Newbie

[skipperr100]

Recently joined your fourm, seems to be a lot of fun. I have a 25' O'day, looking at a 50' Hellbender/Mikelson. Anyone know any thing aobut this vessel. thanks

[captain58sailin]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry no information on that vessel.

[Pblais]

Recently joined your fourm, seems to be a lot of fun. I have a 25' O'day,

My we are stepping up in a very big way. Have you dated other boats? You can find a lot of great information here and i hope you can find what you really need.

By the numbers a a late 1980's boat in a 50 ft @ $11000.00 is going to cost that much more to get really ready and happy. The price of getting aboat up to ready from a 25 ft ODay is way more than you are ready for. If you need to get a boat and start a trip it's not going to happen in under 2 years given I've never seen the boat.

Having gone from a 33 ft boat to a 36 ft boat I can tell you you are in need of a serious check book. I would order a new box of checks before you buy it.
Rather than going to a huge boat you'll do BEST with the "smallest big boat" you can afford.

[Unicorn Dreams]

Welcome Aboard Cruisers Forum

[James Baines]

Welcome;


I have to agree with Paul Blais, that's a fairly big leap unless you and / or your sailing buddies are already used to 50 footers. I sometimes take out an elderly one off “Whitbread Cup” 50' racing cruiser and I can assure you that it's not an easy boat to handle solo.


On the engine, without a bow thruster, the thing handles like a giraffe on roller skates and mooring on the pontoon in any kind of breeze is an adventure to say the least. It makes my own 40 footer seem well behaved so based on my experience, unless you are already expert on boats of that size, I would strongly advise you to spend some time crewing on one before you spend your money...James

[swagman]

Hi,
Another welcome and another warning about going too big. Even with a couple of competent people as crew it's borderline comfortable (ie to handle and to pay for) if you aim to cruise her. It's no fun if a strong wind holds you pinned to a hammerhead and you've forced to stay over as opposed to moving on.
Especially when (at least EU side) most marina berths are charged at length x width meaning a 50 footer could well cost 4 times what a 25 footer does.....
Good luck with your plans
JOHN

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here.
kind regards,