[Cwhit767]

My wife and I got certified ASA 101 last year and have since been sailing Catalina 22's in the Florida Keys in a club down there every few months. Much to our delight, our 11 yr old son has been very enthusiastic during some of our day sails, (crewing and helming), while learning terms, points of sail, handling sheets, and other basic concepts. He has also expressed sincere interest in taking youth sailing lessons this summer and I'm currently looking into some local schools/clubs that might work for him.

Additionally, I'm thinking of getting a trailerable, easy launch and set up (step up mast) shallow draft boat that my son and I could get out on relatively easy and go for quick day sails this summer. The minor problem we face is that we are on the south east coast of FL and are limited to intracoastal waterways with only a few open enough areas along the waterway for light sailing (the ocean too rough most days here for a small boat), so from a boat ramp, I need something that can take a small @2hp motor to get us from the local ramp to an open sail-able area nearby. One boat for sale that caught my attention was a 2004 Hunter 170 with a small OB motor and trailer for around 5K. But I have no idea if it's an easy boat to quickly set up from trailer to launch.

Any thoughts or suggestions on this boat or others like it would be very helpful. We have come to love sailing as a family and I'm excited that my son seems to like it too. Only wish I had the same opportunity when I was his age!

Thanks in advance!
Chris

 

[smackdaddy]

I'm not familiar with the 170. But I will say this...

Do whatever it takes to enjoy sailing with your family. Whatever it takes. It's the best thing in the world.

 

[Faster]

Our son sailed from the time he was 18 days old.. but he had little choice in the matter. When he was 10 or 11 he started racing with us in earnest - his buddy's dad was our boat partner so the four of us raced a 24 foot M242 throughout his teens.

He's stuck with it, when he went to college he signed up on a crew list and raced OPBs for quite a few years, then bought his own boat in his mid 20s.. now on boat #3, and still an avid racer doing quite well locally in his Schock 35. He was on a winning 6M crew this past summer too and now gets to go to France for the 6M worlds in the spring..

So good for you and your family.. encourage him and good things will happen!!

 

[PaulinVictoria]

I see a couple of 170s out over the summer around here, they seem decent enough daysailors. My little-un has been out a few times, Sunday was fun. He has tried steering and grinding the winches. Not bad for a 9 month old

 

[downeast450]

Consider something like the Marshal Marine Sandpiper, cat boat. 15' long with a hinged mast and a huge sail. A floating patio! Room for 4 adults and lunch. Very safe and fun. Fast, too with the board up down wind. The gaff rig is different and worth experiencing. The hinged mast makes launch and set up simple and quick. On its trailer is fits in the space of a normal sized car.

We have had one for 30 years. Thought it would be a safe learning boat for the kids and we still love it.

Down

 

[SENCMac26x]

My friend had a Renkin 18' that was easy to setup with it's hinged mast and could plow out to the sailing grounds quite nicely on a small ob.

It also had a shoal keel which would probably do well in the area you're going to be in.

 

[svHyLyte]

...

One boat for sale that caught my attention was a 2004 Hunter 170 with a small OB motor and trailer for around 5K. But I have no idea if it's an easy boat to quickly set up from trailer to launch.

Any thoughts or suggestions on this boat or others like it would be very helpful. We have come to love sailing as a family and I'm excited that my son seems to like it too. Only wish I had the same opportunity when I was his age!

Thanks in advance!
Chris

Chris,

There have been a number of discussions of this particular boat. For example, see (click on) Hunter 170 Hull problems - SailboatOwners.com.

If you are going with a trailerable boat to begin with, you might find that a slightly smaller, more simple boat, such as a Lido 14, is just the ticket. Easy to trailer (to a more sailing friendly venue), easy to set up, can be sailed in tea-cup deep water if necessary and more fun that a pile of puppies. We sailed a Lido when we were kids (and they are still around and affordable), up through college, and had great time, many adventures (boat camping), and really learned how to sail. Best, if the wind fails you can actually row the boat (or power it with a battery powered trolling motor.).

FWIW...

 

[Cwhit767]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check these and others, plus the H-170 forum. Just preliminary for now, but obviously it will have to be something I can find within a few hours drive (not going long distance to find one and then have to transport a long way home).

Chris

 

[BarryL]

Hey,

You should check out the O'day Mariner and Daysailer.

Barry

 

[krisscross]

The smaller the boat, the easier and faster it is to launch. But stability is important. Hunter 170 would fit the bill just fine. Unsinkable, easy to sail. Get the smallest outboard possible (2 HP max) as they get in the way when sailing, and a mount that tilts up and pulls the motor out of the water. Try to find a boat with good sails - they make a lot of difference. Invest in best quality safety equipment, like PFD, hand held radio, and flares.

 

[ajoliver]

Tell the kid that if he gets good at sailing it will help him get into Harvard.

 

[Sal Paradise]

Just a thought - I see a lot of Hobie Cats down there and they are very exciting to sail, extremely fast and should hold a kid's attention. Its something completely different. I think there is an outboard bracket for them as well.

 

[n588mr]

I was going to suggest a Hobie cat too. He'll be a teenager before you know it.