Doug, how about this?
 

OzOne wrote:
http://tinyurl.com/sxamx



Oh yes. That'd do nicely!

I hear 'Sports Car' is for sale, is that in your area?
I have a birthday coming up, too ;)

DSK

Doug, how about this?
 

I hear 'Sports Car' is for sale, is that in your area?
I have a birthday coming up, too ;)



OzOne wrote:
Is that right?
I haven't seen her in a while, she lives close.
Wonder what the story is there....I'll have to find out.


Talk of the owners getting into a new project boat on the
Sailing Anarchy forum.

A little too big & fancy for me, at least for the next few
years we'll mostly be cruising on the tugboat. But I want
something fun to sail, take friends & family out, not too
much hassle in between.

Actively shopping for a boat has convinced me more than ever
that one reason why sailing isn't more popular is the number
of crap boats being aggressively marketed to beginners. And
the only way to learn better is to gain experience in better
boats, which many sailors never do (at least, over here).

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Doug, how about this?
 

I will be working with a fellow I met a few years
ago in the boatyard. He and his father decided
to buy a boat and learn to sail. I can't remember
all the details--I think I recommended a cute
little Cape Dory that was for sale.

It turns out they bought a bilge keel Westerly Centaur,
that they were not too happy with. Mostly they were
unhappy because everyone told them the boat was a
dog. I think they could have had plenty of fun with it if
they put a little money into it.

It needed a bit of work and I guess the price was
right, and included a mooring.

Even poor performing boats can be fun to sail if they have
decent sails. I can't stand sailing 30 year old boats with
sails so blown out they can't point--imagine trying to get
upwind with a Westerly Cenaur with ratty sails?

http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives/...ly-centaur.htm

In any event, I plan to take father and sun out
on HOOT to show them how good it can really
be with a nice boat with fairly new sails.

"DSK" wrote
Actively shopping for a boat has convinced me more than ever that one
reason why sailing isn't more popular is the number of crap boats being
aggressively marketed to beginners. And the only way to learn better is to
gain experience in better boats, which many sailors never do (at least,
over here).

Doug, how about this?
 

Here is a nice trailor sailor Doug.

http://www.strictlysailinc.com/ultimate%2030.htm

Joe

Doug, how about this?
 

Joe wrote:

Here is a nice trailor sailor Doug.

http://www.strictlysailinc.com/ultimate%2030.htm


That would be a lot of fun.

Can't see getting my father out on those racks, though.
Also, I'd worry about running aground at speed.

DSK

Doug, how about this?
 

Bart Senior wrote:

I will be working with a fellow I met a few years
ago in the boatyard. He and his father decided
to buy a boat and learn to sail. I can't remember
all the details--I think I recommended a cute
little Cape Dory that was for sale.

It turns out they bought a bilge keel Westerly Centaur,
that they were not too happy with. Mostly they were
unhappy because everyone told them the boat was a
dog. I think they could have had plenty of fun with it if
they put a little money into it.

It's a shame everybody got them down on the boat. It could
be a fun litle boat in the right circumstances.



It needed a bit of work and I guess the price was
right, and included a mooring.

One problem is that a boat like that, which excels in heavy
weather, isn't going to be any fun with rattley old junk for
fittings & rigging... that means spending at some money.



Even poor performing boats can be fun to sail if they have
decent sails.

Agreed, but I didn't have in mind so much performance as
boats that work properly, and which are sold with realistic
expectations. All boats have their good points.

It's certainly wrong to tell beginners that their boat is
fast when it's a dog. Or to tell them it's a dog when they
could gain some appreciation for the boat if you tell them
it's good points.


... I can't stand sailing 30 year old boats with
sails so blown out they can't point--imagine trying to get
upwind with a Westerly Cenaur with ratty sails?


Yep. Or any boat with badly blown sails.

It's difficult to tell people how bad it is sometimes,
especially when they don't have any experience with anything
better. I sailed a few times with a nice couple who had an
old Chrysler... Nice boat, Herreshoff design in fact,
although not a rocket. Their mainsail was so badly blown out
that the luff pushed against the spreader when close-hauled.
The section at the upper spreaders was like a 'V' and the
leach shape gave the boat a very erratic helm. In a gust the
boat just lay over & died. Very frustrating to sail. But the
people were enjoyable company and I hinted a few times about
better sails (trying to be diplomatic which is not really my
nature).


In any event, I plan to take father and sun out
on HOOT to show them how good it can really
be with a nice boat with fairly new sails.


That's a great idea. I bet they learn more in one afternoon
than they did the whole time with their Centaur.

I still believe the best boat for beginners is a tippy
one-person dinghy. They will get the quickest feedback on
when they're doing right, and swift negative reinforcement
for when they do wrong.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Doug, how about this?
 

"Bart Senior" .@. wrote in message ...
I will be working with a fellow I met a few years
ago in the boatyard. He and his father decided
to buy a boat and learn to sail. I can't remember
all the details--I think I recommended a cute
little Cape Dory that was for sale.

It turns out they bought a bilge keel Westerly Centaur,
that they were not too happy with. Mostly they were
unhappy because everyone told them the boat was a
dog. I think they could have had plenty of fun with it if
they put a little money into it.

It needed a bit of work and I guess the price was
right, and included a mooring.

Westerly Centaur is not a dog. I have never owned one but have sailed one
belonging to a friend.
They are strongly built and have reasonable basic accomodation and a decent
engine but were designed many years ago.
You do not buy a bilge keeler if you want decent upwind performance so that
is where the engine comes in.
OTOH in a Centaur you can take the ground on an even keel and get into many
shallow harbours that are not accessible to boats of deeper draught and it
is much easier to find somewhere to keep a shallow draught boat. Many
Centaurs were made and they are cheap now so if it meets your needs ignore
what others say about them and go for it..

Doug, how about this?
 

That is just what Doug needs. See my point. Pick the
rating and then find the boat.

"Joe" wrote

Here is a nice trailor sailor Doug.

http://www.strictlysailinc.com/ultimate%2030.htm

Doug, how about this?
 

They still draw 3 feet. That will get you into many place
but a Beetle Cat will do better--8 inches with the board up
and 2' with it down.


"Edgar" wrote
OTOH in a Centaur you can take the ground on an even keel and get into
many
shallow harbours that are not accessible to boats of deeper draught and it
is much easier to find somewhere to keep a shallow draught boat. Many
Centaurs were made and they are cheap now so if it meets your needs ignore
what others say about them and go for it..