Posted by Ol Bill on 7/10/2008, 12:49:57, in reply to "beachable or very shallow cruisers"
Dear Rodney:
Not sure if you are located on the Coast or inland?
One of the things that it might be good to try to realistically ask yourself is "Where will I do the majority of my sailing?"
For example: if you live near an inland lake (I do), then you might want to consider getting a boat that is well inclined to that type of sailing. I personally live not too far from a highland mountain lake. I have a (modified) Siren 17, a beach-able micro cruiser.
Let us say for example 95% of your sailing will be inland (if that is true) and in the lake or bay you intend to sail in has waves that do not get too big and the winds that do not get too high then a protected waters cruiser like a Potter, Siren, Newport, etc. might be very workable depending on your abilities and skill.
NOT for off shore blue water though. Yep, some folks have taken Potters and such in Blue water, but its not really a good idea.
So what about the blue water dream? Maybe later but first, (if a beginner) might consider building your basic sailing skills over the years closer at home (inshore, if that is where you live). Get in a lot of time on the water sailing in a wide variety of conditions, there will likely be m o r e than enough fun and adventure to go around in protected waters, then maybe consider branching out from there. Then when the time is right look into a boat that is made for blue water.
Folks often buy initially expensive offshore boats (think big - think heavy), for the sake of an island dream, only to leave them sitting at the docks collecting barnacles while they are 250 miles away working hard trying to pay the dock fees. (Hearty blue water boats are often times more or less pretty much too heavy to trailer anywhere very much.) Its just too easy to get discouraged that way...)
Joining a sailing club can be one way. Ours goes to the coast pretty much each year. Chartering can be a Blue water means, so can crewing w/ a friend who has a blue water boat. Folks with blue water boats are frequently looking for someone to crew with them, especially if they are getting a bit older. What I am trying to say is there is more than one way to skin a cat.
There are some pretty cool islands to be found not real far off shore too:
http://funandsun.com/parks/CayoCosta/cayocosta.html
My suggestion would be initially to consider a boat that will meet the needs of the sailing you will actually frequently do, then for the rare sail further a field out in the future (blue water) do something different (charter, crew, go on a sail club trip, buy a blue water boat closer to that time period etc).
Happy sails!
By the way the above is only informal web chat, it is NOT advice, completely at your own sole risk.
Ol Bill
PS: here is a link about an interesting island a little closer to shore you might enjoy checking out on the web:
http://funandsun.com/parks/CayoCosta/cayocosta.html
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