Any day sailors here?

[SansaBoat]

Although I think I have cruising in my blood, we find ourselves 1,000 miles from the nearest ocean! In my infinite wisdom, we moved from SoCal to Denver, CO and AFTER moving here, picked up scuba diving and a thirst for more sailing. Duh. I ain't the smartest tool in the shed. So to speak.

We've sailed in SoCal when we lived there (via sailing club: 20 footers through 45 footers) and did a bareboat in the VIs about 10 years ago.

Now... I need to get on the water. We have two options given where we live and our family status. Which sounds best to you?

FACTS:

3 kids (ages 6, 8, 9) with soccer / baseball / school / etc.
About $5k to spend, although we could tweak that if needed


Option I

Buy a small daysailer - 15 to 17' (Hunter 170, Capris 16.5, Whaler Harpoon), leave it at a 1000 acre lake about 5 miles away and just mess around (after school, weekends, etc.)

Option II

Buy a slighter larger daysailer (25'-27' Catalina / Oday / Etc.) and keep it up at a mountain lake - 1.5 hours away.

I like the idea of a bigger boat and the possibility of sleeping over on it, but we may not get up there as much as I hope. Alternatively, daysailing a 17 footer seems like it might get boring (flame on!).

Anyone gone down either road and have advice for us?

(I'd really like to get a 40' Hinckley and live in Newport Beach, but absent of a winning lottery ticket, the above two options are the more likely options! )

[Quickstep192]

Is there a reason that you can't keep a bigger boat at the 1000 acre lake that's near to home?

[SansaBoat]

I *could* do that, but it's a shallow lake and would have to haul out after each sail. You *never* see a bigger sailboat out on that lake - it's just too small. There's no law against it, but a boat with a cabin doesn't seem to "fit".

[smackdaddy]

I vote for the 27-footer-option. it's really not that difficult to learn to handle (we have a C27) - and it's great for overnighters and weekends. I really love ours - as do the kids.

And it's a great way to start to learn systems repair/maintenance, etc. on very simple systems.

I'm personally not a big proponent of the start-on-a-sunfish route...if you can afford to avoid it.

[Quickstep192]

Two adults and three kids on a smallish boat seems like a crowd. I daysail pretty much exclusively on my 24' boat and even though I don't overnight, the cabin sure comes in handy for storing sails, changing clothes or using the potty. I also think you might like the stability of a bigger boat with the kids on-board. The boat that immediately came to mind is the Cape Dory Typhoon, but trailering would be a challenge. Next was an O'Day in the 20' range with a retractable keel. I know I'm spoiled, but an hour and a half drive to the boat seems like a stretch. I'd split the difference and get a trailerable boat in-between the 17' and 25' range and pick the location closer to home.

Here's an ad for a O'Day with some good pictures.

1987 O'day 192 sailboat for sale in Arizona

[poltergeist]

Poke around here and you'll find a recent thread with a similar theme with a bunch of sound daysailer recommendations. Personally ... and this is just my taste ... I'd vote for a centerboard boat in the 19 to 22-foot range, since it appears that you'll be keeping it on a trailer and launching at the local lake. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) That size will give you room for the family. And being closer will mean that you'll get out more often. As nice as the mountain lake and staying aboard might sound, a three hour round trip with kids that age just to get to the boat doesn't sound like the way I'd want to spend MY Sundays. Buy an O'Day Daysailer, Flying Scot, Catalina 22, O'Day Mariner, Rhodes 19 and see how it works for you and your family. Sell it later for the money you put in if it doesn't work.

Kurt