Seattle area newbies

[uspirate]

[PTsailing]

Welcome Carol!
We ended up buying a San Juan 28, it's moored at the Port Hadlock Marina and we've been out in her a couple of times already. She's a solid little boat with an inboard diesel. We're pleasantly surprised at how quickly the boat responds, it's a lot of fun to sail. We've even settled on a new name "Troublemaker", the name the boat came with was kind of creepy. It was named after a malevolent cannibalistic spirit or a culture-bound disorder which involves an intense craving for human flesh. Gave us the creeps, so it had to be changed. It may be considered bad luck to change a boat's name, but how much good luck can come from naming a boat after something that feasts on human flesh?

[Tribe95]

PT,

Just wondering how you decided on that size boat for your first and whether you find it to be too small, too big, just right. etc?

I am a loooooong way from buying anything. Just starting to research different boats, their intended uses, strengths, weaknesses, etc. But I am in a similar situation: just my wife and I (and a small, spoiled dog) and want to use the boat for the same types of activities. I'm wondering how much boat might be too much to "handle" for a first boat. I've driven power boats up to 35 feet, but I realize there's a lot more going on with a sailboat. Input from anyone else welcomed, as well (and sorry if I'm digressing too much from the "introduce yourself" purpose of this forum)

BTW - RE; the flesh-eating monniker - maybe the previous owner of your boat was a former Uraguayan rugby player .

Thanks!

Ron

[artbyjody]

Originally Posted by Tribe95

I'm wondering how much boat might be too much to "handle" for a first boat. I've driven power boats up to 35 feet, but I realize there's a lot more going on with a sailboat.

Ron

If you have handled a 35 footer then a 35 foot sailboat will be no problem as you are already aware of the cost versus size for moorage, and docking it is slightly different but nothing you can not manage. As for being sailing, there is no big learning curve over a smaller sailboat versus a 35 footer... Just my opinion having jumped from a 27 to a 38 footer myself. My challenge was docking not the actual handling it while in open water...

[PTsailing]

Hi Ron,
We wanted something that had a comfortable berth for two, but was small enough that it wouldn't cost us a fortune to fix or outfit. The larger the boat the more expensive it is for slip fees and to replace sails, etc. So we decided 28-30ft would be perfect. We looked at a lot of different makes and models of sailboats before we found our boat. The Vberth is large enough for two and the cabin is quite roomy, the boat is easy to handle and I have no doubt that either one of us could sail her single handed if we had to.
Anyway who says bigger is better?

[Tribe95]

Thanks for the info! That exapands the range of boats I can look at quite considerably.

rk

[blt2ski]

Ron,

There is quite a few folks from here in the greater Seattle/puget sound region with boats. If your wanting a ride to try a certain size out etc, I am sure you could do so.

I have a small 30' Jeanneau, djonda has a Catalina 30, what I would call a large 30' boat. Jody a rare 38' Berberis, more of a racer cruiser style. The San juan 28 PT got, is what I would call a large 28, not much smaller in demensions than my Jeanneau.

Some thing to think about, up to 30', some will and will not have showers. Some like mine only has a head, but a full kitchen use with no hot water. A shower is something my wife wishes we had. The Catilina's have showers down to there 28' size.

A lot of options for interiors. Then you need to look at underbody's and sail area. My boat is faster than a Cat 30, but I also have what some would say is less inside stuff, ie no shower.

Enjoy your time here.

marty

[djodenda]

What Marty says is true. And yes, ask us and you're sure to get a ride.

Maybe we'll pass Marty in his "faster" boat!

(Just don't call Marty's boat a Beneteau... It's a Jeanneau)

David

[blt2ski]

Actually David,

I do not know "WHAT" kind of boat I have......Jeanneau what kind of boat I have?...........

I got many folks to bite that one at the ECYC weekend at Port Madison! LOL It was great! They ask me what my boat was, ask that question back........oh the looks on folk's faces! LOLOLOL Then the ones that got bit, helped biting later asking ones too.

Altho my boat does look a bit like the late 70's to early 80's First 28 and 30's benateau's.

Then again, considering I have 22 yr old sails, vs your new sails, even tho I have a faster PHRF rated boat, I have some issues with slower boats. Altho I did pretty good last night, finished 2nd in the slow boats, and 5th overall out of a dozen or so including the faster division. best finish ever! May even handicap above some faster ones!

Marty

[djodenda]

I'm looking forward to chasing you around the course next Wednesday... Worked 16 hours yesterday, which made that kind of difficult.

I'll have my cruising schedule set up in a couple of days. Don't forget to ask to borrow my inflatable if you need it.