[Bruce3966]

So just bought a P165 three months ago...first sailboat. Was going to lease a slip for the summer but just yesterday I found a 36' x 16' slip on Lake Huron that I can't turn down for purchase price. So here I go, no sense in wasting that good space so I am going to sell my P165 and buy a bigger boat but I still have to be able to trailer it so I am limited which is fine for now while I learn sailing and then in 6-8 years when I retire, I can go up to lets say a
34-36 footer.

I would keep my P165 but if I have the room in the bigger slip, with a 22-24 footer I would have a bigger cabin which would be much easier to stay in for the weekend or a week at a time. I would like shore power since I am paying for it in yearly dues and at least an onboard fresh water tank with handle pump. It could either have a porta-potti or a black tank style because pump outs are free either way with ownership of the slip. I need a galley to make breakfast, sandwhiches etc and my wife would greatly enjoy that as well.

Thoughts on 22-26 boats that can be towed? I am looking at the 23' O'Day currently but open to thoughts with experience. It should probably be a swing keel though for ease of launch and load. Trust me, if the marina had a travel lift I would go bigger and just store it at the marina but they do not. I would have the otpion to sail it to another marina on Lake Huron that does and store it there but I think for now and while learning I should probably stay under the 26' range anyway.

 

[hotdogs]

The P165 is a fine boat, especially learning. There's no harm in sailing it for a season.

Don't discount the time, effort and money that it will require to find a new boat. You can find one fast, but it might not be cheap; you can find one cheap, but you might have to wait a while. The P165, assuming it is in good working order, will let you go sailing *now*.

That said, if you have a big slip and an interest in getting a bigger boat, there is no harm is starting to look now. As you sail your current boat, you can identify what you like/dislike and what you want on the next boat. You also have a full year to look around without any pressure and consider your options before the start of the next sailing season.

 

[Markwesti]

Bruce3966 , we had a O'Day 23 for our first boat . I don't know if they are all the same but ours was a trailer model ( shoal draft ballast keel) and swing keel. We found it quite roomy and a great sailor and would probably still own it but we could not stand up in it . We thought it was good looking and well made boat .

 

[CharlzO]

My brother had an O'day 23 that he kept in a slip near Watertown on Lake Ontario, lived aboard for a summer while working up there. Granted it isn't the largest cabin in the world, but it was easily comfortable as long as you got out and stretched a little here and there. Great sailing little boat.

 

[ravinracin]

I owned a MacGreagor 25 or 26' for a couple of years. Swing keel and really easy to sail. I could have it off the trailer and in the water, mast up and ready to sail in less than 30 mins. I now have what I think is the biggest trailer sailer ever made. A 32' Clipper Marine. It is just 8' wide but is very easy to stay in for an extended period of time. I haven't had it on a trailer yet, but it was advertised as a trailerable boat. There is one near me that is on a trailer off and on. He doesn't seem to have much problem setting it up. The Clippers have a mixed reputation, but I have found mine to be very well built and a very sound boat. The interior cabinetry is not of the best quality, but for the price I paid it is great. Alcohol stove, ice box, lector/san head ss sinks in head and galley, lots of storage space and a big hanging locker. Perfect for a weekend or a couple of weeks in the summer.

 

[zedboy]

I have trailered the super-light end of the range, a Siren 17 at about 750lbs, up to about the biggest boat you can easily trailer, my old 25' wooden ketch, at 3000lbs or more (don't know for sure).

The lighter it is, the easier it will be to trailer. I had a slip for the summer, but winter parking was always a couple hours away. Even with reasonably beefy tow vehicles (used different ones over the years - a Ram 1500, Toyota Sequoia, Nissan Pathfinder) the big heavy boat is a pain to tow. It jerks you around in the crosswinds, it takes time to stop (admittedly - never had brakes on the trailer), etc. Even along the long straight smooth country roads in Ontario, where you can see what the next stoplight is going to do miles away, it was work - but towing that Siren 17 was a joy, didn't even notice it!

For comparison, a water ballast MacGregor 26S/D is only 1650lbs dry, and the older 25 is 2100 lbs. The old Venture 21 was like 1300lbs, and the newer 22/222 around 1800. The heavier-built 23' boats from CS or O'Day are more like 2300lbs. The Sirius 22/23 if you can find it is well built and a little lighter.

Think hard about how much trailering you want to do, and figure that into your decision. If I was planning to trailer a lot, I would go with the MacGregor or an older Venture with a pop-top.

 

[Bruce3966]

Thanks all. Trailering would only be twice s year once to the slip to launch and visa versa to load at the end of the season. The only reason I need one that will trailer is the marina doesn't have a travel hoist.

 

[utchuckd]

I can vouch for the O'day 23-2. I've never trailered it, and from what I understand it's not the best for trailer sailing, but a couple times a year should be ok. It's a great little weekender. Big ups to the guy that lived on one tho, not sure I'd try that!

That said there's also lots of Cat 22's in our marina, very popular boat.

 

[anthony1]

Hi Bruce
I have a mac25 that I trailer to the slip and then home at the end of season. As a day sailer or an overnighter it works for me and my wife.
The boat is light @2100 lbs. then you have the trailer plus then you start to load it, ropes,anchor,motor,gas etc etc etc you con probably count on a gross weight of about 3000- 3500 lbs, easily.can your vehicle tow that much weight comfortably?
I have a Dodge Ram 1500 and don't even know it's thhere unless I look behind me.
Whatever you decide I wish you well.
Anthony

 

[jwing]

If I were in your shoes, I would park that little boat in the slip and sail the crap out of it this summer. While doing so, I would try to make as many friends as I could at the marina and talk to them about their boats and hopefully get opportunities to go sailing with some of them. After a summer of owning/sailing your own boat and sailing other boats, you will be in a much better position to start making decisions about buying the next boat.

When I was looking at boats, I didn't feel like the 22/23-footers that I saw gave me enough living space to make them weekend-able. I would've needed a 25' and that would've been a squeeze. I ended up with a 19'; I like the simplicity, responsiveness, and parts/maintenance that are inexpensive relative to a 25' while I'm learning how properly sail and own a sailboat. I sleep in the back of my truck if I enjoy the marina evening activities too much to drive home. More comfortable than a 25' sailboat.

 

[Sal Paradise]

I'd sail the 16 footer for now. At least sail it a few time to learn on it. Its way more saleable in the water. Then if something big comes along, make the jump.

The big trailer sailor discussion is always painful for me to read. So many variables. I can say that a 22' boat will be more comfortable for more people on day sails or short overnight hops. As for sleeping aboard - have done it once becuase i was too far to get back . Frankly I have to be pretty drunk to sleep on my Cat 22. Its like sleeping in a van.

 

[Minnesail]

I have a Catalina 22 and my wife and I have spent the night in it and found it pretty comfy. I made some slats that go across the cabin so we sleep with our heads on the starboard side and our feet to port. This makes it plenty big enough for us.

I think the v-berth would be claustrophobic, and the settees would be just a bit short, but sleeping across the cabin works out just right. The slats store easily under the cockpit sole.

 

[Bruce3966]

Am I missing something here. if the Marina doesn't have a travel hoist, aren't you limited to a trailer boat?

 

[polaris2.11]

I've got a dandy Hunter 23.5 for sale. Might fit the bill.

 

[Sal Paradise]

I have a Catalina 22 and my wife and I have spent the night in it and found it pretty comfy. I made some slats that go across the cabin so we sleep with our heads on the starboard side and our feet to port. This makes it plenty big enough for us.

I think the v-berth would be claustrophobic, and the settees would be just a bit short, but sleeping across the cabin works out just right. The slats store easily under the cockpit sole.

If I were to sleep on my boat, that sounds like a good idea. Most times anyone who lays down or sleeps hits the settee. I removed the "galley" and relocated the cushion that would cover the porta potti so I have plenty of leg room on the settee.

 

[Bruce3966]

Polaris. How much?

 

[polaris2.11]

Polaris. How much?

Asking $8900. Not in a hurry to sell, but would consider any offer.

Sailboat Hunter 23.5 1993 - $8900

 

[Bruce3966]

Polaris, Looking in the $5000 range for now for my first sailboat. Sorry!