Doesn't Anyone Start on Small Boats Anymore?

[smackdaddy]

Jeez Pain! What a contrarian freakin' troublemaker! Are you trying to put a rip in the Sailnet/Time continuum?

I learned to sail on a 30, bought a 27 as a first boat, and am looking at a 40 as our next. I'm also looking at getting a Laser or Hobie for the kids.

Pain's got it right. Free love. Free sailing. Just have fun with it for crying out loud!

[painkiller]

Originally Posted by smackdaddy

Jeez Pain! What a contrarian freakin' troublemaker! Are you trying to put a rip in the Sailnet/Time continuum?

I learned to sail on a 30, bought a 27 as a first boat, and am looking at a 40 as our next. I'm also looking at getting a Laser or Hobie for the kids.

Pain's got it right. Free love. Free sailing. Just have fun with it for crying out loud!

WWBMD (What Would Bernard Moitessier Do)??

That's right! He'd hit a reef and sink. But BEFORE that, he'd enjoy the sailing!

[dganchor2002]

Originally Posted by Dirtboy

That's really a shame because they are so much fun to sail. If you could get her to just do one sail (calm day with little chop) she might change her mind. If you can find an old G-Cat in good shape they are even better than a Hobie for the wife. G-Cat's are nearly impossible to flip (you've really gotta be trying) and have a very usable front trampoline so they have a lot more people room.

DB

I couldn't agree more. I learned on Sunfish and Lasers (you get a great feel for saying when you can't rely on a motor), before moving on to Hobies. Never been on a G-cat, but Hobie's new rolled-hull Getaways are very comfy and tremendously stable (I've never flipped mine accidentally, and I sail in the gulf in 25-30 knots of wind). Tradeoff, of course, is that it's a lot heavier. But it's great to be able to draw up on shore.

[smackdaddy]

Hey dg - welcome to SN dude!

[sailortjk1]

Pain....
Way to go Man! your a real Pain, you know that right???
You know that having a contrary opinion is not allowed!!

[painkiller]

Originally Posted by sailortjk1

Pain....
Way to go Man! your a real Pain, you know that right???
You know that having a contrary opinion is not allowed!!

.

[SEMIJim]

The Admiral and I bought the smallest boat in which I could comfortably stretch out in at least two of the berths, which happened to be a 30' boat, based on the premise that what we were largely going to do was cruise. Well, here we are, two seasons later, having done no more than having over-nighted on her a couple times with the boat in her slip . We day-sail and (club) race. Knowing what we know now, would be choose differently? Perhaps. Perhaps not. That 30' really isn't all that difficult for us to double-hand, and we still plan to cruise... eventually.

Btw: In our sail club (note I wrote sail club, not yacht club), we're one of the "smaller" boats .

Btw2: Both of us had sailing/crewing experience before buying Abracadabra, so we more-or-less knew what to expect.

Jim

[doubleeboy]

The admiral and I, (late 50s , early 60s) learned to sail last year thru a charter club. Decided chartering wasn't for us. Wanted a boat we could grow into, and likely be our last for NW cruising. Got a performance cruiser 39', one head, 2 cabin, all the goodies, 8 years old. Perfect size for us. We doublehand it most of the time, occaisonally have guests for a daysail.

We've sailed most every weekend since the purchase in late January. Unless its blowing like stink or below freezing, we are out there having a blast. We are aware of our strengths and weaknesses, cognizant of our surroundings and conditions and sail accordingly. If we had it to do over, we would change nothing. We should have started sailing 30 years ago.

michael

I fibbed, it doesn't have all the goodies, I still need a dinghy

[peptobysmol]

Boat buying = marriage
Most think they know what is "best" for them. Some actually seek counseling before taking the plunge. Some go for the skanky trash that need alot of cosmetic work but are cheap and easy to "get in." Some go for the high faluting biotches with very refined tastes but are also "high maintenance."

Some have been 'round the block before and either make the same poor decisions (masochistic) or have learned what its really about and have matured and make a decision based on what fits them the most.

However, either way, most people will have it in their heart to make a decision based on just that.

I'll bet the guy the OP tried to talk out of buying "his" boat will buy one just like it.

IMHO

[Boasun]

Just to add... I've taught beginner's sailing in Sabots, intermediate in 15' Capis and then advance in 27' Catalinas... And for the highest we had a 44' yawl. This was at the Naval Sailing Club in San Diego Ca. During the Seventies.
And the Icing was that I ended up as the Training Commodore of that club... I still consider this an honor.