Best sailboat for a shallow lake?
October 4, 2020 12:59 PM Subscribe
I hope to do some sailing on Austin Lake in SW Michigan next summer. What kind of boat should i be looking for? I'm a life long sailor, but mostly on 30+ foot keel boats so i am not very knowledgeable about my options.
I imagine storing the boat in the garage and launching from the lawn for the week. So stepping/ unstepping the mast needs to not be a pita and it should be light enough for 2 adults to launch.
As i see it, my main criteria are (in order):
Shallow draft (3 ft max)
Can be single handed, but large enough for 2 adults to sail comfortably
Light weight
Fun
There is a group of catamarans that race on the lake and it would be nice to join them.
I'd like to spend less than $2000, but might consider more if it's something that would hold its value.
Some thoughts I've had: Hobie cats seem pretty popular - which sizes can be single handed? A Laser is too small, right? I've seen some scows listed for sale - could that work?
I imagine storing the boat in the garage and launching from the lawn for the week. So stepping/ unstepping the mast needs to not be a pita and it should be light enough for 2 adults to launch.
As i see it, my main criteria are (in order):
Shallow draft (3 ft max)
Can be single handed, but large enough for 2 adults to sail comfortably
Light weight
Fun
There is a group of catamarans that race on the lake and it would be nice to join them.
I'd like to spend less than $2000, but might consider more if it's something that would hold its value.
Some thoughts I've had: Hobie cats seem pretty popular - which sizes can be single handed? A Laser is too small, right? I've seen some scows listed for sale - could that work?
Aside from a preference for a swinging centerboard over a daggerboard (lower chance of damage in a grounding) its mostly a matter of personal preference: boardboat like a Laser, traditional dinghy like a Snipe or Comet or Lightning, an undecked rowing & sailing boat that might be better for some fishing.
It makes sense to see what's popular in a particular venue. If you can scare up pictures of a marina, or a busy ramp, or find a boat dealer in the area, you can get a hint of what the locals find suitable.
Probably any of the current line of Hobie boats would be fine. The Melges scows less than 20 ft would be fun, but get a reading on how much crew is recommended, and how skilled the crew needs to be.
Once upon a time I had a Rhodes Mariner, 19 ft and ballasted. That would be fine, but bigger than you need or want.
posted by SemiSalt at 1:24 PM on October 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
It makes sense to see what's popular in a particular venue. If you can scare up pictures of a marina, or a busy ramp, or find a boat dealer in the area, you can get a hint of what the locals find suitable.
Probably any of the current line of Hobie boats would be fine. The Melges scows less than 20 ft would be fun, but get a reading on how much crew is recommended, and how skilled the crew needs to be.
Once upon a time I had a Rhodes Mariner, 19 ft and ballasted. That would be fine, but bigger than you need or want.
posted by SemiSalt at 1:24 PM on October 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
My first instinct would be to find out who is racing what kind of boats, and then see if you can get involved! I race J/22's couple times a week here in Baltimore and it's enriched my sailing life considerably.
If I were buying a shallow-draft dinghy/boat for pure sport I would probably get a catamaran - so fast and fun!! Hobie 16s and 18s can be singlehanded depending on the wind.
posted by stinkfoot at 2:52 PM on October 4, 2020
If I were buying a shallow-draft dinghy/boat for pure sport I would probably get a catamaran - so fast and fun!! Hobie 16s and 18s can be singlehanded depending on the wind.
posted by stinkfoot at 2:52 PM on October 4, 2020
I have always loved this boat unfortunately they are no longer made.
Boston Whaler Harpoon 5.2
they also made a smaller 4.6 model
posted by tman99 at 4:49 PM on October 4, 2020
Boston Whaler Harpoon 5.2
they also made a smaller 4.6 model
posted by tman99 at 4:49 PM on October 4, 2020
My family sailed like this when I was younger. We had a laser and other people we sailed with had sunfish (and yet others had catamarans and bigger boats so the races were a motley crew with all kinds of fun handicaps). My dad used to teach a little class of us kids and we were all able to handle a laser on our own into and out of the water. The lasers can be small but definitely big enough for two to tool around and have a fun afternoon.
posted by Tandem Affinity at 6:49 PM on October 4, 2020
posted by Tandem Affinity at 6:49 PM on October 4, 2020
Hobie 16 can be single handed, you will want a righting bag to recover from capsize.
If you want to take it a bit easier at the tradeoff of less top speed, the Hobie Wave is lots of fun.
posted by BeeDo at 8:52 PM on October 4, 2020
If you want to take it a bit easier at the tradeoff of less top speed, the Hobie Wave is lots of fun.
posted by BeeDo at 8:52 PM on October 4, 2020
you will want a righting bag to recover from capsize. most definitely!
Hobie 16 would cover all your bases, especially if you want to race against other Hobies - not much will be faster than them and being slowest in a race, even if the times are corrected, is boring. (When I was a teenager I sailed an Internation 14 with a friend and we could take on Hobies but it was a lot of work to sail. Great fun, but not an 'easy' boat to sail.)
Wouldn't a Melges Scow (the MC?) fit the bill? There are a bunch of different sizes. And they are 'regional' - developed with lake sailing in mind.
posted by From Bklyn at 1:38 AM on October 5, 2020
Hobie 16 would cover all your bases, especially if you want to race against other Hobies - not much will be faster than them and being slowest in a race, even if the times are corrected, is boring. (When I was a teenager I sailed an Internation 14 with a friend and we could take on Hobies but it was a lot of work to sail. Great fun, but not an 'easy' boat to sail.)
Wouldn't a Melges Scow (the MC?) fit the bill? There are a bunch of different sizes. And they are 'regional' - developed with lake sailing in mind.
posted by From Bklyn at 1:38 AM on October 5, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by night_train at 1:22 PM on October 4, 2020