make a porsche into a mini-van?

[rayncyn51]

It's all about how comfy you want to be. More correctly, it's about how comfy your girfriend feels after a week on the boat. Cal's are great boats. I started on a 25. Everyone has a different opinion based on the way they sail. My current plans, budget, and location sound a lot like yours. We opted for a Catalina 30. When I'm done with some repairs and updates, we will have a big, solid, comfy boat for about what you are going to have in that Cal by the time you're done. I think the best advice is don't let yourself decide on what boat to buy based only on price. The economy s^%$s. There are a lot of good deals out there. Good luck

[shakespearebro]

Originally Posted by Jeff_H

More to the point, there are boats out there in your price range that would make a reasonable performance cruiser that would suit your goals, the Cal 9.2 isn't one of them. (The Tartan 30 and Bristol 33/34 although both have similar rig proportions would be good starting points).

Wow, that's really helpful and really coincidental. I just sent an inquiry email to a broker handling an older (1971) Bristol 35 Sloop that sounded like it was just the sort of boat I wanted--slow and stable, but with plenty of creature comforts and can be singlehanded. Thanks so much for setting me straight. I think I'll pass on the Cal.

[Jeff_H]

Just for the record, I was recommending a Bristol 33/34. I would not recommend the Bristol 35 which is an entirely different boat and not all that well suited to the Chesapeake's light air and changeable conditions or for single-handing. The Bristol 34 was a Halsey Hershoff design that should be suitable across a wider range of conditions.

Jeff

[Lostmt]

Take it slow with heeling and your girlfriend. I feel that the biggest fear is that they think the boat will turtle. My wife was that way until we put a rail in the water after an unexpected gust hit us. We rounded right up now she is fine with heeling. That's what mono hulls are supposed to do.

The other day on a friends boat my wife and his lady friend were down in the galley fixing a snack and we were heeling pretty good. They were having a blast.

Be easy with your girlfriend and let her learn at her paste.

[shakespearebro]

Originally Posted by Jeff_H

Just for the record, I was recommending a Bristol 33/34. I would not recommend the Bristol 35 which is an entirely different boat and not all that well suited to the Chesapeake's light air and changeable conditions or for single-handing. The Bristol 34 was a Halsey Hershoff design that should be suitable across a wider range of conditions.

Jeff

Rats. The Bristol 35 Sloop was one gorgeous boat, at least in the photos anyway. For some reason I was thinking the sloop rig, furling systems, and wheeled rudder would all make it easy to single-hand (showing my ignorance, no doubt.) Oh, well.

[shakespearebro]

Originally Posted by Lostmt

Take it slow with heeling and your girlfriend. I feel that the biggest fear is that they think the boat will turtle.

You've got it exactly. She's afraid of going in the water. Since I learned on a Laser I was in the water all the day and got over my fears fast. As you say, patience is the name of the game here and I want her to like sailing, so go slow.

[xort]

shake

I suggest you buy Nigel Calders Cruising Handbook. He gives a great outline of the whats and whys of cruising boats. you have a LOT to consider

[shakespearebro]

Originally Posted by xort

shake

I suggest you buy Nigel Calders Cruising Handbook. He gives a great outline of the whats and whys of cruising boats. you have a LOT to consider

Thanks, I'll definitely check it out.

[blt2ski]

Here is a website that does a pretty good job of explaining the Cal 9.2/Jeanneau Rush sailboat. For what you want, I would agree with the others, probably NOT the right boat!

Marty

[GeorgeB]

Wise decision in passing up on an old IOR warhorse. In the day, they used to call them “broach coaches” and worse for obvious reasons. One cautionary note. Used boat prices are a pretty efficient market place which is to say boats on the lower end of the scale all have condition issues of one stripe or another. There is no free lunch. And you are pretty much bottom fishing with your low price point. Expect to spend a lot of additional money in the first couple of years of ownership. Replacing rigging, sails or an engine could easily far outstrip your original purchase price and the standard electrical system of thirty years ago is woefully under powered for today’s cruiser. I’m not saying “don’t do it” (I’ve certainly did, several times over) Just be realistic. The boat will be more expensive and your cruising will be more primitive than you may have in your mind’s eye right now.