Newbie from the Great Northwest

[Bandit521]

I have had the sailing bug for a while now but it bit really hard last weekend when I went on a friends 29'. The bike is back up for sale, got the books back out, renting all the videos and serious about it this time. I will be going through these threads like a sewing machine.

My burning question is:
For your first boat, do you buy a smaller (<24') trailerable boat or go with a larger (26'>) and pay moorage (my rig is not big enough to tow anything larger than a 24')?

I have heard a couple of pros and cons for both - What did you do? Advice?

[cmhenry]

I would say go with the smaller boat. It is cheaper to maintain and store.
It will give you the chance to get comfortable with sailing (you will feel the wind, waves, and currents) It will be easier to move up to a larger vessel and be confident

Just my thoughts
(actually that is what I am doing, 12 ft to 19ft to ????)

[rorider]

Originally Posted by Bandit521

I have had the sailing bug for a while now but it bit really hard last weekend when I went on a friends 29'. The bike is back up for sale, got the books back out, renting all the videos and serious about it this time. I will be going through these threads like a sewing machine.

My burning question is:
For your first boat, do you buy a smaller (<24') trailerable boat or go with a larger (26'>) and pay moorage (my rig is not big enough to tow anything larger than a 24')?

I have heard a couple of pros and cons for both - What did you do? Advice?

Get whichever you will sail the most. There are good choices in <24' boats that will give you great experiences, and the same goes for >26'.

The important part is actually sailing A boat. As often as possible, in all conditions.

[rgscpat]

Time on the water is good, however you can get it. Getting on crew lists, hanging out at marinas, joining sailing clubs, going to seminars, taking classes, helping out with running races, puttering around with small dinghies, and learning to handle the complexities of bigger or more technical boats -- all are good.

Maxims...

There is no one perfect boat
(except maybe your "next one").

You can learn the basics of sailing in a day.
And spend the rest of your life trying to master it.