Brightwork
Well-Known Member
62', 33 Tons displacement.
How big are you
- Thread starter jac
- Start date
GODOT
Well-Known Member
247' 740T
Seajet
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Right, no boasting at all then, and is she really YOUR boat GODOT ?
No responsiveness to the helm either...
Slow_boat
Well-Known Member
Started on dinghies aged 10yrs, slowly went bigger on other peoples and the services boats. My own boats were 9ft, 12ft, 14ft, 16ft, 20ft, 26ft, 29ft then33ft. Can't see me going bigger as I'm pretty much single handed with a willing but not very agile wife and 33ft is ample for two, particularly parking the beast.
I understand that people do go on a dazed kipper course then buy a 36 footer because that's what they want and can (or could) get a loan rather than save and work up to it. I think times are changing.
Seajet
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Slow_Boat,
I gained my ' apprenticeship ' being taught by a veteran of the Murmansk Convoys; Charlie must have only dreamed he would one day have his own leisure yacht & dinghy, he certainly earned it.
I did a few sailing courses at Cobnor via my school, ending up as an instructor, later did a night school on RYA Nav' level 2 and would have been happy to leave it at that, but when taking voluntary redundancy from BAe I found they would fund Yachtmaster Offshore so I grabbed the chance, very glad I did.
First boat was a 10' gunter rigged Caricraft bought with pocket money, then the first thing I ever bought with wages was a lovely Scorpion dinghy.
I gained my ' apprenticeship ' being taught by a veteran of the Murmansk Convoys; Charlie must have only dreamed he would one day have his own leisure yacht & dinghy, he certainly earned it.
I did a few sailing courses at Cobnor via my school, ending up as an instructor, later did a night school on RYA Nav' level 2 and would have been happy to leave it at that, but when taking voluntary redundancy from BAe I found they would fund Yachtmaster Offshore so I grabbed the chance, very glad I did.
First boat was a 10' gunter rigged Caricraft bought with pocket money, then the first thing I ever bought with wages was a lovely Scorpion dinghy.
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Seajet
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Slow Boat,
to add, I think I may buy shares in or start making Mirror dinghies again !
to add, I think I may buy shares in or start making Mirror dinghies again !
Brightwork
Well-Known Member
Seajet, I don't really understand where your coming from in all this - are you saying that you would prefer a situation where yachts over (say) 35' didn't exist?
Seajet
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Brightwork,
sorry if I didn't make myself clear.
I happen to think heavy 35' boats are a pain to handle - and less rewarding on the helm - than smaller boats, and their size and inertia is unnecessarry for the average husband and wife crew.
I have sailed boats of this size and larger around the Solent and cross- Channel and remain at the conclusion something around 22-24' is best for a guy & girl to handle.
sorry if I didn't make myself clear.
I happen to think heavy 35' boats are a pain to handle - and less rewarding on the helm - than smaller boats, and their size and inertia is unnecessarry for the average husband and wife crew.
I have sailed boats of this size and larger around the Solent and cross- Channel and remain at the conclusion something around 22-24' is best for a guy & girl to handle.
Brightwork
Well-Known Member
If that suits you then absolutely no problem! I happen to prefer boats that 'carry their way' - it makes for a much more comfortable ride imho. But isn't there plenty of room for both? - it would be a sad day if we were all driving around in a tiny choice of boats all at 22-24'. Why not celebrate the diversity?
KenMcCulloch
Well-Known Member
What is needed to make real sense of the implied question is a survey of the actual size (rather than predetermined bands of size) of boats people sail, then we could see what the various averages, mean, mode etc and standard deviation were. I agree with the posters who comment that LOA is only part of the story, at just under 38' or 11.43m to be precise we have somewhat less internal volume than more modern boats around the 36' mark. Particularly evident when you look for somewhere to stow fenders.
Seajet
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Brightwork,
I do indeed ' celebrate the diversity ', I sail on any different boat I get the chance on !
So had a very enjoyable cross-Channel on a ferro 35 footer, and one of my best ever experiences was on a Falmouth Working Boat.
I'm saying a 22' or so is best as a sensible purchase for bloke & girlfriend, man & wife, so as to have fun & not go bankrupt in the process.
This size also happens to be responsive and fun to sail, unlike the inertia of a 35' + tank.
FurryWritingDesk
Active Member
46 foot. But the marina charges us for 15.5 metres. But we are 40 foot and spare change LOA, although the bowsprit isn't coming off without an angle grinder. And we quite like having the dinghy on davits so that's another few feet. Sum total - about 46 feet, but who's counting?
Bosun Higgs
N/A
started on dinghies like most people and my first big boat was 26ft. After that I had a 33ft prout,then a 34 ft moody and now a 35 ft starlight. The next boat will be smaller and back to bilge keels _ I would like something that doesnt put any mental pressure on me to use it. There are so many possible toys and so little time to try them all. And swmbo wants to travel.
Seajet
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Bosun Higgs,
I feel sorry for you if the smallest you've sailed is 26 feet long; no dinghies then ?
When I win the lottery my first stop will be for a Salcombe Yawl, second a Foiler Moth ( and a good drysuit ! ) then maybe a Rustler 44 for blue water work, but the Anderson will be flagship for South Coast sailing.
A chum and I have an Osprey dinghy, you may be amazed by the fun and responsiveness, she's also very stable; if you're around Hayling Island some time give me a PM.
bitbaltic
Well-Known Member
Apologies John that's also quite correct.
It isn't my poll though, I think it is Jac's thread. I just found it interesting, that's all.
Brightwork
Well-Known Member
Out of interest, what size boat did Mike and Pete test you on? Back in the old days when I was instructing with them, the smallest boat they ran was a Yamaha 33 IIRC. The biggest was a Gibsea 37' which I used to use. Presumably an A22 is under the limit for the YM exam?
Seajet
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At my club most boats are under 30', though we tend to travel long distances...
Unlike the Vancouvers and Southerlies from Itchenor who sit around making loud noises while posing !
Unlike the Vancouvers and Southerlies from Itchenor who sit around making loud noises while posing !
Seajet
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Brightwork,
correct; I did a 1 week refresher course in the Yamaha 33 ( great sailing boat but basic interior which was fine by me ) then the exam in a Gib Sea 42 which was an OK sailing boat - we beated into a F10 back to Warsash - but I wouldn't buy one, might go for the Yam 33 as its' performance in heavy weather reminded me of the A22.
Phoenix of Hamble
Well-Known Member
That's fair enough, but clearly a lot of people don't agree with you..... and FWIW, I think that you are ignoring many factors, such as safety well offshore in foul weather. If you really claim that a 22'er is as good as a 35'+ in those conditions, then I would seriously question your seamanship!
PS, calling a 35+ a tank is a bit rude.... how would you like it if I described your Andersen 22 as a floating coke can?
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Seajet
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Phoenix,
I understand what your're saying and am sorry if I came over as rude; but a lot of people here seem to think they are superior just by having boats longer than 22 feet, without realising I have had larger boats and have been sailing since 1970.
I call a 35' boat heavy to handle due to the inertia involved; I can get my 22' boat with lift keel and great rudder authority into spaces a 35 footer would think impossible but still wake up in the morning upright and cook a full breakfast !
I understand what your're saying and am sorry if I came over as rude; but a lot of people here seem to think they are superior just by having boats longer than 22 feet, without realising I have had larger boats and have been sailing since 1970.
I call a 35' boat heavy to handle due to the inertia involved; I can get my 22' boat with lift keel and great rudder authority into spaces a 35 footer would think impossible but still wake up in the morning upright and cook a full breakfast !
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