Take tons of pictures, especially with enclosed floatation, if any, they will come in handy to register your craft and when/if you sell it. Keep receipts for everything for the registration, along with plans and specs.
Learn to Sail?
- Thread starter rcintx
- Start date
rcintx
Adventurer
Update: as life happens I haven’t built a sailboat yet. Projects for the house continue and take precedence.
However, I’ve found a 2004 Catalina 14.2 a few hours from me that appears to be in excellent condition and ready to sail. It is priced right about $3k. More than I planned to spend but I’m thinking maybe worth it. Any opinions on a Catalina 14.2 as a first, learning boat?
However, I’ve found a 2004 Catalina 14.2 a few hours from me that appears to be in excellent condition and ready to sail. It is priced right about $3k. More than I planned to spend but I’m thinking maybe worth it. Any opinions on a Catalina 14.2 as a first, learning boat?
That’s the dinghy I learned to sail on. Big cockpit. You can sail with the main only when you first start out. Decent performance with the jib. Good stability, but the centerboard models will capsize, which is fun/exciting/wet. Reef the main when it’s really blowing. I don’t know anything about the build quality, but the ones we sailed were abused and Catalina is typically tank-like.
Sparse Gray Hackle
Geezer
That looks like a good boat to start. A C-lark or a Capri would be others to consider. Ranger and Montgomery dinghies also.
The advice to reef is sound advice. When the gunnel is in your armpit, you’re going to get wet.
The advice to reef is sound advice. When the gunnel is in your armpit, you’re going to get wet.
Sparse Gray Hackle
Geezer
Looking back at previous posts, I see the Sage 17 and Montgomery 15 mentioned! I am a huge fan of Montgomery designed/built boats. They are tougher than hell, and i wouldn’t hesitate to buy either. I met Jerry years ago, when I was looking for my first boat. His advice to me was buy the M15, you’ll sail more. There are only three stays, and the mast goes up with ease.
Use SearchTempest, and do a search for “Montgomery Sailboat”. You’ll find a few sprinkled across the country, including a few dinghies.
Jerry used encapsulated steel in the keels and centerboards of his early boats, and over time the steel rusted. That made the CB difficult to lower. Look for one of his later boats, or one built by Bob Eeg (Nor’Sea) as they had lead instead of steel.
Post Covid, the prices have gone up, but they are good solid boats. MSOG (Montgomery Sailboat Owners Group) mail forum is another good source of boats and information. The M15 and M12 would be my recommendations.
Use SearchTempest, and do a search for “Montgomery Sailboat”. You’ll find a few sprinkled across the country, including a few dinghies.
Jerry used encapsulated steel in the keels and centerboards of his early boats, and over time the steel rusted. That made the CB difficult to lower. Look for one of his later boats, or one built by Bob Eeg (Nor’Sea) as they had lead instead of steel.
Post Covid, the prices have gone up, but they are good solid boats. MSOG (Montgomery Sailboat Owners Group) mail forum is another good source of boats and information. The M15 and M12 would be my recommendations.