On Nov 6, 5:44*pm, "nom=de=plume" wrote:
"H the K" wrote in messagenews:APudnYYfToajPmnXnZ2dnUVZ_rqdnZ2d@earth link.com...



On 11/6/09 5:19 PM, nom=de=plume wrote:
I was thinking about getting something to sail on the small lake near the
property. It would need to be small enough that I deal with, yet big
enough
to take two adults or me and two kids... when the Spring comes or we get
a
stretch of decent weather...

I saw this ad ... don't know anything about Banshee sailboats, but it
seems
pretty simple to operate. Comments/opinions? Is that a decent price?

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/1448183101.html

As long as you and passengers wear life jackets at all times, and are
prepared for the boat to capsize, and you learn how to rightside it and
climb back aboard...

Those aren't necessarily negatives, btw, but just part of learning to sail
on that sort of boat. These are the sorts of boats that really make you
learn how to sail and how to understand the wind, current, and the physics
of sailing.

I learned on an Alcort sunfish, a bit smaller, slightly different
configuraton, and I spent most of the first weeks sailing it tipping it
over.

I can't comment on the price. If you are interested, drag along someone
who knows small sailboats and can help you examine the boat for leaks and
for problems with the mast or rigging. Don White here can offer some
advice.

Cute boat.

I know how to sail boats that size... not afraid of that certainly. The lake
water is typically very cold... snow runoff, so lifejackets and some warm
liquid is standard. The wind is typically very light, and I wouldn't leave
the dock if there was much of a chance of high winds. It's usually pretty
predictable.

I was just wondering if anyone has experience with this kind of boat. It
_does_ look cute, which is a prime consideration of course!

I borrowed a neighbor friend's dinghy last summer... I think I mentioned
that in a recent storm it flooded and was sitting in the muck. Anyway, I had
to practically tie the kids into it to keep them in the boat. Finally I gave
up and they went swimming. Brrr... too cold for me probably even in a
wetsuit, but they went in without any of that. Of course they were blue in a
1/2 hour. Sis did _not_ appreciate it, but I'm still the favorite aunt.

--
Nom=de=Plume

Looks like a fun boat and reasonably simple. It is sorta like a Laser
but with more space. Price seems reasonable for an older Laser BUT,
check the hull and deck because some of these boats have glass over
ply and the ply may rot. I almost bought a Laser once that had a
rotten deck under the glass. Too big a problem to reasonably fix.
OTOH, it is only $700, a small price for a lot of fun.
Something you MIGHT consider is a Flying Scot cause it has lots of
room for 4 and can be easily trailerd and set up. Dunno about price
on them but I have seen em being given away when they are very old.