What's the Best Daysailer to Accommodate Guests

Hunter216 · Nov 29, 2020

Two very nice boats that might work so your off to a good start in the never ending “next boat” adventure

I would offer that you might want to look at some Beneteau models and consider this:

Will the 6 or more adults be active in the sailing process or hanging out in the cockpit? Weight distribution becomes an issue at some point.

If everyone will be in the cockpit a wheel might be a better choice than a tiller.

I had perch seats on one of my boats and they are interesting but not a “comfortable” place for a novice sailor to be

shemandr · Nov 29, 2020

J-80? Weak on the head part. But a female crew we favor has perfected peeing in an empty Pringle’s container.

Sailfanatic · Nov 29, 2020

I'd recommend the Colgate 26, you get great cockpit room with very comfortable seating for six adults, but little headroom plus at best a porta potty. But excellent sailing for grownups.

Tally Ho · Nov 29, 2020

Souellette said:
Hello everyone! I have an O'Day 22 and I'm looking to move up to something in the 26 - 28 foot range. My main goal is to find a sailboat with a comfortable and spacious cockpit to accommodate up to 6 (and possibly more) adults. Right now, I can only comfortably fit 4 adults on my boat. I don't need much of a cabin but would like an enclosed head for our guests. I'm also somewhat of a novice sailer so I'm looking for one that is fairly easy to sail, including single-handed.

I've been looking at the Catalina 275 sport because it seems like it checks a lot of boxes (very large cockpit, small but functional cabin, easy to sail, etc...) but it does come with a hefty price tag. Another boat that I've come across that looks promising is the Catalina 28 MKii. What I like about this boat is the cockpit, especially the two perch seats built into the stern railings. I also love the fact that there's a gate off the stern for swimming. My wife also loves the fact that it has a wheel instead of a tiller but I'm personally OK with either. The cabin is much bigger than we need but it does have a decent layout. Being older boats, they come in with a much better price tag.

My question: What other daysailers can folks recommend that offer comfortable/spacious seating in the 26 - 28 foot range? Ideally, I'd like a boat built in the 90's our younger.

My first boat was a Hunter 280. she didn’t have a great cabin, but she had an enclosed head. I just didn’t like all of the plastic.

BUT, her cockpit was great. And I had stern perch seats, which added extra space in the cockpit.

Greg

sailme88 · Nov 29, 2020

someone else's boat

Calif. Ted · Nov 29, 2020

Catalina 270 has wheel, diesel, propane stove and water heater, Capri 26 came as outboard with tiller (better performance) or inboard diesel. Both have heads, holding tanks and macerator pumps, no refers, ice boxes.

jamesweet · Nov 30, 2020

Calif. Ted said:
Catalina 270 has wheel, diesel, propane stove and water heater, Capri 26 came as outboard with tiller (better performance) or inboard diesel. Both have heads, holding tanks and macerator pumps, no refers, ice boxes.

We had a Capri 26 with an enclosed head and an outboard/tiller. Great boat but be aware that the holding tank is TINY (5 gallons?). Sailed well, nice big cockpit, good weekender but depending on where you keep the boat you may want to replace the marine head with a porta potti for ease of maintenance. We had to do that when we moved the boat from Lake Superior to the Finger Lakes in NY. Easy project. You may also want to add outboard controls mounted in the cockpit because it can be a bit of a stretch to reach the outboard controls while docking. It was actually easier to stand on the swim platform and dock the boat.

jon hansen · Nov 30, 2020

Pearson Triton 28', half the cockpit is enclosed,

or, a Pearson Commander

jon hansen · Nov 30, 2020

the alerion, of course

jon hansen · Nov 30, 2020

any boat built by J/Boat

markwbird · Nov 30, 2020

Cadillac

Calif. Ted · Nov 30, 2020

I'll see your Alerion and raise you a Morris.

I know at 36' it's cheating a little.

jon hansen · Nov 30, 2020

it's fun spending other peoples money

PaulK · Nov 30, 2020

A guy at our club has a Morris. He doesn't seem to be able to do much with it. Too big to handle on his own and not really set up for more than a weekend overnight, if that. At the other end of the expense spectrum, however, would be a Tartan 10.https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/tartan-10
Huge cockpit. Wide decks. Enclosed head. Decent sailer.

1981 Tartan T-10 in Waukegan, IL

Search millions of new and used boats for sale and research your next boats purchase.

www.smartmarineguide.com

shemandr · Nov 30, 2020

A lot of mid-western sailors have cut their teeth on those Tartan 10's. Very competitive fleets. But the boats are aging out at this point. I expect one could be had for a very reasonable price. You could probably find an LS-10 - a new(er) boat from a mold made from a Tartan 10 - for a reasonable price too. Large cockpit too. Head. Diesel engine. If I remember a cooler instead of a "Ice box."

Tally Ho · Nov 30, 2020

Souellette said:
Love that cockpit layout. Thank you. Aside from the plastic interior, were there any other things you didn't like about the boat? Is she easy to sail? Seems very similar to the Catalina 28 but less beam and I'm guessing displacement too.

She was very easy to sail, had a big main sail (B&R rig), but with lazy jacks it was no problem to raise and lower. Strong little Yanmar 2GM20F engine pushed her along fine. I had the 5-foot draft keel and I could point up much higher than my friends H33 with the shoal draft keel.

I love this photo...looks scary, but I felt in complete control (just a bit over-canvasses and I didn’t want to have to reef - I was racing).

Greg