What to Look for in (Almost) First Sailboat (Used)

Bill Roosa · Mar 13, 2016

Yea, preformance is nice but once you realize that you will be spending most of your time at anchor you begin to reassess what is most important. More preformance just means you get there faster and spend even longer times at anchor.

TanzerTom · Mar 14, 2016

Michael, you will get good advice on this forum when it come to generalities on sailing and sailboats. When it comes to picking a particular a boat, what you have experienced with the Dufour is as good as it will get: information on what others know and have inexperienced, NOT whether it's the boat for you. Only you can decide that. As someone mentioned, you cannot realistic make that judgement until you have your own knowledge and experience on which to base that judgement. In other words, owning and sailing your own boat. On your first boat you will have to take a chance. You make get lucky. More than likely, your first boat will teach you what you need to look for in your next boat. This is one reason I suggested a Catalina 30. It's a fine boat for a coastal cruiser but, more importantly, it will be easier to resale than most others... for many reasons. Folks seem to like to bash the Hunters. There are likely more of them in any given marina than any other single brand. There is a reason for that... and many claim it's because they appeal to the female wants and needs. They do, and as you pointed out that's an important part of the equation. How do they sail, feel, perform, massage your particular ego? You simply don't have the experience to know that now. When I first started shopping for a "cruising" sailboat I was told by many around marinas that a Bristol or Cape Dory was the boat to have. I would have hated either as I was coming off one design racing catamarans and used to very responsive boats with tremendous "feel". You have no way of knowing what you want beyond the dock condo, so look at what appeals to you and your Admiral, ask the forum as you did with the Dufour on things to be aware of, then buy your training boat! You may get lucky... but few get the right boat on their first try. And don't listen to the naysayers on Hunters, etc. They may have perfectly valid opinions that have absolutely nothing to do with what YOU will find best suites you. Don't forget to enjoy the search... it can be one of the best parts!

Jackdaw · Mar 14, 2016

goofeyfoot said:
Tom. I didn't mean to insult anybody's boat. I was just repeating what I heard around town.

On a different subject I had the boat brand all wrong. The actual boat is a Gib Sea 33.

It turns out the steering was never converted. It was always a wheel from the beginning

If anyone has any information about that 33, I would love to hear it.

Meanwhile I didn't mean to insult anybody's selection about.

Michael.

I commented earlier could not be a Dufour of that year/length. If you want good help make sure to get that right! ;-) otherwise we guess.

Same here, Gib'sea made a 334 model in the late 90's. Decent boat, modeled after Beneteaus Oceanis lineup. Looking at same customers and charter business. Gib'seas are good solid boats. Not many here in the US. Like Dufour they had a hard time competing against the Beneteau/Jeanneau juggernaut, both here and in their home market.

Kings Gambit · Mar 14, 2016

Evidently, Dufour did and perhaps still does(?), manufacture a Gib'Sea line of yachts after Dufour acquired Gib'Sea in the late 1990s.

TanzerTom · Mar 14, 2016

Don't think you insulted anyone. It was others' that commented on the Hunters, seems it was a Hunter 306 in particular. I think I commented on issues with some Hunters having no back stay (an issue when sailing off the wind) and one particular Hunter that I never saw leave the dock. Few coastal cruisers see much use on the water. Just a fact, and some look down their noses at the dock condos. One couple never sail their Irwin 30 but enjoy it as an escape from Raleigh. About the only time it goes out is when I take it. Point is: it meets their needs and they are absolutely happy with it. Look at boats that appeal to your eye and your Admiral, then run those by folks on the forum for things to be aware of on that particular boat. Fact based opinions are far more valuable than dock side experts that merely repeat the biased comments they hear from others doing the same. There are many subsections here on particular boats... check them out and you'll find few who own any particular boat that are unhappy with their craft! My dream is a Contessa 32, but I will never have one. Meanwhile, I keep looking for a better alternative to the Catalina 30. Hard to find one for my budget and it's likely the boat I will end up with when we move to the coast. Enjoy your seach!

TanzerTom · Mar 14, 2016

What kind of work do you do? If it's computer based I doubt you"ll have an issue at any marina. I'm going marina shopping before I make an offer on a boat as a bad marina will ruin the experience regardless of the boat. I love Southport Marina for many reasons, but Southport thinks a lot of their real estate for no apparent good reason. We'll prolly (forum term for probably...you will get used to it) end up in New Bern because of real eatate prices, abundance of affordable marinas, and the great sailing at Oriental... with reasonable access to the ocean.

TanzerTom · Mar 14, 2016

That's great for going sailing... and boat shopping! We've lived in Raleigh three different times. The coast is just far enough away to make two day weekends easily possible... and really frustrating. Having to be back for work on Monday got real old real fast. You will not have that frustration

lee oakley · Mar 14, 2016

Strange opinion of hunters! Takeing mine down the coast this summer from n.c. to s.c. out in the atlantic. Not gonna have one to be scared that it's gonna sink!

TanzerTom · Mar 14, 2016

This thread is six pages long; to which opinion were you referring?

ALNims · Mar 14, 2016

TanzerTom-excellent advice. Some of the best I have seen.

TanzerTom · Mar 14, 2016

For those not familiar with the area, sailing from NC to SC could mean simply crossing the Little River Inlet... or crossing the area known as The Graveyard of the Atlantic. Coastal Carolinas is a great place for coastal cruisers. The sounds and rivers of NC offer gunkholing heaven with numerous anchorages and historic small towns. It was Black Beard's favorite hidey hole. Then there is challenging off shore sailing, as the nickname indicates, as well as the Intra Coastal Waterway for those lacking the whatever to do it outside. In SC you have Charleston! Goofeyfoot has lots to look forward to in whatever boat he chooses.

TanzerTom · Mar 15, 2016

I know nothing about this boat. Initial observation would include:

1. In mast main furling prolly means ineffective/inefficient main due to required cut for furing. Also, a jam when reefing/furling is a concern on early systems.
2. Balast seems light for displacement. May be tender (tipsy)... dont know sail sq.ft.
3. She is pretty... like how she sets under sail but notice heeling in what appears to be fairly light air. Low ballast??? Others may have better informed opinion
4. Rear bath will appreciated!
5. Dodger and Bimini nice.
6. Sugar scoop will be appreciated
7. Due to sugar scoop, the lack of a center seat will be missed.
8. 5.5 FOOT DRAFT WILL BE AN ISSUE

Having started my cruising experience in Barnegat Bay, NJ, with a 4' draft Tanzer 26, I would absolutely NOT consider this boat for the area you will sail. Just too deep a draft no matter how wonderful the boat might be. Sailing with a CONSTANT eye on the depth sounder gets real old real fast... and you likely limit your sailing to half that of boats with 4' draft. The deep fin keel should, however, mean better up wind performance. This is important in tacking upwind in narrow waters and espe ially if you ever get into racing... which is where the real fun is IMHO.

She is a pretty boat. Draft would be a killer for me.