First boat

Huken · #1 (**permalink**) 02-18-2011

Hey all, sorry if this has been discussed before. I'm looking for some advice. I am moving to Kitimat in the North Coast of B.C. This summer, and am eager to learn how to sail, and start exploring. My only boat experience has been on the rivers and lakes of Alberta, but I've never sailed. I plan on taking a course just to get the basics and then start off on my own. I am wondering what to look for in a boat, considering that Kitimat is @ the end of a long and generally calm inlet? Considering that, I would like something I can grown with and maybe sail in a little more challenging waters.

So what should I look for, in things like length, and keel, etc.?

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 02-18-2011

It would help if you said what your budget for the boat is.... also, how many people do you intend to have aboard?

kcbillb2 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-18-2011

Sailingdog has some good questions.

I'd suggestion something sort of small (19-20) ft

But again, what do you see yourself using this boat for?

Let us know more, there're are lots of helpful folks on this forum who are happy to help.

jackdale · #4 (**permalink**) 02-18-2011

Welcome fellow Albertan.

Before going up to Kitimat, you might check out boats in Vancouver to see what you might like in a layout and at what price.

When you take lessons, visit some of the other boats in the fleet as well.

A light air boat will likely have a fin keel and spade rudder. Most BC coastal boats fit that bill.

DonScribner · #5 (**permalink**) 02-18-2011

Huken,

We bought a boat with no trailer, no truck, and no sailing experience but most of all . . . no regrets. If you are going to trailer your boat (I do and recommend it) you'll want a shoal or swing keel. I suggest something in the 23'-0 range. Check the head room and, well, the room in the head. Some, if not most, of the smaller pocket cruisers sport a port-a-pottie in the middle of the salon. Not for the likes of me! But, others don't mind the exposure. I suggest picking up a copy of "The Complete Trailer Sailor" by Brian Gilbert, or something similar. It has all sorts of great information from trailering to knots to sail trim. He includes spec, sketches, pros and cons for about 50 small trailerables. It can help you find the look and the performance that is right for you. Our lady is a Lancer 25 (Brian Gilbert doesn't like Lancers) and I love her. We had no idea what we needed but ended up buying the perfect boat for us.
Take a Sailing and Seamanship course at very least. Canadian Coast Guard must offer it just like the USCGA does. Grab a copy of "Sailing for Dummies" (Yes, it does exist. I have a copy). Read, study, sit in the john, live, eat, breath sailing, then hit the water. The first time I ever hoisted a sail was the first time I ever sailed and it was on the Atlantic, off the Coast of Maine. SO, in a nut shell . . . Just DO IT!

The fuzzy photo is us waiting for my wife (the photographer) to arrive on our maiden voyage. The fellow that I'm talking to (with the stick) is a volunteer at the dock is has been a wealth of information and a quasi-mentor in the process. People are thrilled to help out.

jackdale · #6 (**permalink**) 02-18-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonScribner

Huken,

Take a Sailing and Seamanship course at very least. Canadian Coast Guard must offer it just like the USCGA does. Grab a copy of "Sailing for Dummies" (Yes, it does exist. I have a copy). Read, study, sit in the john, live, eat, breath sailing, then hit the water. The first time I ever hoisted a sail was the first time I ever sailed and it was on the Atlantic, off the Coast of Maine. SO, in a nut shell . . . Just DO IT!

The Canadian Coast Guard does not offer courses. Both the Canadian Yachting Association and International Sail and Power Association are active with hands-on courses in BC.

Faster · #7 (**permalink**) 02-18-2011

I'd be a bit skeptical about the statement 'largely calm inlet'... BC's coastal fiords are NOT known for light winds as a rule.

Typical summer inflows develop on almost any nice day, and the winds at the extremes of the inlets often top 20 knots - even when the waters at the mouths of these inlets are relatively calm. Conversely in winter (as today) when there's an offshore low with an interior high outflow winds into storm force are not uncommon.

The blessing of these types of areas is the fact that you don't get the waves that generally accompany winds of this force so the sailing is really quite good, you learn quickly without the prospect of large waves on top of the learning curve of dealing with the breeze. We lived in a similar area (head of Howe Sound) for over 20 years and really enjoyed the sailing conditions there.

But I'd not set out with the idea that you need a 'light air boat' necessarily.

Trailering makes sense on a number of levels, but I'd not think that Kitimat has a difficult moorage situation, or a lot of shoal areas where the reduced draft would be a big advantage.(Could be wrong about this, of course)

No problem starting off smallish - 25-28 feet or so, but I'd look for a boat that will be able to handle a breeze alright. Have you talked to any locals about the reality of the wind conditions there?

Huken · #8 (**permalink**) 02-18-2011

Wow, thanks everyone. I can't wait to start, but first the weather has to warm up and the lake has to thaw.

Sailingdog/kcbill - my budget is anywhere from 500 - 5000, I think one day after I get some experience I'll get something a little more seaworthy for longer trips. If there was a way I could sail to the Queen Charlottes with this boat, then that would be my goal to strive for. Is that too ambitious after only a few years experience?

As for amount of people, I would say the majority of time will be myself, but if I could coax someone to come along then I would say it needs to be comfortable for 2 people.

For starters though I'll be sailing up and down the inside passage, looking for a breeze (might be hard to find).

Jackdale - do you sail on the Glenmore? That's where I plan on taking a course first. I've heard having some lake experience can be a big plus.

Don - that's some inspiring advice. As an aside I typed in "sailboat storm" on YouTube and I was both in awe and scared shitless when I saw some roundings of Cape Horn. Long story short I want to know what I'm doing before I hit the open ocean!

Thanks everyone, look forward to all your advice

Huken · #9 (**permalink**) 02-18-2011

Faster, thanks so much for that and I'm ecstatic that I can find such winds there. I've been up and through the passage a few times via the ferry and couldn't believe how calm it was. I will definitely talk to the locals about the shore and wind trends.

MikeinLA · #10 (**permalink**) 02-18-2011

The boat I learned to sail on 25 years ago was a Catalina 27. You can pick old ones up for a song. Four one hour lessons from a charter outfit and I was all set. They are a breeze to sail, handle well yet are large enough to stay overnight and get the real feeling of hanging out on a boat. I chartered them and a few O'day 27s for about a year until I bought a Catalina 30. The 25 pop top would also be fine. I don't know much about trailering as part of the fun of sailing for me is also just hanging around the dock puttering on the boat.

Mike