Sailing Thread

[VikingVince]

guys...thanks for the responses and good advice and suggestions

durango- yeah, I think that's the way I would go...start small and work up to something bigger if I decide to...I can see where a certain small craft would be more responsive to the wind...from the video and pics I've seen, I've always thought that catamarans/hobie cats would be thrilling..,

scott...I kinda new sailing had its own language...guess I'll have to add that to learning Spanish!...will check out the book

Brian...thanks for taking the time to write all that...that's lot of good info and sources...I will definitely check some of it out...it's a good starting point and saves me lot of time finding it out on my own. Yeah, that makes sense that the definition of "competent" depends alot on the boat...hadn't quite figured that in...but when I relate it to flying, for example, it becomes clear. I took 20 hours of flying lessons MANY years (during college actually)ago in a Piper Cub...12 hours or dual and 8 hours of solo...so I could fly the smallest of airplanes but would have been lost (incompetent) in bigger more complicated planes. Then I had a BAD experience and gave it up...but that's another story.

At this point, my interest is in a small boat for lakes and Baja bays...and I mean small like a dinghy or hobie cat. I guess there isn't much out there in the way of portable sailboats...other than adding a sail to an inflatable or a folding porta-bote...which to a "real" sailor would probably be akin to a good skier going downhill on a couple of 2x6 boards!!!....I don't know...I wanted to avoid pulling a boat with a trailer but that doesn't leave much other than what I just mentioned...as in offroading rigs, I guess there's always tradeoffs...it would be nice to have a small boat (under 20 feet) that you could sleep and cook on for 2-3 days trips....hmmm...another whole world to get into:sunny:

 

[paulj]

A folding kayak might be the best way to get a sailable boat in a compact package. Some are shown on the sailing page of foldingkayaks.org. While you can't sleep on this size of boat (well - one person can), camping on shore is clear option.

http://foldingkayaks.org/sail.shtml

Trailerable sailboats like the WW Potter are about the smallest 2 people can sleep on. When thinking about sleeping on board such a boat, there's a significant difference between a boat with a small cabin, and an open one that has, at most, a tent or tarp shelter. For a given length, an closed boat will be quite a bit heavier than an open one.

Here's a great site for small boats, especially home made ones:
http://www.friend.ly.net/~dadadata/boats.html

The Wayfarer is one small open sailboat with a great cruising reputation:
http://www.uswayfarer.org/index.html


paulj

 

[VikingVince]

paulj...thanks for posting those sites...I enjoyed looking at them and will do more...ssoooo many ways of putting a sail on a watercraft...talk about ancient!!!!

 

[Nullifier]

Scott this is a great boat. There are some out there but they can be hard to find. If you want trailerable this is it in my opinion. Light super easy to rig and sail. ultra shallow water capable and really nice room down below.. These boats are made in Tarpon Springs. I have a 21' version of this boat and someday will get the 28'. I can talk to Jim to see if he can make a new one still but like I say they can be had used. He sometimes has them used and can do any refurbish work before it shipps. check the stats.

http://www.marine-concepts.com/sp28.html

 

[Scott Brady]

Thanks Brian... very cool boat.

I am really hoping to get something small, trailerable, can sleep in it for overnighters and will be low cost.

I have a lake within 2 minutes of my house that is used by the local sailing club, but a big boat will be kind of silly on it (and likely get in trouble in the big rocks).

Prescott Sailing (yeah, just when you thought Prescott couldnt get any cooler)

 

[VikingVince]

www.losangelesboatshow.com

Jan 28 - Feb 5, 2006

Just became aware of this...I'm going!!!

 

[Laxaholic]

Thought some of you other sailors could appreciate this:

http://www.sailblogs.com/member/bubbles/
http://blog.mailasail.com/bubbles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpG85s3uwj8&noredirect=1
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xmcsv2_saling-melanesia-2010_travel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAK4v91OQSw


Bubbles, the 39ft Fast Passage, sailed around the globe. Met dozens of crew from across the globe that helped her reach her goal. Crossed the oceans, up the Amazon, volcanos, monkeys, squalls, the doldrums, and the Galapagos...and everywhere in between. 3 years of solid sailing.
Truly one of the most amazing adventures.

 

[Lemsteraak]

VikingVince,

Yes, boat shows are a great way to get an idea of what is out there, a good one to go to is Strictly Sail up in Oakland in the spring.

A lot of very interesting boats came out of the mid 70's, especially small voyaging boats like the Sea Pearl. Bolger, who was mentioned is kind of thought of as a mad scientist, designed a small voyaging boat, Dovekie, that was large enough for two on an extended trip but small enough to be towed by a VW Rabbit. Peter Duff, the builder, wrote an "owners manual" which has some good advice for small boat voyaging.

http://www.shallowwatersailor.us/swsmanual/dovekie_manual.pdf

It is often said that with boats that there is an inverse ratio, the smaller the boat, the more fun, and the smaller the boat, the more it is sailed. Maybe the real ratio is the more fun the boat, the more it is loved.

 

[Fenton]

Hi Scott,
Thanks for starting sailing threat and your post was a great read, like the picture you shared. Great comments by other people. Bookmarked the link to keep checking more replies.

 

[Laxaholic]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijcdrPdIoXA

In Memory of Bubbles and the great Alex Rust.