light air boat

csailm · #1 (**permalink**) 03-06-2002

we''re in the market for a light air boat to sail on a small lake in the midwest. We''re looking for one with a decent PHRF to compete in local regattas. What do you recommend in the 27-30'' range built from 1975 - 1990 with good overnight accomodations. We use this boat most weekend from March through Oct.

Jeff_H · #2 (**permalink**) 03-06-2002

I strongly recommend a Laser 28. Having recently sold mine that I owned for 14 years these are really excellent light air boats that also have nice accomodations.

Jeff

csailm · #3 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002

I have crewed on a Laser 28 since 1985. Would rather not go head to head with my captain? Any other suggestions!

Jeff_H · #4 (**permalink**) 03-13-2002

Why not? You might just show him how it is done! It really hard to find PHRF boats that are good in light air and also have fair PHRF ratings. For example, boats like Melges 24''s and J-27''s have good light air performance but they get hammered by their ratings. (When I raced on J-27''s I used to joke about the J-27 owner''s manual containing a section on "Complaining about your PHRF Rating" because J-27 owners seemed to have it down to the same mantra). Mumm 30''s are super light air boats with a pretty fair rating but they are quite expensive.

It seems like you are looking for a slightly older design whose ratings have slid off the PHRF radar screeen. Soverel 33''s are amazing light air boats that seem to be able to sail to their rating in the light stuff. Wavelength 30''s are another boat that seems to slip in under the PHRF radar.

Jeff

aasault · #5 (**permalink**) 03-13-2002

On a side note Jeff_H, I''m wondering what you think about a J80 for PHRF,

Art

csailm · #6 (**permalink**) 03-13-2002

Thank you. I will check these out.
The Laser 28''s reputation on this lake is ''#1" the boat to beat. Currently, beating J105s scratch!!! But, we''be got some Hobie 33s on the learning curve that will be quite competitive.
My husband will continue to crew for the Laser and I''m going to race whatever the new boat is.

Jeff_H · #7 (**permalink**) 03-13-2002

With regard to the J-80, I have never been especially impressed with them. I think they make reasonable boats for a sailing school or a one design fleet, but I don''t think that they make sense as PHRF boats.

As to the Hobie 33''s, they do not seem to be great light air boats. Because of their narow beam they also carry pretty small sail plans. They also have low ratings based on their moderate to high wind reaching/running ability. This combination seems to hurt them in the light stuff.

Jeff

csailm · #8 (**permalink**) 03-25-2002

There is a Hobie 33 that is trailered to our club for the Long Distance Classic Regatta that is extremely hard to beat. In fact, his name appears most often on the trophy cup.
The captain and his crew have sailed together for many years and do a superb job. He is required to sail the 100 mile portion.

Thank you for the other two suggestions. I will take a look at them.

csail · #9 (**permalink**) 04-22-2002

looking at a S2 27 performance cruiser and a Cal27. Which one would you recommend? Resale value is a factor. S2 seems to hold it''s value and is nearby. But, Cals are good too. Help

Jeff_H · #10 (**permalink**) 04-23-2002

Neither are particularly good light air boats.

With regards to resale, at this point in time both have had as pretty much depreciation as they will ever had. My experience with selling and buying S2''s (except their race boats) suggest that they are very hard to sell. They originally had very high prices and so tend to have proportionately higher asking prices than they actually seem to sell for.

There were a several 27 foot models made by Cal. What year are you looking at? Some were better boats than others.

Jeff