[rbh1515]

How about a Colgate 26. It is very safe. Essentially unsinkable(has positive flotation. It is trailerable and weighs only 2600# (trailer is about 1000#). I bought one new this year and it is a nice boat. Huge cockpit (~13 feet long) and small cabin. Great for daysailing. Check out there web site: www.colgate26.com
Rob

 

[rbh1515]

What an amazing story about the Colgate 26 hit at high speed by a 40 motor boat and it still did not sink. I''m glad I bought one, and from the discussion on this group it sounds like it is a well made boat!
I noticed that JeffH stated that he does not like the boat. It is not a boat for everyone, but these are the reasons I like it:
1) I predominantly daysail. This boat is fantastic for daysailing. It has a cockpit of about 13 feet long. It has a small cabin with 4 good size bearths, but it is cramped below. Since we daysail we don''t use the cabin much (it does have a porta pottie). When I want to cruise, I charter a boat. Its a lot cheaper to do it this way, I think. Most people I know daysail most of the time and only occasionly cruise. I think a lot of people put too much emphasis on a cabin, when 95% of the time is spent in the cockpit sailing. Most sailboats out there have very small cockpits.
2) Its trailerable. I live up north, where the boat has to come out of the water in the winter. This will make winter storage easier and cheaper.
3) The only wood on the boat is the tiller handle and a small cover for the bilge in the cabin sole. This is a low maintenance boat--I can spend more time sailing!
4)Has a lot of good saftey features: solid rail for cockpit, open transom (easier to get back in if you should fall overboard), positive flotation! Not many boat that I know of this size have positive flotation.
5) Boat is great looking and fast. I hate sailing an ugly boat. There is weather helm.
6) In this size boat I like having an outboard instead of an inboard.
If you are cruising alot this would not be a good boat for you. Otherwise it is a "good safe boat."
Rob
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[rbh1515]

On my previous post I meant to say there is very MINIMAL weatherhelm. Sorry.
Rob