First small sailboat/dinghy...which one?

[hilega]

Hi everyone! I am new here, so a bit about me. I have no sailing experience and want to take it up. I love the water and some day would like to get a "big boat" and cruise the open seas and possibly become a live aboard sailer, but I figure that I should start off small. So I am considering the purchase of a small boat to train on. Through internet research (very little), I have come up with a short list of possible boats (in no order): Laser, JY15, Sunfish, Catalina 13, 14, Hunter 90. I want to be able to take another person along, and that is my only criterium. Obiviously something that would be good to learn on, but not something that I would get bored with. Something that could possibly be roof-rack mounted (on say a SUV). I am sure this question has been asked a thousand times, but how bout a fresh go at it. Thanks

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: First small sailboat/dinghy...which one?

I don't know what state or area you live in but I would suggest to hit up the local sailing people. My son had attended a "conservation camp" years ago and they taught him on a sailfish which was good for one and tight for two. The sailfish he purchased was very in-exspensive (used) and easy to handle as a car topper.<br /><br />Bob

 

[hilega]

Re: First small sailboat/dinghy...which one?

I am in my last year of college, and I plan on getting the boat next summer. I am not sure where I will end up, whether inland or coastal (preferred), I would like the boat to be versitile enough to handle both types of sailing. My college team races Flying Juniors. They also have some 420's. These seem to be larger boats than what I am looking for. I would sail with the club/team, but the location where they sail at is over an hour away and my classes are very demanding, so I wouldn't have the time to truly devoit time and effort in sailing. My questions here are primarily for reasearch and learning until I am able to make the plunge. Thanks.

 

[boatneck]

Re: First small sailboat/dinghy...which one?

hilega, Until you know where you may be sailing or learning to sail, my advice is to hold off buying any boat since inland sailing is a whole lot different than coastal sailing. Like you, I got into sailing after college, but I learned from taking lessons in Marina del Rey in California. I didn't buy a sailboat until many years later when I ended up on the East Coast. Did a lot of sailing on other people's sailboats which was a great way to learn about different boats. Wherever you locate, try to find a sailing club where there are always people looking for crew. Of course, you should learn to sail before you offer yourself up as crew. Lessons are a way to go.

 

[hilega]

Re: First small sailboat/dinghy...which one?

Yes, I do intend to hold off on buying until I know where I am going to be settled down. I also intend to take lessons, even though I am an engineer and usually like to figure stuff out on my own. I have picked up some books to get a head start on it. Again, this is just reaserch, so that I can go straight to the buying process when I am ready. Thanks for the replies and advice. I am, however, surprised with the inactivity of this forum. Maybe everyone is out sailing? Hopefully over the winter (for us northerners and midwest folk, the forums will pick up. Thanks.

 

[flashback]

Re: First small sailboat/dinghy...which one?

I'm down here in Ga. and on an inland lake and it suprises me also that no one is here.. I sail an old 27 ft Oday and it is a great boat...

 

[SCO]

Re: First small sailboat/dinghy...which one?

I'll vote for the Sunfish. They are easy to right, wont sink or fill up on you(other than the self bailing cockpit),are an active racing class probably just about everywhere, easy to manage, and you should be able to sell it without a problem if you dont like it. They are a great lake boat and I learned to sail in one off the beach in the Gulf of Mexico. They will pitch pole on you in bigger surf however when you are coming in. The Hobie 14 for example can beat the waves to avoid this problem, but is much tougher to rig and not really a starter boat. Laser is sexy, has a taller sock style rig, is harder to keep upright in heavy winds, and they arent that much faster than the sunfish in decent wind. I pinned one all the way to the lay line( about 60 yds) on a starboard beat from a start, he couldn't take me up and had to duck me to tack. They dont just walk away or up from the sunfish.

 

[hilega]

Re: First small sailboat/dinghy...which one?

Thanks for the mini-review on the sunfish and laser! Once I get settled in location wise, I am going to see what the locals have for sure, but when the time comes that I want something of my own, I will take your advice into great consideration. Thanks.

 

[Knoxes]

Re: First small sailboat/dinghy...which one?

Yeah, I like the idea of a Laser over the Sunfish personally, but mostly because there's more fleet racing of Lasers in this area. The Laser II is nice b/c it adds a jib, but I don't think they're nearly as popular. But I agree with SCO, the Sunfish is a great starter boat also. After that, I'd consider something like a Thistle, Scot or Highlander. These are great boats - mini versions of fixed keels. You may be able to skip the first step if you can get a chance to crew - even as meat - pay attention and pick up everything you can. A good skipper will teach as well as bark orders. Just let them know up front what your skills are.

 

[PerfectCell]

Re: First small sailboat/dinghy...which one?

Been a female ,new to boating, no truck, no experience, kids and a very strong willing to fish I decided to buy me an inflatable 10'Zodiac raft with a Nissan 9.5 hp Engine. I do not regret my decisition. The raft is very light (about 60 lbs) I can use it in fresh and salt water, holds up to 600 lb in weight and it fits in the trunk of my car! yeahh! <br />So.. I would recommend anybody who's first at boating to start with a small boat. Why pay 15k if we are going to damage it at the launch pad? What about getting stuck in a sand bar? What about the manuever of a boat? the storage? the trailer? tags & taxes? Accesories? the truck to haul it?<br />This is the reason why many people sell their boats after one year of purchase. They just don't realize how expensive it could get to maintain that boat out of the water...........<br />After one year of my purchase I found out that I'm ready to buy me a fishing boat AFTER I have the house with the yard to keep it, the extra money for insurance, tags , accesories etc. Another year and I'll be sailing like all yours !

 

[sloopy]

Re: First small sailboat/dinghy...which one?

I would try getting a lazer, it will dig you into the sport, or at lease a sunfish, lasers are faster and have storage (kinda) so you can beech it and take out a small tent and camping bag, if you want some thing small but big like I have (I have a Buccaneer 20foot sailboat) look at the west wight potters www.westwightpotter.com they have a 15 foot and a 19 foot one, and are great boats, the other option if you want to have half that of a power boat and half that of a sailboat is the MacGreger26x www.macgreger.com (don;t know of the www is right) many people also say some bad things about these boats! <br />happy sails<br />Happy bubbles keep a boat afloat! <as heard on JAYWALKING with jay leno