by, but not a 20 or 22. Same with Catalina or Hunter 22s.

A multihull will have a lower mast, a stepable mast on a trailersailor, or a smaller keel boat it seems.

Consider the trailer sailor forum here.

 

[garylinger]

Re: Air draft

The O'Day 22 (at least the one I have) has a shoal draft (fixed keel). I am able to easily step and unstep the mast by myself. It is easier to only do it at the beginning and end of the season but I have done it when trailering for day/overnight trips.

 

[Git-R-Done]

You might look at the O'Day Mariner, which is a relative of the Rhodes 19. We had one in our fleet (they usually won our Tuesday night races because it has a favorable rating for light air.) Fortunately, it moved to Florida