I'm a paper sailor, now what?
June 5, 2017 8:43 AM   Subscribe

My s/o and I took an ASA 101 course and did pretty well (aced the test!) and now figuring out if we want to transition from land-lubbers to cruisers without spending a ton of money.

We've cruised around on power boats with family and friends, but never owned our own boat, much less a sailboat. So we're thinking of getting one for the summer to try it out.

My thought is to get a 22-23 footer that doesn't need new rigging, sails, engine, or any kind of repairs. Hopefully I can sell it for not much more than I paid, assuming we don't sink it. I will probably slip it, since we live in a condo and don't have anywhere to park a trailer, and we probably won't sail as often if we have to raise and lower the mast each time.

I'd love to try some longer trips and anchor overnight, but it's June, and we live on the east coast of FL (Space Coast) so without A/C sleeping will be miserable. So that will probably have to wait until after hurricane season. If all goes well I'd like to do a Bahamas trip next year, in a bigger boat of course.

I've been looking on Craiglist and SailboatListings.com for boats, and it's been a bit tricky to find something in perfect shape. I wonder if I should settle for something less-than-Bristol for my first boat, but I don't want repairs to sully our first sailing season, and I want it to be easy to resell.

There's also the option of renting, but I think that'll be more expensive in the long run, and the sailing clubs around here have 12-month minimums, and only a couple of boats.

So do I have the right idea about getting my first boat, and trading up to a bigger boat? Any other recommendations?
posted by RobotVoodooPower to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (15 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Have you physically gone around to marinas, marine supply stores, yacht clubs to check bulletin boards for postings?
posted by TWinbrook8 at 8:56 AM on June 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


Yes, go to marinas and talk to staff. They have their finger on the pulse of who may be selling before a listing were to go up. My understanding is boats are often sold this way.
posted by pintapicasso at 8:58 AM on June 5, 2017


Not sure what your area is like, but have you thought about joining a club that lets you sign out sailboats? It'll be cheaper than buying, require no maintenance, and give you a feel for different boats before you buy.
posted by beyond_pink at 9:31 AM on June 5, 2017 [10 favorites]


I had a friend last year who rented out a boat by the day from a club just like beyond_pink suggests and it seemed a great way to have some fun, practice your skippering and not get in over your head with boat maintenance. A devout sailor who has had many fun boats over his lifetime told me this one, "A boat is just a hole in the water in which to throw your money!" He told this with peals of laughter as his wife rolled her eyes in the background.
posted by amanda at 9:43 AM on June 5, 2017 [2 favorites]


It's not a bad idea in theory, but you are probably vastly underestimating how long it will take you to sell the boat when you are ready to move up. And pretty much forget selling it for any amount more than what you paid for it. Boats are seriously depreciating assets. It's hard to tell from your question, but have you ever actually sailed? Joining a club will give you a chance to try out different boats to see what you prefer, and they may even offer lessons.

The "hole in the water that you throw money into" joke is only funny because it's so true.
posted by Bresciabouvier at 10:11 AM on June 5, 2017 [4 favorites]


Yeah, I hear you on the Craigslist options! I promise "perfect" doesn't live there.

Not sure I can answer your question, but maybe a hopefully helpful anecdote?

I have 3 or 4 friends who have bought perfectly sail-able but shitty boats on Craigslist for $3000 - $6000. They aren't "nice," but they are totally fun and seaworthy. And stuff needs to be fixed all the time. They're smelly, bilge-y, and dirty. As in, the running lights sometimes waylay plans because they're broken, and the motor only stays in gear if you physically hold it in place. We've had "sail mending" parties, because whoops - what used to be a small tear now looks like a cannonball ripped through it. Really, that's part of the draw with "shitty" boats!

I really like working on the boats, but they're not MY boats. It really depends on how much time and elbow grease you want to put into it. However, you're right—they're great first boats, because it's hard to mess anything up that isn't already messed up.

I would never buy a boat (pretty much any boat) thinking I'd be able to sell it for a reasonable amount. People are practically—and sometimes literally—giving boats away, every day. But on the other hand, if you ruin your boat somehow, eh! Oh well. It probably wouldn't have resold anyway. If you're okay with that, go for it.

It does happen though: one of my friends just traded his $4000 27-foot Hunter (pour one out for my homie Arion) for a $15,000-ish nice 52-footer, no problem.

(Personally, I'd join a club. It *looks* more expensive, but if you think of time spent working on the boat + parts...)
posted by functionequalsform at 10:55 AM on June 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


but I don't want repairs to sully our first sailing season

If you buy a used sailboat, repairs will sully your first sailing season.

Nthing joining a club – or if your goal is to get more sailing experience, maybe take ASA 103?
posted by nicwolff at 2:51 PM on June 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


First find your hole. That is unless you already are on the water or plan to keep the boat on a trailer (needs a truck to practically tow) start looking for mooring or docking possibilities, that can quickly be the most expensive part of the plan. But there are always possibilities.

Nthing walk the docks, chat anyone, bring along beer, look for the older marina that seems a bit decrepit, perhaps up the coast into Georgia, and take the back roads, there's boats in yards that would go for a song. A free boat is totally possible.

Second unless you've got the insane big bucks focus on basics and safety. Solid hull. A 23ft boat will most likely set yup for an outboard, start looking for a Yamaha at least 5hp but no more than 15. Yamaha. And learn how to work on it.

Re-rigging a 23 footer is something one can do oneself. And any boat with a bit of scrubbing, paint will look bristol to just about anyone. Plan on working on the boat, something is ALWAYS about to break. Every boat has a list of lists of projects.

But get an understanding of what's essential, what is ok on a calm day and what's essential for a longer trip.

Any boat you can finagle a few minutes on look at as close as possible, get your nose into the bilge, look at every turnbuckle and fitting. Ask other owners what works best about their boat and what they'd change.

As for the first year, if it floats, go out a little way, tacking around the river during slack water is just a bunch of fun. Having a boat is not like being in a club, if it breaks you fix it. And there is nothing that can't be done by you. It's the whole experience, boat yoga (reaching a backing plate you can't see while upside down in a lazerette).

I'm not anti club but getting on your own boat when you want where you want is just so incredibly much better. Hard in many unexpected ways, but just a different level.
posted by sammyo at 5:02 PM on June 5, 2017


I'm a son of a son of a sailor. During my 20 years of active sailing I was taught and learned more a few things from those with decades of experience.

First thing is determining the availability and price of slips. Once you find a marina, visit on a weekend or two to wander and ask people their opinions about the place. Ask about how much draft is too much for the harbor. Note drive time for when you'll likely be heading to and from the marina.

Renting is cheaper if you decide not to buy.

One year minimums on sailing club memberships are the best because your motivation to sail will be augmented by your motivation to get your moneys worth. After a year you'll know how strong the first motivation still is. It's not unusual for new members to start with a bang, taper off, then stop coming before the year is up. For doing overnight or longer trips you'll want a car with adequate cargo space so you only make one round trip from home.

During that club year you can also: 1) Follow For Sale listings to see what's available, the prices, how long a boat takes to sell, and 2) Of the type of boat you're interested in, note which ones are sailed most often. The popular boats of a region usually sold in high numbers because they were both well suited to a purpose and the local conditions of wind and sea.

Between the numbers produced, the number still in use, active owner's forums, hardware support for anything you'd need, and that it's damn well suited to both day sailing and short multi day trips, I suggest you add the Catalina 22 to your list of potential boats.
posted by Homer42 at 11:07 PM on June 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


Came in to say many sailing towns have clubs or boat co-ops where you share in a group of sail boats. A good way to start, and also get to know the boating community.
Friends were in the victoria bc (oak bay marina) co-op and it worked well for them.
posted by chapps at 11:40 PM on June 5, 2017


Response by poster: I'd love to do the club thing, but surprisingly it's not prevalent in Florida for sailboats. There's a guy nearby that rents a Hunter 22 for $160/day, I suppose I could do that a few times. There's also a resort in the Keys that lets you use their Catalina 22s, and a few places that rent Hobies and the like. But I haven't found anything like Seattle Sailing Club, which looks to be exactly what I'd want.

Guess I'll take the advice here of going where the boats are and asking around. Thanks all!
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:43 AM on June 6, 2017


Are you Googling the term "yacht club?" Often they're about the same thing as a sailing club, though membership requirements do vary. There seem to be a great many. Some will be basically social clubs, but some are for regular people or even municipally managed.
posted by Miko at 8:44 AM on June 6, 2017


Also as you look around the yacht clubs, watch for their weeknight race listings. Often you can join a crew ad hoc for weeknight sail races. That is a great way to get a sense of different vessels and their handling potential. And usually, it's completely free and you don't need to be a member. Just offer your services to whatever skippers need a hand.
posted by Miko at 8:46 AM on June 6, 2017


Does your town or neighboring town have a yacht club? That's the first place I'd check to see if there's a place to rent sailboats. If you're near marinas, there's usually a club somewhere. Maybe you'd have to go an hour away, but definitely find a place where you can regularly sail before going down the road of buying a boat. It's worth going down the club/renting road because sailboats handle differently from powerboats. You may get seasick or not like the heeling.

Hopefully I can sell it for not much more than I paid, assuming we don't sink it.
Yeah, this doesn't happen. Boats depreciate.

Me and my husband are cruisers. He initially had a 22 foot boat and the transition to a 40 foot boat was like learning to sail all over again. Get sailing experience on a bigger boat if you're interested in cruising. A 22 footer handles and feels very different than a 40 footer.

You only say you're on the Space Coast so googling I found:
https://asa.com/schools/florida/
http://spacecoast.boatflorida.com/events/sailing-class?xg_source=activity
http://www.beachsidesailing.com/
http://www.sail-race.com/ Sailors always need crew or "rail meat" so reach out! Racing is very different from cruising, but you'll learn a lot about sailing this way.

Good luck!
posted by vivzan at 8:50 AM on June 6, 2017


New boats depreciate. The OP is considering a used boat. Fiberglas boat production exploded in the late 60s - early 70s. Those boats are still as seaworthy as when new, given proper maintenance and correcting any known weak points. 22-23' boats from that era typically have asking prices of $4k - 6k, depending on condition and included equipment. There's no room for them to depreciate further.
posted by Homer42 at 7:47 AM on June 7, 2017 [1 favorite]


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