Buying my first sailboat.

[dcarsten]

I just wanted to get some feedback from those who might know. Anyway I've owned a powerboat for several years and used it frequently. Also I own a small (tiny) cartop daysailer that I've sailed in bays for years. Lately I've been thinking more and more about selling the powerboat and buying a sailboat...something I could do some weekend cruising on.

I live on Long Island in NY...and its kind of a toss up what kind of boat is best to own. With the cost of fuel powerboats are a pain. But with the frequent shallow depths and sand bars in many areas sailboats can be difficult as well. Basically I'm just thinking a sailboat would allow me to cruise to more places in the area like Montauk, Block Island and places in Connecticut or New Jersey. I also am starting to get tired of constantly boating in areas clogged up with tons of boats honestly. I figure with a sailboat I'd have more occasion and reason to either head out into the ocean on the south shore...or into Long Island sound on the north shore...away from other boats. I sort of got into boating to get away from people and here I am constantly anchored in a cove or fishing around 40 or 50 other boats.

I mean, I don't even own a huge powerboat...its a 22 footer with an outboard. But its pretty seaworthy and I've taken it all over the South shore and even offshore out to say 15 miles for fishing once or twice. But the cost of fuel to say, cruise out to Montauk and back from where its berthed on the South shore of Nassau County is pretty high.

Any ideas about what I might want to look for? I'm not a very experienced sailor by any means...other than sailing a simple lateen rigged car top carried centerboard boat. And obviously I'm already looking into getting some formal training in handling a sailboat.