First Sailboat

[Rauzer]

Hello all - New member from RI here. I''ve been a powerboater for the past two seasons and am looking to make the switch. The only thing that''s stopping me is of course that I don''t know how to sail - yet!

I plan to take the basic keelboat course next spring in Newport, RI at either Offshore or J World School. Both are well known schools and are week-long courses. Any recommendations on either?

My thought is to sell my 30'' powerboat and transition into a similar sized sailboat (28-33''.) I think this is feasible as I do have a fair amount of navigation and boating knowledge going into it. Do you think the size range is reasonable for a first-time sailor?

Although my family would be involved (wife and 13 yr. old son) I''d like to be able to single-hand her at times. We are looking at mostly bay crusing until the comfort level is up and then maybe near-coastal or over to Block Island. Overnight weekends and maybe an occasional week-long cruise are a must due to the distance of where we''d slip her and where we live.

Not looking for a new boat, rather late 70''s to maybe early 90''s. $5,000 to $40,000 and I know there are a ton of boats in that range. But, I''m really looking for opinions and thoughts on good solid boats that I should put on my short list. What do you think?

[TrueBlue]

Rauzer,
Hello neighbor and glad to see another Narragansett Bay boater switch to sail. I bought my first sailboat last year after 25 years of powerboat ownership. It is a Nauticat 33 Cutter Ketch, a pilothouse motorsailer, but a sailboat just the same. I am not new to sailing however, sailed as a youth on the Bay in daysailers and have been sailing with friends on 31 to 46 foot sailboats for years before converting.

I regularly solo-sail this boat when shorthanded w/o problem (wife is heel-shy, but quickly adjusting) therefore, think most boats within your size range should not present a problem. I will let the more seasoned sailors here recommend a short list of boats you should be looking at, but please feel free to email me. I have no financial interest, but there are a couple good sailboats at my marina which will soon be available . . . and due to owner desparation, will be selling very fairly.

Steve

[Jeff_H]

Hi Steve,

One minor point, just so you know, there really is no such thing as a ''cutter-ketch''. What I assume that you mean is that you have a ketch with multiple headsails. The definition of a cutter includes a single mast and a mast position approximately 50% aft, neither of which would apply in your case.

Respectfully,
Jeff

[TrueBlue]

Jeff,
Thanks for the clarification, and I suppose you are correct with that definition. However, most Nauticat 33 owners with this configuration, an inner forestay - separate staysail/storm sail & self-tacking traveler - call this rig a cutter/ketch . . . although perhaps affectionately.

Why couldn''t an inner headsail of this layout be called a "cutter rig" if it exists on a ketch or a yawl? Can this term only be applied to a sloop with the mast at least 50% aft?

On another note, if you were to extend a pulpit with bobstay and connect a forestay to the mast head of your fractional rig, couldn''t you call it a cutter rig, even though the mast is forward of the mid deck point?

Steve

[Rauzer]

Hi Steve - I''ve seen you posts around and I think we''ve connected before on boatered. Good to correspond with you.

I''m at Brewer''s Cowesett in between several McMansion power yachts and a few reasonably sized sailboats. When I look at the sailboats it just feels like it''s my natural progression, versus upgrading my power boat... not to mention less expensive.

Homestly, my biggest fear, if you want to call it fear, is docking. How difficult do you find it to dock yours? Any recommendations of what boats I should be on the lookout for?

[mojobo48]

rauzer,
I bought a sailboat last year out of Noank, CT -- a 1978 26-foot Columbia that sleeps four for $6,000. I have a husband, a 17-year-old and a 12-year-old. We've been having a blast. You should be able to get a very good boat in your price range.

I have heard good things about the newport course, but because I wanted my husband to learn about sailing (I learned as a child but hadn't sailed in 20 years) I hired a great guy to sail with us several times a year and teach us at an extremely reasonable cost. He's a sailing instructor with 40-years sailing experience and also is a naval architect. It's been fabulous. I remembered enough to be able to manage, but still have a lot of questions. Paul teaches us a lot. It's just another way to go, if you want.
mojo

[nolatom]

Rauzer, as to sailing schools, I think the individual instructor is more important than the school, either one of these should work for you.

You're in R.I., Pearsons were made there, so you might find some of used Tritons or Pearson-30s around, they might work well for you. Get a good marine survey first. They're well-known boats and even though old, if in good condition and you take reasonable care of it, you can sell it later for about what you paid.

I'd also recommend getting some small-boat sailing in during your learning process, it gives you a feel for reacting to the wind and boathandling which takes much longer to learn on a larger keelboat. Ask around and maybe you can crew for someone in a lively centerboarder, maybe get some racing in. Crewing's free, and if you do it regularly you can get some tiller time in if you ask.

You're ahead of the game if you already have the navigation experience, respect for the weather and sea.

Docking a sailboat shouldn't be too hard for you to get used to. It's just that they steer great under power going ahead, but typically unpredictable when trying to back. You have to let the wind help you, you can't fight it effectively.

Best of luck, you'll like being a "rag sailor".

[sailortjk1]

Just a thought, you might want to learn the basics on a small boat. I like many others learned on a Sunfish. I found it to be very fun learning to sail on a small boat. When you make a mistake, you might end up in the water. You tend to learn faster when the results of your mistakes mean that you will be going for a swim.

[Irwin32]

With your budget, I would go into the 30 + range as the comfort level would be better for a family of 3. On the low end of the price range there are many very good boats, but they will lack amenities like hot water, shower, refrigerator. If you go that route good 70's boats would be Catalina, Ericson, Cal, Endeavor, O'Day. If you go older anc cheaper you may end up with an Atomic 4 for powere, which is a good engine, but it is gas. I would avoid any other brand of gas engine as parts will be a problem.

I kind of like the Endeavor 32, which you could get with a diesel in the low to mid 20's. It is a decent sailor, well built, comfortable, and has room for 3 people. I owned it's relative, Irwin 32, (same mold) and found this to be a great boat. Endeavor is much better constructed and is suitable for some offshore sailing according to Practical Sailor.

Upwind is not the boats strong point, but that is typical for this era. Off the wind in a breeze it will move nicely. Light air would not be the boat's forte, but she will be good in heavy seas.

[owlmtn]

Rauzer. My wife and I took the learn to sail course from J world in key west 10 years ago. I reccomend them highly, they were very thorough and patient. we went from knowing very little to feeling confident enough to begin day sailing. Jim