Swapping Catalina 25 for Melges...

[SpcAlan1]

I am wanting to sell my Catalina 25 and purchase a used Melges.

But...

Which Melges to look into? There are so many different types..

A little about me:
Salining for 1 year
very novice
would like to be able to sail with 4 people
want to go fast - but safely.

Any sugestions on model and website?

[tommays]

Well

What do they sail were you live as the scows are pretty much a mid-us thing and then there is the sport boat which is all over

There all pretty much a high cost way to go sailing

[SpcAlan1]

Well I cannot get over how the Melges look
fast, sleek, very well laid out..

if not Melges, then what is another 'racing' sailboat with similiar looks?

Thanks.

[JohnRPollard]

My family used to have a Melges 24. They are definitely fast.

But upwind in a tight sea-state, they will pound the heck out of you. And there is no concession to comfort below -- it is just a place to stow sails.

Seriously fast and fun. They are best suited to round-the-buoy racing. If that's what you plan to do, then it's a great choice if comfort isn't important. If you are sailing with family/kids, probably not the best choice.

If sailing with family/kids, want to spend some nights on the boat, or just aren't interested in completely roughing it, take a look at some of the decimeter-series J-boats. They are somewhat less extreme in their pursuit of speed, with more of a nod to comfort.

[SpcAlan1]

it will be for lake sailing only.
I will look into the J series as well as a melges

any other model suggestions?

what about the different melges models - what's the diff?

[tommays]

I think as the 20' is still brand new your pretty much looking at the 24' you can look on Yachtworld to get a better idea about the used market

[JohnRPollard]

For lake sailing only (assuming not Great Lakes), you might want to take a look at the new Melges 20. It dispenses with any pretense of a cabin, and focuses solely on racing sailing. It eliminates the need for an outboard pretty much entirely, which can be a hassle on the M24, and the smaller size contains costs somewhat.

I would suggest you poke around their website a bit. J-boats also has a good website, with archives of previous models.

[blt2ski]

Asuming you are looking at the typical hull style melges, and NOT the scow designs, the Laser SB3 might be a good alternate to the M24. There are locally in the puget sound some other mid 20' sleds if you will like the M24/SB3 that all race together in the same class some times. Unfortunately, I am drawing a blank on one I am thinking of, other than the name of "Redfish blues". A "Rocket 22?" I'm thinking built up in Vancouver BC, but do not quote me.........

Another sled like boat from up in Vancouver, BC that is back being built is a "Martin 24". IIRC similar breed to a M24.

A mini transat might be another option, altho most are about 9.5' wide, made to single hand oceans in races. There is one local, quick boat. 21-22' long IIRC....6.5 meters IIRC is the box rule length.

While a J24/22 may be of similar length, they will not be as fast, but as John says, possibly a bit more comfy in the cabin area.

Marty