Small Boat for Solo Sailing

[castorp]

A bit smaller perhaps than what you may be looking for, but what about a Wayfarer (15'10")?
Frank Dye made numerous epic passages in one, including crossing the North Sea!

[MarkSF]

I've had a Wayfarer myself, and it's a great boat, but these days in the ocean and non-sheltered waters, I feel happier in a boat with a keel.

[deniseO30]

back in the day there were day sailers that had full keels.

but then $130K may be a bit steep LOL

BTW, I single hand my Oday 30 up to about 12 knot wind.

[MarkSF]

Drool.

[MedSailor]

I would vote for the smaller west wight potter (15ft) or perhaps a navigator, or, for a little bigger you could consider one of the smallest offerings from Catalina or Hunter.

WWP owner association here:
International Marine's West Wight Potter Owner's Home Port, Potter Sailboats, Sailboats


Navigator website with a how-to build your own roller furler for $40.
Joel's Navigator Site: How to build a roller furler for under $40

MedSailor

[Cruiser2B]

Originally Posted by deniseO30

back in the day there were day sailers that had full keels.

but then $130K may be a bit steep LOL

BTW, I single hand my Oday 30 up to about 12 knot wind.

Absolutely gorgeous but I just dont see 130K, really?
gold Ballast?

[MedSailor]

Painting a hull dark blue adds $100K to the price. Seriously, check it out, it must be some kind of rule! This rule applies to powerboats as well.

Just look at the Hinckley "picnic boats". A quarter million dollar picnic boat. Really?

1998 Hinckley Picnic Boat Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com



MedSailor

[Philzy3985]

I know a true sailor who went from larger 30'-40' sailboats to a Potter 19' (maybe 17) and hated it. It's not for everyone, especially if you want some excitement.

Honestly you probably won't go out sailing in conditions "un safe" for a centerboard boat, plus towing it and pulling it around the dock with dock lines and keeping the bottom clean and righting (which would probably never need to happen) are all better with a centerboard boat. It's not like the sailboat just flops over, many are designed to point into the wind if the keel busts out of the water, rather than capsizing.

If you are serious about this, and not just asking another broad question, because you are in southern california and close to Long Beach, newport, Dana Point, Marina Del Rey, then I'd say it a Catalina Capri 14.2 or Coronado 15 (less money) or a Catalina 16.5 (a lot more money) or a Hobie 18 like you brought up in your other thread, or a Flying Scot (19 foot, huge cockpit, can be raced, can be comfortable sailed)

Just go buy something and start sailing.

[Hudsonian]

Shumway Marine - Ideal 18 Sailboats

[CapnBilll]

I'm having a good time on an Aquarius 23' They are readily available, and cheap.

900lbs lead sole for self righting, and steel centerboard for shallows. fairly stable boat, and easy to singlehand.