Newbie questions, crossing the Atlantic

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by Skywalker204

So i think i may have found my first boat! Its a 1983 22ft macgregor with retractable keel on a trailer......Price: $6,800

It does look like a nice boat at a reasonable price.

But small, older boats are very cheap this year. For example:

Grampian 23 for $1000:
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/kin...ationFlag=true

Tanzer 22 with trailer, $1000:
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/cit...ationFlag=true

Another grampian 23, but this one includes motor and trailer for $2000:
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/bra...ationFlag=true

Oday 22 on a trailer for $2100:
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/ott...ationFlag=true

Another Tanzer 22 on a trailer for $4000. Personally, I love the T22:
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/ott...ationFlag=true

Nice CS22 on a trailer, also $4000:
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/st-...ationFlag=true

Sirius 21 on a trailer for $4500:
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/kin...ationFlag=true

These are just from a quick search for similar size boats on a trailer.

It would seem that your boat is at the top of the price range for that size on a trailer. However, you've seen it said here many times....condition is everything.

FWIW, my daughter bought a little trailer sailor. She got the biggest boat I could haul with my little car. Its really great to have the boat at home, in the driveway, for free over the winter. I sold my (bigger) boat partly because the marina fees were killing me.

There is one question you may want to ask the seller....would they take a little less?

[robert sailor]

We moved two keel boats from western Ontario to Vancouver BC wasn’t really that big of a deal. Took us a couple of days. One was a 25 and the other a 29.
I’m not crazy about small Macgregor sailing boats on the ocean, consider them lake boats, much prefer fixed keel boats. I recognize that this can increase costs.

[john61ct]

Yes a cross-country trip to pick up the Right Boat at a true bargain price is NBD, especially when it's a model actually designed to be regularly trailered.

Even paying a truck to haul it for you could totally be worth it.

IF you get really inspired by a particular design - so far OP hasn't, but just wait 8-)

and of course assuming the right instance of that desire does not appear available at that "right price" closer to home.

[SuW]

Originally Posted by hamburking

It does look like a nice boat at a reasonable price. But small, older boats are very cheap this year. For example:
...
Another Tanzer 22 on a trailer for $4000. Personally, I love the T22:
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/ott...ationFlag=true

Yes, if I were camping on a boat for a week at a time, I think the pop-top Tanzer (if that's what this is) would be preferable to a MacGregor. I know a younger person's idea of acceptable comfort is different!

hamburking: Did you go to see the Whitby you were considering?

[emilecantin]

While you're looking at Tanzer 22s, mine is for sale as well (with better pictures, IMO):

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details...dId=1411148136

I loved it as my first boat, but we're moving on to a bigger one.

[Skywalker204]

Well after watching some videos and doing some research im thinking the T22 is the way to go. It looks a boat if need be i could launch and put back on the trailer by myself with some practice. It looks more roomy and comfterble than the macgregor, its 40% cheaper with a outboard and its only a hour away from home. I will most definitely be taking a look at this when i get home in two weeks. Thanks for all the info and advice, i appreciate all the help!

Heres the add if anyone wants to look at it:

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/ott...ationFlag=true

[emilecantin]

Yeah, T22s are awesome, and they're very popular in eastern Canada and the northeast US.

From experience, though, I think you'll have a hard time raising the mast by yourself; I usually do it with at least one other person. You might get away with it if you build an A-frame; the biggest issue is holding the mast sideways as you raise it. The chainplates aren't in the same axis of rotation as the mast step, so you can't attach the shrouds until the mast is vertical.

Launching from the trailer is probably going to be easier with the swing keel version if you can get one, but I've managed to do it with my fixed-keel one. Well, launching is easy, but hauling out is the hard part. I managed to do it without a winch (with a strap behind the keel), but it'd be much easier with a winch on the trailer.

[bouncycastle]

Macgregor boats have a good reputation and often ask premium price when for sail . The full boayantcy modern 26 versions are very popular as it is very hard to sink them .

However the premium on this looks a tad high but if the boat has something extra like new masts rigging sails outboards that might explain that . Check prices for that year and make around the region to see if it is out of line with other boats of the same make and year .

Drop keels are great they make sailing into shallow water much easier and often allow mooring where the prices are cheaper or even for free and beach parties are easier

Always with drop keel boats a good survey of the keel support systems to verify there isn't cracks or repair work from accidental grounding on rocky terrain . Faulty drop keels is common reason for many sales of those boats .
Buyer beware

many ocean crossing boat with drop keel will jam the drop keel in down position for ocean crossing so if inverted the boat will still self righting . They might also have storm protection for windows and main hatches and wash boards .

Good luck keep us posted on your purchase

[john61ct]

I hope you're not saying Macs could be rigged for offshore & crossing oceans.

Two concepts that should not be mentioned together. 8-)

[SuW]

Here's a neat boat. Much more of a pocket liveaboard than the others:
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/thu...-25/1427159332

On a trailer. Yanmar diesel. You'd need a crane or lift to launch it, but still...

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by SuW

hamburking: Did you go to see the Whitby you were considering?

Haven't been to see a single boat yet...the weather has just been lousy.

There are so many good boats at great prices right now. Terrible weather is also helping keep the prices down. Launch time is rapidly approaching, but we haven't had 2 nice days in a row yet. Pouring rain today, and barely above zero. Hardly the weather to go boat shopping.

There is an Alberg 30 I like in Rochester for $1000 usd. Very good condition. Dead man's boat. Another A30 in Belleville for $1500 cdn.

My daughter owns/sails a Siren 17. There's a FREE Siren in Barrie she wants to go get as well. Is "sailboat fever" genetic, bacterial or viral? All I know is that it flares up bad every spring. And there is only one cure....

I'm hoping to get something 32-35 feet with shallow draft (for the islands). There seem to be 20 new sailboats for sale every day (on Lake Ontario). I might not get my "dreamboat", but maybe I'll get something fun to sail while I keep looking!!!!

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by Skywalker204

Well after watching some videos and doing some research im thinking the T22 is the way to go.

The T22 has a strong following, myself included. They are built tough. Easy to sail. HUGE cockpit. And they are really FAST. On a reach with a good wind they will start to plane....the whole boat kinda shakes and the speed doubles....its awesome!

They sell very cheap around lake Ontario, where they are still plentiful...from $1,000 to $5,000. Trailers for them are rare. The less common swing keel version fits on a trailer much better. There are self serve mast cranes at several of the local marinas here, so setting up the mast is no big deal. But yes, the side shrouds are not situated for raising/lowering and I've seen a couple boats with damage from learning that the hard way. Have a good look at the base of the side shrouds when considering any T22.

I often thought that if I end up a penniless hobo, I would sail a T22 to the Caribbean.

I wish I had more pics of my T22...Slalom...but that was long before digital pics or even waterproof cameras.

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by SuW

Here's a neat boat. Much more of a pocket liveaboard than the others:

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/thu...-25/1427159332

On a trailer. Yanmar diesel. You'd need a crane or lift to launch it, but still...

4,300lbs just the boat, dry

OP would need a bigger truck

And shallow keel might be tippy in a North Atlantic storm?

But yes looks like a great deal for someone!

[SuW]

Originally Posted by hamburking

Haven't been to see a single boat yet...the weather has just been lousy...

lol...and you call yourself a sailor! But you're right, we've only managed 3 days of work on our boat so far.

Originally Posted by hamburking

I'm hoping to get something 32-35 feet with shallow draft (for the islands).

Bayfield 29 or 32, obviously
Or there's an overpriced Niagara 35 on kijiji:
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/bel...des/1426284769
Might be worth a lowball offer.

[SuW]

Originally Posted by john61ct

4,300lbs just the boat, dry
OP would need a bigger truck
And shallow keel might be tippy in a North Atlantic storm?
But yes looks like a great deal for someone!

On this subject there's an article in Practical Sailor magazine that our OP might find worthwhile (although 5 types are listed):
https://www.practical-sailor.com/iss...s_12575-1.html