Downsizing Suggestions

[SESailor]

I sail a one design Tartan Ten (33') on a large inland southeastern Lake and plan to retire soon to a lake house in Florida. The Florida lake is about 5 miles in diameter and shallow, so I need to keep my draft 4 feet or less. I do a lot of single handed sailing so I need something less than 24 feet.

I have been looking around at daysailers like the Quickstep 24, Pearson Ensign, Sea Sprite 23 and some of the other older, New England full keel boats. I have also looked at newer designs like the Capri 22, Harbor 20, Santana 20, Ranger 22, Holder 20 and their ilk. The old style full keels seem to be dogs, with PHRF's around 250, which will be a bummer for a retiring T-10 skipper.

So I am probably looking for the impossible, a daysailer that has a large cockpit and can get around in a drifter, yet with enough stability to make it through a blow. Its got to have some speed, but not so tender that a old-timer can't make it back to port in a blow.

I was hoping to find some youngster wanting to move up from their current boat to a T-10.

[SlowButSteady]

Look at a Cal 25. It's slightly bigger than the others you were looking at, but otherwise fits the bill.

Draft 4'
PHRF ~220
Stable, easily singlehanded
Good-sized cockpit

[sailingdog]

A Corsair 24 trimaran.. or a Farrier Eagle/Tramp.

[JKCatalina310]

We had a 1980 C&C 24, she was great to single hand once we put the roller furler on. If I wanted to do some serious racing, I would change out the fixed point main sheet system with an in cockpit traveler, similar to what I have seen on T-10s.

A few changes like adding a traveler and having the halyards run to the cabin top (some already have this) and you could have a very respectable boat that can handle a blow and perform well racing around the cans while being single-handed.

If i were to do a lot of single-handed sailing, i would consider a pre 1980 version. The head is right next to the companion way, instead of under the vee-birth. I have seen several that have marine heads and holding tanks instead of porta-potties. Ours had a porta-potty that was connected to a deck port for pumping out.

Also, the outboard could turn, which made maneuvering very easy.

The draft was right at you limit though, 4 feet.

Good luck

[sidney777]

ranger 23, tanzer;'clark' san juan 24, or look for a "plaining" hull sailboat (which someone on sailnet will know) ! Or "Mirage" that suits your size requirements.

[lans0012]

I sail a Cal 27 on Tampa bay. A little bigger but still fast and has a 4' draft. I'm looking for a bigger boat too.

[sidney777]

What is the Headroom in your Tartan 10 ?

[Jeff_H]

If you are looking for a nice daysailer that is easy to single-hand but with sailing characteristics like you are used to with the Tartan Ten, I would look at something with a rating down near 180 or less like a J-22 or a Sonar 23. In Florida you might be able to find a Mirage 236 (built in Gainesville) or a Lindenberg (built in Bradenton). Also C&C designed a very advanced for its day 22 foot daysailer back in the 1960's which was built by a number of builders. The one that I owned was built by Grampian and was known as a Classic 22, but there were other versions as well.

I find Cal 25's a little bit of a pain in the butt to single-hand, so unless you need room to sleep over, I would suggest that the Cal would not make a great first choice.

[baileyrace]

A J24 sails very well single handed under main only. I was out with a friend yesterday in 12-13 knots and since our regular crew was not with me, I decided to just reach around with main only. (do this quite often) I sailed for about three miles with a Catalina 320 and a Beneteau something and our speeds were equal. They were flying their mains and head sails. We are used to beating these kind of boats in W/L races but I was very surprised the little J24 could reach with them, especially, under main only. The J24 is comfortable if you are driving, but there is no other comfortable spot on the boat.

If you can live with a deeper draft, check out the Open 570. It is a very stable sport boat that would be a delight to have on a lake like yours. Here are some for sale:Classifieds - Open 5.70 Class Association Here is one sailing under main only in some pretty frisky conditions.YouTube - Open 5.70 Sailing

I am saving very hard for a Viper 640 to race, but I will find a way to single hand it also. These type boats are just delightful to sail. They can plane and the sail loads are so very light. They can be trailered behind you average compact car and can be launched at any boat ramp. Also check out the Ultimate 20, Rocket 22, Antrim 24, and the Melges 20. These boats are a little pricey and the draft may not work for you. If my savings do not work out, I may just build myself and i550. You can build one of these for $8-12k.

[SESailor]

Originally Posted by sidney777

What is the Headroom in your Tartan 10 ?

it's about 5'2", take a look at their website at tten.com