Hello,
I'm considering buying a sail boat within the next year or so (still
have to learn how to sail one first). I'm looking at a family cruiser
between 28-30 feet long. My wife is afraid that I'll capsize the
thing our first trip out. I just can't believe they make "family
cruisers" able to capsize in normal conditions.

Let's assume I do everything wrong our first time out. I keep the
sail tight while sailing abeam of the wind (sorry about terminology,
still learning), we hit rough water, and a storm starts. Is there any
chance I can capsize?

Thanks,
-Matt

yes

"Matt" wrote in message
om...
Hello,
I'm considering buying a sail boat within the next year or so (still
have to learn how to sail one first). I'm looking at a family cruiser
between 28-30 feet long. My wife is afraid that I'll capsize the
thing our first trip out. I just can't believe they make "family
cruisers" able to capsize in normal conditions.

Let's assume I do everything wrong our first time out. I keep the
sail tight while sailing abeam of the wind (sorry about terminology,
still learning), we hit rough water, and a storm starts. Is there any
chance I can capsize?

Thanks,
-Matt

Not if he picks a light day. Which would be the natural thing to do
regardless.

DP
"Richard" wrote in message
t...
yes

"Matt" wrote in message
om...
Hello,
I'm considering buying a sail boat within the next year or so (still
have to learn how to sail one first). I'm looking at a family cruiser
between 28-30 feet long. My wife is afraid that I'll capsize the
thing our first trip out. I just can't believe they make "family
cruisers" able to capsize in normal conditions.

Let's assume I do everything wrong our first time out. I keep the
sail tight while sailing abeam of the wind (sorry about terminology,
still learning), we hit rough water, and a storm starts. Is there any
chance I can capsize?

Thanks,
-Matt

My wife was the same way when I bought a 14' powered aluminum boat for
fishing. I took the power squadron course, because I hadn't managed a boat
since I was 14 years old (and was 47 when I got the new boat). I brought
home dozens of books from the library, and babbled endlessly about safety
issues. And, I reminded her that icebergs are rare in Rochester NY. She
finally caved in.

In your case, you might call around to marinas and find out if any local
organizations offer sailing lessons for newbies. Convince her that you're
not going to go out in the boat with zero knowledge.

"Matt" wrote in message
om...
Hello,
I'm considering buying a sail boat within the next year or so (still
have to learn how to sail one first). I'm looking at a family cruiser
between 28-30 feet long. My wife is afraid that I'll capsize the
thing our first trip out. I just can't believe they make "family
cruisers" able to capsize in normal conditions.

Let's assume I do everything wrong our first time out. I keep the
sail tight while sailing abeam of the wind (sorry about terminology,
still learning), we hit rough water, and a storm starts. Is there any
chance I can capsize?

Thanks,
-Matt

No.

A keel boat in non-exceptional conditions cannot capsize. Sink, maybe, but
not capsize.

Exceptional would be a small keel boat facing 30 foot seas with an
inexperienced captain. But any sort of normal sailing, including a gale, no.


"Matt" wrote in message
om...
Hello,
I'm considering buying a sail boat within the next year or so (still
have to learn how to sail one first). I'm looking at a family cruiser
between 28-30 feet long. My wife is afraid that I'll capsize the
thing our first trip out. I just can't believe they make "family
cruisers" able to capsize in normal conditions.

Let's assume I do everything wrong our first time out. I keep the
sail tight while sailing abeam of the wind (sorry about terminology,
still learning), we hit rough water, and a storm starts. Is there any
chance I can capsize?

Thanks,
-Matt

Not likely, but possble is you are very, very unlucky.

I would be more concerned about other things that can go wrong (man
overboard, accidental gybe, rigging failure, etc).

You should be able to learn how to cope with those things by taking
some lessons, so I wouldn't be too concerned... however, if you can
convince your wife to take lessons with you, then the instructors (and
her own knowledge) will appease her fears (that is what happened with
my wife when we took lessons together!)

Also, remember to take her out for her first trips in very calm days,
nothing will kill her confidence faster than a bad storm or (in the
worst case you asked for) a lightbolt striking the mast. ;-)


Cheers

Lu


On 27 Aug 2003 09:07:28 -0700, (Matt) wrote:

Hello,
I'm considering buying a sail boat within the next year or so (still
have to learn how to sail one first). I'm looking at a family cruiser
between 28-30 feet long. My wife is afraid that I'll capsize the
thing our first trip out. I just can't believe they make "family
cruisers" able to capsize in normal conditions.

Let's assume I do everything wrong our first time out. I keep the
sail tight while sailing abeam of the wind (sorry about terminology,
still learning), we hit rough water, and a storm starts. Is there any
chance I can capsize?

Thanks,
-Matt

Lessons are the main thing. Get them! Then she will have confidence in your
ability. Take her along to. Then if you go overboard, at a later date, she
can save you.

The other alternative is to let someone else skipper your boat for you, for
a season or so. There are plenty of old salts willing to pass on their
knowledge at no cost.

DP
"Matt" wrote in message
om...
Hello,
I'm considering buying a sail boat within the next year or so (still
have to learn how to sail one first). I'm looking at a family cruiser
between 28-30 feet long. My wife is afraid that I'll capsize the
thing our first trip out. I just can't believe they make "family
cruisers" able to capsize in normal conditions.

Let's assume I do everything wrong our first time out. I keep the
sail tight while sailing abeam of the wind (sorry about terminology,
still learning), we hit rough water, and a storm starts. Is there any
chance I can capsize?

Thanks,
-Matt

Future Sailing Dude,

Don't buy a boat!

Take some lessons from a sailing club and learn how to sail.
Then, when you want to go sailing now and then, charter a boat from the
sailing club for a year or two.
Then, do the math and decide what to buy.

Marty

Matt wrote:
Hello,
I'm considering buying a sail boat within the next year or so (still
have to learn how to sail one first). I'm looking at a family cruiser
between 28-30 feet long. My wife is afraid that I'll capsize the
thing our first trip out. I just can't believe they make "family
cruisers" able to capsize in normal conditions.

Let's assume I do everything wrong our first time out. I keep the
sail tight while sailing abeam of the wind (sorry about terminology,
still learning), we hit rough water, and a storm starts. Is there any
chance I can capsize?

Thanks,
-Matt

Matt,
My 2 cents worth is:
-DON'T take sail training/lesson together with your wife. Make sure you know
about sailing a boat more than her. So better you attend lesson first
-Take wife out to sea and put up a brave front
-whatever the suitation tell her you've thought of that 10 mintues before it
happened and you know what you're doing.
-If you face turns green, say its due to breakfast or lunch or something you
ate.
The most important thing is that your wife sees that you're steady and
confident in handling the boat (even though you're ****ting in your pants
down inside!)
When she sees you're ok, she'll be ok.

Been there done that! Now not only the wife has confident in my sailing, I
actually have confident in myself now!

BTW, generally speaking it isn't easy to capsize a keelboat on a nice
weather ....say 15 knots wind even with all sheets tug in if the water is
calm and not bumpy.


"Matt" wrote in message
om...
Hello,
I'm considering buying a sail boat within the next year or so (still
have to learn how to sail one first). I'm looking at a family cruiser
between 28-30 feet long. My wife is afraid that I'll capsize the
thing our first trip out. I just can't believe they make "family
cruisers" able to capsize in normal conditions.

Let's assume I do everything wrong our first time out. I keep the
sail tight while sailing abeam of the wind (sorry about terminology,
still learning), we hit rough water, and a storm starts. Is there any
chance I can capsize?

Thanks,
-Matt

"nova" lifted the trapdoor, peered around and
wrote:

-If you face turns green, say its due to breakfast or lunch or something you
ate.

If you value your "wedding tackle", don't tell her she cooked it!

lmao

steveb