What would be your favorite boat and why?

old-sailer · #1 (**permalink**) 10-01-2011

I hope this is an Ok place to ask this....

I'm interested in what boat you love the most (and why) in the area in which you sail and would use it.

In another thread I told of using a Beneteau and how I love the boat but I'm getting way past the zoom zoom state in my life. I really like the Benne but it's a lot of work to get her sailing...

I have two boats I really love but not for their sailing ability. I do my sailing in the great lakes so my preferences will be very different from someone who sails the oceans of the world.

My first fav. is the Bayfield but only the 29 foot version. The reason is the interior room. For a small boat it has a lot of room down below and a very unusual layout compared to other boats. Instead of a V birth in the bow it has a washroom you do a jig in.

The Bayfield is an aesthetically pleasing craft with its bowsprit and decorative sides. It has a full hull and some say it doesn't sail all that well and it doesn't in light winds but it gets going when the wind kicks up.

My other favorite is the Niagara. Again the interior is great but this one actually sails quite well. The Hinterhoeller boats I think are all beautifully built boats. Lots of wood and nice lines.

You can tell I'm an aesthetics type... I love the old boats.

JoeDiver · #2 (**permalink**) 10-01-2011

I don't need to go fast, just get there eventually, and I prefer to be comfortable.

I would love to own a Formosa 51.....or similar....

PaulinVictoria · #3 (**permalink**) 10-01-2011

I love sailing my boat, where I sail her. She's mine, bought and paid for

SHNOOL · #4 (**permalink**) 10-02-2011

Paul gets it. Not that others don't mind you. However the trick is to love the boat you have, unequivocally. I've heard people say stuff like: "Life's too short to sail an ugly boat."

OK? But ugly is subjective. I have sailed much bigger boats than mine. I also don't think there is anything wrong with a loan for a nice boat that pleases you. Some like to race (usually to hone skills), others are cruisers (mostly on this forum). It's all good!

The reality is, this sport of ours is, what you make it to be (as are most things in life). Buy what you love. Love what you buy!

My boat was cheap, paid for, and I am putting many hours of work into her. I want to restore her to her brandy new state. She's a sailing machine as she stands now. I plan on improving on that. That's just me! I am landlocked, and would LOVE to get something on blue water (we've done it a bunch before). However, right now it is about this boat, that I can get to on the water within an hour from my house. My stress reliever that is paid for. She's already paid for herself to me as well, as I've had more great times on this boat in JUST this summer than I would have had otherwise.

We take the same approach to our other hobby of field trialing. We have a simple 2 horse bumper pull trailer. My rusted old pickup truck (that runs real well), and we go, run our dogs against guys that have 100k+ rigs and $1000/month pro's training their dogs. It's a real hoot to beat their dogs on the ground with our paid-for rig.

Well, I start racing next year in our "for fun" PHRF races. Let's see if my $4000 sailboat can smack down some high priced floating loans.

With that same approach, I will likely be dropping in bigger and bigger waters soon. The ability to pull the boat out, and drive it to larger water is a helluva gas! Gunk holing trailer sailor style. I sure won't be doing the run to the Bahamas with it (maybe) but you can darnwell bet I will be having fun.

Isn't that why we have hobbies?

poopdeckpappy · #5 (**permalink**) 10-02-2011

It's a Tayana 37 for me, room to run-amuck on the deck and solid as a rock under sail,

oh, and comfortable as hell down below

CrazyRu · #6 (**permalink**) 10-02-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by old-sailer

The Bayfield is an aesthetically pleasing craft with its bowsprit and decorative sides. It has a full hull and some say it doesn't sail all that well and it doesn't in light winds but it gets going when the wind kicks up.
.

I sailed Bayfield 29 and I was impressed with her sailing ability. She does it better than she looks (sorry, guys, I'm not into clipper bows

)
Interior layout is very practical for a small boat too.

For pure sailing pleasure I'd choose A-class catamaran as favorite (beach racing cat, nothing handles better)
For cruising purposes I love my boat. She does everything I want, she is small, but comfortable, I can easy sail her without motor, and I don't hesitate to go far on my boat. She isn't bad looking either, in my eyes. Lots of storage, shallow draft. I'm pretty happy. Yes, she is old and she is never ending project, but I have time, right?

old-sailer · #7 (**permalink**) 10-02-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeDiver

I don't need to go fast, just get there eventually, and I prefer to be comfortable.

I would love to own a Formosa 51.....or similar....

This is why asked the question.. I knew I'd be introduced to new boats. I had not heard of a Formosa so I went and looked it up... WOW what a beautiful boat. I understand why you would want one. Big, roomy, a real beauty.

old-sailer · #8 (**permalink**) 10-02-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHNOOL

Paul gets it. Not that others don't mind you. However the trick is to love the boat you have, unequivocally. I've heard people say stuff like: "Life's too short to sail an ugly boat."

OK? But ugly is subjective. I have sailed much bigger boats than mine. I also don't think there is anything wrong with a loan for a nice boat that pleases you. Some like to race (usually to hone skills), others are cruisers (mostly on this forum). It's all good!

The reality is, this sport of ours is, what you make it to be (as are most things in life). Buy what you love. Love what you buy!

My boat was cheap, paid for, and I am putting many hours of work into her. I want to restore her to her brandy new state. She's a sailing machine as she stands now. I plan on improving on that. That's just me! I am landlocked, and would LOVE to get something on blue water (we've done it a bunch before). However, right now it is about this boat, that I can get to on the water within an hour from my house. My stress reliever that is paid for. She's already paid for herself to me as well, as I've had more great times on this boat in JUST this summer than I would have had otherwise.

We take the same approach to our other hobby of field trialing. We have a simple 2 horse bumper pull trailer. My rusted old pickup truck (that runs real well), and we go, run our dogs against guys that have 100k+ rigs and $1000/month pro's training their dogs. It's a real hoot to beat their dogs on the ground with our paid-for rig.

Well, I start racing next year in our "for fun" PHRF races. Let's see if my $4000 sailboat can smack down some high priced floating loans.

With that same approach, I will likely be dropping in bigger and bigger waters soon. The ability to pull the boat out, and drive it to larger water is a helluva gas! Gunk holing trailer sailor style. I sure won't be doing the run to the Bahamas with it (maybe) but you can darnwell bet I will be having fun.

Isn't that why we have hobbies?

I agree with most of what you say.. I bought my old C&C because of what I saw in her and I too want to make it better and beautiful... but I will ALWAYS lust after a Bayfield. Gee.. nothing wrong with owning two boats is there..?

old-sailer · #9 (**permalink**) 10-02-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by poopdeckpappy

It's a Tayana 37 for me, room to run-amuck on the deck and solid as a rock under sail,

oh, and comfortable as hell down below

Another one I had not heard of... these are really odd.. pointie at both ends. Really different. 37' long and 11' 6" beam.. yes I'll bet it's comfy..!!

old-sailer · #10 (**permalink**) 10-02-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyRu

I sailed Bayfield 29 and I was impressed with her sailing ability. She does it better than she looks (sorry, guys, I'm not into clipper bows

)
Interior layout is very practical for a small boat too.

For pure sailing pleasure I'd choose A-class catamaran as favorite (beach racing cat, nothing handles better)
For cruising purposes I love my boat. She does everything I want, she is small, but comfortable, I can easy sail her without motor, and I don't hesitate to go far on my boat. She isn't bad looking either, in my eyes. Lots of storage, shallow draft. I'm pretty happy. Yes, she is old and she is never ending project, but I have time, right?

No need to be sorry.. not everyone has to love clippers... I like the look of a Ketch but not the work. Getting lazy in my old age... even though I have a main and a genoa I usually just use the main... like I said lazy... it's about the trip isn't it.