I have boated on and off for years but always had fond memories
of some sailing I did while I was in college over 20 years ago. Sailing can
also be a life long learning experience as there is always something new
or different to experience. Finally convinced the wife that it was my destiny
to get a sailboat and we spent several months looking around at a variety
of boats. Put off by the greater expense of the larger boats we liked and
not knowing if anyone else would really enjoy sailing I decided on a smaller
and very inexpensive trailerable sailboat as a "try it and see if anyone
else likes it" boat.
Well, almost everyone in the family does like sailing so now we are looking
for an affordable boat in the 25 to 30 foot range. Preferably with standing
headroom and a private head. In the meantime this boat is just fine for
the type of sailing we do on the Delaware River north of Camden, New Jersey.
Likes
I like the self-righting safety of this boat and the roomy cockpit. All
things considered it is a lot of boat for its size and especially for what
it cost. Very long waterline length for its length overall.
Dislikes
The head is barely usable for an adult due to the very limited headroom
above the porta-potti and the through bolted deck gear in this area. Too many
berths that really aren't that usable. Huge countertop and swing up table
that really never gets used. This is worse than the barely usable dinettes
that most builders are so fond of. I prefer port and starboard setees with
some sort of drop down table that stores against the forward bulkhead.
Not Sure
There are no spreaders on the mast to pop out of their sockets when lowering
or raising the mast. Only has two tiny ratcheting winch capstans on the
cabintop with no provision to insert a handle but the boat is small without
a lot of sail area so this has not been a problem so far but then again I
have yet to be out in any heavy weather. Rudder assembly sits in a well in
the cockpit and is removable for trailering but it does not swing up like
the keel so in any grounding the rudder takes the brunt of the grounding
and it must be lifted out to take advantage of the boats beaching capability
but then you loose all steerage going in and then when going out until you
can put out far enough to reinsert the rudder. I'm seriously considering
moving the outboard and installing a swing-up rudder on the stern's centerline.
Changes
Since I am considering moving it off the river and keeping
it on Delaware or Barnegat Bay with close access to the Atlantic Ocean I
think it would need some upgrades for safety. Primarily the cockpit's lack
of lifelines or rails would have to be addressed. Anywhere where heavy seas
or weather could be experienced calls for a safe and secure cockpit. I would
also need to install attachment points for a safety harness and probably
a safety line that would run fore and aft. An anchor roller on the bow so
the anchor is always at the ready. Lead all lines to the cockpit. Better
and more secure location for the outboard's gas tank. Some kind of a tiller
tender. Real winches to replace the ratchet only style. There's more but
for now this list is long is enough.
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