Can a boat be too big ?

[Kelpie]

 

[Achillesheel]

SWMBO's answer to the original (now thirteen year old?!) question is a simple but firm "Yes"

We sail an Achilles 24, but chartered a 36 footer when several friends said they'd like to come and sail. SWMBO didn't enjoy parking it!

 

[Bobc]

Hi,

Being practical then surely the limitation on size is very much based on what you and your regular crew can handle with ease in normal conditions.

If you need the help of powered winches, electric windlasses, power steering and so forth then the boat is probably too big.

So on that basis, mine is about right then.

It's usually just me and SWMBO on board, not power winches, bow thruster, etc. So I assume that qualifies...

That's good news, I feel so much better now.

 

[chinita]

Arise, Zombie Thread, you live and breathe again.........

 

[l'escargot]

I think attitudes change with time as well. 13 years ago I would have said 30 foot was big enough. Now I would say 38 foot is big enough.

 

[chinita]

My attitude seems to be diametrically opposed to the norm.

13 years ago I would have not entertained a tiddler of 38ft. 46ft was right for me.

Now, 13 years wiser, poorer and greyer, even 25ft 3in seems more than enough.

 

[Eyore]

Similar to myself Chinita, steadily "progressed from a Folkboat up to 38ft. Some 25 years later, poorer and wiser I am more than happy with 28ft.

 

[GrahamM376]

Yes and no. My Centaur (weekend boat when working) was much easier to single hand than the 376 at 38ft so I was more likely to make a spot decision and go out for an hour or three. OTOH, the 38ft boat is more work to single hand but, it's far better for living aboard 9/12 and unfortunately we have more junk to tidy up before going out so tend not to go for short day sails.

Whether a boat is too big or too small depends on what you want to do with it at any particular time. Centaur was more fun but the bigger boat is more suited to present life style. Living on the Centaur for extended periods certainly wouldn't be fun for me.

 

[sighmoon]

I had a lot of fun in a 19' Hurley for the odd weekend, but for a couple of weeks with the wife, 3 kids, and the associated stowage, 38' is about right now. The boat being bigger means we use it differently, of course.

For me, 38' is as big as I'm likely to go. I can get the sails on and off on my own, and lift the anchor manually.

Can you tell me what you mean by a "traditional" Cornish harbour? I've lived here for nigh on 40 years and I thought our harbours to be no different from anybody else's, and I've parked a 72 foot (+ 14 foot of bowsprit) gaff schooner in most of them!

Well done, you.

SWMBO's answer to the original (now thirteen year old?!) question is a simple but firm "Yes"

We sail an Achilles 24, but chartered a 36 footer when several friends said they'd like to come and sail. SWMBO didn't enjoy parking it!

The first couple of times it's daunting, but I don't find parking 38' any harder than parking 27'.

 

[Amulet]

I find Amulet too small in the sailing season and too big in the winter.

 

[Dave-Shafa]

I had a lot of fun in a 19' Hurley.

Anything larger than a 18' Valiant is asking for trouble.

 

[Searush]

There is a 33' boat in my home port that has not left the dock without getting into trouble under the current owner. It seems that he has now no confidence in sailing it & is happy to use it as a holiday home, so yes it is quite possible for a boat to be too big for a given owner.

 

[rotrax]

OK, I admit it; I'm another one.

We packed up the bikes to go sailing........................

 

[Lakesailor]

Is a 13 year-old resurrected thread a record?

 

[ganter]

Any fool can steer the biggest ship on earth.

It's where you take it that counts.

 

[doris]

Any fool can steer the biggest ship on earth.

It's where you take it that counts.

Tell that to Captain Schettino

 

[ganter]

Tell that to Captain Schettino

Indeed, dragged back onboard today wasn't he.

I think he probably realises that now.

 

[Robert Wilson]

My ''Sea Witch'' is a 30 year old Barbican 33.She is berthed at Camaret sur mer and I sail single handed. I sometimes think I will change her for something a little bigger and faster but then I watch the bigger boats arriving and see the panic amongst some of the crews when tying up. I think of the extra berthing costs and of trying to find a visitor berth during peak season. No thanks 10m is the perfect size for me. She will go anywhere I want in any weather I want to sail in. And she is easy and cheap to maintain. If I had to change her I might even go for something a little smaller.

Forgive the drift, please

"Sea Witch" - that's interesting. I had a boat in St. Mawes called Zeeheks (Van d S, I think. About 30Ft. Grey cells failing). Apparently her name translated to "Sea Witch". Great boat, raced round the cans very well, and very forgiving.

As for the OP, my Javelin30 is perfect for me to single-hand and I've had some very lively sailing in her. I often wonder if I did happen to scoop the jackpot if a Rustler42 (my fantasy) would be just too big for s/h sailing.

 

[Tranona]

Forgive the drift, please

"Sea Witch" - that's interesting. I had a boat in St. Mawes called Zeeheks (Van d S, I think. About 30Ft. Grey cells failing). Apparently her name translated to "Sea Witch". Great boat, raced round the cans very well, and very forgiving.

As it was in Cornwall it should have been "Wramor" - old Cornish for witch of the sea. my Seawych was called that as my MiL who financed part of it lived in Penzance.

More thread drift, but as I built it in 1976/7 it predates this thread so has senior rights.

 

[chinita]

Is a 13 year-old resurrected thread a record?

Resurrected. Really?