Need to replace our blow boat...

[Bubba1235]

We've got an old Sunfish sail boat that's seen it's better days. I bought it used from a place that rented them out and that was 10 years ago so I have more than got the $300 worth of good I spent on it but it's, well it's just plain wore out, been patched too many times, sails are shot, etc. so I'm thinking it's time to replace it.

We are not "pros" at sailing and only use it on a small local lake when we just want to get out on the water without all the noise and hassle of the ski boat and it's only the admiral and myself. The Sunfish has been a great little boat, I'll never say anything bad about it but we are thinking maybe something just a wee bit bigger would be nice but do not want something that resembles work to sail. (If there is anything simpler / easier to sail than the Sunfish I've never seen it.)

I want to keep it simple and easy but with a bit more room so any suggestions on what we should be looking at?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Need to replace our blow boat...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Need to replace our blow boat...

At my local lake there's a club that races small sailboats. There are Lasers, Lightnings and Flying Scots. They are all small daysailers. I believe the Lasers are the smallest. Seeing as these are popular standard sailing designs, you should be able to find one easily. Hope that helps your search.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Need to replace our blow boat...

I have a friend of mine that likes his Kingfisher sailboat. It's an older model, but supposedly has a pretty good following. It's a little bit bigger than a Sunfish, could comfortably hold 2 people and a cooler. He sails it by himself around Salem Harbor, so I imagine it wouldn't be much of a chore to sail.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Need to replace our blow boat...

Unless you're staying strictly away from the idea - a small CAT might be a nice boat. There's something about relaxing on the trampoline that makes them appealing ... and you don't have to run 'em up on one sponson all the time.

The bonus of a Sunfish is the cat rig (also called catboats). As opposed to a sloop you've only got one sail to keep up with and it makes things nice and easy. Unfortunately, the bulk of what you'll find for sale is sloops.

We had an Oday Widgeon years ago that sailed "okay." It was a sloop, but it wasn't a real fast boat ... kinda' sailed nice an' lazy. BUT - she'd dip a gunwale in a hurry. One good gust and we'd have to be on our toes. From there we went with a Capri 15 (made by Catalina) - AMAZING little sloop. It was a great sailing boat, could handle all kinds of conditions and had a bunch of sail (went like a rocket). BUT ... you had to work to sail that one most of the time. She'd was built to race and wanted to.

I've been kinda' keeping my eye out for a 12' Catboat that I could take out real easy by myself.

 

[avenger79]

Re: Need to replace our blow boat...

hunter 14'6 or if new hunter 15

 

[ChristopherRobin]

Re: Need to replace our blow boat...

I'd vote Laser, it's a bit larger than the sunfish but still a cat rigged boat.

 

[Bsquared]

Re: Need to replace our blow boat...

Lasers aren't very comfortable for two folks, and probably more work (tippier) than a Sunfish when the breeze is up. There are lots of boats slighty bigger than a Laser; Zuma, Force 5, Lido 14, Megabyte. A lot of more conventional open-hull dinghies, too, but I don't know how well they do in the back-of-a-pickup mode. Could always get TWO Sunfish