Hi. My old Sunfish died last winter -- the transom has been patched
one time too many, finally fell off completely, so I am looking for a
new boat to replace it. I can get another Sunfish easily enough, but
I'd like to consider other options. The ones I have found are the
Vanguard Pico Plus, and the Esacpe Rumba / Escape 12. Anybody out
there have any experience with these, any other small sailboat (besides
the Sunfish) that I should look at?

I am a 230 lb, middle aged, not-so-athletic-anymore guy, with wife and
7 year old kid. It'd be nice to get us all on the boat, maybe,
sometimes. Usually it's just me and the kid. We live on Cape Cod
(windy), usually sail in ponds or harbors.

Any advice at all would be appreciated. Thanks.

On 26 Mar 2005 19:49:45 -0800, "Ummmmm" wrote:

~~ snippage ~~

Any advice at all would be appreciated. Thanks.

This is exactly what you are looking for:

http://tinyurl.com/4dao4

Later,

Tom

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
This is exactly what you are looking for:

http://tinyurl.com/4dao4

Later,


Ah...you wacky 'mericans!

Here's what a sensible Canuck would recommend...
a CL 16....or a Wayfarer dinghy. very similar boats.
Lots of 2nd hand boats available in central Canada and a number of American
owners also frequent the CL newsgroup.
see... http://www.vaxxine.com/clsailboats/ and
http://www.sailboatsales.com/
If you decide to overnight....the CL family used to manufacture my boat the
Sandpiper 565 (lots used ones in central Canada - cheap in US $.)

On 26 Mar 2005 19:49:45 -0800, "Ummmmm" wrote:

Hi. My old Sunfish died last winter --

I had one of these when I was 4. Nice little boats.

On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 13:10:21 GMT, "Don White"
wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
This is exactly what you are looking for:

http://tinyurl.com/4dao4

Later,


Ah...you wacky 'mericans!

Don't word of the day - wacky. :)

Here's what a sensible Canuck would recommend...
a CL 16....or a Wayfarer dinghy. very similar boats.
Lots of 2nd hand boats available in central Canada and a number of American
owners also frequent the CL newsgroup.
see... http://www.vaxxine.com/clsailboats/ and
http://www.sailboatsales.com/
If you decide to overnight....the CL family used to manufacture my boat the
Sandpiper 565 (lots used ones in central Canada - cheap in US $.)

There are folks in my family who want to investigate adding a sail
boat to the Short Wave fleet.

I'm considering one of those Sandpipers actually.

Later,

Tom

"Ummmmm" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi. My old Sunfish died last winter -- the transom has been patched
one time too many, finally fell off completely, so I am looking for a
new boat to replace it. I can get another Sunfish easily enough, but
I'd like to consider other options. The ones I have found are the
Vanguard Pico Plus, and the Esacpe Rumba / Escape 12. Anybody out
there have any experience with these, any other small sailboat (besides
the Sunfish) that I should look at?

I am a 230 lb, middle aged, not-so-athletic-anymore guy, with wife and
7 year old kid. It'd be nice to get us all on the boat, maybe,
sometimes. Usually it's just me and the kid. We live on Cape Cod
(windy), usually sail in ponds or harbors.

Any advice at all would be appreciated. Thanks.


I'd vote for this:

http://www.hobiecat.com/sailing/gall..._num=16&res=lr

A friend had one many years ago. He was an expert, but he invited me out a
few times and I had no trouble making the thing go, stop, but not roll over.
Great little boats. Well....OK...I did roll it over once, but he wanted me
to learn how far the thing could be pushed before that would happen.

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
There are folks in my family who want to investigate adding a sail
boat to the Short Wave fleet.

I'm considering one of those Sandpipers actually.

Later,

Tom

if you plan on drysailing off a trailer...or beaching etc....very
practical..
.....if you plan on leaving it in the water all season, I'd also look at a
shoal keelboat like the Catalina (Capri) 18.
very similar in size & weight , except cockpit longer on the Capri and an
open cabin floor vs. the awkwark centerboard trunk on the 'Piper.

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...

A friend had one many years ago. He was an expert, but he invited me out a
few times and I had no trouble making the thing go, stop, but not roll
over.
Great little boats. Well....OK...I did roll it over once, but he wanted me
to learn how far the thing could be pushed before that would happen.

Did you ever 'pitchpole' one? That might scare the little ones.

"Steven Shelikoff" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 14:53:20 GMT, "Don White"
wrote:


"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...

A friend had one many years ago. He was an expert, but he invited me out
a
few times and I had no trouble making the thing go, stop, but not roll
over.
Great little boats. Well....OK...I did roll it over once, but he wanted
me
to learn how far the thing could be pushed before that would happen.

Did you ever 'pitchpole' one? That might scare the little ones.

It might. But you can sail one for years and never pitchpole or even
capize it if you don't want to. The only reason it will pitchpole or
capsize is if you're sailing it at the limit, trying to go as fast as
possible and have as much excitement and fun as possible. If you have
little ones on board, just don't do that. Unless you're in very high
winds (like over 30kts, which you shouldn't be anyway) if you don't
sheet in the main tight, you'll always keep both pontoons in the water.

Steve

Exactly. You don't have to sail like someone doing a Pepsi commercial,
trying to fly over waves. And as far as scaring the little ones, if they're
not swimming like porpoises by age 3 or 4, they have no business being in a
boat as open as a Hobie Cat or Sunfish anyway. I don't care if they've got a
PFD and 2 bodyguards from an Olympic swim team. Their confidence has to be
automatic and absolute.

On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 17:10:21 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:


"Steven Shelikoff" wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 14:53:20 GMT, "Don White"
wrote:


"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...

A friend had one many years ago. He was an expert, but he invited me out
a
few times and I had no trouble making the thing go, stop, but not roll
over.
Great little boats. Well....OK...I did roll it over once, but he wanted
me
to learn how far the thing could be pushed before that would happen.

Did you ever 'pitchpole' one? That might scare the little ones.

It might. But you can sail one for years and never pitchpole or even
capize it if you don't want to. The only reason it will pitchpole or
capsize is if you're sailing it at the limit, trying to go as fast as
possible and have as much excitement and fun as possible. If you have
little ones on board, just don't do that. Unless you're in very high
winds (like over 30kts, which you shouldn't be anyway) if you don't
sheet in the main tight, you'll always keep both pontoons in the water.

Steve

Exactly. You don't have to sail like someone doing a Pepsi commercial,
trying to fly over waves. And as far as scaring the little ones, if they're
not swimming like porpoises by age 3 or 4, they have no business being in a
boat as open as a Hobie Cat or Sunfish anyway. I don't care if they've got a
PFD and 2 bodyguards from an Olympic swim team. Their confidence has to be
automatic and absolute.

Totally agree with you Doug.

Later,

Tom