Suggestions on how to sea trial older boats?

[CPH]

So I've been lurking around on this site ever since I bought our 1978 Catalina 30 about 4 years ago. I did a lot of sailing in my youth but on my parents and other friends boats. After I got married and had kids sailing got away from me for some time but eventually the kids got old enough and my wife seemed willing to venture into sailing with me despite having next to no sailing experience. Having no idea how the family was going to take to sailing I choose to start with a modest budget and was originally targeting C 27's but the C 30's seemed to offer better accommodations for a family of four looking to spend weekends on the Chesapeake and just fit within my budget. No regrets whatsoever, she's been a great boat but the kids are growing and the family has taken to sailing so we are thinking of upgrading to a bigger boat.
Here come my question I promise. I am looking at C 36's and C 42's as our next boat. The 36 seems like all we need but with two not to distant teenagers (who will want to invite friends) plus cruising with other families the three cabin layout of the 42 has me leaning in that direction. My concern is how well will my wife and I be able to handle the bigger boat particularly when docking. In the past most of my experience with 40+ boats has been on a mooring with the occasional trip to the fuel dock.
Any insight on these concerns is appreciated and if any owners of these boats in the Chesapeake area would be willing to have us aboard for a short time or even rent out there boat for a weekend (sailing resume and deposit provided of course) that would be tremendously appreciated. Any other ideas of where to try an older (90's) C 36 or C 42 is more then welcome as well.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Having gone from a 27 to a 41 footer, I found the jump in size easy with one caveat, that being docking in our slip. Being used to doing it without assistance, I found that in any moderate wind, 2 people make it much easier (and safer).

It may be counter-intuitive, but sailing a larger boat is easier in many ways because it has a bigger rudder and more sail controls, a larger purchase vang, bigger winches and and other equipment making sail control more precise.

The only 2 things I miss with the 27 is the ability to go out by myself and around hull waxing time.

 

[CPH]

Thanks Don, having grown up sailing on a 47 footer and other big boat charters I agree with you on the handling, except maybe sometimes on larger boats the winching can be a bit much for the admiral. Our docking situation is definitely my primary area of concern. I've seen varying numbers for the displacement for both the Catalina 36 and 42 and am not sure what the "real" difference between them is.

 

[jrowan]

I can't remember what the standard keel depth is on a C-36 or c 42, but they've got to be substantially more then a C-30. I also sail on the Chesapeake, & we can get some pretty thin water when sailing up our local rivers, especially the Rappahannock. That should definitely be a concern when purchasing a bigger displacement boat. For Chesapeake sailing, I would avoid buying any boat with more then a 6 foot deep draft. I envy the space in the C36 & 42, but when it comes time to haul out & pay those higher slip fees, is when I don't admire them. I too would like to upgrade in size at some point, but the C 30 is just a perfect fit for a family of 4, when the kids are still young. Till the teenage years, I just can't part with ours yet. Unless you go way up in size, the C 30 is just too hard to beat. So I stopped trying to beat her, & instead joined her!

 

[CPH]

I agree the C 30 is hard to beat for its size which is why I am having to look 6-12 bigger to even contemplate stepping up. The wing keel draft on both the C 36 and C 42 is under 5' which is a must for us in the Northern Chesapeake, the boat I grew up sailing on drew 7' and I remember having to plow into so many anchorages.

 

[Sailvayu]

You have nothing to fear except fear itself.