Thinking about getting a sailboat

CurrentSea

CurrentSea

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I need another hobby.

Too many days I don't want to move the big boat because it's too windy. So I am thinking on those days be nice to have a sailboat. Something small that I can easily launch myself over the rocks by my marina behind my dock. Stable as I don't want to flip over. Easy to row if wind dies. Able to easily carry two people and a dog.

Any recommendations?
 
Those are incompatible requirements. Size and weight contribute to stability but make your launching difficult. Light weight, small boats flip easily except for catamarans but carrying a dog would be a problem. Once you have experience sailing a small boat in strong wind isn't hard but if you are new to sailing it will prove difficult. I flipped my first sail boat right in your area. :D
The wind and waves in GSB canmake sailing a small boat great fun but a wet experience best left for summer.
Would you be better finding a marina that is more shelterd so that taking out the big boat is less stressful??
 
Buy a convertible Corvette and you can take drive to different marinas:) I bought mine and the first trip was post season and we took a ride to Mystic CT it was a fun trip now I'm looking forward to Spring so I can drive the car to the boat. I would likely drown on a sail boat I have no idea what I'm doing!
 
I had the same idea and had a smaller Hobie cat for a while along with a larger boat - pretty much a fail as far as utility and the time spent playing with it. I can say that larger Ribs with larger outboards are plenty easy to handled and very versatile and in many cases you can even take them with you.
Good luck with whatever you decide on....
 
Need something bigger than a 'drag over the rocks'. Maybe small enough to be hand launched on a trailer but large enough to carry a 2hp motor.

After all, the sweetest thing a sailor ever hears is his motor starting when he needs it.
 
Get an 18' Center Console. When we don't feel like taking the big boat out, we hop on the CC, untie two lines, and off we go.
 
Hmmm, may have to go back to the jet boat idea, then I can wakeboard!
 
"Hmmm, may have to go back to the jet boat idea, then I can wakeboard!"

My daughters guy friends wakeboard off the back of the big boat (lol but true)- but the smaller boats really do offer a whole lot of flexibility with exploring , skiing , fishing, and general back and forth to land locations when on the hook (and you can often take them along on some trips).
I really wish the sailboat idea worked better for us as we tried it was just not meant to be.

Hope this helps
 
quote:
Originally posted by HOGAN

Get an 18' Center Console. When we don't feel like taking the big boat out, we hop on the CC, untie two lines, and off we go.

Click to expand...


I did that this year and have no regrets!! It's cheap, easy, you never hesitate, etc.

Most of all, the kids love it!
 
I don't mean to discourage you from sailing. I'll never forget spray flying like rooster tails from both sides of a sunfish in 25 Knot wind.

Lasers, 420s type small boat that can fly are great fun.
 
"I like this I have toyed with the idea of something this is a nice option"

Hello Dave - I have had 5 higher powered inflatables between 14 and 24 feet and they all were easy to tow and very safe around the boats at raft-ups and pickups. I would say the best and only way to go is a regular outboard as I have had issues with jetRIBs and diesel RIBS. In some cases they have taken us 10-20 miles off of the base boats location opening up a whole different set of options.

Hope this helps
 
I also have a 17 foot Rib with a 90 hp four stroke Honda, it is an older well cared for boat I got for a good price a couple years ago. It is a great boat, we tow it around the lake with us wherever we go, use it as a dinghy and a boat that can pull a tube and I can wakeboard behind.
They are great boats that I feel comfortable using to go all over.
Key is having seating, a console, and built in gas tank. I even rigged up a bilge pump and 2 batteries, it has drains in the cockpit that go to the bilge, so it is always dry of water when we go to use it.
Takes a little time to hook up for towing, but well worth it.
 
Define too windy

If you re not going to go out in a 40' twin IPS boat because it s too windy, do you really think you re goin to go out in a small sailboat?

I doubt it!

Sailing is great in 10 kts of wind... Then it s fun, relaxing, enjoyable. Once you get get to 15 it becomes wet, harder, sporty

I love Hobie sailing but it s a sport... Nor relaxing
 
a sail boat ? ARE U FING RETARDED ?

just my 2 cents

Rob
 
Dave must be going stir crazy and it's affecting his brain :)
 
I was in the situation you where in. When it was winding I did't like to take my boat out I wanted to do something else. I got a jet ski and that was short lived I was around 56 years old at that time. Bouncing around in a jet ski was fun until I got off of it I felt like I was in a 10 round boxing match and I got whipped. Jet boat was no different. So I looked around the marina and I noticed these center console tied behind there big boat. Most of them where around 20 to 21 ft. I talk to some of them that had them and I decided to get one. I had it for 2 years now and my wife and I enjoy. WE do everything with it.
 
Dave, I would look at a motorsailor instead of a straight sailboat.
Bill
 
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