Question for any SJ 24 owners/sailors

[gedaggett]

I am possibly going to be getting serious about the purchase of a 1976 SJ 24 here in the area and had a couple of questions. I will be using the boat on Lake Michigan for day sails and an occasional weekender. I will stay on the boat multiple times per month at mooring. I have a family of 4 with a 5 and 1 year old. Who will be going out with me often (not so much the 1 year old).

1. What is a reasonable cruising speed for that boat while on a close haul, beam reach and running (no chute) in reasonable winds of 10knts waves 2-3?

2. What are the pitfalls of this boat. Things to watch for or make sure are solid?

3. Is it easily single handed if setup for it?

4. Is it a comfortable sail for it's class?

5. Will it point close to the wind with good sail trim?

6. Anything you would tell me about the boat that you wish you knew before you bought it, good or bad.

Thanks for any input.

Gary

[blt2ski]

Gary,

There appears to be a yahoo sj24 sight/email list. Along with B Kirby the designer has a small amount of info on his site, and wikepedia has some info. Both sites have links to the yahoo site. And there used to be a forum a sj24.net or some such addy from a search a moment or two ago.

For its time and heyday, it is a good boat for its size. You will probably find that a Cat 25/250 to be more comfortible for a family rig, when looking at boats that size, but an SJ is a solid well built boat. It will do the imfamous IOR barrel roll with a spin up. And talking with one local coming home for a SH race a few weeks back, they mentioned even down wind with a 160 genoa it would upon occasion want to wobble a bit. so they put it a bit off from stratight down wind and did pretty good.

There is a CalT4, or a Cal 1/4 ton boat like the SJ, she is set up pretty good, is hard to beat in our local beer can races. Not sure which has a better interior of the three I have mentioned, but the SJ or the Cal will be the faster of the 3. With the SJ maybe having the better race record, so would assume either better sailors, or a faster boat overall.

If it were me, and you could afford one, some of the boats in the 26-28' range might be better overall for your use.

Marty

[gedaggett]

Originally Posted by blt2ski

Gary,

It will do the imfamous IOR barrel roll with a spin up.
Marty

Do you mean it turns into the wind with an excessive heel?? Is this a common thing and once I learn it's tendencies and what conditions it desires to do this is it easily avoidable? I have also considered a Ranger 26 which I understand to be a bit more stable on it's axis.

[blt2ski]

I would look at the ranger over the SJ. This is from a person that grew up in SJ territory! and I have to admit, a teary eye when I look at them, as growing up as a teen here in the Puget sound area where SJ were built down the road.....they are all over!

Another to look at in the S line is the 28. Locally, there is a R26 beating up on everyone. Not sure what they have done, maybe stripped it? good bottom work, sails, people etc. But it is way faster than an SJ will be! More room inside etc too.

marty