The Sailrite Ultrafeed LSZ-1 is a popular choice for boat covers due to its ability to offer both straight and zigzag stitching, as well as a powerful motor and cogged belt drive. Practical Sailor has been testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for over 50 years, with independent tests carried out by Shrink Wrap. Shrink wrap is a plastic material used by boat builders to protect new boats during truck shipping. It is important to avoid using elastic draw cords as they can degrade over time.
For a fitted cover, Classic Accessories, National Boat Covers, and Taylor PVC-fabric with internal gauze are recommended. The tarp should cover the boat from the tarp’s edge. A canvas sailboat cover can be sewn using an Industrial Straight Stitch or Walking Foot sewing machine. DIY awnings can be made using a sewing machine and silicon spray for lubrication.
Ali Wood offers tips on keeping afloat as affordably as possible, including DIY mooring, sails, and rigging. An annual subscription to a marina is the cheapest option, with monthly direct debit payments being welcome. Over eight or more years, paying a year upfront often provides the most cost-effective way to cover your boat.
📹 DIY Sailmaking! (under $100). Sailing Yes Let’s! 12
Yes Let’s (my Wharram Pahi 31) was undercanvassed in light airs. The plans showed a large drifter. I decided to make one from …
Can a tarp be used as a sail?
Polytarp sails refer to sails constructed from rectangular polyethylene tarpaulins. Home boat builders often favor these synthetic sheet sails because the materials are inexpensive and easy to assemble into functional, durable sails.
- Laying out the tarp material,
- measuring the sail dimensions,
- creating baselines from corner to corner,
- placing double-faced carpet tape around the sail outline with sufficient rounding on selected edges to shape the sail,
- placing a reinforcing rope along the inner edge of the tape, and
- folding the taped overlap back over the rope to create the sail shape.
The sail can be strengthened by adding reinforcing material to the corners and stitching around the edges of the sail. Adding grommets to the corners and edges will allow the sail to be attached to the mast and spars. Because these grommets are placed through doubled material and behind the reinforcing line inside the sail edge, the resulting attachment points have tremendous strength.
What is the best material to use for a boat cover?
Polyester is considered an excellent choice for boat cover construction, thanks to its abrasion, UV, and water resistance; good breathability; long useable lifespan; and reasonable cost. This is the most commonly used cover material and you’ll notice that most boat covers (including our SharkSkin® line) are made of polyester.
The only boat cover material generally considered to be superior to polyester is acrylic. Our premium Sunbrella canvas is made of acrylic and is the accepted gold standard of boat cover materials. Acrylic material is known for its breathability and fade resistance. But — no surprise here — it’s also one of the most expensive.
As you shop around, you’ll also see cotton-poly blends and nylon covers on the market. But these can’t be expected to last long because they have poor UV- resistance and are extremely lightweight. The best boat covers will not be made of these materials. You should be a bit skeptical when it isn’t stated clearly up-front whether the cover is made from polyester, acrylic, nylon, or a blend. And when you see a shipping weight of 3.5 pounds for a cover intended to fit a 19-foot boat, that’s a pretty big clue that you’re not purchasing a quality boat cover.
Is a boat a poor investment?
And that answer…depends. If you are asking financially, a boat is almost always a poor investment. But if you’re asking for yourself, and how you want to spend your free time and your recreation dollars, look more closely at the costs versus what being on the water is worth to you.
From a financial perspective, you will almost always lose money on a boat. You should never approach buying a boat as a money-making or investment growth opportunity. Even on a business purchase, a break-even is difficult, and operating expenses are high.
You will not make or save money with your boat. Unlike vacation homes and other real estate, new boat values drop substantially as soon as you put them in the water. And using them to make money back is fraught with risk, regulation, and extra expenses.
Do I need to cover my boat every night?
Should I cover my boat every night?. You should! Boats that are outside are exposed to the elements that can damage them. You wouldn’t want to go to bed and wake up to find that a storm blew through overnight and damaged your boat. A high-quality cover that allows air circulation can keep your boat clean, dry, and protected when you’re not using it.
How do I fold a canopy cover?. Before you start taking down your cover to store it, find a friend to help you out—even with a lightweight cover, folding a boat lift canopy is challenging to do on your own. These instructions also apply to curved canopy covers: just tuck the ends, corners, and ruffles as best as you can. Once your canopy is clean and dry, remove it from the frame and lay it on the ground. Start folding the cover over like a sleeping bag and smooth it out as you go, folding about a foot and a half of cover at a time until you’re halfway through. Repeat the folding process from the opposite side. Bring one end of the folded cover over to the other, and tightly roll up the fabric starting at the fold, pressing the air out as you go until you get to the end. If you’re storing it for the fall and winter, make sure it’s in a dry, safe place.
Do you still have questions about your boat lift canopy? Would you like installation advice or recommendations for boat lift accessories and parts? Our customer support team can help! Contact a local ShoreMaster dealer for advice on what will work best for your waterfront.
Is it okay to cover a boat with a tarp?
Selecting the Ideal Tarp for Your Boat. Choosing the right tarp for your boat improves the level of protection. Compared to standard tarps, waterproof tarps are usually the best choice for safeguarding your boat from the elements.
When choosing a tarp, make sure to consider the following factors:
Size. To completely cover the boat, it must be large enough to cover the entire length and width of the boat, with some extra material to ensure complete coverage.
What do you cover a boat with?
It is an acrylic-coated polyester that is breathable, stain-, mildew, and UV-resistant. Urethane-coated, solution-dyed polyester fabrics and solution-dyed acrylics are also great. Another boat cover option is to go the custom route.
Imagine that you’ve just purchased a shiny new vessel and docked it at your local marina. As the years go by, it will undergo various temperature and humidity changes. And unfortunately, this wet-dry cycle of expanding and contracting will surely take a toll on your boat’s Gelcoat and wood brightwork.
Now, combine that with the reality of salty air, pollution, dust, and rodents. The result? Well, your beloved vessel will have taken quite a beating.
Unless, of course, you protect it with a boat cover. This simple investment can prevent many problems from wreaking havoc on your boat (faded and oxidized Gelcoat, bleached and cracked wood, mildew and mold – the list goes on).
How do you cover a boat outside?
2. Tarps. Tarps are also a common way to store your boat outdoors for the winter. You can easily buy a tarp or two from your local hardware or big box store, fit them over your boat, and tie them down with ropes or bungee cords.
Then you can keep your boat stored at home or even up at your lake cabin for the winter.
Pros for Tarps. When using tarps, the main advantage is the cost. Tarps are generally cheap and fairly easy to tie down, though you may have to try some trial and error to get the best fit possible to provide protection for your boat.
Additionally, it’s usually easy to buy a replacement tarp if you rip yours in the process.
What is the cheapest way to keep a boat?
Indoor Boat Storage at Home. The least expensive, easiest choice is to store your boat on your own property, such as in a shed or even a garage—assuming you have the space. This doesn’t cost any extra money and gives you constant access to your boat so you can easily work on it any time. Plus, the boat will be protected from sunlight, rain, snow, vandals and thieves when you store it indoors on your property.
Boat Storage Facilities. So what’s the downside of indoor boat storage at home? Well, there isn’t one if you have the space to spare. But many people don’t, so they have to look into other indoor boat storage options, such as a dry stacked storage warehouse or a self-storage facility. Either way, your boat will have the same type of protection as if you stored it in a garage at home. However, you won’t have constant access to your boat, since you’ll have to adhere to the hours of the indoor storage facility. And of course, you’ll have to pay a monthly fee for boat storage.
Weigh these pros and cons as you think about the best indoor boat storage option, and then think about the reasons you might want to store your boat outside instead.
What do you do with a boat you don’t want?
How to Get Rid of an Old BoatSell It. The first option, and probably the most popular, is to simply sell your boat. … Salvage Yards. Salvagers are often interested in older boats to use for parts. … To the Dump! If no other option will work, you can simply take the old boat to the dump.
The day will eventually come when you need to replace your boat. Whether you are close to a new purchase or simply want to explore options for getting rid of your craft, we’re here to assist you. Read on to learn how to get rid of an old boat.
If you’d like to purchase a new craft, design one to fit your exact needs with our Build Your Scout tool. You can add features for fishing, sporting, entertainment, and more to best enjoy your boating experience!
The first option, and probably the most popular, is to simply sell your boat. Even if it’s not in great shape and doesn’t have much remaining value, you can likely get something for your boat. Consider a trade-in with a dealer, or place your boat for sale on listing sites to see if you have any viable offers.
How can I protect my boat from the sun?
Yes! Using a compound boat wax that is compatible with your boat’s exterior will help you minimize sun damage. Typically, cleaning and waxing your boat should be an annual boat maintenance task, but you may choose to wax your boat more frequently if it gets a lot of UV exposure.
The sun is arguably your biggest enemy when it comes to protecting your skin while boating and maximizing the life of your boat. But with these boat sun protection tips in hand, you are ready to enjoy healthy, sun-safe boating for years to come!
What boat sun protection tips do you use to minimize sun exposure to your boat and your skin? Let us know in the comments below so we can all practice better sun safety while boating!
What happens if you don’t cover your boat?
If you don’t cover your boat, you can expect to spend a few days cleaning and repairing the upholstery in the cabin, removing mold and mildew, and likely even replacing carpet or other fabrics. Additionally, when snow and ice pile up on the deck of your boat, they’ll melt and refreeze throughout the winter months.
📹 The Best CHEAP Sailboat for SOLO cruising – Ep 220 – Lady K Sailing
What is the best cheap sailboat to go sailing or live aboard cruising in the Caribbean alone, as a solo sailor. Or even a couple …
This is pretty genius. I helped a friend of mine make a similar sail from Tyvek house wrap. It did very well. He acquired a little sailboat, I think it was about 17′-18′ and he had only one old tattered sail that came with it, so we made some from Tyvek. I think it cost him about the same amount, about $100. I used to be able to buy these middle weight white tarps at the local flee market, a lot of boaters used them because they were white. But they would make an excellent light air sail, just a little heavier than the blue tarp, with a coating on them.
Great work, that’s what sailing is all about. I think most sailing have been corrupted by the racing/rich. Make some wind vanes that that goes directly on your rudder like the website luckyfish and your are set. Also, pick up a small outboard, it could save your boat and your life, we won’t judge you.
Nice! looks sturdy with all the extra reinforced areas. I have been making the Tarp n Tape sails for a while and like you said stow it away and you can use them for years! also there is the aspect of using the older tarp sail as a pattern or experimenting with shape before investing in a more durable fabric. I need to get a sewing machine.
Great. First I used only the staysail and yankee, but as my confidence in the boat grew I started to use the drifter, Wich is actually more of a code zero genoa, more and more. Now I use it even with Bf 4+. Even pointing goes quite well as the additional speed helps a lot. I can imagine an even bigger sail, like a true asymmetric gennaker that runs to the very aft beam.
I did that in a Catalina 27 after escaping life, running to the ocean to survive my stressful life. I found a sailboat for sale by harbor patrol for 4k and bought it, The next 5 years were magical as I learned to sail to Catalina Island and San Diego Ca.I cherish the memories than I made on the ocean so go for it you all.
I don’t always agree with you but usually. On this one you hit it right on!! Have owned 5 serious cruising boats from 28-46’. A a US Sailing instructor working for a large active school in San Francisco, I have sailed hundreds of boats and put tens of thousands of miles on my boats. So I speak with some background. The first 3 boats were right on. Also you might note that Uma has sailed a 53 yr old Pearson 36 from the tropics, all the way to Svalbard, 9 degrees from the North Pole! And no diesel! (Small electric motor with very limited range. One of my boats was an Alberg 35. I put many thousands of sea miles on it. And the W37 is more and better of the same basic boat. I have always admired the Niagara 35. Hinterholler does a nice job. Another to add is the Morgan 38 in the size and price range. And the Cal 39. Both very nice capable good sailing boats. The build quality of my Cal ll-46 was top notch. And Cals sail. It’s 52 yrs old and still crossing oceans. And yes! Go sooner than later. My wife and I quit our careers at age 45, took off and never looked back. Oh but we were at the height of our careers. Think of the MONEY you gave up: A. You can’t take it with you. And B. Think of the LIFE that we gained. My business partner is 72, still in the grind, making lots of money and I wouldn’t trade places with him for anything.
Not bad choices, but there are quite a few smaller boats that will do the job handily. At the top of my list would be boats like the Cape Dory 30, Allied Seawind 32, Valiant 32 to name a few. If you have a bit more money your can look for a Baba 30, a Westsail 32, or even an Island Packet 31. Those are super stout boats that can get you there. Yes all of these boats are older. If you want the extra size an Allied Seawind 35 is a good choice or if you want a big interior for the size in another stout boat look at an Allied Princess 36. Of course you could also consider a Cape Dory 33, a Cape Dory 36, or if you look around a Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37.
Back when I was learning to design boats, I calculated the water plane needed to carry two people and supplies for three months. For an average aspect ratio this came out to be a LWL of about 30 ft. (Actually the number was 29.2 ft but I rounded it up because of the range of aspect ratios.) So for a long range cruising boat I look for a LWL of 30 to 33 ft. To my mind LWL is more important than LOA.
These were all very good choices, about the only one I would add (like others have suggested) is any version of the Morgan 38. The Morgan 38s all have the advantage of being able to get in at just about any price point depending how much work you want to do to get it up to blue water cruising status. What I think is in important in this type of single handed sailing is what the boat needs to be a single handed boat. Things like a reliable autopilot and an anchor windlass. You could do a whole series on solo sailing, what it takes for a boat go out solo. There are also lots of article bloggers who are essentially solo sailors documenting their adventures in boats from a 20 foot Flicka up to a 40 foot custom steel ketch. Some people who do the solo thing have riders or companions at times that don’t participate much in actual crewing, but are happy to come along for the adventure. So there are reasons and situations for a lot of different boats. You could do a whole series on solo cruising boats, but what would be informative would be to discuss what it takes to make a boat in a whole category of seaworthy vessels into a solo cruiser with the inevitable trade offs in comfort, performance and safety.
I was so happy to see the Bayfield 32 on this list. I actually bought a 32c about 3 years ago for a cool 16 grand, and I’ve been slowly upgrading her since. (Mostly modernizing the electronics, no structural or engine issues otherwise.) “Stout” is a perfect descriptor. They built these babies like tanks.
One of my favorite websites right now is called Sailing Triteia. James, Who I think may have been a pirate in a past life.,bought an Alberg for just over $2000, Put a little love in it and he left Los Angeles and is now in New Zealand. Doesn’t take a lot of money to Chase a dream. It just takes a lot of Passion. Memories and regrets, Those are the only 2 things that you take with you when you leave this life so make more memories than regrets.
If you need added tankage only part of the time, don’t forget blivets! I think Nauta and Vetus make them. Basically a thick black bag with a filler neck on it. Rolls up flat for empty storage. Fills and conforms to all the odd size spaces. Usually grommetted around the edges so you can lash it down where you need it. Even the military use them, in sizes up to 5,000 gallons!
Personally I think think every one out at sea wether it be on the Great Lakes never loosing sight of land or island hopping should have at least a personal epirb they only cost a couple hundred bucks Also what’s your opinion on the Morgan Out Island I know these were made in different lengths but specially the 41’er
This is one of my favourite episodes, Tim, and not just because you talk about the Niagara 35:). Our Niagara 35 has made, with previous owners, at least 3 trips to the Bahamas from Lake Ontario. We have owned her for 5 years, and I’ve been working hard at maintenance and upgrades, and plan to head down to the Maritime provinces this season. I have no doubt that she’ll handle the trip with no more than a few problems(i don’t want to jinx us!).
Maybe another factor to consider is why you want a cheap boat. The obvious reason is your budget limits you to cheap. Another reason could be that you’re looking for a blank slate to make the boat you want. I don’t like most of the boat layouts commercially available. I’m looking for a cheap boat because I know I want to gut and rebuilds to my spec. Solid hull, functional engine, I know I’m going to all electronics, sails and rig. In the end I need one cabin, one head, good galley, and space for a workshop area. Just a thought.
Tim, Amazing Content as usual thank you 🙏. I’ve started like most on a delightful SunFish and moved up to a Chrysler Mutineer and then bought a Catalina C30 tall rig. My C30 was an early 70s boat nice and thick fiberglass. I’ve raced on board a Tartan 10 meter and done quite well. Most of my sailing was on the West coastal shore of Lake Michigan as My home port was Winthrop Harbor, IL. I have single handled my C30 many times and usually crossed the lake and ended up frequently in either Holland,MI or would head North East up to Pentwater, MI. I have sailed to Mackinac as well. I’ve taken every Coast Guard Class I could short of enlisting in the Coast Guard and yes I had a EPIRB along with Davits and a smaller Zodac tender and Outboard. Sure I had jacklines and Harnesses and all the Safety equipment one would expect and yes I always filed a sail plan with someone in my homeport. The point I’m trying to make is while I have never sailed in the Ocean and yes that is on my bucket list. Is that other than tankage even a silly production sailboat that has been maintained should be Capable of a couple of days at Sea. One could Argue that Lake Michigan can be as treacherous as anything you would see sailing to the Bahamas. So the Boats you presented in this episode in my Humble Opinion are and would be ideal for budget friendly single Handling and the occasional trips to the Bahamas. Once again you are spot on and such a wealth of knowledge. Thank you 🙏
We owned a 1993 Hunter 33.5. Bought in Chicago and sailed it to Sarnia our home base. We put about 5,000 km on it for the 6 years we owned it including 2 trips to the north website and finally to Kingston for a few years via Welland canal. Wonderful experiences. We paid $44k I think (sold 5 years ago) and got most of the money back when we sold it. When buying we looked for the oldest boat with a modern layout including a sugar scoop, bright and spacious interior, aft cabin and full cockpit enclosure ( a must for sailing in Ontario). We loved the boat and maybe should have hung onto to it to take it down south one winter.
Mostly good advice. I notice that in the US people are drawn to larger boats than tend to be the norm in other countries. My own personal view is that the ideal ocean cruising boat for one or two people is around the 35 foot mark and the boats mentioned here would be right for purpose. In my book ‘A Passion for Sailing’ I look at a number of other criteria which haven’t been considered here. For instance, how much anchor and chain can you realistically retrieve without an electric anchor winch? Have you practiced using a chain hook and line to a sheet winch to retrieve your anchor and so on? The bigger the yacht, the bigger/heavier the anchor and ground tackle you will need. Things work well when new but not so well after a few years.
I always bought at a cheap price the 5 sailboats that I owned but I also put a lot of elbow grease to get them in top shape, when you buy a 40 years old boat and think going down in the carrabean, you got to strip it bottom-up and repair everything and replacing things here and there might become costly. new running rigging, sails, engine, rotten bulkheads, epoxy repairs etc…etc…been there done that .
This is a topic worth more organized attention. There’s a ton of online markets offering fully sailable boats for a fraction of those in your lists. Next I guess you’ll potential future boat owners into the underworld of detecting neglected maintenance… Best episode this far. Go small. Think Big. Sail Now.
Here are the absolute best budget cruising sailboats…that also happen to be blue water proven sailboats.. Do you have to put work in on these boats? You certainly will have to apply elbow grease and most likely change out the Atomic 4 for a diesel due to the smell of those engines. 1. Allied Seawind/Seawind II 2. Alberg 30 3. Grampian 31(1st version 1960’s). These are absolutely the very best budget blue water cruising sailboats.. There are many, many, 1960’s and early 1970’s blue water cruising sailboats that are available, that have been neglected,that can be upgraded.
Cruising requires carrying ability. I agree with the focus on older well made boats. Lots of value for the money. Stability underfoot is important. I would suggest a minimum of 34 feet with 38 being a good size. More important than anything is to just go and not wait for your version of perfection. There is a huge learning curve ahead and your preferences will change with experience. Good articles. They are steering people in the right direction and saving some dreams being crushed by bad choices.
One of the biggest roomiest boats is one that I owned back in the 90’s ; is an Irwin 34 Citation. HUGE interior and good sailing boat Irwin 31 and 34 are the newer version and also huge roomy and good sailing boat, priced right too NOW all we need to accomplish is to REDUCE THESE DAMN EXPENSIVE BOAT SLIPS ! I paid $75 a month for my 40 footer !
So nice to see smaller simpler boats looked at. I would push the lower limit down to the mid 20s for size. Were I sailing solo my sweet spot would be somewhere around 30 ft. Everything is smaller, lighter, cheaper, and easier to maintain. No more need for an electric windlass (though don’t get me wrong that one nice piece of gear). Money saved can be put into better sails, solar, and a burly self steering set up. I would add the Pearson Triton, Flicka, the Lyle hess 24 (maybe not cheap), and the NorSea 27 (bonus points for being trailerable by a normal truck). Between my two big boats (Cornish Trader – 40 ft gaff ketch, dead simple), and my Catalina 42 I’ve homed in on my gear needs – refrigeration, roller furling primary jib, a robust autopilot, solar + ~ 300 AH of usable batter capacity (assuming all LED lights), a dodger, and bimini. I sail year around in the Pacific NW so dry HEAT is at the top of my list. A little wood burning stove, or a diestel heater of some sort.
That 12v Engel fridge/freezer that’s on the Alberg is worth it’s weight in gold. Absolute TOP of the class, even as old as they are, for 12v fridges. Quiet, built like a tank, incredibly well insulated so it doesn’t cycle often, and sips power. I had one on my old boat that I rehabbed from near oblivion (PO left beer on ice until it wasn’t ice and all the beers exploded inside), and I kept it with me when I sold my boat. It will be coming with me on the next boat I buy for sure.
Hugo the “sailing frenchman” bought a 26 ft Ecume de mer for the symbolic price of a beer (5 euros maybe), then he prepared the boat and sailed the mediterranean sea, then crossed the atlantic and wandered in the caribbean with . I also know a man who sailed around the world for 8 years or so with this boat. All is possible
Solo over 9000nm on the east coast USA for last 6 years. Sold the 35′ Beneteau and went… Smaller. Way more fun. Less is more. I had to make modifications to this Tartan 28, like adding a shower. But no pressure water or water heater. This is more fun and cost less than 1/3 what I paid for last season. That Niagara 35 though…. Hmm….
Having a small diesel tank may be a problem for the sailer who spends most of their time with one sail up and the engine running all the time because their boat sails like a pig. Ona a well designed sailing vessel the engine is not a necessity but a luxury 20 gallons could get you out to sea, across the Atlantic and in port and still have fuel left to motor in to a protected harbor when you get there. IF you plan your crossing to avoid the doldrums and invested in a good sail inventory that keeps you sailing even when the breeze is 4 knots. If you try to keep that one size fits all cruising Genoa on a roller furler from luffing (because it’s made of heavy Dacron so it can hold up when it’s blowing 30knots ) ya probably will get frustrated and turn on the engine. But a light weight drifter (made of light weight nylon) might keep you moving and engine off. Yes fresh water is a concern but add another holding tank. And no one said you had to make the whole trip nonstop. Except for crossing the oceans directly on the trade routes there are less conventional ways. I sailed the North Atlantic when I lived in Maine and met many a sailer from the UK that took the Northern route (I like to call it the Viking route.). Boats as small as 27 ft have circumnavigated more then once. Some engineless. So GO small go now is still doable. (Ya most of those didn’t have life rafts ether) what they had was seamanship.
I love this article. You are a man after my own heart. This is the key question. Why does everything need to be ultra plus plus? Less is sometimes just as good. After all, what is the goal? To show how rich you are in a fancy boat? or is the goal to go sailing? I thing reevaluating the priorities is excellent thinking. Than you.
In 2021 I bought a 1978 Ericson 32 in Bellingham Wa. Other than kayaking lakes i had no boating experience. Let alone sailing experience. Anyway, spent a month getting me and the boat ready. One day of sea trials and then left for Alaska on the inside passage. It was great. Made it to Ketchikan Ak, sold it and took the ferry back. Of course I’m leaving out details but just proving you don’t need experience. Though, i have plenty of solo adventures under my belt. Just not boating. Now i want another boat. Lol
1972 Bristol 34. Lots of blood, sweat and tears, some upgrades and we are very safe and comfortable for around $24k. An epirb and good dinghy is fine for the Caribbean. We chose and older boat because they were made to a much higher standard than newer models. 15 years later we are still happily sailing the old girl and ready to embark on a much longer Caribbean journey.
Im constantly going back and forth on bigger and older or newer and smaller. Currently have a Maxi 84. A 28 footer from 79 and i definitely want a bigger boat but seeing some of the newer boats have a much better layout interiour even if they are not much longer than mine. Was looking at a Dufour classic 30 from 2000 and the boat feels soo much bigger than mine and having a head with a shower in not bigger boat is a huge plus. Then im thinking i could go for a older 35-40 footer for about the same money but everything will cost much more to replace if needed on a bigger boat and a slip in the marina costs quite a bit more for a bigger boat also.
This is getting a lot closer to what a lot of us are looking for, but a lot of us are looking at retiring and going solo sailing. In retirement, cheaper isn’t as important as maintaining a comfortable lifestyle, and these would be more geared toward people who are younger and haven’t collected a lifetime of “stuff” that still has to be in our homes. I’ve been trying to find a listing of different boats and the characteristics of each (keel size, number of cabins, number of heads, etc) but haven’t found one yet. Yachtworld used to let you search that way, but those filters are all gone now.
Another well-informed article, Tim. Even with decades of sailing, I always learn a little something new. I agree with you regarding safety gear and considering risk and exposure. General aviation struggles with this, and a number of costly mandates has driven up the cost dramatically and driven many out of light GA. Ocean crossing and island hopping are not the same for risk or exposure.
These are some great boats but sadly I’m more in the Vega or Macwester 27 range financially :). These would be great second boats, the first one was gorgeous. I think 32 foot is a nice size too for the budget constrained sailor. It’s a nice amount of space compared to a 27 footer but not quite large enough to fall into the price category of 35+ foot boats. There’s some nice Skandinavian boats in that range that aren’t too expensive with large production runs. Like Comfort 30 for instance. Edit ah the last boat is just like that. Maybe a touch nicer but one that needs a fair amoubt of companionship with an angle grinder might be up my alley.
Being brand new to your website, I like your opinion. But the 3 boats you show’d are all above what I’d be willing to part with on another boat. I have been looking in the 30 foot range..and am limited to whats about. But like you say..coastal day sailing..till I gain more experience, is all I wish to do..I’m lucky in the 12 miles out off the coast is blue water sailing here in Australia..My last yacht was 24 feet..and was a great weekender..but that was over 40 years ago…and if you raised an eyebrow, yes i am mid 60’s now.. So river’s and large lakes and esturies don’t faze me as long as my motor works ok..
Great episode!! My fiancé and I are planning on sailing out of Lake Erie in a few years. I actually have a couple Pearson 365 ketch rigs close to home in sight definitely on the cheaper side. Have to wait because unfortunately we are waiting for the marriage visa (she is from Whitecourt, AB) and I want to be prepared for any additional costs.
Smashed the like and subscribed! Excellent combination of real-world information spiked with legit orientation. If you spat the bane of public speaking, I uh, well, uh I must have uh, uh, uh, just uh, missed it. I’m looking for a “good” solo boat for the Great Loop. After seeing your article, I think I could purchase one of the boats covered within, do a modest amount of upgrading, contract a seasoned sail boater for one-on-one instruction for a month or so. While saving half of what I would have to pay for a comparable pocket cruiser.
Great format for this learning. I also watch @CaptainQYachtHunter who goes through older boats, but he discusses a boat one-at-a-time – which makes it very hard to understand where the boat sits in the grand scheme of things – for value, for blue water, for cheapness, for liveaboard, for social, Caribbean cruising, and so on.
I was originally planning on buying a sailboat years ago but decided to go the RV route and travelled the us working entertainment gigs. Now looking to get back in sailing again to cruise the Caribbean and possibly further. I’ve always loved the albin Vegas because those little things are tanks and inexpensive when they do pop up for sale. I’ve been looking at other boats like the beneteau first (I learned to sail on it) and both pearsons and Ericson’s.
30-40K is still a decent investment. might be a bit of a tradeoff but a structurally sound 20K boat should work fine too. you’ll prolly need to invest in electrical upgrades and small repairs. but if it has a solid baseline and is functional then you can do some daysails while repairing/upgrading the rest :p
been looking at boats for a few years, interest rates are about to blast off and never come back down, the more educated I get the more demanding my criteria is, in order of importance to me. long 40′ boat for better speed. deep draft keel over 5 ft to sail to wind, skeg hung rudder or full keel rudder. the mast has to be stepped all the way down to the keel, in the case of a knockdown or rogue wave, getting dismasted in the middle of the ocean isnt my idea of fun, also a deck stepped mast can fail without provocation from sea states by poor aged rigging. engine diagnostics next most expensive item….appreciated comments
“Need” a liferaft in the Caribbean? We interviewed air crewmen who fly nightly missions out of USCG’s largest airbase in St. Pete, FL. Each night their C130’s cross the entire Caribbean, north to south and east to west. Someone in an inflatable dinghy with a handheld VHF could reach them multiple times each night, commented the airman.
In my time as a professional sailmaker i have seen more people with too big a boat and no clue than you would expect. It is more important to be competent and experienced, than whatever boat you choose. Ive seen people pick up boats for ridiculous small amounts and have a lot of fun with them. Remember, people are selling you stuff you dont need.
You’d gag….had a 10k budget..was looking obviously for a “project” the lighter the project the better…plan on solo…a 79 S2 9.2a popped up last fall for $2500…pretty good shape..solar arch in good cond..needs some things and in reference to another vid of yours…the plastimo 101 was off the bulkhead…so far..port spreader light is out..compass unmounted..old yanmar G20…no bimini..it’s a fin but a big encapsulated lead fin…it will probably outlast me since Im 68 already..and a concern I had…returning to sailing after 40 years…and thinking about 5-7 years in the future…being 75 if Im still around….moved aboard last month..E. NC…950 miles from my base in Ft. Lauderdale…
After sailing a Tripp-Lentsch 29 for 26 years; English website / Adriatic / Med; New England Coastal waters; I had the chance to upgrade to the T-L 29’s big brother, a Northeast 38 that I bought from a German Yacht Club in Hamburg. We sailed in the Danish islands for 5 weeks to see what kind of problems I had bought. Yes, a 38-footer is nicer riding than the 29-footer, but after getting back to Connecticut and contemplating our navels, we said: everything is bigger and heavier on the 38-footer; the crew is out of the house; what do we do with all that extra space? …. and costs go way up. We weren’t getting younger, so we came to the conclusion that we’d sell the NE 38 and keep the T-L 29. After powerboats and PWCs turned Coastal waters into a plague, we downsized to a 15 foot trailerable Montgmery sailboat. Now in two days driving time we can cruise on quiet sailing areas from Maine to the Florida Keys. My answer is “Bigger is not Better”. We had all the sailing fun, and lots of secluded quiet anchorages; and our sailing costs went to almost $0. Dividend income from the sales price of the T-L 29 paid for B&Bs and restaurant meals
Whatever boat you come up with, be aware that the insurance company really has the last word. It doesn’t matter if you own one of the best blue water boats out there. It only matters wether or not you’re able to insured it. Liability insurance is a global requirement everywhere and if you can’t get it, you’re not welcome in any marina or controlled anchorage anywhere (period!) And older boats are becoming increasingly impossible to insure, so be sure you don’t go out and buy that all-wood, classic yacht before you speak with an insurance agent (or 10.) Be aware that you’re going to be asked a series of difficult questions like, “when was the last time the mast and standing rigging was replaced? Will you be living and cooking on the boat? When was your last marine survey?” Ask me how I know this.
Where is a good place in the US to relocate if you’re a hard working journeyman carpenter with marine carpentry experience looking to relocate put a boat together and sail away? Any advice would be appreciated I’m more interested in getting a boat and doing the work with my hands and skills not my check book 😊
I see all kinds of cheap boats around the great lakes. Just lots of them have too much draft for Erie canal. Our first boat was a 8000$ C&C Landfall 43. Not something I would sail around Lake Superior because old and small for my family. Building a cottage this summer up north and then selling or giving away current house to a family member. Then building Wharram 50’x23’6″ at the cottage. I got plenty of timber. Too many people sell everything to go sailing. I want a cottage to come home too in case the boat sinks. The hard thing is finding a place to launch it in the U.P. of Michigan.
Hello Lady K, I know that you are on the American continent, however Internet does not know the borders, it should be emphasized that in Europe, even if you do only small trips, your safety equipment of the boat (life raft, AIS, …) are mandatory, just like insurance is mandatory. It should be taken into account, Europeans follow your website regularly.
Still looks like damn nice bones to add all the modern gear to, on that Pearson! I was also never interested in racing, but crewing for anyone who’d take me taught me A LOT that translates back to cruising. Like when there’s only one mooring left and you are two hours away, reaching into your bag of racing tweaks and GETTING that last mooring is really useful.
Yes you can go sailing on the cheap but there is price to pay for everything. The cheaper you go, the more repair, refit and drama you will encounter. Everything on a boat has a short lifespan. If it is more then 20 years old, it will need to be replace or rebuild at one point soon. Bring a good toolbox, you will use it every week.
I’m a little late to this one but hear me out. I’m spoiled and stingy. I’m spoiled because I live in Texas and they are giving away boats all along the coast frequently. So many people get into sailing and then just want out of that slip fee because they don’t use the boat. I turned away a nice Bayfield 32 last year for $4000. She was ready to sail with a working engine and AC. I am looking for something I can retire on in the 40 foot range. I’m also an engineer so I’d prefer to rework the entire boats electrical and plumbing. I do like the aft cabins and I do like the sugar scoops but finding those for cheap are near impossible. You tend to end up with the old IOR boats or full keeled 70’s boats. I’ll find something before too long. Until then, I have my Nacra 570.
Havent seen the article yet. But want to put my 2 cents that no one cares about. If you are island hoping on the coast and Caribbean. A 20 foot lake boat maybe an alternative. You can pick one up for a couple thousand. If you are trans continental blue watering. You are going to want a 30 plus full keel. 40 plus if partal keel. This starts at $8000 to $10,000. I had a 25 foot full keel that cross the Alantic a few times. $12,000 in 2001, At least once it rolled 3x in rough waters. According to the person I bought it from. I dont remember the make. But remember it was bullt in 1959. Last I knew it was in Penicola Florida. I bought it and was suppost to pick it up. BUT tragicty happened. Which destroyed my world. And I couldnt pick it up. Yes you csn buy a boat for $8-10k. But you have to ne willing to travel to buy it. There are plenty that cost more. And there are some that cost less. But you really dont want one that cost less. Even though ive seen some for over 30k that should be Free with all the work they need. I suggest you see it out of thr water and in the water if you go with my prices. BUT that really should be any boat. Ive seen plenty of gold painted turds. Just because its priced at 80k doesnt mean its even worth $500. And for my price. All your looking for is that its sound. You will need to do a lot to in in most cases. Like add solar and wind power. Engine maybe worn. It must be able to sail. But needs a lot of ” improvements ” If you want something that is ready to go.
This website was in my suggestions and I really wanted to hate it and dump a bunch of crap on your choices but to be honest, what I saw was fair. I hate the choices but I do understand. You made sense of it. I personally would not want to tour in these boats but I do get it. I will not be subscribing simply because our midset is different. I lived next to the Mirage boat company and not my cup of tea either. I’m not a big fan of fiberglass production boats so more a Shannon guy or Hans Christian. Your solution will work but not for me. Best of luck with your website.
I have been perusal a lot of your sailboat articles. I have found your articles very helpful. I have moved down to the Houston, Tx area & want to get into sailing. I have been doing a lot of internet surfing looking for a boat. LOL On my budget it’s really tough when my budget I’ve limited it to under $10K. I know its a hard buy to get something seaworthy & not much more than a log raft. But I think I have found the sailboat for me. It’s an older sailboat, almost as old as I am. Its a 1963 Chris Craft Sailing Yacht 35′ with full keel. It weighs in @ about 18K. It does need some work but I am pretty handy (auto technician for almost 40yrs) so fixing the boat is something I want really. To learn more about the boat I buy & to make it part of me. They are asking $9,500 for her. What is your feeling’s on this boat? It has a running diesel engine, lots of sails in fair to good condition. Couple of soft spots on front deck (not structural 95% soiled). The inside the cabin area needs some TLC. Is this a good boat for 1st time sailboat for sailing the Gulf of Mexico as a single sailer?
Good afternoon boating community. Anyone in the Jacksonville area looking for crew mates. I would like to learn a little more on sailing before i plunge into purchasing a boat. I am a 51 year old marine corp veteran originally from Maryland with a diesel tech degree from years back. My father loved the water and was a fishing guide for years. Anyone who would like to pass some sailing experience and knowledge along to a vet please contact me. Thanks ST