By Michael McGoldrick
Because of my web site about the used sailboat market in Canada, I often get email from people asking for advise on what to look for when shopping for their first sailboat.
These email messages usually fall into three categories; those people who
have done their research and are looking for confirmation that they are making
the right decision, those who have done too much research and have decided
their first boat should be capable of sailing around the world, and finally,
would-be sailors who haven't a clue about what they should be looking for.
A surprising number are also vague on what they want, for example - "something
in the 20 to 30 foot range with standing headroom". Nevertheless, it's possible
to identify criteria that people should consider when shopping for their first
sailboat on the used market.
The first step is to conduct an honest assessment of the type of sailing you'll be doing. Many beginners announce that they will be spending the entire summer cruising, with plans to head down to the Caribbean, or even around the world, within a year or two. In reality, most people will go cruising for one to three weeks during their summer vacation, and a handful of weekends (bad weather and life's inescapable chores prevent most of us from going every weekend). The rest of the time, people use their boats for day sailing. In other words, you may want a boat that, in addition to be suitable for cruising, is easy to use for casual outings on workday evenings or a Saturday afternoon.
And let's not forget about racing. Many would-be cruisers automatically rule out this possibility. But there are many competitive events that are of interest to sailors who don't necessarily see themselves as racers. For example, the growing popularity of JAM events (Jib And Main - no spinnaker) makes it remarkably easy for a couple to race a boat that is primarily equipped for casual sailing. Racing is a great way to enjoy your boat, perfect your sailing technique, and most of all, have fun and met fellow sailors. While this doesn't mean you should be getting an out-and-out racing machine, it is a possibility that should be kept in mind when shopping for your first boat.
There's also the question about who'll be using the boat. If you think you will end up doing a lot of single-handling, you may not want to start off with a boat that has too much sail area, and you may want to look for certain type of equipment such as roller furling, autopilot, and self-tailing winches. By comparison, if the boat will usually be sailed by a young couple, their options will be relatively free of any arbitrary limitations or specific equipment requirement. Nevertheless, if one of the partners is new to sailing, then an easy handling boat that is predictable and comfortable (stiff) becomes an important consideration. The same is true if the couple thinks they will soon be starting a family. Sailing with young children means you will probably want a boat with a nice big cockpit, good lifelines (to which you can attach safety netting ), and the means to provide some shading with a good awning or a permanently installed bimini.
On top of all of these considerations, affordability is often an issue for first-time buyers. The formula employed by many first-time buyers is to simply buy the biggest boat they think they can afford. However, this can be a mistake under certain circumstances. For example, it is sometimes better to trade off maximum affordable size for a slightly smaller boat that comes with lots of extra equipment such as roller furling, spinnaker, dodger, lines led aft, bimini, and maybe even an inflatable dinghy. All of this extra equipment can greatly add to the comfort and enjoyment of your boat. Unfortunately, it can also be very expensive to purchase separately. Likewise, you may be better off with a slightly smaller boat if it means you'll be able to afford something that's not too old, and whose motor, sails, cabin cushions, etcetera, are still in fairly good condition.
So where does all this lead you? In order to get something that's suitable for day sailing, cruising, and maybe racing, you will want to get a jack-of-all-trades type of boat. In other words, the quintessential cruiser/racer, a label widely used by manufacturers during the past couple of decades to appeal to a greater number of potential buyers. If this sounds a little too generic, remember that a first boat is exactly that - a first boat. In a few years, you'll probably move on to a second, and maybe even a third boat. At that time, you will be in a better position to know if you want the ultimate cruising boat, an around-the-buoys racers, or something in between.
Moreover, I generally recommend that first-time buyers focus on so-called "entry level" models that happen to be relatively plentiful in their particular area. Although there is no hard and fast rule about what constitutes an entry-level boat, I define it as an outboard powered sailboat in the 20 to 26 foot range with a straight forward rig and relatively simple (and easy to maintain) mechanical, electrical, pumping systems. Boats under this size range tend to be designed and built specifically for small boat aficionados, while boats with a length over 27 feet tend to require an inboard engine and more complicated and expensive components, and are usually priced for a higher-end market.
If you have a limited budget and are just starting to sail, you may want to start off at the smaller end of the entry boat size range. In this case, the Tanzer 22 will provide an excellent benchmark for making comparisons when choosing a first sailboat. The Tanzer 22 has a large cockpit and open deck area, and is great for day sailing. Although the bulkhead in the main cabin makes its interior look a little cramped, the boat actually has a surprising amount of room for a couple, or a small family, for short summer cruises. The Tanzer 22 is also very popular for handicap racing (JAM and PHRF), and in certain areas, this boat is used for highly competitive one-design racing. Best of all, Tanzer 22s are easy to find on the used market and very affordable ($5000 to $7000).
While the Tanzer 22 is a good starting point when looking in this size range, there are other options. These include the CS 22, Alberg 22, Sonic 23, the slightly larger Paceship 23 and Mirage 24, to name a few. The main drawback with these boats is their lack of standing headroom down below an the fact that they may be a little tight when cruising with anything more than a small family. With a budget that's about 50% larger, you can get a boat with "slouching headroom" (almost standing headroom for people who think six feet is fairly tall). These boats include the C&C 24, the Tanzer 7.5, the older C&C 25, and so on. For still a little more money, you can start to look at entry boats with more headroom, such as the Grampian 26, Tanzer 26, Hughes 26, etc. These larger boats can accommodate four adults on a week long cruise, but they are starting to become a bit of a challenge for people just learning to sail.
It should noted that the advice given in this article is very general and assumes that most first time buyers are relatively young, just starting out in sailing, and have a limited budget. It may not be suitable for everyone, and there are always people who have taken lots of courses, gained a fair amount of sailing experience, and may be ready to step on a 30, or maybe even a 35 footer, as their first boat. But this the exception to the rule, and most first time buyers will probably get more enjoyment out of their boats with something a little smaller. Most people will do well to think of their first boat as a learning tool which will allow them to explore the various facets of sailing as a sport and recreational activity. Good luck.
For more information about the Used Sailboat Market in Central Canada, see Michael McGoldrick's web site at:
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