On 26 Feb 2004, (Richard Randall) wrote:

I guess by perform I mean how tender or stiff it is. But out of
curiousity, what would be your list of racer/cruisers 26 feet and
under. I'm drawn to the 525 because it much less expensive than a J24
or Merit 25.

To what extent is your concern primarily "costal" compared with
"off-shore" compared with PHRF racing conditions?

And re. alternatives, what about, e.g., a well-maintained Pearson 26?

I'm drawn to the 525 because it much less expensive than a J24 or Merit
25.

Buy a Merit. You'll never be sorry.


S/V Express 30 "Ringmaster"
"No shirt, no skirt, full service"

My concerns a because I live on the NE coast my ideal cruising
ground is the Atlantic coast day sailing and making port-to-port
recreational trips. But I really want a boat I can also race if want.
I want to do the Figawi in 2005 and the notice of race said a boat of
any length can enter so long as its PHRF rating is under 200. Even
for day sailing I still want a boat that can point and is fun to
actively sail. I don't really have a need for standing head room or TV
and VCR. The only sailing I realy ever done is racing so I'm used to
spartan interiors and peeing in a bucket. I would like to be able to
single hand it. A guy wants to sell me his 525, including a trailer,
basic sail inventory (5 total), motor, spin gear, for $2000 and the
boat looks pretty good. I've looked at J24s and the cheapest I can
find is twice that for a boat that hasn't seen bottom work in a long
time and without a trailer. Same for merit 25s. Honestly, I would
get an S2 7.9, but the cheapest I've found one of those is $10,000.
Merits are very cool too, but still in the 6,000 to 8,000 range.

Basically, I love to sail, want to have fun, race for fun, and every
once in a while sail from RI to the Cape or to the Chesapeake Bay.

best,
Richard

wrote in message .. .
On 26 Feb 2004, (Richard Randall) wrote:

I guess by perform I mean how tender or stiff it is. But out of
curiousity, what would be your list of racer/cruisers 26 feet and
under. I'm drawn to the 525 because it much less expensive than a J24
or Merit 25.

To what extent is your concern primarily "costal" compared with
"off-shore" compared with PHRF racing conditions?

And re. alternatives, what about, e.g., a well-maintained Pearson 26?

"Richard Randall" wrote in message
om...
My concerns a because I live on the NE coast my ideal cruising
ground is the Atlantic coast day sailing and making port-to-port
recreational trips. But I really want a boat I can also race if want.
I want to do the Figawi in 2005 and the notice of race said a boat of
any length can enter so long as its PHRF rating is under 200. Even
for day sailing I still want a boat that can point and is fun to
actively sail. I don't really have a need for standing head room or TV
and VCR. The only sailing I realy ever done is racing so I'm used to
spartan interiors and peeing in a bucket. I would like to be able to
single hand it. A guy wants to sell me his 525, including a trailer,
basic sail inventory (5 total), motor, spin gear, for $2000 and the
boat looks pretty good

It sounds like you have found your perfect boat. If you are confident about
its condition, then you should buy it - before somebody else does!



Regards


Donal
--

"Richard Randall" wrote in message
om...

My concerns a because I live on the NE coast my ideal cruising
ground is the Atlantic coast day sailing and making port-to-port
recreational trips. But I really want a boat I can also race if want.
I want to do the Figawi in 2005 and the notice of race said a boat of
any length can enter so long as its PHRF rating is under 200

BG I'm getting old. If the "Figawi" is the race between Hyannis and
Nantucket (always thought it was spelled "Fugawi" .... may have been
cleaned up), I remember the first, let's go race, get drunk, and see who
can find Nantucket, race, before it became "sanctioned". Remember a boat
called the "Moby Dick" which may have won the thing ....ugliest damned
boat you ever saw ....looked like Moby Dick.

otn

"Richard Randall" wrote...
My concerns a because I live on the NE coast my ideal cruising
ground is the Atlantic coast day sailing and making port-to-port
recreational trips. But I really want a boat I can also race if want.
I want to do the Figawi in 2005 and the notice of race said a boat of
any length can enter so long as its PHRF rating is under 200. Even
for day sailing I still want a boat that can point and is fun to
actively sail.

Totally makes sense to me. Keep in mind that coastal cruising in New England can
mean anything from flat calm to fog to tidal races thru big rocks, hurricanes,
etc etc. A certain amount of knowledge & prudence is a prerequisite, and the
more skillful the skipper the less bulletproof the boat need be.



I don't really have a need for standing head room or TV
and VCR. The only sailing I realy ever done is racing so I'm used to
spartan interiors and peeing in a bucket. I would like to be able to
single hand it. A guy wants to sell me his 525, including a trailer,
basic sail inventory (5 total), motor, spin gear, for $2000 and the
boat looks pretty good


Donal wrote:
It sounds like you have found your perfect boat. If you are confident about
its condition, then you should buy it - before somebody else does!

Agreed... I hate to be a cynic but it must be considered that the reason this
guy wants to sell it to you for $2K is that he really couldn't get that for it
on the open market. I'd be enthusiastic but very very thorough in checking out
the boat. Remember the nuclear treaty motto... "Trust, but verify."

It's a tall order finding a boat that rates under 200 for less than 6K. Taking a
quick peek at the boat market, I saw an Evelyn 24 in Freeport Me; a Capri 25 in
Florida (not sure that would do you any good); a 24' S2 (doesn't say which
model, apparently a fin keel) in NY;

Or you might consider a trailerable pocket rocket. This thing is a real sleeper,
a friend of mine has one.
http://www.boats.com/listing/boat_de...ityid=11600481

I've seen this same boat sailing, it's a pretty good deal. Doesn't look like it
has much cabin space, though
http://www.boats.com/listing/boat_de...ityid=11682431

I also saw a couple of J-24s but in this price range they're almost certain to
be beaters & fixer-uppers that would cost you double the purchase (or more) to
actually get in racing condition. This is an issue to keep in mind, even racing
a small centerboard one-design costs. If you are struggling to afford the boat,
will you be able to afford the upkeep?

A boat that jumped to mind was the Morgan 27, which is a late 1970s MORC racer
that makes a nice weekender/cruiser; but didn't see a listing for one. Get out
there and beat the bushes.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

If the inteior bulkhead are firm and well connected, it looks like you
got a boat.

Drill a hole in that damn sliding door and pin it open or shut.

Happy sailing

Merit 25, Merit 25, Merit 25.
S/V Express 30 "Ringmaster"
"No shirt, no skirt, full service"

So I'm curious. The recent sinking in San Francisco was a Merit 30. It seems
rather unacceptable that a 30 foot boat could be rolled and sunk in a few
minutes. Of course, they did apparently get inside the surf line, but still it
didn't speak well of the boat.

Is the Merit 25 more seaworthy than the Santana?



"SAIL LOCO" wrote in message
...
Merit 25, Merit 25, Merit 25.
S/V Express 30 "Ringmaster"
"No shirt, no skirt, full service"

So I'm curious. The recent sinking in San Francisco was a Merit 30. It
seems
rather unacceptable that a 30 foot boat could be rolled and sunk in a few
minutes. Of course, they did apparently get inside the surf line, but still it
didn't speak well of the boat.

Is the Merit 25 more seaworthy than the Santana?

I would like to see the story on that sinking since as far as I know Merit
never made a 30. Plus you say a it's unacceptable for a boat inside a surf
line to get rolled? Get real!
Merit made around 1200 25s which by the way were the only 3+ time winner
of the MORC Internationals. They made 650+ 22s. They also made a winged keel
version of the 22 which they called a 23. They made 2 or 3 28s which were
designed by NM and were screamers almost winning the Internationals out of the
box with a private owner.
I would say the 25 is pretty seaworthy. They have been singlehanded to
Hawaii more than once. The Merit 25 is a great boat.
S/V Express 30 "Ringmaster"
"No shirt, no skirt, full service"