Sail Boat

[timClement]

Hi everyone,

Please humor me here, it may be a stupid question. I was thinking that I would like to get a sailboat, and I like the idea of something made out of wood. I'm working on building a Shellback dinghy, and I've only ever been sailing a couple of times in my life (more as a spectator than anything else), but I'm looking ahead to getting something big enough to take out on Long Island Sound in CT for an overnight trip, but small enough for me to handle alone. So my question is, what are the options? I have no idea what I would have to pay for a new or used boat, or how much time/money I would have to spend on something a little older to get it in good condition. Or whether I could take a week-long sailing class and be pretty much set to handle a boat on these waters. I wouldn't want something that's going to take up so much time that I won't be able to spend any time on the water. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Tim

[R.I.Singer30]

My first boat was a 24' Bristol(the F word ).I didn't know jack so I took a boater safety course from the Power Squadron,it's the best way to learn the rules of the road and the do's and don't's.The rest you learn by mistake.Owning a wooden boat worthy of the ocean is a lage task in upkeep and money.For the size a 22'-25' is enough to handle singlehanded for a beginner.Just have some one that knows what's going on with you for the first few voyages.I can't testify about how much$$ you might have to spend(guessing $6,000-$12,000and up,then haul out storage and get her ready to go in again ,it all adds up.),just search around and find something you like,take someone who knows something with you then hire a surveyer to give you the honest facts.That's usually about $400.BEWARE of the ocean,L.I.Sound has it's own reputation for trouble spots ,learn to read charts and use them any time you go some where you haven't been yet.Respect Mother Nature and the power she holds. Have a working radio G.P.S. Flares and life vests.Have Fun.

[JimD]

Hi Tim. I'm a newbie sailor too, and can't offer a whole lot of advice, but so far I have learned this much: sailboats, new, old, wood, or otherwise, are always a lot of time and money, at least more of both than we first thought. You're probably finding that out with the Shellback dinghy. Naturally the bias around here is for wood boats. I built a 15 foot plywood sloop, with a cabin big enough for two sleeping bags. I could have bought a second hand fiberglass boat in good condition for what it cost me to build her and that's not paying myself for the labor. Restoring a boat can be almost as costly as building from scratch. There's gotta be some local people you can talk to about LI Sound.

[Mrleft8]

Long Island sound (AKA Lawn Guy Land sound), is a great place to learn how to sail, on week days. Weekends it's pretty jammed up with giant power boats, After September it gets better. The only things you need to really remember about LIS is... Stay away from "the race" until you're a very skilled sailor. Stay away from giant yachts at 1AM on foggy days. There are lots of rocks, mostly well marked. The wind dies completely at 5 PM every evening in the summer. No big waves makes it ideal for begginers. Have fun, and most of all..... ENJOY!

[Ian McColgin]

OK - learning to sail but weekend desired.

Something under 25' sloop rigged is very nice. Cat boats are cool but often take a better sailor.

I'd recommend staying away from anything so 'traditional' that it's underpowered and clunky and eccentric, but also stay away from the nasty cheap tupperware units that have fat flat bilges.

Nothing wrong with some of the classic glass units.

Much depends on how lightly you can camp. Something small, like the Cape Dory Typhoon or the older classic lined Sea Sprite, once you beat the condensation problems, make good little boats that sail in a nice normal fashion.

Or maybe you can find a nice Controversy or Cutless - these are wood but the reverse sheer takes getting used to how they are actually quite lovely.

Personally I disapprove of outboards in general and power in this small size. Learn to sail.

You'll have times when you're either drifting out with the tide or have anchored to await the breeze so keep plenty of fluids to hydrate on those hot glass calm Dead Sea days, and have a sweep to get you the last mile or so.

But motors get folk into more trouble they they solve.

[timClement]

So I'm looking through the WoodenBoat For-Sale section, and I see two boats that are intriguing. One is here . It's a 1951 Herreshoff 28. The other is on the fourth page of the WB online classifieds here . Far right column, second from the bottom, it's an 1939 31' Alden Malabar. What would I be getting into with boats like this?

As much as I'd love to spend my weekdays cruising around LIS, it's going to have to be weekends for me, so I'll have to deal with the crowd unfortunately.

Thanks for the input...

[ishmael]

Another thing to perhaps consider is what are the active racing classes in the area. A boat with active class associations will tend to hold its value better. Probably not true in the case of some of the 'classic glass' boats that have a following, but if you buy something odd--even if it's a good boat--it can be more difficult to sell.

Best of luck, and I second the rec. that you hook up with the local Power Squadron.

P.S. There was one of the boats Ian mentioned, a Controversy, for sale last issue of WB. I don't know if it's still available. And, finally, something trailerable, even if you only do it twice a year, has a couple advantages: cheaper storage (free), and you can work on the boat out your back door.

P.P.S. A Pearson Ensign comes to mind as an alternative to the Cape Dory Typhoon Ian mentioned. I imagine they are raced on LIS but don't know. There is also a centerboard boat, very similar, that would have the advantage of the trailer. I can't remember the name. I think it was manufactured by O'Day.

Bolger's Black Skimmer would be an interesting choice if you wanted to jump in and build. You could pick up an old glass daysailor for a song and learn to sail while you build.

Many options.

[ 06-26-2003, 08:03 PM: Message edited by: ishmael ]

[brian.cunningham]

Look into joining a club.
Get way to learn and play safe at the some time.

[Leon m]

I agree with Brian...Join a club .
It's safer , you learn more than if you go
it alone , and the realy cool part is you
get to sail boats of many different designs
wich realy helps you decide what kind of boat
you are comfortable with.

Good luck...Happy sailing. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[R.I.Singer30]

Hi Tim,the Herreshoff is pretty,newish engine is nice.Have you ever owned a diesel before? They are different.The frames and plankings are the big concern in wooden boats and need to be addressed if there is an issue.That is where a surveyor comes in.

Have you read the book "Adrift" by ??? duh.This sailor built his own vessel and felt confident enough to sail across the Atlantic.He was taking part in a race from Europe,fell asleep and woke up to the ocean surounding him.The tittle tells the rest but it's a great read.I'm not saying this to discourage you just for you to do your research and know what can happen if a plank spring while you are under way.

In boats when you move up a foot you move up alot in the size of the boat.My advice would be to start smallish and get comfortable before you go too big.For a few grand you can get going in glass.If you ding a rock in glass it's not a major deal usually, where wood could be a disaster.

Just fodder to chew on. Good luck and enjoy.When you shove off from shore,the world changes and it's one of the most enjoyable feelings imaginable. Dan L.

[Ian McColgin]

Tim, It's likely that the H-28 is in better shape. It's also smaller and thus less expensive and difficult to maintain. However, the ketch rig takes a bit of learning. It's not impossible to learn to sail on boats of this size, but you'll learn faster on something a bit more intimate.

[paladin]

If you wanna go relatively cheeeep and dirty...about 20-25 feet look at Bruce Roberts Tom Thumb...build it outta plywood...use a single burner sea swing stove....build an ice box under the bunk..6 inches of insulation, plumb a small line to a pump on the countertop...the other end into a 1 gallon jug......cool water...ice lasts a long time...sleeping bag(s)...outboard..maybe 2-4 hp....you really don't even need that if you learn to sail the boat. Circumnavigations have been made in a lot less...and you are really gonna take your time, not just rush around.....