Does size matter ?

[MikeG]

Hi ya,

As a shingle foot (ex army-sorry to all the navy wogs out there!) anyhow, I'm new to the sailing world, been out crewing 4-5 times, love it ! Now thinking about buying a boat, wood has caught my landlubbin' eye, but there are a few querries to be set right before we make the jump....

a/ would a 30 + be O.K. for a newbie? (I'm on Lake Erie)

b/ are these boats to remain sound in fresh water ? I've read that this type of H2O can be hard on the wood....

c/ Other than the older Choey Lee, are there many other wooden hulled out there for less than it cost to buy my house

d/ I've heard that wood boats, once older have a particular smell about them.....

Any help would be greatfully appreciated, and I look foreward to many other posts.

Ciao.

Mike G

[Kaa]

a/ would a 30 + be O.K. for a newbie? (I'm on Lake Erie)

The traditional way is to learn sailing in a dinghy (or any small boat with a sail) and then graduate to bigger boats. It's possible to start with a 30+ boat and learn this way, though mistakes are likely to be very expensive. Of course, you can take lessons and invite experienced friends to sail with you...

b/ are these boats to remain sound in fresh water ? I've read that this type of H2O can be hard on the wood....

Yes, wooden boats can remain sound in fresh water with the usual caveat -- proper maintenance. You can't leave a wooden boat in any water, salt or fresh, and expect it to be fine for a few years like you can do with a glass hull. Maintenance is crucial.

c/ Other than the older Choey Lee, are there many other wooden hulled out there for less than it cost to buy my house

Lots and lots of them.

d/ I've heard that wood boats, once older have a particular smell about them.....

Not necessarily -- it really depends on how the boat was maintained. A "particular smell" might be an indication of something rotting and if so you want to fix that ASAP.

Kaa

[TimH]

wood boats smell like cuprinol. Smells good.

[Tom Hunter]

[quote=MikeG;1965336]Hi ya,

As a shingle foot (ex army-sorry to all the navy wogs out there!) anyhow, I'm new to the sailing world, been out crewing 4-5 times, love it ! Now thinking about buying a boat, wood has caught my landlubbin' eye, but there are a few querries to be set right before we make the jump....

a/ would a 30 + be O.K. for a newbie? (I'm on Lake Erie)

Yes, though you will be happier if you take a 3-7 day sailing course and then buy the 30+ footer.

Basically there are three ways to get into sailing:

Start with one of your great grandparents taking you out sailing before you can walk (or varients, grandparents will do in a pinch)

Buy a boat, go sailing and figure it out.

Take lessons, either from professionals or freinds who can teach


b/ are these boats to remain sound in fresh water ? I've read that this type of H2O can be hard on the wood....

Treat your boat well and she will treat you well. This goes for all boats, not just wood.

c/ Other than the older Choey Lee, are there many other wooden hulled out there for less than it cost to buy my house

Yes

d/ I've heard that wood boats, once older have a particular smell about them.....

Here are a few of the smells I've experienced:
Bacon
Scotch
Motor Oil
Diesel
Fresh Paint
Wet Dog
Mold
Wood Smoke
Fish
Rum
Beer
Wine
Pike Smoke
Leather

The smell of the boat is all about the sins you commit on board, be they sins of omission or sins of comission.

[pcford]

Most people will learn to sail on a small boat. However, I have heard it argued that it is easier to learn to sail on a larger boat...say 30 ft. as you mention.

They are steadier and you have time to correct mistakes. Assuming light winds and a good instructor.

In any case, learning to sail is easy. A few hours and you will have the basics.

Boat handling, well, that takes a lifetime.

[Nicholas Scheuer]

Kaa points out the customary practice of starting "small" in sailboats.

I should think that counsel is doubled when talking wooden boats.

Moby Nick

[MiddleAgesMan]

A 30 footer is just about right for a first boat assuming you're cautious and willing to learn from either experienced crew or formal training. A good design is more important than size, in my experience.

I had very little experience when I bought bought my Catalina 22 (not a great design by any stretch). There were many many things that could and did go wrong on that one. Within a year I moved up to an Alberg 30 (a really great design). One of the things I learned was that a good boat will look after a mediocre skipper much better than a bad boat.

[Tom Robb]

Learn to sail in a small boat on an inland lake w/ fluky midwest winds and you can sail in almost anything - feedback is quicker. Mistakes are less expensive too.
That good boat that looks after you won't teach you as quickly and let you get away with bad habits - not a good thing IMHO.

[MikeG]

Thanks Gents,

I'll take it all into consideration, and would like to start small, but have a feeling in the economic climate, selling the first small one might take longer than it will to pay off the loan on the right sized one.

As to designs which are foregiving, the wing keel is less so than say the full ?

As to the smells , I'll take all but the mold, and what's ciprinol ????

Cheers. Mike G.

[Roger Cumming]

In my experience, those who learned to sail in small boats such as dinghies or Sunfish are frequently better sailors and have better instincts. Larger boats respond slower and are less demanding in normal conditions.

[TimH]

or better yet a sail board. CLosest you will get to the wind.