Posted by Ol Bill on 4/19/2008, 7:52:22, in reply to "Re: Sailboat recommendations... "
Let me chime in with Dave and Fred:
If you are a new sailor or a want-to-be sailor, there is much to commend the 'small simple sailboat'. There is oft a joy with the like that is pretty had to recreate with a bigger boat.
A small boat is far more manageable money and upkeep wise, and you can maybe trailer it & avoid slip fees. If you get 22 feet or above chances are the slip is sooner of later going to become a powerful 'temptation' to the pocket book.
A small boat (generally speaking) will 'of necessity' tend to teach you better initial sailing skills, mistakes and poor sailing are more quickly felt and also more intuitively obvious on a smaller tiller steered boat. One may learn the importance of good skills earlier on with a smaller more tender boat.
Have you considered "no boat" sailing. There is also much to commend that: find a local sail club and join it. Come out on race day and make friends with and crew with the old experienced salts (also be quite sure they are moral, sane, sober and safe: the Sail Club Commodore may be able to guide you to such Captains). Young females would be wise to have a Dad, brother, or depending on their age - a boyfriend along.
ALWAYS wear your own personal life jacket when on a sail boat, even if others aboard do not, also have a sea whistle securely attached to it, and a waterproof P.F.D. light attached with extra batteries for the light in a freezer bag in your pocket. CO2 Inflatable life jackets are cooler in the summer months and less bulky to boot. Bring gloves, WalMart cotton and rubber palmed 'fishing gloves' work well and are quite cheap. A thick wool sweater or other clothes as is appropriate to weather are important as is a set of foulies (rain gear - I just have a big yellow slicker pants and coat like from school days and it seems to work fine), it can get quite cold out even on a warm day if the weather gets windy and rainy.
Sailing with a sail club gives the opportunity to sail on many boats and find out the positive & negative points of each.
Might not rush to buy a boat too soon, take a year or two & really do your home work, get first hand experience it will likely pay off with a better fit when you do buy.
If you like, feel free to come visit the Micro Cruiser's SubGroup where we are always 'yarning away' about this or that concerning matters of various small sail boats.
NOTE: The above is not advice, it is only informal web chat; completely at your own sole risk.
Ol Bill
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