wanting first sailboat advice

[CalebD]

For lake sailing any of the smaller boats mentioned

are good on a lake with a centerboard and preferably a kick up rudder as they are all trailer-able (eg., no cost for a crane or cradle and tow-able by a normal car). I own a 19' Lightning racing sailboat which is great for day sailing as well as a 14' and 27' sailboats as well but I learned on Sunfish/Lasers/Snipes etc and I can only echo what others have said which is that you learn the feel of a boat much more easily on a smaller boat. That said, while I not that familiar with the Catalina 22s, or MacGregor 22, 25 etc I am familiar with the MacGregor 26S (not 26X). While I do not think that this is the best boat to learn how to sail on, it is a trailer-able sailboat that can sleep six in relative comfort. It has a water ballast system which adds just one more level of complexity above stepping and un-stepping the mast and trailering it. I believe that there is a MacGregor owners forum on this website as well but here is a link where you can see this trailer sailor: http://www.sailingtexas.com/cboats99macgregor26s.htmlEnjoy your sailing experiences!

 

[John]

The other thing is...

that it doesn't look like the economy is going to get any better. Just the opposite, in fact. In other words, you'll probably get one at a better price in six months or a year from now. Of course, there is the intangible - how much pleasure would you get out of buying a boat right now? Is this worth what you'd probably be saving in the future? (My wife and I bought a relatively new Catalina 36 at a pretty good price six months ago, but I think its market value has probably gone down since then. But even so, for me the pleasure I get out of farting around on it makes it worthwhile. Life doesn't last forever, after all.)

 

[sand sailor]

find you a friend or two or three or with a boat

who would like a crew and enjoy what they have to offer until you decide what you want in a boat then go looking cause no two people want the same things in a boat

 

[fox islander]

First Boat

I started out with a Catalina 22 swing keel, good boat and in demand so they sell fast. Next was a Hunter 23 wing keel...sailed much better than the Catalina 22. Now have a catalina 30, much more comphy, but I miss that Hunter 23...a fun boat.good luck