New to sailing

[onthewater13]

Hello all. I've been a power boater for the past 7 years. I've been out on sailboats several times and have really been drawn to the quietness of it so much so that I'm thinking of making the move over to sailing. My question is what would be the ideal size. I realize I should start small but I know how it goes, I'll be wanting a larger boat before long trying to avoid all of that. Any suggestions.

tks
jt

[brianlara 3]

Friend, depends on how many people will normally be on board. How much money you want to spend. Whether or not you are working. What sort of mechanical, electrical &practical skills you have. Where you want to go in the longer term........& on.
And what size boat your last one was and where you went in it (how much open water experience) ?
More info.

[Sea Dreaming]

You don't have to own your own boat to give it a go. Yacht clubs can help connect you with others so you can gain experience without laying out cash until you know what you want.

Ideal size depends on what you want, where you sail etc. So, where will you sail? What are your sailing goals? Do you just want to splash around your local pond, or live aboard and sail to far off destinations?

Come to that, I learned on a Catalina 22 on inland mountain lakes. It was a great boat to learn on for me. Small enough for a newbie to handle, but large enough for a couple for a week or so of "cruising lite".

This is really about what you. I caution you, however, about imaging that your first boat will be your last. Some do manage to buy a boat they keep for many years but as you gain experience with sailing your needs and wants will change. So what are you imaging you want?

[onthewater13]

Hi. Basically I'm into just cruising, around the great South Bay in NY with my wife and daughter, not really gong to any over night or far destinations. Spending time on the mooring or tied up to the dock .

Jt

[brianlara 3]

JT. Think about a Catalina 27. Thousands were made and there are hundreds on the market.
They would have made a lot of people happy.
Or, Catalina 30, 6000 sold for all the right reasons. Hundreds for sale.

[StuM]

Anything from 12 ft to 50ft depending on what you plan to do with the boat.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, JT.

[RunningCool]

Hook up with a sailing club 1st in your area. There are so MANY choices.

I started with building a Trimaran by Jim Brown.
Now I have a nice Center Cockpit Monohull.

They will help you so much. Sailors are very deep rooted people.