Good first boat?
Posted by pemm_@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 19 comments
Not new to sailing, but looking for a first boat this year at a reasonable (cash) price. I know Beneteau, etc. are trash for blue water, but for first few years in Solent/around UK, what do you think? Couple, expect friends/family to visit.
Defiant-Giraffe@reddit
People keep saying Beneteaus are trash for blue water, but I keep seeing them do San Fran to Hawaii and Hawaii to Tahiti runs all the time.
pemm_@reddit (OP)
TBH I think it’s more to do with the modern build quality, bolt on keels, and dual spade rudders that have trashed the reputation. Lots of old production boats are perfectly sea worthy and good for coastal stuff.
Defiant-Giraffe@reddit
Don't get the hate for dual rudders either, but people do have opinions on them.
pemm_@reddit (OP)
I understand it: lack of a skeg means not protected, more likely to snag, and also makes it difficult to manoeuvre (no ability to kick using prop wash).
Defiant-Giraffe@reddit
Lots of non skeg hung single rudders out there, which run deeper and are more likely to hang up.
And the prop wash thing is barely an issue at all.
justdick@reddit
James from Sailing Zingaro has a good take on this. When he talks about blue water boats he always adds the caveat that he’s talking about boats that can go-anywhere in any conditions.
He has said that production boats can cross oceans if all there are doing is “the milk run”, like following the trades from CA to Hawaii in a good weather window.
Defiant-Giraffe@reddit
Interesting take, but I would answer by saying very few of the sailboats out on the ocean today would pass that bar, and a great many of the self-proclaimed bluewater sailors out there would fair worse in than a modern production boat; whether that's due to design difference or just condition is another discussion.
justdick@reddit
That’s exactly right. Sailing Zingaro has done a whole series on “best blue water boat” at a given price point and I find it all fascinating. He’s really good at breaking down the trade-offs and compromises. (I have no affiliation with him - I just watch the videos)
raspberry_en_anglais@reddit
I believe they also have completed the most transatlantic’s of any production sail boat
Defiant-Giraffe@reddit
I wouldn't doubt it.
Mine could use bigger tanks- both water and fuel. It could be a little more sea kindly in chop. It would be nice if I could boom out a little further for downwind sailing sometimes.
But I really don't see the complaints I hear from the "full keel, skeg hing rudder only" crowd bearing much weight.
MaximumWoodpecker864@reddit
Our first boat was a Beneteau. It was a great starter boat for coastal cruising. It was 34’ had two cabins, a wet head (gross) and we packed friends onboard. It sailed fast in light wind, was easy to control when docking. I could jump off and pull it to the dock while my husband drove. I am very glad we didn’t have to learn on our big heavy, full keel bluewater boat that we graduated to a couple years ago.
Gone2SeaOnACat@reddit
Your first boat needs to be as small as you can tolerate in my opinion.
Granted... you're learning grounds are different than mine were, but the less boat you own the more time you will have to enjoy that boat.
If starting with a 22' day sailor means you stay close to shore an in protected water that is to your advantage as you will be less likely to need to call the coast guard to come save you from a mistake.
This brings me to what a salty seadog with a latin american accent told me when I showed up on the dock.
"You're gonna make mistakes... just make sure they are small ones."
A small boat means your mistakes aren't going to do as much damage, put lives at risk or cost as much to repair. It also means you will spend more time enjoying and less time fixing, repairing, maintaining, etc.
Don't buy the biggest boat (substitute the word "problem" here) that you can afford like one fella I knew... buy the smallest one you can stand to sail on.
Once you have some experience then go find the boat that fits your goals.
Fair Winds!
pemm_@reddit (OP)
Wise words, thanks!
ALS2k2@reddit
its a good boat ive sailed on that model before. the one think to look at is the headliner falls down in the aft cabin. its a pain to fix . make sure its not falling off already. Cheers!
pemm_@reddit (OP)
Very useful to know, thank you!
daysailor70@reddit
Seems a bit pricy for a 36 year ol Beneteau. If the sails are newish and engine has low hours, maybe but when the interior is described as good and no details on ages of major systems, it's overpriced.
pemm_@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the tip - it didn’t seem overpriced to me (relative to the market) but engine age/hours and sail conditions are two things I need to investigate.
Gouwenaar2084@reddit
I've seen a lot of Benetau and Jenneau boats around the UK ( I tend to cruise the east coast down to Ramsgate) so I'd say you were probably sound for them as boats, but honestly I think the boat itself is less of an issue than your experience.
Without wishing to commit a boating heresy, most boats can get you where you're going unless you're planning multi thousand mile offshore trips and if you're planning one of those, you probably know what you want.
You mention that you're a couple and you're expecting guests, which means you need something with the ability to house between say two and four people, indoors in case of inclement weather and that'll effect the kind of boat you want.
Second, if you're inexperienced, then you may want something with a simple sail plan and easy to manage lines. Getting my first boat rerigged for full cockpit control was a huge benefit early on because it made sail management easier.
A good first boat is one you can manage that, has enough space to enjoy with some degree of comfort. I love my Cutlass 27, but it's small, cramped and occasionally frustrating. The only way I can have guests is if they don't mind sleeping on deck
Oh and make sure you and the partner can comfortably stand up inside. I cannot begin to tell you how frustrating I've found it to constantly bang my head standing up
pemm_@reddit (OP)
Really useful - thanks for the tips! You are right about the “most boats” thing, which is why I’m looking at this one.