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No thanks to bigger boat on inland lake

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/27/2012 : 16:13:15

I took a Christmas tree out to the marina today for our party this weekend, and saw one of our members pulling out a Bene 375. We have a shallow ramp, no lifting equipment or walk piers at the ramp, so he had to rent a crane in addition to the boat hauler who is taking it to Florida for him. There was the crane, leveled out on the ramp, 3 flat-bed semi trucks to carry the counter-weights and other gear, and the boat hauler semi. The yacht club chase boat was used to help keep the yacht floating in position as the mast was removed and the lifting straps wiggled into position for the lift, and to remove people from the yacht prior to lift-out. Then the crane lifted her out, swung her around and lowered her onto the hauler's trailer - crane reading was almost 20,000 lbs. What an ordeal! It was fun to watch, though.
I guess it's one of those things that if you have to ask how much, then you can't afford it. I'll stick with boats that can be trailer sailed. Now, if I win the Powerball lottery this week ...

DavidP
1975 C-22 SK #5459 "Shadowfax" Fleet 52
PO of 1984 C-25 SK/TR #4142 "Recess"
Percy Priest Yacht Club, Hamilton Creek Marina, Nashville, TN

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2012 : 05:03:23

The "bigger boat" decision probably is considered at one time or another by many of us. But your posting highlights that sometimes other factors weigh in on that decision.

I like my Catalina 25 and I have surely dropped a lot of dough into it but I enjoy the improvement projects and like to maintain it in very good condition. Considering a larger boat crosses my mind now and then but the negative factors for the waters I sail in favor a sailboat with a relatively shallow draft. Also, the main benefit I see for me with a larger sailboat would be the creature comforts for overnight stays. However, since my spouse and I hardly do overnighters, I have not really used our Catalina 25 to it's full potential. I make excellent use for daysailing but have only averaged 1-2 overnighters each year and they were of only one night duration each. This year, I did not even get to do an overnighter. Not even at my own dock. Also, my river sailing may be slightly compromised by somewhat shorter tacks due to the increased draft of a larger sailboat (1 ft or more deeper). In addition, since 90% of my sailing is single-handed, I do not see that experience enhanced with a larger sailboat. Though, it sure would be nice to be at the wheel with a sprawling deck forward. So, my Cat 25 seems perfectly suited for me at present....which then brings me to other thoughts....
I am past the expenses of my daughter's wedding last spring and my son is getting married next fall (but my expenses for that are considerably less) and at 63 1/2, my retirement is within reach (~3 years), so I am thinking why not buy myself a pre-retirement gift (especially if I decide to work an addl year or so to defray the costs). If it is not for a larger sailboat...well then maybe a sports car ? (Porsche Cayman, Mercedes SLK, BMW Z4, Audi TT, etc) Anyway, fun thinking about the possibilities...even a new boat ? But definitely not another bottom waterproofing job ! Once is enough !

Edited by - OLarryR on 11/28/2012 05:06:36

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2012 : 09:27:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
Originally posted by OLarryR

...so I am thinking why not buy myself a pre-retirement gift (especially if I decide to work an addl year or so to defray the costs). If it is not for a larger sailboat...well then maybe a sports car ? (Porsche Cayman, Mercedes SLK, BMW Z4, Audi TT, etc)...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The day after my cousin turned 60 he went out and wrote a check for a brand new Porsche 911
Carrera 4GTS -- >> [url="http://www.porsche.com/microsite/ipad/assets/downloads/kataloge/en/911_GTS.pdf"]Porsche[/url]

His looks just like the white hard top in the ad.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2012 : 09:51:30

Really off topic ...

Gary - The 911 is way out of the ballpark even if rationalizing it would be a pre-retirement gift. What i am wrestling with right now is that a sports car and carrying boat tools, etc is a little in conflict since the sports cars have way less cargo space. So, I am comparing the usable space amongst some of the cars. I am interested in the Porsche Cayman and then the others I mentioned but the cayman is a mid-engine location and I am considering what that involves as afar as maintenance, etc expenses that probably would be higher than for the other cars. A cousin, years ago, had a Cayman for 6 years with virtually no issues until whatever engine issue developed, the dealer indicated the engine would have to be removed to work the repair and total cost estimated at $8-10K. Well...that gives me the jitters. A more expensive car is not more reliable and then there is the parts cost and labor costs being generally proportionately higher than for Accords, Camrys, etc cars. The car show comes to the Wash Cionvention either around the holidays or a bit later...so I will take a look and see if I get that have to own feeling.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2012 : 10:41:35

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OLarryR
 ...What i am wrestling with right now is that a sports car and carrying boat tools, etc is a little in conflict since the sports cars have way less cargo space...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Maybe you need a used Tacoma to go with your new Carrera.

Personally, I like my friend's 1956 Speedster. (Unfortunately, it's worth more than anything in your brochure.)

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 11/28/2012 10:42:47

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2012 : 12:06:29

I recall when our former member Bear_TM4 acquired a beautiful C-42 to sail on Lake Kentucky. I bet he has not hauled that out very often. Sailboats over 35 feet have a lot more to offer in terms of comfortable accommodations.

But since my slip fees would double for a boat 11 feet bigger than a C-25, all that's on the back burner for now.

Edited by - on

putzmeister
Navigator

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100 Posts

Response Posted - 12/01/2012 : 16:02:45

I have a client that owns an Lamborgini, Bentley GT and a Cayenne. He says he never imagined that the best car he has ever owned would be an SUV - the Cayenne.

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2012 : 00:35:32

For most people the C-25 can't be trailer sailed. What percentage of the country owns a truck that can haul a 3 to 4 ton trailer? Probably under 20%, maybe less.

There are many boats sized between the 25' Catalina models and the Beneteau 375. 28-30' boats have a much more comfortable interior for cruising than a Catalina 25, don't cost much more for moorage, and for the majority of us without trucks and trailers they aren't really any more money to maintain either.

I loved the C-25 for overnighter and couple of night trips. When we did a nearly 2 week trip on it the size really became more of an issue and 3 foot-itis kicked in. If I only ever planned to do overnighters and day sailing then a 25 or perhaps a faster sport-focussed one design boat would be perfect.

The nice thing is that we all have different desires in sailing and there are the right boats for each of us.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2012 : 06:46:02

I was satisfied with the C25 until I retired and began spending my summers on the Chesapeake Bay. IMO, sailing a C25 opens the door to all the best that sailing has to offer. A bigger boat offers more comfort and more stability in heavy weather, but it has it's drawbacks as well. Big, heavy sails are much more difficult to raise and furl, especially if you're short-handed. Docking a big boat shorthanded is more difficult. Tacking a big boat, especially if it's masthead-rigged, is difficult. While your children are with you, you might have crew to help, but after they're gone, you are likely to be shorthanded. Maintaining a big boat, with it's more complicated systems, is more complicated. At the end of every season, I have the boat hauled, covered and stored onshore for the winter, and I paint the bottom each spring, but the marina has all the equipment necessary to do it. I love to sail big boats, but I'm glad I waited until retirement to buy one, and I'm really, really glad I didn't buy one to sail on a small inland lake.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2012 : 10:08:04

If we didn't have a vacation home in the mountains (inherited, very much loved and co-owned with my brother), and the C-22 (trailer sailed and kept at home), I would have kept the C25. It was fun while it lasted, but I just couldn't justify the additional expense. The biggest problem with our lake and bigger boats is the lack of facilities to do maintenance. Plus, we are land-locked.(The other Nashville sailing venue is on the Cumberland River, which gives you water access to anywhere in the world). Haulouts can be a real hassle without a trailer. I can only imagine what the bottoms of the houseboats on the lake look like, especially the ones that rarely leave the docks.

Edited by - dmpilc on 12/21/2012 10:13:48

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2013 : 10:10:09

We had our C25 from 1987 to 1998 when we bought our C34. I claim that the only "work" left on this bigger boat is putting the mainsail cover back on!

Tacking a bigger boat is not necessarily harder, it's technique, not power that is required. The techniques I learned with our C25 came in very handy with our bigger boat: don't EVER force anything.

The biggest challenge with a bigger boat are the more complicated systems: diesel engine, electrical, pumps, etc. When you buy the boat, you do either of two things: spend an inordinate amount of $ having a "yard monkey" do the work, or learning how to DIY, which is much more fulfilling and, in my estimate, a real safety issue.

It took me three years to get over my "C25 stoop!"

I still enjoyed all the time I had on our C25. We overnighted often, took long trips, learned to anchor out regularly, and sailed the heck out of the boat.

If anything, I can offer that the C25 is a great "tool" to learn how to sail and to sail bigger boats, because properly set up, it has the same controls that bigger boats do.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2013 : 15:39:49

By the way ...here is update on my past postings:

2014 Cayman is in my garage! I ordered it pre-production and received it a week before the official launch date of 4/27....but I can't drive it when I am sailing.

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2013 : 10:49:31

I've had a 22, 25, and a 30. Not that there is anything wrong with the 22 or the 30 but I really love the size of the 25 for my location.

If I was back at the beach, I'd go for a 30.

But .. like the man said.. If I won the powerball...

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2013 : 12:34:15

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redeye
 But .. like the man said.. If I won the powerball...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Don't start that now! It's one of our best winter topics.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 07/17/2013 12:34:33

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