Looking for advice on move-up

[Pat14.2]

I am a powerboater with roots in small boat sailing, and am reverting back to it mainly due to gas$$$. I think of myself as across-over guy and want to live in both worlds right now.
Last year I bought a Catalina 14.2, thinking it would be fun. It is a nice quality boat, but after using it for just one summer I found it to be very tender. I want to move up to a stable, trailerable keel boat which can be single-handed. I would like to eventually get into a Seaward 25, but is this too much of a jump? Would it be better to make a more gradual jump in size? I know these are loaded questions, but I would like to here some of your experiences with move-ups. I am not asking for opinions on which boat manufactures are good or bad, just curious as to how many boats it took for you to get to the "right" one. Do most people take "baby steps" or just "go for it"? This is a Mid-Life crisis issue.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Looking for advice on move-up

Aside from higher ownership costs on the bigger sailboat, don't be afraid of it. The fundamentals of sailing are pretty much the same for both. There may be a few more "do-dads" (highly sceitific sailing terminology) but learning how to use them is part of the fun.

I say "go for it!"

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Looking for advice on move-up

Just one. Of course, I just got mine last year and havn't had it out yet, but those are minor details.

 

[tommays]

Re: Looking for advice on move-up

A 25 Ft boat can be trailered BUT the time at the ramp setting up the mast and taking it down when your done EVEN with a modern FAST system is at least 1 HOUR Up and 1 HOUR down

24' boat 4' draft


As far as a Keel boat i think the weight and draft would make launching really HARD as most trailer boats are swing keel and many now use water ballast to keep the Towing weight DOWN


A 25' boat needs at least 1000# of ballast or it will be real TENDER


Tommays








Tommays

 

[Pat14.2]

Re: Looking for advice on move-up

Towing and launching will not be an issue since I am blessed with living only 12 miles from a great Marina on the Bay of Green Bay and plan on slipping the boat. The trailering requirement is mainly so I will not be held hostage to the year round marina storage fees and put in-take out costs. I am faced with the temptation to get into a 18-22 foot range Catalina or Oday etc. since there are alot of them available at really attractive prices. There are so many or these "starter" boats out there I am concerned about getting quickly disenchanted with it, and getting in the same position I am in right now, stuck with a Catalina 14.2. The real problem is not knowing how happy you will be with a boat until you actually own it. I know that sound advise would be to crew other boats for awhile, and make your decisions that way, but opportunities are limited for me. Have most of you out there fallen into the same temptation?

 

[tommays]

Re: Looking for advice on move-up

Well i went from a Sunfish(great to learn)

To and 11' racing dingy( best boat i EVER sailed )

To a Victoria 18 ( this was a really BIG mistake as it was tender and we live in a WINDY area (Ralph Nader could have written a good book about it )

On day while sailing home and getting my beating from the afternoon wind one of these went flying BUY

And is was hooked on The J-24 like it was crack it just went right through ANYTHING LI could toss at it

All the rigging and lines worked correctly things like reefing a sail on the V-18 which was almost imposable to do because of the poor hardware and design suddenly became EASY just because it was done correctly with good stuff

Then the yard costs got out of control and i will always regret selling it

I got the itch again and bought a Hobie Holder 14' monhull ( another BIG mistake always to windy for it **** poor hardware ect )


Now we are planing on a Catalina 28 MK II in a few years and have found that down here many places with slips will NOT take sailboats other than the big FULL service only Yards so it is going to end up on a mourning


Tommays

 

[GottaHunt]

Re: Looking for advice on move-up

If a Seaward 25 is what you want, go for it now. Especially if it is a Mid-Life Crisis!
You already know the basics of sailing - it'll only get easier as you go bigger...well, to a point anyway. I'm in the process of selling my 26' S2 so I can buy a 26' powerboat - I "need" to get back out on Lake Mi. fishing again. It's ok though, because I also have 34' Seafarer ketch I'm finishing up the refit on. (Actually it's a 41' - I should be able to call it that, since that's what the marina is going to charge me for with that big old bow pulpit sticking out there.)

I started sailing on a 33' Hunter - single handing. As the kids entered college I took several years off from sailing. (Sold the boat to pay for college.) When I went back to it, I went with the 26' and really liked the performance of the lighter hull.

I think if you go with a smaller boat now, when you get to the point that you feel ready to move up the 25' you will be disappointed that you spent all that time cramped up.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[flashback]

Re: Looking for advice on move-up

I have an old 27 Oday, and I have a friend with a 23 Oday, mine would not be practical to trailer, but his is very practical, the mast is about all that 2 folks can handle and the keel is shoal draft with a board so it's fairly easy. especially if you only need to do it twice a year...good luck with your choice..

 

[oday25]

Re: Looking for advice on move-up

I went from a 17' Oday to a 25 Oday. Actually found the 25 more enjoyable...more stable, more room for friends, and easier to single-hand because the boat isn't tender. Since you say you'll slip the boat and launching isn't a problem, I say go for the larger boat now. The biggest concern for a singlehander is length, not beam or freeboard. As long as you follow the rule of "only go as fast as you want to hit something", you'll be great!

 

[Steve Cook]

Re: Looking for advice on move-up

catalina 22!
DO IT!

I did the same thing as you, I bought a small hobie cat and it was a blast
but I got tired of always being wet and the wife didn't like the seating arrangements lol!

so I got a catalina 22, it's just as easy to sail and the wife has a place to sit inside and read a magazine or go to the toilet without returning to shore