DO NOT buy a fixer upper as your first boat.
Depends how much fixing up the boat needs vs. price paid. It also depends on ability to fix or repair things, tools owned and how close you are to boat supply to avoid shipping charges. Not excluding time to deal with items needing fixed. Buying a boat that is structurally OK where sealing the mast, replacing lines, i.e. minor repairs is a piece of cake.
The downside to the 18 is increased weight and can be difficult to wrestle around on the beach.
Depends on amount of wheels, sand quality, distance to trailer to waters edge, degree of beach lip incline, wind, amount of helpers and one's own strength. I can get this boat in the water myself yet need one other to get it out. This using 2 sets of beech wheels.
Edited by goodsailing on May 21, 2015 - 09:13 AM.
goodsailing wrote:
DO NOT buy a fixer upper as your first boat.
It also depends on ability to fix or repair things, tools owned and how close you are to boat supply to avoid shipping charges.
I think I might've seen a wrench before.
In short, I won't be making many repairs. I'll have to buy something that's in good condition, or something that isn't in good condition and have it repaired.
Based on that (and the relative scarcity of 5.0s in good condition at a fair price), I might be getting a P16.
Just my two cents. There are people who like to fix boats and people who like to sail. Buy a boat that works and go sailing! To that point, buy a boat that you can easily manage to put in the water and sail longer.
Lots of great advice here. carolinacatamarans said it well about a strong local fleet close.
I would spend a weekend sailing with the local fleet before purchasing.
Lots of racers are looking for crew and happy to help. Consider volunteering to do race committee.
It is pretty cool being around 5-25+ sailing cats.
Learning to sail with a fleet on a less-than-perfect boat will be easier than learning to sail a better boat solo or with new crew.
blair.sutton wrote: Lots of great advice here. carolinacatamarans said it well about a strong local fleet close.
I would spend a weekend sailing with the local fleet before purchasing.
Lots of racers are looking for crew and happy to help. Consider volunteering to do race committee.
It is pretty cool being around 5-25+ sailing cats.Learning to sail with a fleet on a less-than-perfect boat will be easier than learning to sail a better boat solo or with new crew.
Interesting thought. It'd definitely be cool to have a group of people to sail around with. I'm not sure they'd want some total newbie on their boat as crew, though.
Interesting thought. It'd definitely be cool to have a group of people to sail around with. I'm not sure they'd want some total newbie on their boat as crew, though.
if they need crew for a race, or just want company, they will
I know here (tampa) there are evening races at the davis island yacht club and they are allways welcoming newbies as crew - mostly just to get new people out on the water
poooo pooooo
i did it for years in downtown tampa (davis island boat ramp)
if there is a will ... there is a wayget the boat down the ramp, push it off - anchor and raise your main .... so easy a caveman could do it
But didn't you once say it was not advisable to raise the mast while in the water. If not, then I"m better off going out the boat ramp, paddle out of the channel, then put the sail up when I'm out there? But I'm not relishing paddling that far?
Palmetto,
Know that this is an older thread but the idea of finding locals is a great idea. Been away from sailing for a long time but I think you will find them more then willing to provide help and info. I would imagine that some will even go over a prospective boat for you to see what flaws might show up. If not, they will know of a good surveyor who knows small cats. I would also imagine that someone in the local sailing club will be a surveyor. Going with someone else who knows what they are doing will go a long way to helping you not only make the right decision for you but will help your odds of learning about sailing cats. To be able to go out on a boat prior to buying is invaluable and well worth the effort of meeting new folks. I am in upstate SC and thinking about getting back into sailing but at 68 remember how much fun cats can be but also what it is like to put one over in rough water so I do understand your concerns. Again, all that will be clearer IF you can get on a cat with an experienced sailor and most will be more then willing to help you. I went from cats to monos but now yearn to get back to cats...