Why thank you Donal, I will send you an autographed HB copy of my book
when it is published. It is a great exciting true tale of the high
seas, spanish gold, corrupt goverments, hitmen, jail breaks, and much
much more. Even I cant put it down when I read it.

Joe

"Donal" wrote in message
...

"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
Here is the story of my quest for a sailboat. After you read it lets
here your story, IF you have a boat. This has been published in Sail
magazine and readers digest. It is copy writed.


Fetching Red Cloud
A true
story by Joe Butcher

Top marks, Joe. That was the best sailing post that we've had in a
while.

Regards


Donal
--




I would add, excepting the old nav/colregs quizzes, one of the few sailing
posts we've had lately.

John Cairns

Joe... you should know better......
Don't even give Billy the sweat off your bag.... he's an angry person with
nothing to live for!

CM

Overproof wrote:
Joe... you should know better......
Don't even give Billy the sweat off your bag.... he's an angry person
with
nothing to live for!



I know I shouldent, But he needs a hand getting his **** back together
after that star trek horror mis-adventure he directed. I like to drag
people out of the gutter and give them self-respect again.
Joe





CM

Hey Crapton,

Mr everything right, How about a post on the Broken Boom? How about a
History of the names on the "Banana Boat" before you changed the name
because of all the laughs the ASA was having? How about the true story
of the Keel?

Tell us about your project of making her unsinkable?

How about a re-telling of shooting the Inlet against the CG advice?

How about that for an Old Man's memory?

I still have many more of your tales. I'll save them. In the mean time,
Crapton. These are stories that you have posted. The real Crapton will
has no problem recalling them for the Newbies. (Nor will I)

Ole Thom

CM,

What ever gave you the throught that
"Willy the Wisp" actually lives?

Ole Thom

Thom Stewart wrote:
.... The real Crapton will
has no problem recalling them for the Newbies. (Nor will I)


Remember his attempt to explain "hull speed"? Now *that* was funny!

DSK

Hey, Ole Thom, you should learn how to separate wishful thinking
from reality. For one thing, the broken boom happened years after
I made my way successfully down to the sea. If you will kick start
some of those alcohol-soaked brain cells of yours, you would recall
the boom broke while I was beating out of St. Augustine in half a gale.
That inlet is known for steep and dangerous seas in on-shore
weather because it shoals and waves often break all across the bar.

I believe the Columbia River bar is a bigger example of it. You should
be familiar with that inlet being as how you profess to live up there
in Washington State.

As for my fine blue water yacht's name, the fellow I bought her from
had her named "Autumn." I did not like that name so I changed it to
"Cut the Mustard." I have never called her anything else. Where you
got the idea she had multiple names is a matter of examining your
own thought processes. How any sane man could take as fact some
of the ramblings of the losers in this group over the actuality that is
Capt. Neal® borders on the farcical.

Furthermore, this fixation you have on my having moved the keel is
bordering on delusion. Again, sir, the keel is still in its original place.
I did not ever say I moved it and unless you can come up with where
I said I moved it and post it to prove your contention, then why not
admit your error?

All I ever said is I refitted the keel meaning I added some extra keel
bolts. Perhaps you assumed refitting means removing. To this sailor
refitting means fitting it with new hardware. This was done in the
water and did NOT involve removing the keel. I believe I mentioned
this procedure on my website. Please don't allow your misconceptions
and ignorance of nautical terms to cloud your judgment, sir.

As for the positive flotation project, that is true and factual. I have
poured all the dead space between the hull and the component with
two-part, closed cell, urethane foam. My fine, blue water yacht is
similar to an Etap or a Boston Whaler in that there is the hull, there
is foam and there is the inner liner (component). Not only that, but
there is no unsightly, heavy pilothouse on this Captain's real sailboat.

You have a pretty good memory for an old coot but you have a lot
of the details wrong. I guess you can be forgiven since it is more
a problem with reading comprehension than memory in my humble
opinion. For an old relic you could be a lot worse off. Heck,
compare yourself to the dazed, confused, bitter and psychotic
mental state of the Gay One who is half your age and you will
have to admit you are practically an Einstein.

Cheers! And, I'll drink to THAT!

Seriously, Ole Thom, let me be among the first to wish you a
Merry Christmas this year and many, many more to come.

Respectfully,
Capt. Neal




"Thom Stewart" wrote in message ...
Hey Crapton,

Mr everything right, How about a post on the Broken Boom? How about a
History of the names on the "Banana Boat" before you changed the name
because of all the laughs the ASA was having? How about the true story
of the Keel?

Tell us about your project of making her unsinkable?

How about a re-telling of shooting the Inlet against the CG advice?

How about that for an Old Man's memory?

I still have many more of your tales. I'll save them. In the mean time,
Crapton. These are stories that you have posted. The real Crapton will
has no problem recalling them for the Newbies. (Nor will I)

Ole Thom

Donal wrote in message
...

"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
Here is the story of my quest for a sailboat. After you read it lets
here your story, IF you have a boat. This has been published in Sail
magazine and readers digest. It is copy writed.


Fetching Red Cloud
A true
story by Joe Butcher

Top marks, Joe. That was the best sailing post that we've had in a
while.

I agree with Donal. There is much to be learned from your account and I am
sure you have taken the lessons on board and others would do well to think
about it too.
When you said that your boat came from Lowestoft my first thought was that
it was a North Sea trawler that someone had converted. There were many
trawlers in Lowestoft before overfishing of the North Sea killed off the
industry. However when you said she had a centre cockpit with a tall mast I
knew she must be a yacht from the start. First, I looked in google for any
reference to your boat in Lowestoft without success. Then, and more to the
point, I looked in my copies of 'Lloyds Register of Yachts' for 1975 and
1977 and can tell you that there is no yacht listed in either of them called
'C Search' or 'Sea Search'.
A yacht of 42' would have been included automatically if Lloyds had been
told about her but her omission simply means that nobody did so. Maybe, as
someone else suggested, she was built outside of normal shipyards, or maybe
she was built abroad and brought to Lowestoft. If she was UK built the screw
threads would all be in inch measurements. metric threads would indicate she
was built abroad.
This is all negative stuff, but it is information of a sort and I hope it is
of interest.
Edgar.

Joe wrote:
Here is the story of my quest for a sailboat. After you read it lets
here your story, IF you have a boat. This has been published in Sail
magazine and readers digest. It is copy writed.


Well, here's the story of our previous boat, the one Boobsie & the
Crapton liked to make fun of. It's interesting to look back ten years
and remember what we were thinking & doing.

An edited & abridged version of this story, along with a data table of
the boats discussed, in the Feb/Mar 1995 'Coastal Cruising' magazine. I
still have a couple of copies

BTW this is also copyrighted, and I own the rights... the magazine
bought "first North American single printign" rights.

** ** begin ** **


Douglas S. King
{updated May 10, 1994}
4047 words

Doug & Kathie Go Boat Shopping

Many others have to drag their wives sailing- in this regard, I'm a
lucky man. When Kathie and I married, she owned a 21' cat-ketch, a Sea
Pearl named Windseeker. I owned a Lightning, a 19' racing class sloop
named Plummer (she's purple). We enjoyed sailing together very much. We
called them both ours... no longer his 'n hers. Kathie had been
daysailing for a few seasons, and now she learned to eyeball a starting
line and wrestle a spinnaker. I was more fortunate: born into a sailing
family, I've been racing and cruising all my life. There are still
unique aspects to every situation, though. And I found Windseeker a very
good boat to relax on.
But it seemed there were limitations inherent in our boats. As we
talked out our sailing ambitions, the Lightning met all our racing
criteria. In the broader category of non-racing, we both envisioned
something a little more substantial.
The last thing in the world we need is a new boat. But you don't always
need the things you really want the most.
Neither of our boats has any shelter from the rain, or mosquitoes.
Neither has a place to "go." Well, Plummer has a backstay, but that
doesn't work for modest, feminine types. Both have rather limited
storage for coolers. Both are too likely to tip over to really relax
while sailing through a cold blustery winter. A stove with a hot kettle
would really improve those chilly excursions. One more thing- a private
place to change out of wet clothes!
We wanted all these. Our "achievable dream" would be a trailerable
sailboat with a modest cabin- often referred to nowadays as trailersailers.
Why not a 'regular' cruising boat? Y'know, the kind you can sail across
the ocean if you want to, with standing headroom, a real motor instead
of a putt-putt, lots of stowage space, a galley that compares to a real
kitchen, and a head comparable to a real bathroom.
Well, for starters: the price... although a modest second-hand cruiser
might cost less than my dreamed-of spiffy new Lightning. But we would
have to accept the limits of our local lake, or endure the three-hour
drive to the coast. Of course, we could always move and find new jobs...
Nah, it'd be simpler to get a trailersailer.
No slip is required. This makes ownership less expensive, and also
means that maintenance can be done in your own backyard. The boat can
travel with you on vacations. Thus you can cruise the Great Lakes or the
Gulf of Mexico. We sail on Florida's Indian River and around Martha's
Vineyard, where our families often vacation. The new boat would have to
fill in for this duty. And there was a definite weight limit imposed by
our cars: the station wagon (four cylinder) can only pull 2,000 lbs.,
the truck (six cylinder) 3,000 lbs.
We also need the ability to rig and launch easily on the shallow, often
silted-up ramps that our local lakes offer. This rules out fixed keels,
and most external keel/centerboards and swing keels would not be
suitable. This means a case intruding into the cabin. Everything is a
trade-off, and we know which side of this one we're on. Others may
decide differently.
There are plenty of trade-offs to examine: large sail area (with
concurrent high performance) versus short, easy-to-set-up rig; headroom
versus windage and sleek looks; cabin space versus cockpit space. We
needed enough room for five adults and three children, since we planned
to go sailing with in-laws and nieces and nephews.
First off, everyone said, "Get a Catalina 22." And this is a sensible
choice; except that they're over our weight limit. This boat has become
the standard by which others are judged. It's a meat-and-potatoes kind
of sloop, staid and conventional rather than sleek. It's best points are
roominess and comfort, and it doesn't have the proportions of Grandpa's
barn. Although somewhat dated (like those 'luggable' computers that were
originally hailed as 'portable') it is quite practical. There are class
organizations everywhere. They are plentiful on the used market from
$3,500 up to $11,000.
We would have to look further afield.
We opened our search formally at the 1993 Sail Expo in Atlantic City. I
was armed with some knowledge gained from literature and real life.
Starting with the Ventures and San Juans back in the early 70's (as well
as the C-22), I'd seen and sailed many boats in this category. I'd also
read about some of the newer designs on the market. So I have some
well-established ideas, which I'll share with you as we go along.
We'd already established two definite requirements: trailering weight
and launching depth.
We had a slew of more vague ones. They would take firmer shape as we
explored. The basic problem would be to get enough interior room without
the putting on too much weight.
Keep this in mind: A boat's size is more accurately judged by it's
weight (or displacement) than it's length. There are a lot of newer
designs with water ballast, and will seem to distort this truism. Now to
quote a former president, let me just say this about that...
Water ballast does only one thing. It adds stability without adding to
the trailering weight. It does this at a sacrifice of some interior
roominess. Furthermore, if the designer takes advantage of that
increased stability by adding sail area, then the boat's structure must
be beefed up to take the added stress; the mast will also be longer and
heavier.
Neat-O... but the U.S. Navy was using water ballast in World War I.
Other "new" features are full-batten mains with roller furling, and
easy-to-work rig tensioning levers.
Innovative? Heck, roller furling was used in the 1880's. And I have a
picture of my grandfather's gaff-rigged sneakbox circa 1927 which shows
a thing called a Highfield lever (you have to look kind of close). So,
you see, I'm somewhat scornful of these "modern" inventions and
innovations. But I'm definitely in favor of things that truly make it
easier and quicker to get sailing.

A Walk Through The Boat Show
Here is your stereotypical married couple looking at boats:
He says, "Cool! Twin spinnaker halyards, and a NACA-foil rudder!"
She says, " There's no mirror in the head, and very little stowage for
the galley. Oh, look at this one, dear!"
He says, "What, that barrel-shaped barge? Honey, we want a boat that
will sail!"
Kathie and I went through almost the same steps.
Originally we wanted a small, simple boat for afternoon daysailing and
weekending. Kathie had to be able to set up the rig and launch it
herself, as she could with the Sea Pearl. But we started considering
heavier, more grandiose boats that would need a gin-pole and a winch.
Eventually we considered any boat physically under our weight limit for
towing. The reason is simple: We didn't find one single boat that was
truly easy to rig!
As we stood in line to get on the brand new Hunter 19, we discussed the
advantages of the walk-through transom it featured. The boat seemed to
ride low on the trailer for shallow launching. I studied the brochure...
well under our weight limit, that's good. It did not have the graceful
profile I look for in a boat.
We climbed aboard. The cockpit seemed solid. It was roomy enough for
the five adults currently seated in it. I took a stroll around the deck,
sneering at the mast-mounted winches (I know many seagoing cruisers
prefer them there, but in a small boat you want to be able to work from
the cockpit), and finding that the forehatch crunched a little when I
put my weight on it. The anchor locker surprised me by having a 15-pound
Danforth in it, with a coil of line. Obviously designed to be a proper
useful size. No chain, though... the lubbers!
Remember the opening scenario? Wife wants a not-so-little white home on
the deep, including garage and picket fence. Husband wants a boat that
lets him pretend he's winning the America's Cup... racy, sleek... a
bikini-clad-bimbo magnet.
This is what we went through.
She said, "Boy, with different curtains and seat covers this could be
really nice!"
He... I mean Me: "Gosh, honey, did you look at how full the forward
sections are? And there's hardly any sail area at all!"
She: "The galley is small. If you had several of those Tupperware things
(the H-19 has a removable bowl instead of an installed sink), it would
be more practical."
Me (trying another tack): "The head isn't enclosed. I thought we wanted
privacy?"
She: "We can work around that. Look how much room there is in that aft
berth under the cockpit. Of, course, we'd use it for stowage most of
the time..."
Me (realizing the sad truth): "I suppose the walk-through transom is
very convenient."
Now my wife wanted to appear less star-struck, I guess, or else she had
some sudden misgivings. "Do you really think it would be slow under sail?"
"Why, of course," I answered. "Look at the displacement. Three times
what the Lightning has, with less sail area. On the other hand, the jib
would be easier to trim..."
Okay, we didn't buy the first one we looked at.

We came to a boat I'd read a review on: the Santana 2023. This one has
all the "new" gimmicks I mentioned, and so I gave it a thorough
going-over. The preliminary went well. It seemed to sit low on the
trailer (easier to launch), and had a good hull shape. I watched the
salesman demonstrate the roller-furling main with the built-in crank
located on the forward side of the mast. It seemed an unnecessary
complication.
My wife climbed aboard and went over the interior. She made a point of
the enclosed head. I tried it- too small! I literally could not get
completely inside it and close the door. And the table was wobbly. Okay,
that's a petty complaint. But the S-2023 didn't leap to the top of our list.
Boat followed boat until Kathie couldn't remember which was which.
Heck, I was kind of bemused and befuddled myself. Boats that were in our
size range, boats that were too big, boats that were too little. We
looked at Defiant, the America's Cup trial horse. We looked at the
Alerion Express, a totally lovely 27' keel daysailer/weekender. There
were helpful salesmen, and obnoxious salesmen. Every single one assumed
we were novices, and this didn't warm me up to them.
We certainly didn't find anything that leapt out as Our Boat. We kept
at it, though, going to other boat shows and dealer's lots. Several
things struck me as curious about the boat market. In this particular
section, small trailerable cruisers, everyone assumes you don't know
anything about boats. In fact, many companies seem to assume you're a
complete idiot! I won't say any more about this, I promise. Besides,
Kathie doesn't like it when I really get going.
But there is also a reluctance to give the prospective customer hard
data about the boat, such as the lay-up schedule used in the hull, or
the righting moment at a given heel angle, or the amount of positive
flotation (there are exactly two companies whose brochures show the
boats completely flooded, but you can't see for sure that they're not
also stripped out inside). This is not 100% complaint, because this
makes it easier to pick the companies which are willing to let you know
what's what. Heck, one brochure didn't even give the boat's beam!

A year went by. We did lots of sailing (in our old boats). Kathie won
her first Lightning trophy. I went rowing in our Sea Pearl. We had done
even more talking, re-hashing all our requirements and verbally painting
pictures of what we could do with a trailerable cruiser.
We had decided we didn't necessarily want an enclosed head. We looked
over each trade-off repeatedly: launch depth/knee room; performance/ease
of rigging; trailering weight/roominess. We had checked out 16 different
boats, and ruling out the ones that were unsuitable, the Hunter 19 and
the Santana 2023 were our best prospects. Neither of us liked either
enough to buy one without a trial sail. The Hunter didn't have an
enclosed head, and the Santana was little on the heavy side.
The key factors were trailering weight and launch depth; after that we
looked for easy access to/from the water, simplicity of rigging, comfort
sitting inside, sleeping comfort, stowage, and the one thing we hadn't
been able to check out, sailing qualities.

Over the winter, a new wrinkle appeared... The C-model Santana 2023 .
It corrected a few of the flaws of the Santana 2023. I could get all the
way into the head. Not a walk-through transom, but a low one for easy
boarding. A pop-top for full headroom (when moored). Best of all, there
was a new sales representative based less than thirty miles away.
We called him up, and he agreed that we could take his boat out sailing
(he accompanied us, of course). It trailed easily behind our 6-cylinder
van, although it did slow down going uphill (we expected that) and you
had to pay attention to keep the right-hand trailer wheel from wandering
onto the shoulder.
There were some friends of ours in a Flying Scot at the lake, so we
pulled up next to them. We were actually rigged and in the water before
them! Admittedly, they weren't hurrying, but I was impressed at how
easily and quickly the rig set up. On launching, I backed down until our
van's rear wheels were just at the water's edge- the boat floated off
easily. Retrieving it seemed no more difficult than a Lightning.
The dealer's boat was rigged with a Harken roller furler, flying a 100%
jib with double-purchase sheets. It was easy to trim, although the
leading made it awkward to cleat. The mainsheet block and cleat swings
on a wire pennant at the rear of the cockpit, which is not the way I'd
arrange that, either.
We sailed along on a close reach, Kathie at the helm, smiling. I pulled
out my secret weapon: a handheld GPS. It told us were doing about 6
knots. This is respectable for a boat with a 20-foot waterline and a
working jib. Later, in puffs, we clocked up to 7 1/4 knots!
There was one small problem- the helm balance. We had no "feel" at all,
in fact it seemed to almost have a lee helm on the wind. The boat tacked
acceptably, but a little more mast rake might have helped. If we'd had a
genoa, there might have been difficulties. Even on racing boats, you
want a little weather helm. Not a crippling problem, though.
We almost ready to negotiate for the Santana. We still wanted to try
out our other alternative, the Hunter 19. Unfortunately, the closest
dealer was some distance away. They wrote a pleasant letter saying it
would be no trouble to arrange a trial sail, but evidently it was some
trouble. After a follow-up letter and three phone calls over two weeks,
we couldn't seem to get together.
Life is full of odd coincidence. We were actually discussing what we
could afford in the way of outfitting a Santana 2023C when the phone
rang. It was the Hunter dealer we'd given up on, trying to entice us
into a test sail. The best time we could arrange was when an old family
friend was visiting, but he said he wouldn't mind. So the pieces fit
together at last.
We picked up Jamie at the airport. He's a non-sailor from New York
City. Rural North Carolina was a great adventure for him. We toured
around, angling towards the dealer and the lake... visiting pottery
shops, hunting about for a covered bridge. Then we were there.
The winds were very light, maybe six to eight knots at best. We motored
out into the middle of the lake, then hoisted sails. All the while we
were walking around, diving below, checking out the details of this or
that. The Hunter is pretty well outfitted, although the mooring cleats
are too small (this is a great fault of most production boats). And
Kathie was skippering along, once again with a smile on her face.
Of course, I married her for her cheerful disposition.
The portable GPS told us we were doing 4 knots. It seemed hard to
believe in this light breeze, but the readout was steady. We swung out
from the shrouds to test it's stability. We did a few tacks and a few
gybes. The helm was light and responsive, the boat quite sure in stays.
Then we headed in.
"This is the first demo I've ever given to people who knew anything
about sailing," the dealer remarked.
"I don't know anything about sailing," Jamie declared. "But I think
it's fun, and I definitely like the boat." We did too. Later, Jamie told
us that he had an aversion to water, and disliked swimming. But he said
he felt secure and comfortable on the H-19. Since one of our purposes in
buying a trailersailer is to take non-sailing non-adventurous friends
out, this was a positive sign.
Well, our long story is nearly at it's end. Kathie and I have ordered a
Hunter 19. I'm still not enthusiastic about it's looks, but am confident
it will give us lots of good service. We are outfitting it with a
compass, instruments, a Bimini, a four-stroke 5 hp outboard auxiliary,
and a stern rail mounted BBQ grill. We already have the handheld GPS and
VHF radio. I am also insistent on upgrading some of the equipment Hunter
supplies- such as a chain to go on the anchor rode, and better-stocked
flare and first-aid kits. Maybe in the future I'll build on a nice teak
Dorade box... and paint over that goofy-looking neon stripe!
Meanwhile, perhaps you'll spot us sailing along, calm and happy,
possibly with nieces and nephews aboard. The name of our new boat- well,
it's probably the closest thing to a "yacht" we'll ever own- is Rest
Assured.

In the interest of brevity, I'll simply list all the boats we looked at
in order of size (roominess, not displacement), with a brief description
and our reactions. If it occasionally seems harsh, remember I'm not
trying to advertise any of them! And some of them were really nice, too.
The Bay Hen 21 is a gaff-rigged cat with a sharpie hull. Lots of tricks
, like the porta-potty sliding under the bridge deck and bilgeboards,
put enough accomodation inside for weekending. It's still kind of
cramped for a 21-footer, and it takes more muscle to swing the mast up
than Kathie could muster.
The Stuart Mariner: based on the classic Rhodes 19. Adult sized berths,
but not much headroom. Centerboard trunk intrudes on kneeroom (keel
version available). Very well built and smart-looking; we also know it
sails quite well.
The Dovekie: My early choice. Light, simple, a solid roof over your
head; the best of the camper-cruisers by far. Phil Bolger has always
been one of my favorite designers, and Edey & Duff has about the best
reputation in the boatbuilding business. One of it's most attractive
points is that it is designed to row rather than depending on an outboard.
Two problems- the placement of the head, which is in the cockpit right
under the tiller! Perhaps steering on the throne is even better than
reading... And Kathie could almost pivot the mast into place. No can do!
Precision 18 : Handsome in a modern way, and the numbers promise good
performance. Keel/centerboard contributes to the open, workable (though
small) cabin, adds to required launching depth.
The Seaward Fox, a full-batten cat, for those bored with Marconi
sloops. Carbon-fiber composite mast and a fixed wing keel give it bonus
points for innovation. Now, we couldn't launch it anywhere close to
home, but we checked it out just for drill. I liked the way it looked,
nice sheer, practical stubby bowsprit for the anchor... Bang-Oww! Needs
more headroom!
The salesman gave us a quick pitch about how easy it is to rig as we
climbed out rubbing our heads. "The mast looks kind of tall. How much
does it weigh?" I asked.
He couldn't say, exactly. I didn't consider 'not very much' a good
answer, and it's three feet longer than the Lightning mast, which I know
from years of experience is a real grunt-and-groaner.
The Com-Pac 16 and 19: solid yachty look, very good comfort for their
size, stability, proven durability. They pay for this by being a little
slow. Fixed keels mean launching problems for us. The 16 doesn't have a
V-berth (no good for us newlyweds).
I could find no place where construction wasn't first-class.
Precision 21: Aesthetically related to the P-18. The cabin is
conventional, comfortable, a little shy on headroom. V-berth too short
for my six-foot frame... I had to bend my knees to keep from bopping the
galley flat with my head (The P-23 corrects this, but is too heavy for
us to tow). Quarter berths adequately sized. The deck is well planned
and secure for footing with an innovative wedge-shaped toerail.
The Nimble 20 was on our "must-see" list. Classic good looks, top
quality modern construction. The numbers are respectable, too. We saw a
second-hand one at a dealer's lot. Out of the boats that were
unsuitable, I'd put it at or near the top. Comfortable inside, it feels
roomy. It's right at our maximum weight.
Vee berth: too darn small... seemed like déjà-vu! Then I read the sales
brochure... it's sized for children. Well, I ain't no child.
I should also say that in response to my letter of inquiry, Nimble's
president sent detailed and informative personal letter. It's really a
shame that they don't build a Nimble 19 1/2, with an adult-sized V-berth.
West Wight Potter 19: Roomy is it's middle name! The daggerboard and
the gally counter kind of chop up the cabin, though. Traditional looks,
not sleek. Kathie liked the newer boats with low or walk-thru transoms
and water ballast, the Potter would probably have been her next choice.
MacGregor 19 is an interesting concept: Basically a speedboat hull with
a sailing rig; twin rudders and water ballast; two-piece mast which can
be stowed inside the cabin; and enclosed head (this earned Kathie's
serious consideration). There is room around the cabin table for four
adults.
Once again my traditionalist sense of aesthetics was not appeased, but
a trailersailer that can go 25 knots might have its uses. The sales
brochure shows it pulling a skier! A straight motorboat with this much
cabin costs at least twice as much, and weighs at least half again as
much as the M-19 Powersailer.
First 210 (Beneteau): Pictures don't do it justice; in person, this
little French boat looks nicely proportioned. The plumb bow,
nearly-flush deck, and the round port amidships gave it a real "little
ship" look. The twin rudders make the stern a little complicated. The
interior was open, well appointed, although a little skimpy on
knee-room. Four adults can sit around the table (which blocks the
companionway).
The rig is tall, with double spreader shrouds that preclude use of a
genoa. But it supports enough sail area to drive the boat well, and puts
most of it in the easily-handles main. With the large mast, wide beam,
and swing keel, this boat would not be a piece of cake to trailer.
Hunter 23.5 the in-betweener for the H-19 and the H-26. No enclosed
head, but a very roomy cabin with lots of window area. The galley flat
is aft next to the companionway, where I personally think it should be.
The cabin/cockpit table is a classy oval. The bunks are very spacious.
The "camper canvas" enclosure for the large companionway gives standing
headroom.
The rig looks a bit unwieldy to set up; the gin pole with a 4:1 or
winch is necessary even for us athletes. The halyards are led aft. Full
battens give the mainsail generous area and promise some shape in light
air. There's no provision for a genoa, but there is a spinnaker option.
The H-23.5 was Kathie's first pick, but was just too heavy for us to
trailer.
The MacGregor 26 is also quite roomy, especially for it's weight. It's
within our limit, but a little bulkier than I'd like to trailer and
launch. The cabin has good stowage, and the double berths are both large
enough for adults. Surprisingly, there is no cockpit table, nor is there
an anchor locker forward.
One point about MacGregor Yacht Corp is that they provide a very
informative brochure with pictures showing the boat held on its side
(this takes 132 pounds, which I make out as around 3800 foot pounds of
righting moment), and flooded, and the component moldings, and launching
(requires water deep enough to submerge the fenders), as well as sailing
along on a sunny day.
We also looked at several trailerable boats that were well above our
trailering weight limit. The Skimmer 25 was my favorite, with a hull
very much like a Lightning below the gunwhales and a nicely proportioned
gaff sloop rig above. The centerboard trunk intruded into the cabin,
reducing it's roominess dramatically. But the stowage is good, the head
compartment and the galley are both aft where the boat's motion is least
felt, and the berths are large enough to stretch out.
The Sea Pearl 28 was an obvious point of interest. The rig is easily
set up, and the cabin was very well appointed. The mizzenmast is the
perfect distance from the companionway: you don't have to squeeze
through, but you can grab the mast for security. I won't comment on the
layout because several are available. I don't like the outboard well,
which is open to the cockpit (although one good side to this arrangement
is that the cockpit will drain lots of water very quickly in a storm).
Below and on deck this boat "feels" like at least a 30-footer.