Association Forum - Learning on a sailboard

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Learning on a sailboard

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

Member Avatar

USA
1916 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/29/2004 : 13:45:25

Has anybody else out there learned sailing theory on a sailboard besides me? On another thread it was suggested that you learn on a small boat first, like a sunfish.
I skipped that part.
In the 80's I had 2 sailboards and learned a lot about balance and sail trim.
My next boat was a Catalina 22, and then my 25.

Frank Gloss
Formerly 89WK/TR
85 Ericson 32-3 shoal draft "Molto Bene"

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2004 : 15:39:58

I'd say start with something like a Sunfish, and then advance to a sailboard. I've heard too many people give up sailboarding because they found it too frustrating to learn sail theory while trying to stay on top of a wobbling surfboard.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2004 : 17:43:57

I learned on sailboards, in the early 80's.
When I had the opportunity to take a turn at the wheel of friends' boats, I found it instinctual to 'feel for the wind'. IMHO, windsurfers develop a feel for the wind and water based on intimate contact with both. I think I learned the instinctive part before I learned the names of the things I was doing.
When I was sailing windsurfers, my brother had a Hobiecat 16'...It seemed to me at the time that he was sailing the Queen Mary Luxury liner. All that wet boat sailing has me eagerly anticipating being able to sit down, stay relatively dry, and have a head that I won't have to swim to.(or in)
I am now searching for a C25 on a trailer...and I have had some lingering doubtsquestions about wether or not I should get a C22 or go straight to the C25.
What was your rationale for moving up from 22 to 25

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2004 : 18:39:50

Lets see, why did I move up from a 22 to a 25. In a word--ROOM

I like to go cruising for two or three weeks at a time on vacation. The 22 is just too small for that. Some would say that the 25 is too small also. The 22 doesn't have a kitchen area, and most importantly, it really doesn't have a good place for a head.

With that said, I'm glad I had the 22 first as it was my first real sailboat, and it was easier to learn how to rig and sail, and was a lot cheaper. I learned a lot on that boat. I really liked the 22, but I like the 25 lots more. If I was to just day sail on lakes the 22 would have been just fine. I think it is one of the best boats ever made. My 22 had a swing keel, and after dropping the keel, and doing all of the required maintenance on a 650 lb cast iron keel, I didn't want to deal with a 1500 lb piece of cast iron keel, so I bought a wing keel. I'm really glad I did.

I think that the 25 handles easier with the balanced rudder.

Take the advice of all the folks on this list who say you need a full size truck to haul it. I have a half ton full size 4wd truck and am at the limit of towing capacity. I'll buy a heavy duty truck next time. I did buy a quality tandem axle trailer with 4 wheel disc brakes so the boat and trailer tracks really well going down the interstate, and braking is not a problem.

I took my first windsurfing lesson in the ocean in Miami, with 2 foot surf going on. The instructor was amazed that I was actually able to stand up on it and sail the first lesson. So was I.

Whichever boat you buy, you can't go wrong. Be sure to join our association, or the Catalina 22 association. You can see how much help folks are. Someday I hope to buy a Catalina 36, and have been lurking on their list for about a year now.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2004 : 19:08:05

I'm inclined to go with the largest trailerable boat - I feel like I've paid my dues with windsurfers and canoes etc. The girls want to know about the head and wether or not they will have to row. I've assured them that the next boat will have a head, and that with my sailing tendancies, they can count on rowing and bailing. I've considered just chartering - but we're dog people.
I'm not too excited about the trailering part - but that's the price I feel I have to pay for choosing to live on this side of the mountains.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2004 : 22:01:27

I spent some time on a friend's Hunter 260 the other evening. I ask him why he bought it and his answer was that it was the largest trailerable boat. STOP! NOBODY GETS PERMITS, PEOPLE JUST GO. Now back to the subject. I asked him how he liked it and he said that he trailered it for a year and found out that he was so happy at our lake that he wishes he had simply bought a larger boat and not made trailering a criteria.
My point; I am glad I have a 25 with a trailer so I can take it home when I am on the hard. You just might find that you will be happy at your locale and not really care about trailering and wish you had a bigger boat. If I were trailering I'd have a 22, and a class c motorhome.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2004 : 22:33:56

Thanx Frank, very pertinent info.
I live in Calgary Alberta...the closest body of water is a 2 mile long lake, just outside of town. The next lake is a 5 hour drive on the other side of the Rocky Mountains, and the ocean is an additional 7 hours from there. I'd really like to buy a 34' boat....but I want to be able to use it as much as possible...so as far as I can figure, I need a trailerable boat. The long term plan is to take a year off in 2008 and sail the Caribbean - we'll probably buy a boat there and possibly sail it back. In the meantime, I need a boat to learn on and enjoy as much as possible.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2004 : 22:43:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by stampeder
 Thanx Frank, very pertinent info.
I live in Calgary Alberta...the closest body of water is a 2 mile long lake, just outside of town.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Your not in a good situation. I'd buy a Venture 17' for $1000 or less and sail it at home. That gives you the ob, lights, stereo, picnics, ability to take friends, etc. I would charter and bum rides on the big water.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2004 : 22:48:36

On the subject of the C-22 vs the C-25, especially for new sailors, here are a few more opinions:

1. At almost half the displacement, the C-22 is MUCH easier to handle around a dock or trailer, especially when you haven't done a lot of that.

2. For true trailersailing (rigging, launching sailing, retrieving, and unrigging for a day or two of sailing), the C-22 is MUCH easier to rig and launch. And I mean M U C H easier, due to things like the weight of the mast, and the weight of the boat.

3. If you don't really know what you want from a boat--such as whether you'll really spend nights on it--the C-22 is a great way to start, can generally be sold for what you paid for it, and makes a great platform for moving up to a C-25 (or above).

Sailing, like life, is a journey. At some point, you will reach your "destination" boat that is all you'll ever need. But it's best to get there in at least a couple of steps that help you to understand what you really want, and that make the learning process fun instead of embarrassing and painful.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 10:01:23

When on the hook in a nice beautiful anchorage, after morning coffee, it sure is nice to have a nice warm porta potti, or head you can run to. The catalina 22 puts the porta potti under the vee berth insert, and only has about 4 foot ceiling height up there. Most inconvenient.

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 11:03:32

John Kerry was "learning" on a sailboard yesterday, or the day before!

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 11:07:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I am glad I have a 25 with a trailer so I can take it home when I am on the hard. You just might find that you will be happy at your locale and not really care about trailering and wish you had a bigger boat. If I were trailering I'd have a 22, and a class c motorhome.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Frank, need to encourage folks to have a trailer so they can tail to Lake ChEnEy next July!

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 11:10:52

Richard Bode wrote a delightful little book, First You Gotta Learn a Little Boat, or something like that. When people ask me for advise I have always encouraged them to start with a boat on which you can feel the forces of the wind and water. I suspect Windsurfer allow that as well as any boat, and better than most. I suspect Windsurfers would be an excellent way to develop feel. But us older type guys might feel that Windsurfers are a little to much for us, and for learning.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 12:19:52

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gloss
 When on the hook in a nice beautiful anchorage, after morning coffee, it sure is nice to have a nice warm porta potti, or head you can run to. The catalina 22 puts the porta potti under the vee berth insert, and only has about 4 foot ceiling height up there. Most inconvenient.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
The 17' daysailer we had for 20 years had a plastic bucket in the cuddy--alternatively, a swim ladder. It's all something from which to move up!

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 15:37:43

Looks like I'm going to have to buy two boats. A C25 to reside on the other side of the mountains and a daysailer for over here on the frozen side of the mountain. In Calgary we have nine months of winter and three months or road repair.
Perhaps I should have taken up cow punchin' like the rest of the red necks around here. But no, I got hooked on boats.
Prairie folks like myself are used to driving long distances for just about everything, especially recreation.
Thx for the input. Gotta go, must find boat.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 16:48:14

If I chose my boating lifestyle based on my experience with a windsurfer, I'd be a power boater right now.

I'm a self-taught sailor and, from my own experience, I believe it is best to learn on a forgiving boat first then move up to more challenging rides.

Edited by - on

ilnadi
Captain

Members Avatar

452 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 17:02:15

Learning on a sailboard (which I did in the middle of Michigan) does require a high tolerance for falling in the water and standing up waiting for wind. On the other hand, the first time I sat on a dinghy or a hobie, I could just sail (even if I did not know the name for anything). Maybe there is something about getting dunked in water everytime you make a mistake

that promotes a feel for the wind.

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 17:12:33

I don't think the sailboard is the "best" boat to learn on. If someone learns on a sailbaod then they will have developed wonderful feel for the wind and water acting on a boat - a skill that is transfewrable to larger boats.

I learned on Rhodes Bantam, a Phil Rhodes design - 14 feet and Comets. Then as an adult bought a Thistle. These boats gave me wonderful introduction to sailing, and helped me develop skills that are important to sailing a 25.

O'Day's Daysailer (17 feet)is in my opinion an excellent learning boat it is forgiving, and lets one experience wind and water pressures on the hull.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 17:27:31

Quote from Osmepneo --- Frank, need to encourage folks to have a trailer so they can tail to Lake ChEnEy next July!

Would that be the lake Cheney in Washington or Kansas or what

Edited by - stampeder on 08/30/2004 17:42:46

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2004 : 21:42:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by stampeder
 Quote from Osmepneo --- Frank, need to encourage folks to have a trailer so they can tail to Lake ChEnEy next July!

Would that be the lake Cheney in Washington or Kansas or what

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
That would be Kansas
[url="http://homepage.mac.com/fhopper/PhotoAlbum64.html"]Lake Cheney[/url]

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.