Last year we sailed a 15' day sailor. This year, it's a 19'. I keep looking at the 22' and 25' models. Do I have a problem, can't I ever be satisfied?
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No Problem
I have had a "98" H240. I have had a "99" H260. I now have a "2000" H290. I have no Problem.
I have had a "98" H240. I have had a "99" H260. I now have a "2000" H290. I have no Problem.
You always want a bigger boat
I had a 92 Hunter 23.5 and I just moved up to a 2001 Hunter 290. It is so much bigger and roomier and I can almost stand up inside (there is 6'2" headroom and I am an inch taller). Yet when my wife, my 2 kids (age 18 and 15) and myself and down below, I think I should have gotten the 320. This weekend we are moving the boat from Bay Shore LI to our homeport up the Hudson. My younger brother and his wife are joining my wife, son and I for the 2 day trip. By Monday I will be wondering how much better the 380 would have been. You just have to get what you can afford and decide how you will normally be using her. Within a short number of years both of my kids will be out of the house, and it will just be myself and the wife sailing or I will be going out single handed so a 290 is a good size for that.
I had a 92 Hunter 23.5 and I just moved up to a 2001 Hunter 290. It is so much bigger and roomier and I can almost stand up inside (there is 6'2" headroom and I am an inch taller). Yet when my wife, my 2 kids (age 18 and 15) and myself and down below, I think I should have gotten the 320. This weekend we are moving the boat from Bay Shore LI to our homeport up the Hudson. My younger brother and his wife are joining my wife, son and I for the 2 day trip. By Monday I will be wondering how much better the 380 would have been. You just have to get what you can afford and decide how you will normally be using her. Within a short number of years both of my kids will be out of the house, and it will just be myself and the wife sailing or I will be going out single handed so a 290 is a good size for that.
Boating is a "Sickness"
Just about everyone aspires to something bigger and better. I've had a 30, 36, 42 and now my 46. I'm not sure there is any "Cure"
Just about everyone aspires to something bigger and better. I've had a 30, 36, 42 and now my 46. I'm not sure there is any "Cure"
The medical terminology for this malady is...
2-foot-itis. In reality, it could be more or less than two feet (usually more) but the symptoms are the same. Gazing longingly at the slightly longer boats. Watching the want ads, just in case. Getting pre-approved for a loan. There is no known cure but, thankfully, it isn't terminal. Just one of those chronic ailments you have to learn to accept and live with.
LaDonna
2-foot-itis. In reality, it could be more or less than two feet (usually more) but the symptoms are the same. Gazing longingly at the slightly longer boats. Watching the want ads, just in case. Getting pre-approved for a loan. There is no known cure but, thankfully, it isn't terminal. Just one of those chronic ailments you have to learn to accept and live with.
LaDonnaOne known cure
Most people are reasonable about the 2-footisis, but the way I was cured of this common malady was by going from a 28 foot sloop to a 51 foot ketch. Had a grand time for a couple years living aboard, but now I can really appreciate my current 36 foot sloop. It's nice to be able to actually move the boat when you push her off a dock again! Bigger isn't neccesarily better, especially when you consider the exponentially higher cost of upkeep in addition to the purchase price. Trevor
Most people are reasonable about the 2-footisis, but the way I was cured of this common malady was by going from a 28 foot sloop to a 51 foot ketch. Had a grand time for a couple years living aboard, but now I can really appreciate my current 36 foot sloop. It's nice to be able to actually move the boat when you push her off a dock again! Bigger isn't neccesarily better, especially when you consider the exponentially higher cost of upkeep in addition to the purchase price. Trevor
The grass is always greener...
After reading Trevor's cure, now I don't feel so bad. I thought this 28 to 50-something was a unique insanity. I went from a Hunter 28.5 to a Hunter 54, which is rigged as a cutter. Not so much for more space as for more speed. I still have the 28.5 and will until I'm ready for singlehanding the 54. When I just had the 28.5, it seemed all boats were bigger, and naturally, I envied moving up some day. Now that I have the 54, I sometimes long for the simpler times of a simpler boat. Which just proves that the grass is always greener on the boat you don't own.
After reading Trevor's cure, now I don't feel so bad. I thought this 28 to 50-something was a unique insanity. I went from a Hunter 28.5 to a Hunter 54, which is rigged as a cutter. Not so much for more space as for more speed. I still have the 28.5 and will until I'm ready for singlehanding the 54. When I just had the 28.5, it seemed all boats were bigger, and naturally, I envied moving up some day. Now that I have the 54, I sometimes long for the simpler times of a simpler boat. Which just proves that the grass is always greener on the boat you don't own.
I have the same problem!!!!
I had a Hunter 29.5 and I loved it, this year I bought a Hunter 340 and it is not even in the water and I gaze at that 380..... I have that bug too!
I had a Hunter 29.5 and I loved it, this year I bought a Hunter 340 and it is not even in the water and I gaze at that 380..... I have that bug too!
Two At A Time!!
Every boat owner actually has TWO boats: The one you sail and your next one!!! Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"
Every boat owner actually has TWO boats: The one you sail and your next one!!! Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"
If you must - 20%
First, answer the question, "why." Other than the obvious answer - "why not!," what do you want to do with a bigger boat? We sold a 24' power boat for a 28' power boat. The 28 footer was too large for what we wanted to do - fish the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and sometimes offshore. It turned out that the 24 footer was ideal for that purpose. However, now we are sailors. We owned a C-22, which was ideal for sailing on a small lake (full of alligators - I'm not sure that a Sunfish would be OK on that lake). When we came to the Chesapeake Bay, we bought an H31. It was a terrific first cruising boat. Now, we want to spend more time on the boat, so we need more cabin space. Sometimes, we want to get there quickly and in comfort. So, we began looking for a bigger Hunter. I was advised to go up 20%. It turns out that anything less doesn't justify the costs for the limited benefit. So, we are now aboard an H380. I think we are very satisfied with this boat. NEVERMORE
First, answer the question, "why." Other than the obvious answer - "why not!," what do you want to do with a bigger boat? We sold a 24' power boat for a 28' power boat. The 28 footer was too large for what we wanted to do - fish the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and sometimes offshore. It turned out that the 24 footer was ideal for that purpose. However, now we are sailors. We owned a C-22, which was ideal for sailing on a small lake (full of alligators - I'm not sure that a Sunfish would be OK on that lake). When we came to the Chesapeake Bay, we bought an H31. It was a terrific first cruising boat. Now, we want to spend more time on the boat, so we need more cabin space. Sometimes, we want to get there quickly and in comfort. So, we began looking for a bigger Hunter. I was advised to go up 20%. It turns out that anything less doesn't justify the costs for the limited benefit. So, we are now aboard an H380. I think we are very satisfied with this boat. NEVERMORE
It's never big enough
Last year my wife and I and our 8,6,and 2 year old went on a Carnival Cruise. THAT BOAT wasn't big enough for us. The children were still under foot!!
Last year my wife and I and our 8,6,and 2 year old went on a Carnival Cruise. THAT BOAT wasn't big enough for us. The children were still under foot!!
Not too big is big enough.
As far as what constitutes 'too big' of a boat, I think you have to look at what you are really going to use the boat for first. At a certain point even the richest guy out there does not want an 80-footer. There are certain limits to your ability and needs that will render some larger boats a waste of money. Also, it's like the 'weakest-link-in-the-chain' idea, where a larger boat will begin to outperform you. A 50-footer can handle a lot rougher weather than can a 30-footer, yet some monied owners might be too idiotic to recognise that their own abilities are not up to what the boat can do. Such secondary ignorance can be catastrophically dangerous. For myself I think about 50 ft is the limit and something round 40 ft is optimum. This is about the biggest yacht a solo sailor or one with a mate or small family can really be comfortable with. A Block Island 40 (a boat I adore), for example, will take a heck of a beating, sail with the best modern cruising boats of the same size, be forgiving of its skipper's errors in weather and provide enough space for 4-6 adults over a weekend. I'm not sure many of us can ask much more than that of any boat, and for me that recipe is just about perfect. JC
As far as what constitutes 'too big' of a boat, I think you have to look at what you are really going to use the boat for first. At a certain point even the richest guy out there does not want an 80-footer. There are certain limits to your ability and needs that will render some larger boats a waste of money. Also, it's like the 'weakest-link-in-the-chain' idea, where a larger boat will begin to outperform you. A 50-footer can handle a lot rougher weather than can a 30-footer, yet some monied owners might be too idiotic to recognise that their own abilities are not up to what the boat can do. Such secondary ignorance can be catastrophically dangerous. For myself I think about 50 ft is the limit and something round 40 ft is optimum. This is about the biggest yacht a solo sailor or one with a mate or small family can really be comfortable with. A Block Island 40 (a boat I adore), for example, will take a heck of a beating, sail with the best modern cruising boats of the same size, be forgiving of its skipper's errors in weather and provide enough space for 4-6 adults over a weekend. I'm not sure many of us can ask much more than that of any boat, and for me that recipe is just about perfect. JC
Larry, You will be the first to know...
when you find the perfect boat. Size wise, comfort wise and performance wise. Please post back, if you can afford the internet charges when you find this boat. Ray. PS. I figure I will only live 20 more years so you better get started.
when you find the perfect boat. Size wise, comfort wise and performance wise. Please post back, if you can afford the internet charges when you find this boat. Ray. PS. I figure I will only live 20 more years so you better get started.
My H23 is big enough (I think)
My H23 is the right size. It's easy to singlehand, inexpensive to maintain, fun to sail and big enough for overnight cruises with the kids. When the big-boat bug bites, I charter something bigger A 40 ft Beneteau is the largest so far. A week will usually take the edge off my urge to get a bigger boat. However...there IS a Hunter 25.5 on my dock that looks better and better every time I walk by....Help!!!! Peter H23 "Raven" H25 "????"
My H23 is the right size. It's easy to singlehand, inexpensive to maintain, fun to sail and big enough for overnight cruises with the kids. When the big-boat bug bites, I charter something bigger A 40 ft Beneteau is the largest so far. A week will usually take the edge off my urge to get a bigger boat. However...there IS a Hunter 25.5 on my dock that looks better and better every time I walk by....Help!!!! Peter H23 "Raven" H25 "????"
size doesn't matter, right?
I'm on my fourth boat (h33.5) and it is big enough for a family of four, but I can still single-hand her if I want. Of course, the 35.5 is a beautiful boat, and its only 2 ft. longer . . .
I'm on my fourth boat (h33.5) and it is big enough for a family of four, but I can still single-hand her if I want. Of course, the 35.5 is a beautiful boat, and its only 2 ft. longer . . .
30ish Feet..O/A..
..is what I always considered to be a practical limit on the basis that I would want to comfortably single hand it in a safe manner. I had three boats in the 26-27 range and they were great with one observation and reservation: the deck gear, although sized right, was too small in my opinion. In fact, I think you reef more often and use the gear more frequently, so it should be tops. We spent weeks on those boats and our sailing is open ocean. I had a Hunter 32 Vision for 9 years and have to consider that one of the best single handers out there with lots of room. I now have a Hunter Legend 40.5 which we love. With the sto-pack main sail cover, electric winch and anchor windlass, I can single hand it too. But, the truth is that it is on the large size, a handfull if things get ugly and doesn't 'live' appreciably better than the V32. It is, though, a wonderful second home that we can live aboard without giving up much to shoreside and can accomodate easier the frequent visitors we expect now that I have retired. So, IMHO, stay around 30' unless you have a very good reason for moving up, like living aboard for extended periods or have reliable crew available. Rick D
..is what I always considered to be a practical limit on the basis that I would want to comfortably single hand it in a safe manner. I had three boats in the 26-27 range and they were great with one observation and reservation: the deck gear, although sized right, was too small in my opinion. In fact, I think you reef more often and use the gear more frequently, so it should be tops. We spent weeks on those boats and our sailing is open ocean. I had a Hunter 32 Vision for 9 years and have to consider that one of the best single handers out there with lots of room. I now have a Hunter Legend 40.5 which we love. With the sto-pack main sail cover, electric winch and anchor windlass, I can single hand it too. But, the truth is that it is on the large size, a handfull if things get ugly and doesn't 'live' appreciably better than the V32. It is, though, a wonderful second home that we can live aboard without giving up much to shoreside and can accomodate easier the frequent visitors we expect now that I have retired. So, IMHO, stay around 30' unless you have a very good reason for moving up, like living aboard for extended periods or have reliable crew available. Rick D
30' is great....1 crew is lonesome
I was just considering going back to day sailing this morning with our old 15'. All my crew's busy making ends meet, and my day off finds me by myself. I love the thought of a 30' yacht, spending life where Shakespeare's "to be or not to be" really makes sense. I just get confused about finding time... "to leave or not to leave".
I was just considering going back to day sailing this morning with our old 15'. All my crew's busy making ends meet, and my day off finds me by myself. I love the thought of a 30' yacht, spending life where Shakespeare's "to be or not to be" really makes sense. I just get confused about finding time... "to leave or not to leave".
Fascinating Question
I have had nine sailboats, all new and all loved save two. I've had a Cal 20, a Peason 27, a Ranger 29, a Ranger 32 (racing boat), a Scepre 36, and Hunters 40, Vision 32, 35.5 and 380. I've been sailing the pacific northwest for forty plus years. We've had no children so it has always been my wife and I and two cats. The two boats we DId NOT like were the Peason 27 and the Hunter Vision 32. The reason for the negative attitude on the Peason was because the outboard was in a well and hard to manage. I didn't have the brains to figure out that I should have reinstalled the outboard on the stern. It also didn't fit our needs of cruising and sleeping together. It sailed well but had too small of winchess for the jib. Little things that I could have changed but didn't. The Hunter Vision 32 was like getting married right after a devorce. We had the Hunter 40 but had put it into charter and when the five years were up, I had fallen out of love with it because of all the repairs I had done. I wanted a simpler boat so went with the Vision 32. It had a great interior but I never really learned how to sail it. I could not make it sail well. The other boats we all loved for one reason or another. But they all had problems that we thought that the new boat would solve. But there is another point in why some people like me keep buying boats. It is because our needs change. I went from learning to sail to piloting and wanting to go further in our cruises. Then I took up racing and wanted a boat that had bells and whisles. Then we wanted a boat that we could share with friends. With this last boat, the Hunter 380, we wanted a boat that could cruise a distance, drop anchor for several days and be comfortable. I needed a boat that I could get into the dinghy without falling in. For the moment, this is the perfect boat for me. Am I satisfied? Right now, I'm in heaven with this boat. Doesn't race as well since I don't have a asymetrical chute, but it is a fun sailor. We also have generally done well in trade ins or selling our boats. I like to use other people's money so we've had good boat loans. For the two of us it looks like a boat in the 35 to 38 foot range seems to be in our comfort level. So with footitus, been there, done that, even got a T-shirt. I think the final result should be--if you got to your boat and fall in love each time, you have the right boat. The problem is that we humans are fickle. Happy sailing.
I have had nine sailboats, all new and all loved save two. I've had a Cal 20, a Peason 27, a Ranger 29, a Ranger 32 (racing boat), a Scepre 36, and Hunters 40, Vision 32, 35.5 and 380. I've been sailing the pacific northwest for forty plus years. We've had no children so it has always been my wife and I and two cats. The two boats we DId NOT like were the Peason 27 and the Hunter Vision 32. The reason for the negative attitude on the Peason was because the outboard was in a well and hard to manage. I didn't have the brains to figure out that I should have reinstalled the outboard on the stern. It also didn't fit our needs of cruising and sleeping together. It sailed well but had too small of winchess for the jib. Little things that I could have changed but didn't. The Hunter Vision 32 was like getting married right after a devorce. We had the Hunter 40 but had put it into charter and when the five years were up, I had fallen out of love with it because of all the repairs I had done. I wanted a simpler boat so went with the Vision 32. It had a great interior but I never really learned how to sail it. I could not make it sail well. The other boats we all loved for one reason or another. But they all had problems that we thought that the new boat would solve. But there is another point in why some people like me keep buying boats. It is because our needs change. I went from learning to sail to piloting and wanting to go further in our cruises. Then I took up racing and wanted a boat that had bells and whisles. Then we wanted a boat that we could share with friends. With this last boat, the Hunter 380, we wanted a boat that could cruise a distance, drop anchor for several days and be comfortable. I needed a boat that I could get into the dinghy without falling in. For the moment, this is the perfect boat for me. Am I satisfied? Right now, I'm in heaven with this boat. Doesn't race as well since I don't have a asymetrical chute, but it is a fun sailor. We also have generally done well in trade ins or selling our boats. I like to use other people's money so we've had good boat loans. For the two of us it looks like a boat in the 35 to 38 foot range seems to be in our comfort level. So with footitus, been there, done that, even got a T-shirt. I think the final result should be--if you got to your boat and fall in love each time, you have the right boat. The problem is that we humans are fickle. Happy sailing.
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