Help me choose my first sailboat

[dohcdelsol93]

I'm looking for a starter project boat for the family. We have 2 young children and another on the way.

Looking for something easy to sail (single handed) displacement of less than 2,000lbs and sleeps 4-5. Looking in the 19-23 ft range with trailer

Will see mainly lake use so swing keel will probably be needed for shallows/coves. I'll keep it moored in about 17ft of water.

Will also be used some for blue water/protected waters and possibly off the coast of isle of plams when the seas are calm.

We will be doing a good deal of weekend camping in it

I don't mind sacrificing comfort/cabin space for speed.

I'm in the upstate of S.Carolina. If you have any recomendatoins for an easy sailing/trailerable sailboat please feel free to chime in with your .02. Want something i won't regret!


http://chattanooga.craigslist.org/boa/2270709132.html

i've been looking for a first sailboat. Lookin for a cheap one with good hull, trailer, mast and hardware.

Figure i'll spend a few weeks and try to have the boat painted with new interior and get it in the water by may.

Problem is i can't find any info on an Ana Capri. So far from what i've found on google the ana capri doesn't exist. I found an capri 23 and capri 25 but neither look like this boat.

thanks in advance!

 

[dwco5051]

Re: identify this sailboat!!!!

Re: identify this sailboat!!!!

http://chattanooga.craigslist.org/boa/2270709132.html

i've been looking for a first sailboat. Lookin for a cheap one with good hull, trailer, mast and hardware.

Figure i'll spend a few weeks and try to have the boat painted with new interior and get it in the water by may.

Problem is i can't find any info on an Ana Capri. So far from what i've found on google the ana capri doesn't exist. I found an capri 23 and capri 25 but neither look like this boat.

thanks in advance!

If the HIN number in the ad is correct ACW comes back to American Custom Yachts. See the below link;

http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/mic_detail.aspx?id=ACW

 

[dohcdelsol93]

Re: identify this sailboat!!!!

Re: identify this sailboat!!!!

thank you for the help! looking to price the sails!

 

[jagboy69]

Re: identify this sailboat!!!!

Re: identify this sailboat!!!!

That guy needs to drop a ZERO off the price.. Go visit www.sailingtexas.com and find yourself something you wont have to fix up for the rest of your life. People are giving away sailboats these days and you can find something really cheap. Btw, new sails for this boat are gonna set you back at least 3large.
I've been sailing for a long time so please take my advice and RUN AWAY FROM THIS BOAT! You'll thank me some day..

 

[dwco5051]

Re: identify this sailboat!!!!

Re: identify this sailboat!!!!

I have to agree with jagboy that that hull seems to be overpriced considering how much more money and time it is going to take to get in back into sailing shape. This boat was made 16 years before the present owners took over the ACW brand.(1977) The chance of finding information on it may not be too good. I know of a couple of hulls sitting in fields and behind barns in my area that could be had for hauling them away that are about in the same shape as this one appears to be. However if you really enjoy working with your hands and time and money doesn't count then go ahead and rescue it from the dead.

 

[dohcdelsol93]

Re: identify this sailboat!!!!

Re: identify this sailboat!!!!

i enjoy working with my hands (not so much the fiberglass work) but restoring all the interior parts would be really fun.

 

[captmick39]

Re: Help me choose my first sailboat

here's some alternatives:
http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/16053
http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/16609
http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/16974
http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/17677
http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/18475
http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/19233
http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/19444
http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/19911 <awesome
http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/19973
http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/21959
http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/22026 <too pricey for my tastes

dohcd,
the 1st thing You have to realize (from a guy who was raised restoring boats, and raised his kids restoring and USING boats) is that Your kids and wife will get tired of the 'all work and no play' VERY QUICKLY. While 'saving money' may be Your Lifes' second love...keeping momma (and the kids) HAPPY should be #1.

Expand the dimensions of Your wallet, and boat length by a foot or two, and RUN from that P.O.S. that You found on CL.
Repair is fine...as long as You're not talking 6 month sabatical before getting it wet.
With or without trailer...You can RENT a Trailer in a pinch.
Same goes for outboards...they're EASY.
The BOAT, it's layout (especially if You're going to be PRIMARILY Weekending/camping aboard as SPACE and floorplan become critical w/that intention)
and it's BONES...(aka WHO Made it and how WELL they made it) become critical.
Start with a GOOD Quality Maker and You have no where to to go but UP with value as You clean, polish and make improvements.
Buy a P.O.S. and no matter how much work, time, MONEY and gear You upgrade, paint You apply, or structural improvements You make...
You Still have a P.O.S. when You're done, with a limited market and You ARE Gonna get Your clock cleaned when that actual BUYER makes an offer You accept.

You think..."But I Don't CARE About When I sell it!"...Nobody ever does, until they outgrow and need to upgrade (and with a family, that will happen so fast Your head will be swimming...try end of this 1st season if all goes well), then it becomes critical. If You can't GIVE AWAY, that which You poured Your heart (AND WALLET) in to, after the fact, that will be a serious deterent to further upgrading.

The difference between 23' and 26' below decks is mind boggling. If You're going to be spending considerable time on Your new acquisition, those couple feet will make the difference between 'fun' and contemplating Suicide (been there, done that).

ALL of the above selected vessels were less than 2.5k, within a few states drive of Your home location and they ALL have that "Bones" thing going on...Spectacular Histories, Manufacturers, Designers, and "NAMES"! Pearson/CAL/Columbia/Hunter/O'Day/Catalina & more...those names MEAN THINGS to folks who've been around boats, and very specifically SAILBOATS, and most importantly REALLY WELL MADE SAILBOATS...for very good reasons. They handle abuse, age, lack of maint., weather, You name it. They LAST and it's because You're starting with good "Bones". I'd recommend avoiding the older macgregors and I'll stop there...a couple dozen makers I'd personally avoid, however shy of starting a WAR with this thread, there were, in the day, ('60's to late '70's) a LOT of CHEAP Boat Makers...and they don't last. IF they're still floating it's because of constant serious maintaining skills on the part of somewhat blind, but seriously dedicated owners. You don't want a CONSTANT task of something to fix every day, for if that's the case, Your spouse and kids will soon turn in to the fair weather friends faster than Your "Friends". Dig a little deeper, do a LOT more research, don't be afraid to spend a little more money, because on the RIGHT Boats it goes a LONG WAY, and avoid the 'no name' boats like the plague. They didn't sell many because (as a rule, but not always) they built pieces of feces.
I've restored over 100 boats in this lifetime (so far) and own 13 right now. I'm still no 'expert', but I do know You need to shop more and not jump on the 1st
good "DEAL" you see w/o doing considerably more research. Good isn't always cheap, however Good IS OUT THERE and quite reasonable OLDER, Exceptionally well made boats out there with a little looking; CHEAP (as in how it was made and WHO Made it) is seldom, if EVER, GOOD, for You, for Your family, or for Your wallet for the long (or even short) term.
my 2cents (& probably then some);
HTH,
-Mick

 

[dohcdelsol93]

Re: Help me choose my first sailboat

I like the larger boats, more space would be great but i think the towing with my land cruiser would be out of the question. It does have an industrial diesel engine in it but it's still no F250.

My parents live on the lake so extra room should we need it is not much of an issue. While i'm working on the boat the wife/kids have our other boat (17ft 150hp bass/ski boat) as well as jet skis to play on.

The big thing is being able to take it to the beach with us, granted i'll be going on these minimalist vacations mostly just my son and me. The wife isn't much into the camping when it's hot. When we are finished with a day of sailing the charleston area waters i can more or less envision her going back to her parents place in the wild dunes rather than fishing all night with me and my son out on the boat.

Do you have any opnions on the Newport 23? I've never heard of them, i grew up on the water but we grew up on power boats. I'm kind of tired of the "go fast" life style and now it's time to go slow!

 

[dohcdelsol93]

Re: Help me choose my first sailboat

sorry, it's a macgreggor Venture Newport 23

has 2 brand new sails and the other sail is still like new as it's only been used a few times since new and kept inside the house in a bag.

Interior re done recenty. all new cushions . Needs to have the sink added back in along with a potty as the previous owner removed them. No soft spots in cockpit or flooring.

I believe she sleeps 5

has a pop top that is in good shape

mast/rigging all in good shape, takes in no rain water even with record snows in the south this year.

comes with a 5hp motor not running (i'm a 2cycle tech with a full service machine shop so not an issue)

trailer has good tires, not sure if lights work or not.

Needs top/bottom paint and all teak on the outside refinished.

 

[Wall eye]

Re: Help me choose my first sailboat

I have to agree with Jag, the price seems high. I have used this site several times http://www.policeauctions.com/content/gsb/used_sailboats.html

 

[doehunter]

Re: Help me choose my first sailboat

My 2 cents,
All boats are a mix of compromises. None can be the most comfortable and fastest and the easiest to trailer and...
As they said above you should take some time researching what is out there. Sailing Texas, and CL, are good sources.
To get a good idea of how they all stack up speed wise, you could look at race results, and PHRF rankings in the club websites.
Still, good racing boats, don't make the best camping boats.
Also consider if you intend to trailer all the time, how much weight your willing to deal with.
Personally I went with the biggest boat I could get and still keep my total trailer weight under 3000 lbs. That limited me to a water ballast type boat, with a swing keel. I bought a Mac 26S. 1993 model and I've been happy with my choice. I pull it with a '93 Ford Explorer with a 4 liter 6 cylinder engine. It pulls it just fine, and I have room to camp pretty comfortably.
As with anything else, you get what you pay for. I would hold out until you could spend more money. When I started shopping, I thought I was going in the 2-3000 range. I'm glad I didn't now, because I got a boat that was water ready, and I can spend my time and money using it instead of working on it.
Note, you will hear a lot of negative stuff about the Mac's but it all seems to come from people who have never owned one.
The older 26's in particular are made light, but they are strong where they need to be. They aren't blue water cruisers, but no 23-26 ft boat is. I sail mine in Galveston Bay no problem, and I can use regular public boat ramps. I don't need a crane, and deep water.
For camping I can pull right up to most bank lines. No fixed keel boat can do that. I can motor (keel up) in 2 feet of water.
What ever you decide, have fun and be safe.
Jim

 

[dohcdelsol93]

Re: Help me choose my first sailboat

i ended up with a boat i can't identify.


it's either an older mac venture 21 or luger westwind 21.

They both look/perform about the same.


Had a good solid hull and got i with a trailer for 250.

Needed paint and sails.

Also needs motor. I have several trolling motors that will allow me to scoot in/out of my cove.

I got a great deal on a free main sail in great shape.

I still have to make new cushions for berths and get a few head sails as well as a few electronics.


Thanks for all the info!

 

[sansone]

Re: Help me choose my first sailboat

congrats on the new (used) boat.. ENJOY and don't be hard on family members when (frustrated) sailing.

I've been guilty of "capt Blye" behavior and it takes the fun away.

 

[dohcdelsol93]

Re: Help me choose my first sailboat

when stuck in a sailboat with no wind. Beer and fishing!