First Boat - Nunsuch?

[Pcpk]

I'm in the beginning stages of looking for a first boat and in-spite of some of it's drawbacks (pointing, etc) I'm being drawn to a Nonsuch 26 or 30 and was looking for some input, advice or other suggestions. But first a little background on myself and some of the things I would like out of a boat and what attracts me to a Nonsuch.

First, I'm a novice sailor but spending this summer racing, sailing/learning with friends and possibly taking a proper sailing class over the winter so the simplicity of the "wishbone-cat rig' is interesting, I don't want complicated.

Second, I'm 6'5 and plan on weekend-ing, cruising (no racing) and using the boat as a "floating vacation cottage" along the LI Sound, Hudson, Barnegat etc. so I want max space/headroom which the N-such has.

Third, my wife and I are planning to start a family and want to take the kids with us from the youngest age. The Nonsuch's large VERY enclosed cockpit seems like a safe choice for keeping active toddlers contained, not scrambling over the rail and again the large cabin will also be a bonus with extra crew.

So that's about it in a nutshell, any ideas, suggestions or input will be appreciated.Thanks!

[Paul Annapolis]

Their owners tend to love them. The boat has many fine features and advantages but only a few disadvantages. I am a professional captain/coach and worked closely with the owner of a Nonsuch 26 we picked up in CT and sailed back to MD with three big guys on board--and it was roomy. I was very impressed with its construction, ease of sailing, cockpit, layout and roominess below. The disadvantages are those of any Catboat--very beamy, can ship a lot of water and fewer options with saill plan/changes. BUT--no stays and shrouds, no low hanging boom but be careful of jibing and you will generally have a lot of mainsail sheet in the cockpit. One caution--be very careful of the enormous cockpit hatch-NEVER leave it open and unattended--it can swallow a person whole. We had strong headwinds all across LI Sound and it was very slow going upwind--motoring or sailing. If you are mainly a coastal/inland sailor, I'd say go for it--but you may wish to put in a different prop--my client got a 3-blade max prop which made a big difference in powering and handling. Let me know if you would like professional training.

[boatman61]

Seems the Nonsuch meets all your salient requirements...
I'd go for the larger of the 2 considering your going to be manufacturing new crew in the future...

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Pcpk.

[MarkJ]

I think you should learn on a propper sailing boat.

You wont be able to sell the Nonsuch easily when you decide to.

[mbianka]

I've owned a 1986 Nonsuch 30 since 1995 and have not looked at another boat since. Even when I go to boat shows like Annapolis I never feel the need to look at the new boats on display. Paul Annapolis has pretty much described the pros and cons. It is a great coastal cruiser though a few have crossed the Atlantic with and without crew. I lived aboard mine for six years when I was working in New York and sailed it all over the Northeast. Including up the Hudson and into the Erie Canal (motoring) and then sailed across Lake Ontario into Canada. Also to Boston, Nantucket and around Long Island etc... Like Boatman I would recommend going with the 30 if you plan to add kids. I single hand it most of the time and it is a breeze with all the lines including reefing coming back to the cockpit. Once you hook on the main halyard there is very little reason why you will have to ever leave the cockpit until it's time to drop the anchor or pick up a mooring.

[mbianka]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I think you should learn on a propper sailing boat.

You wont be able to sell the Nonsuch easily when you decide to.

Don't know why anyone would want to. But, it does spoil you not having to put down your coffee or touch a line when you want to tack.

[robert sailor]

Wonderful boat and very well made. Its true they do not point well but they do go very well on a reach, much quicker on a reach than most people might think. Roomy well laid out interior and good finishing. I'd go to the 30 myself. Not sure what the resale is like now but in the past they had a good following and the resales were above average.

[Paul Annapolis]

I don't know what prompted MarkJ to write such negative comments, especially the one "You should learn on a propper [sic] sailing boat." Huh? What did that mean?. There were 950 Nonsuch's built. It is not a Beneteau or Catalina, but for the right person, when the time comes to sell, there will be an eager market and their resale values may actually hold better than other, more popular (or should I say "propper"?) boats because there will be fewer to compete with when listing for sale. Who knows? But if he gets it for a good price and maintains the boat well, most used boats, especially the better built ones (not catalina or beneteau or hunter for example), they will "reverse depreciate." I thank mbianka for the vote of confidence in my analysis and wonder what prompted MarkJ's negativity.

[Rhapsody-NS27]

looking at this interview/tour of a Nonsuch 26, it looks to be a nice boat, good layout and lots of room.

Ben Stookey Interview, Sep 2012, Part 1 - YouTube

[MarkJ]

Proper or propper sounds a bit wrongly intended. I mean a normal boat with normal sails. Same as I dont think its good to sail just lasers or hobie cats or anything thats not a normal fore and aft rig main and genoa/jib configuration boat.
After someone has learned then by all means go one and sail whatever they like.

The OP with Keelboats is just the same.

Even kids on Optimists I feel it holds true. At home when we were kids there was a perfect lil boat for kids to learn: A Manly Junior. See pic attached.

I think buying specialist keel boats is fraught with difficulty for folks with no experience in any sort of boat.

yes, I am quite aware that those with them are strong advocates for them. But if a person with no knowledge only gets one side of the story - the strong advocates side - then he is open to making a mistake.


Mark

[boatman61]

Ahhhhh.... got all nostalgic with those brief shots of Oriental... 'The Bean'.. 'M&M's... the Pizza Towers.....

[Paul Annapolis]

Proper? Normal?...sounds like backtalk to me. So, please provide the "negative" side with some constructive and helpful comments. We're waiting. What kind of mistakes are you speaking of?

[AiniA]

Mark, Nonsuches have held their value much better than similarly priced boats from the 1980s. I went from normal, proper boats to a Nonsuch 30 to larger normal, proper boats for offshore cruising. May well go back to a Nonsuch for my declining years. Don't see why someone could not start with a Nonsuch and go to a sloop later if the wished. Not that big a transitions. Please keep bad-mouthing Nonsuches, would be nice to drive the price down before we are in the market for one.

[barnakiel]

A boat is just like any other object - you can sell and go for another if you find your first choice to be wrong.

I have not sailed a Nonsuch, but both Nonsuches and Freedoms look super duper to me and I like their layout. They look simple, sensible, fast and efficient. Sort of like a Finn on steroids.

b.