Katy,

You seem fixated on color.

I wonder, when you look in the mirror, what you think about
all that gray hair?

CN

"katysails" clucked

Subtract 1 point...his boat is day glo orange....

Donal wrote:
....snip...
Welcome back Frank. You've posted some good stuff in the past.
What kind of boat are you thinking of getting?
My kids are currently 15 and 18, and it is very difficult to get them
to go
sailing. Get your boat ASAP if you want to have them involved.

Thanks, Donal,

I understand your comments about older teens wanting to separate
themselves from their parents. We started homeschooling a couple of
years ago and have been doing a lot of RVing. We plan to spend a year
or so cruising the Caribbean within the next couple of years. The kids
like to sail, especially in warm water, e.g. the Caribbean, and our
24/7 intimacy of the last couple of years has been positive, better
than the times we had when we had them in school and just had
adventures in the summer. So I hope that continues.

My personal favorite boat, and the one I want for my wife and me when
the girls are on their own, is a Freedom 38 (mid-80s thru early 90s
Gary Mull design). However, we've discussed this in recent years and
have tried brief cruises on a couple of different sizes and styles of
boats and have decided that for family cruising we want a bit more room
than the F38 provides.

In that context, being fond of the Freedom concept, I'd consider an
older F-40 or preferably a 44. However, given that the mission
parameter for this boat is simply to survive a year or two of Caribbean
cruising, we might consider a cheap ex-charter boat. I'm a cheap old
SOB and would be happy to save a few nickles, especially since I know
that this will not be my "last boat."

We've talked about cats, too; but have yet to charter a cruising cat to
see if we find the experience enjoyable in the same sort of way we
enjoy monohull sailing. We're gonna do that sometime soon.

Frank

"DSK" wrote

I've sailed a Tartan 4100... they are pretty zippy. Definitely on
par
with one of the First series of similar size.


Which would you say has the better build quality?

SV

There is none....I have relatively little of it and what there is gets taken
care of every 8 weeks or so...so what do you think when you look in the
mirror and you can't see yourself for the shine from your pate?

"Capt. Neal®" wrote in message
...
Katy,

You seem fixated on color.
I wonder, when you look in the mirror, what you think about
all that gray hair?

CN

"katysails" clucked

Subtract 1 point...his boat is day glo orange....

"DSK" wrote
I've sailed a Tartan 4100... they are pretty zippy. Definitely on
par
with one of the First series of similar size.



Scott Vernon wrote:
Which would you say has the better build quality?


Tartan, definitely. Some of the older, bigger (40+) Beneteau First
series were pretty well built, but don't have systems up to modern
standards. The newer Tartans are molded by TPI and are well up to
snuff... there is a fair amount of stuff I don't like about them, but
then I'm spoiled...

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Do you like muffins?


"katysails" wrote in message
...
There is none....I have relatively little of it and what there is gets
taken
care of every 8 weeks or so...so what do you think when you look in the
mirror and you can't see yourself for the shine from your pate?

"Capt. Neal®" wrote in message
...
Katy,

You seem fixated on color.
I wonder, when you look in the mirror, what you think about
all that gray hair?

CN

"katysails" clucked

Subtract 1 point...his boat is day glo orange....

"Frank" wrote in message
ups.com...

We've talked about cats, too; but have yet to charter a cruising cat to
see if we find the experience enjoyable in the same sort of way we
enjoy monohull sailing. We're gonna do that sometime soon.

A friend in my sailing club is moving back to a monohull - or "half a
boat". He's finally convinced his wife that they would enjoy sailing more
if they could sail to wind. He's spent the last 5 years telling us that his
cat could point as high as a monohull!!

My gut feeling is that if your wife actually enjoys sailing, then you should
ignore catamarans.


Also, before you buy a big boat, take into consideration the fact that your
kids will be gone in a few years. You will have to park it with only your
wife as crew. I'd love to buy a Malo 42, but I don't think that my
diminutive spouse would be able to hold the lines while we tied up.


Regards


Donal
--

"Scott Vernon" wrote in message
...

"DSK" wrote

I've sailed a Tartan 4100... they are pretty zippy. Definitely on
par
with one of the First series of similar size.


Which would you say has the better build quality?


I'd happily admit that the Tartan has a better "build quality". However,
I'd kill myself if a Tartan beat me in a race.

Regards


Donal
--

"Donal" wrote
"DSK" wrote

I've sailed a Tartan 4100... they are pretty zippy. Definitely
on
par
with one of the First series of similar size.


Which would you say has the better build quality?


I'd happily admit that the Tartan has a better "build quality".
However,
I'd kill myself if a Tartan beat me in a race.


I was asking Doug.

SV

"Donal" wrote
I'd happily admit that the Tartan has a better "build quality".
However,
I'd kill myself if a Tartan beat me in a race.



You may be thinking of the older full keel Tartans. But some of them
(I'm thinking of the 41 & 43) were pretty fast too. The newer Tartans
are all quite modern designs and perform well. They're similar to the
C&C 110 & 121... same designer... went for a more traditional look about
the deck and cabin trunk


Scott Vernon wrote:
I was asking Doug.


Maybe Donal would believe Navvie's opinion?

Fresh Breezes- Doug King