Go big or training wheels?

[LTDsailing]

Personally, I learned to sail on small boats and I still think that is the best way to learn. However, I teach people to sail on big boats all the time. Some combination of the two is probably the best way to go.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about sailing courses in the Caribbean!

[markpierce]

Regardless, if you remain boating for many years, you'll possibly end up with a motorized vessel without sails with maybe a motorsailer in between.

[natraps116]

I bought a 2000 grand soleil 46.3 as my first live aboard boat. I'm learning as I go. I figure sail or sink, Either way we're going places!

https://m.facebook.com/SeawolfAdventure

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[wesevans]

Charter a boat similar to what you think you want for a couple of weeks. Hire a captain for a week to teach you the boat. Another option is to crew on a rally(Caribbean 15000) . These options will give you the experience to make a more informed decision about your capabilities and what will work for you. And remember there are many cursing styles. Some like to dock. Some like to anchor. Some like to stay in one place for a while others to be on the move all the time. Do what is fun for you.

[nimblemotors]

what he said. I would only add that what is important is to make sure you enjoy 'cruising' before buying a big boat, which has little to do with sailing, and everything to do with living on a boat.

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I had never sailed, took lessons, joined a club and sailed on a 32' boat on weekends for 3 months. Then I brought a 39' boat and sailed it for 2 years, then got a 43' than I've sailed for 4 years. Still have a year to go before heading out.

My advise; sailing is easy and you don't need a bunch of time on the final boat. Owning a big boat is expensive and has cost me on average $10k/yr that could have gone into the cruising kittery savings. So if you are happy weekend sailing on a trailerable boat do so until you are within 1 year of leaving to go cruising!

Cruising is just doing maintenance in different places. No really any extra learning to be had just because you do it at your home waters.

[joefults]

Our very good friends have a Morgan 38. I think it is a very good boat for beginners (with training) and cruisers as well. Go for it, and best wishes.

[wesevans]

Originally Posted by nimblemotors

what he said. I would only add that what is important is to make sure you enjoy 'cruising' before buying a big boat, which has little to do with sailing, and everything to do with living on a boat.

I absoutly agree and should have included that in my recommendation as it is the most important consideration!

[thomm225]

If you want to learn how to sail, get a very small sailboat as your first boat.

If you want to learn how to live on a sailboat, get a large boat first.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Legend1673

Advice wanted.

FACTS - My wife and I are in a 5-7 year plan to become full time cruisers. We are located 15 minutes away from a decent marine north of Seattle. I have limited sailing experience...my wife even less, but we enjoy the time we have spent. Formal instruction is in the plan starting this summer.

We'd planned on buying a trailer able to learn with and then upgrading closer to our departure date, but boat porn got the better of us. We started dreaming and looking at 32+ ft live-a-boards and fell in love with the Morgan 38x series. We've looked at dozens online and now 3 in person and both agree that these boats are our "perfect fit".

QUESTION - do we stick with the plan, buy a starter, go cheap, save on moorage, and then upgrade?
Pros - minimal investment, easy to learn on.

Or, do we buy the boat we want and spend the money at the docks?
Pros - 5+ years experience and complete knowledge of the boat before long voyages. More use because no need to launch.


We have looked at a lot of other boats as well and realize that experience may change needs/wants.

Thanks for your advice.



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I don't know of had been mentioned? Insure you know the expenses involved with keeping a boat at the dock. Just make sure you have the resources and income.

You can do your own investigation and comparison to living on the hard.

I hope you can live your dream.

[Andy73]

I think Jim's answer is probably a good one.

The problem isn't so much with the learning to sail aspect, but with the potential change in your boat preferences as you gain experience.

That being said, Morgans are quality boats and if you are generally comfortable in it now, it shouldn't become a love-hate relationship IMHO

[belizesailor]

My 2¢, having taught sailing for many years. You can often tell the difference in sailing skills between those who have learned on small boats first versus bigger boats. A smaller more responsive boat is simply a better learning platform.

And...don't buy a boat...not yet anyway. Gain experience on as many different types of boats as possible and then you will be better equipped to decide what to buy.

If you take classes then your introductory level classes will, or should be, delivered on a smallish monohull. Many sailing schools are associated with sailing clubs and/or have a rental fleet. This is a great way to build experience on a variety of boats.

Take classes, rent/charter, crew for others...and then decide what to buy.

[Legend1673]

Thank you all for the advice! Although I like the idea of a laser or similar to learn with, I think the water here is too cold.

Going smaller and then upgrading seems to be the smarter choice (for me)...although it's going to be hard to walk by that Morgan.


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[ssanzone]

I think the time I spent with a tiller in my hand helped me a lot and was time well spent.

I asked myself the same question the OP posed here and decided my first boat would be a 41 and have never regretted the decision.

The bigger the boat, the easier it is to sail (within reason) so all the time I spent on 24s and 27s resulted in a lot of valuable experience, knowledge and confidence.

Buy big now and continue sailing on smaller boats. Split your learned between your (big) boat and other's smaller boats.

BTW: there are a lot of great captains who will come out with you and teach you to sail on your own boat.

-steve

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by ssanzone

...the time I spent with a tiller in my hand helped me a lot and was time well spent...

Looking back over all the times I've had the most difficulty in making an important decision, it appears so obvious, now, that all the difficulty was caused by not yet having all the information I required to actually make the decision.

Get some stick time on a LOT of boats of various types/sizes.

Experience alone won't make you ready to buy--you'll still need to do much due diligence--but experience is essential to your picking the right boat. Get this experience any way you can: sailing club, yacht club, rental, racing crew, delivery crew, day-sails with friends or strangers... Make opportunities to learn and practice and master every crew member function, not just helmsman or rail meat.

Crew on some multi-day deliveries or races. Spend time living, cooking, eating, bathing and sleeping on a boat while under way 24/7. Take the Coast Guard seamanship course, and learn the basics of navigation and boat safety.

This is not all inclusive but, once you have these experiences in your bio, you will have begun to see a rather clear image, in your mind's eye, of the very vessel that is right for you. Be patient. Prepare yourself so that, when the right boat presents itself, you will recognize it and know.