Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Dowding on February 12, 2004, 04:56:32 AM
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Me and my mate are thinking about going halves on a boat. Since we haven't even half a clue between us about what this involves in terms of where to start/learn, I thought someone here might be able to point me in the right direction. I caught the bug a few years ago sailing these 2-man catamaran things in the Carribean, but haven't had the cash until now to actually take it up.
I think it will be lake based sailing only, and I've seen lots of stuff for sale on ebay. The prices really vary, but I seem to remember a Laser would be a good start. What's the cost of ownership like? Are lessons in the basics expensive? It would have to be stored at the local lake, since neither of us have the space to keep one at home.
One day I'd like to buy a sea going boat, but that would be a long way off.
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Ive been sailing since i was 2. Dont have alot of time now im afraid (visiting sick person in Bergen)...
2 tips...
1. contact your local sailing club. If they are anything like here in norway, they will give you cheap dingy lessons (yes, you should start in a small boat like a laser) and more advanced courses.
2. Dont buy a boat yet.... The club will most likley have boats for rent and when you take courses you will prolly use their boats anyway.
Ill give you some more hints when i get home.
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Cheers, Nilsen.
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1. contact your local sailing club. If they are anything like here in norway, they will give you cheap dingy lessons (yes, you should start in a small boat like a laser) and more advanced courses.
A laser will destroy you. It's a difficult sail for a newbie.
Look around to try a sunfish. It's like a toned down laser, except it's a lot more stable.
While you can fit two people on it (my record is 8 kids), it's really a one person boat. All two person boats are really a HUGE step up from a sunfish.
However, you could try looking for JY 15's. They are pretty stable for a two person boat, and easy to sail. However, it's still a lot more difficult then a sunfish.
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Originally posted by lasersailor184
A laser will destroy you. It's a difficult sail for a newbie.
Look around to try a sunfish. It's like a toned down laser, except it's a lot more stable.
...I caught the bug a few years ago sailing these 2-man catamaran things in the Carribean, but haven't had the cash until now to actually take it up.
I believe Dowding is saying he's got some experience. A Sunfish would bore him within a day. I learned to sail on Hobbicat by myself within a day...
Dowding, I'd personally I'd start looking in the 18-22 ft. class of boats. This will give you many years of enjoyment.
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Oh, lake based sailing?
Don't try anything with a round bottom. The wind can easily do a 180 on you and it rolls a lot easier because of the round bottom.
Now that you mention it, a hobie 18 or 16 would be a decent choice. It's rather easy, stable, fricking fast.
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Yeah, Hobbicat for "Sport" sailing, fast, exciting.
"Catilina"- style boat for sport (not as fast as a Hobbi) and relaxation.
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Thanks for the advice, guys. I wouldn't say I had that much experience, but I spent pretty much the whole week on the things because it was an all inclusive resort and they were free to hire. :)
I'll check out what you guys recommended on the net.
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Sunfish are cute and fund.
My father just bought a replacement for the one that disappeared from our dock during Hurricane Fabian for the kids.
Just as well because the old one was so full of body filler from previous bashings we, and the weather, gave it that the darn thing weighed almost double what it was when we got it.
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Hehe curval. My grandfather has a sunfish almost exactly like that.
If you get some help, you can usually carry around a sunfish by yourself.
However, this one took 5 people who were struggling to carry it.
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Don't start with a Catamaran! There only virtue is speed. You want something that is stable and comfortable to sail. Ask some knowledgeable locals what is available in your area. Try for a 'test drive' if possible.
I've owned many sailboats. My current is a Capri 18 and I love it!
Good luck...
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Whatever you get...check out where I work when you are ready to work on the nav-station..
http://www.thecapn.com
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I've been sailing in one form or another for about 30 years now. I've owned power boats (stink pots) but I really prefer sailing. Try and find a sailing club or association, its nice to try something and get input from people before you make that purchase. This is my current boat, she's a Catalina 320 and I bought her new in '97. If anyone would like to go for a spin durring the con just let me know. (http://newimages.yachtworld.com/1/0/8/3/6/1083625_1.jpg)
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Sailing in Dallas??
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HARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
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Originally posted by VWE
I've been sailing in one form or another for about 30 years now. I've owned power boats (stink pots) but I really prefer sailing. Try and find a sailing club or association, its nice to try something and get input from people before you make that purchase. This is my current boat, she's a Catalina 320 and I bought her new in '97. If anyone would like to go for a spin durring the con just let me know. (http://newimages.yachtworld.com/1/0/8/3/6/1083625_1.jpg)
(Raises hand!) :)
Hey, "stinkpots" ?? My wife calls them that because of who is DRIVING the boat. :D
I might add, 4 strokes don't stink. :)
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Lake Texoma (http://www.texomasailing.org/) is about an hours drive north of Dallas. Its built on the Red River so it has a natural sandy bottom and most of the shores are sandy.
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Don't do it, Jaws is out there. Here, this will out race him.
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/products/unitinfo.asp?lid=3&lc=wvr&cid=37&mid=350
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I can provide the software!
(http://www.checksix.net/paulswork.gif)
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man sailing is great
i did sail only once, from Malta to Ibiza, but it was very coool
had few storms, few nice days
and in a moment, when you see nothing but water all around and blue sky, you will realize 'role' of your being
offshore long time sailing is realy nice experience
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Err, catamarans are really stable, as long as you don't do anything stupid.
Same goes with most boats, but catamarans are really fun.
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I have a 25 ft. Catalina and love to day sail, and an occasional weekend. Keep in mind that unless you can trailer your boat such as a Hobie etc. it can get expensive. My dock fees at the Halifax
Marina here in Daytona is over $400 Month without power. It also takes me over an hour to get to the inlet to get out in open water for some serious sailing. If you decide to take the plunge I would be glad to help you with the basics.... the rest comes with experience. I got a great story about sailing from San Diego to
Panama on a 29ft. ranger with a small dog named Jerry. Jerry started to look real good after my 35th can of spam. Check out Ripsnorts boat. Thats what you would want for travel, but it would run around $60,000 in this area. I bought my 92 for
$19,000.
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Originally posted by weaselsan
I have a 25 ft. Catalina and love to day sail, and an occasional weekend. Keep in mind that unless you can trailer your boat such as a Hobie etc. it can get expensive. My dock fees at the Halifax
Marina here in Daytona is over $400 Month without power. It also takes me over an hour to get to the inlet to get out in open water for some serious sailing. If you decide to take the plunge I would be glad to help you with the basics.... the rest comes with experience. I got a great story about sailing from San Diego to
Panama on a 29ft. ranger with a small dog named Jerry. Jerry started to look real good after my 35th can of spam.
$400!? JEEZ! In the mid-90's I had a 20 ft. slip (no power) for my Larson that cost $70/month.
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At your level, I suggest that you buy outright or rent. I started with a Mirror,both on a reservoir and on an estuary. I didn't enjoy racing, but I did enjoy pottering about.
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Originally posted by VWE
Lake Texoma (http://www.texomasailing.org/) is about an hours drive north of Dallas. Its built on the Red River so it has a natural sandy bottom and most of the shores are sandy.
My grandparents live in Sherman. I grew up bass fishing with my grandfather on Lake Texoma.
:)
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Originally posted by Ripsnort
$400!? JEEZ! In the mid-90's I had a 20 ft. slip (no power) for my Larson that cost $70/month.
70 OMG............. There's a long waiting list just to get a slip here.
Every Memorial day the Marina Office starts asking me if I'm going anywhere so thay can rent the slip out. The marina is only about
20 years old and has floating docks.....when you get used to them
it's hard to go back on fixed docks because of the tidal changes.
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Marina's are sort of like golf courses.
You don't pay membership dues from the quality of the course, but from the quality of people using the course.
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LOL sorry by the threads title I thought you where looking for a date :aok
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Thanks for advice. There aren't too many big rivers around here and I live a couple of hours drive from the sea, but there are plenty of lakes/reservoirs so I think that's where I will start.
LePaul - that's some funky software! I guess it as accurate as the GPS system you hook it up to?
VWE - wow, how much would a boat like that cost? :) Maybe one day. I'm not really interested in powered boats at all - there's just something about sail that makes it so attractive. I was tempted to pay to have a voyage as a volunteer crew member aboard the Endeavour - the full size replica of Captain Cook's ship. It was a few hundred quid for a few nights, but what put me off was the fact that you need to be able to climb the 127 foot main mast in all weathers. I'm not sure I could do that with the deck rolling in a heavy sea. :)
(http://www.barkendeavour.com.au/reports/view/images/Ruffie_tuffie_DS1.jpg)
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Originally posted by Dowding
I was tempted to pay to have a voyage as a volunteer crew member aboard the Endeavour - the full size replica of Captain Cook's ship. It was a few hundred quid for a few nights, but what put me off was the fact that you need to be able to climb the 127 foot main mast in all weathers. I'm not sure I could do that with the deck rolling in a heavy sea. :)
(http://www.barkendeavour.com.au/reports/view/images/Ruffie_tuffie_DS1.jpg)
DO IT...it would be a lifetime experience you'd never regret! Don't worry about tall masts and rolling seas, your grip gets superhuman in situations like that. If its fear of height, just don't look down past your next step. :)
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Well, the gym I go to has a climbing wall. I figure if I can conquer that I'd be some way there. I didn't used to be afraid of heights, and I'm fine if they are enclosed. I don't know what happened... at some point in my teens I found I just had this horrible feeling if I even look at someone climbing a high building. Think it coincided with the old growth spurt. The steeplejacks who sometimes climb our boiler stack at work just give the creeps especially when they were setting up a platform at the top and had to overcome the overhang. Scary stuff.
But can you imagine having to set sail in a force 8 gale in some freezing squall? :D
It really would be a cool thing to do though. You work a 3 watch system, but it's not all work - they have guest speakers on board who talk about what life was like on board ship back in those days. There's no alcohol on board, but at least they don't flog you if you get something wrong.
Here's the website if you want to have a look:
http://www.barkendeavour.com.au
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Climbing a cliff and climbing a mast is nothing alike.
The cliff stands still and is rarely wet with 20+ mph wind.
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Yea, the company I work for makes that software (TheCapn). We have a huge following from every walk of marine life...US Coast Guard, US Navy, other Navy's from around the world...lobster fisherman, cruise ships...you name it. they run us.
We also have a DNC/Vector version for the military. That's pretty neat, uses the military data and the program builds a chart based on data...not just a scan of a paperchart and overlays your position on it. Based on data, we can do more...for example, if you want us to shade any depth under 16 ft in red, we can...since we see the chart as data...not just an image. I could go on...!
We're as accurate as the GPS attached is. And the nice thing is we give you a full situational awareness...you SEE where on the chart you are, no guessing. Nice to have when visibility is zero
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I cannot find a better source for the story, but Tall Ships have been known to be a bit dangerous in certain conditions.
In 1984 The Marques, while sailing from Bermuda to Halifax was lost and most of the students aboard killed.
The Marques (http://seafarer.netfirms.com/2/marques.htm)
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Originally posted by Curval
I cannot find a better source for the story, but Tall Ships have been known to be a bit dangerous in certain conditions.
And the 'Sprit of Baltimore' was rolled in the Caribbean about 10 years ago. I think the cause was a 'rouge' wave.
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Originally posted by Curval
Sunfish are cute and fund.
My father just bought a replacement for the one that disappeared from our dock during Hurricane Fabian for the kids.
You guys knew a hurricane was coming and you didn't properly secure your boat? Really, you don't deserve a boat- OR a scooter. You don't take proper care of them.
:rolleyes:
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lol Airhead you have obviously never been in a category 3 (almost 4) hurricane.
It was secured, with chain, but he wasn't expecting a yacht to break it's moorings and take out part of the dock that the sunfish was secured to.
I mean, by the same logic the entire population of Florida are complete idiots for continuing to build hurricane damaged homes out of wood and brick when they KNOW a hurricane is likely to strike and wipe it out again.
Go pick on them for a while ya pox ridden Spaniard. ;)
My stolen scooter is being delivered back to my house, by the police. Despite MiniD's predictions and castigation of my locking technique the new one has not been stolen.
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Sunfish aren't really meant to be mooring boats.
Their bottoms get really chewed up.
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Originally posted by lasersailor184
Sunfish aren't really meant to be mooring boats.
Their bottoms get really chewed up.
Huh?
I think you misread. The sunfish we lost was secured, by chain, to the dock. It wasn't moored. A yacht that was moored broke it's mooring and took out part of the dock that the sunfish was on. We assume this is why the sunfish disappeared...but to be honest it was the least of my father's concerns at the time. He wasn't about to go all the way down to the dock to check on it during the height of the storm.
Bottom line...no sunfish was there the next morning.
Airhead is just being a Richard Cranium anyway and is just trying to stir me up.
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You should have had a strong anchor out and moored it away from bigger yachts. Frankly I think you're pulling insurance scams, what with all these "thefts" you've been having. You better hope Udie doesn't turn you in to the authorities.
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Neither incident (boat or bike) had any insurance proceeds dude.
I got the bike back...no claim made on the sunfish.
The Yacht that slammed into the dock was moored about two hundred yards away. It was a tad windy that day and it was blown onto the dock.
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As far as sailing goes today you can figure $100k for the first 30 feet, then $10k for every foot after that... I paid a little over $110k for my boat and it took about 3 months to actually get it. And I only pay $170.00 a month for slip fee with power.