If you're looking to buy your first sailboat do yourself a favor, buy a dinghy or two, one for the wife wouldn't hurt, and learn to sail. If you must have something to sleep on, please nothing bigger than 20 feet. Sail that around for a year, give yourself time to learn what you do and don't like. Try different rigging and sail handling ideas. Learn how much work, money and time go into upkeep and new systems. Learn how much it costs to replace and repair things as well as scheduled bottom paintings and maint.
I just spent a hour on the phone trying to talk a guy out of buying my 27 footer as his first boat. For my sake I hope he didn't listen.
This is just my opinion I'm sure many of you will chime back in with. "My first boat was a 30 footer and I got along just fine" and you probably did, but if you ever want to have a docking or anchoring under sail contest....ohhh how about backing in a slip under sail alone!!!! You're on!
As I buy bigger boats I'm amazed at how cost and labor go up. I recently read a thread about people trading back down. Thats what I did. 27 feet is just to much. I still had the most fun and sailed the most with my 19 footer. Hopefully this new 23 footer will provide the same.
I've spent the last three weeks rebuilding an entire head/waste system, replacing rigging, waterpumps, haulouts...give me small and simple anyday.
I just spent a hour on the phone trying to talk a guy out of buying my 27 footer as his first boat. For my sake I hope he didn't listen.
This is just my opinion I'm sure many of you will chime back in with. "My first boat was a 30 footer and I got along just fine" and you probably did, but if you ever want to have a docking or anchoring under sail contest....ohhh how about backing in a slip under sail alone!!!! You're on!
As I buy bigger boats I'm amazed at how cost and labor go up. I recently read a thread about people trading back down. Thats what I did. 27 feet is just to much. I still had the most fun and sailed the most with my 19 footer. Hopefully this new 23 footer will provide the same.
I've spent the last three weeks rebuilding an entire head/waste system, replacing rigging, waterpumps, haulouts...give me small and simple anyday.