Motion comfort a priority

[kolyo]

Having sold my rather spacy and comfortable 26 ft. long, 10 ft. beam flybridge power cruiser at 77 and having never set foot on a windjammer in my life I am looking for a similar size monohull sailboat for my remaining days at sea. If I am to lure my 74 years old seasickness prone wife with a bad back to join me in this ludicrous adventure I need to offer her as much creature and motion comfort as possible. The intended use is summer day motoring only excursions with the occasional week long trip in the fairly protected bays of Chalkidiki, Greece in no mote than 5 BFT weather. I hope to learn how to sail (sort of) with a jib only and would be quite sufficient until I possibly dare to raise the main one day. Searching for the most suitable brand/type of keel/width in the 8000 to 12000 Euro price range I am in need of advice about the boat that would have the highest roll, pitch and yaw resistance in view of the above mentioned circumstances.

 

[Wansworth]

Double hulled craft?

 

[johnalison]

Double hulled craft?

A cat won’t heel, which some people will prefer, but the lighter boat will have a different motion which may be more unsettling. Other things being equal, a heavier boat will be steadier than a light one but there are other factors to consider. A boat with a fine entry will cut through the water better and a boat with a deep forefoot less likely to slam. You should get a good idea of how a boat will perform just by looking at it, especially out of the water.

 

[ChromeDome]

Sounds like a spacious motorsailer should be considered.

Could use a reefed sail to keep it from rolling when motoring.

 

[Stemar]

I'm inclined to agree that a cat would probably be your best bet if you can find one at that price. It's a gross oversimplification, but sailing boats anywhere near your budget will tend to be either heavy old things with an easy motion, but which sail on their ear, or wide hulled lightweight jobs that tend to sail more upright, but bounce around more. Cats can bounce around in a nasty sea, but they do stay upright. If you can't find a cat, considering your sailing area, would a small version of a Gulet do? Motorsailers, rather than true sailing boats, but that sounds like what you'd be doing anyway, so ChromeDome's suggestion makes sense.

 

[Wansworth]

Hi róndele? Hirondelle

 

[Boathook]

I would think that a 'cat' should do the job. Possible problem is your budget of 8to 12K euros.

 

[Stingo]

Something like this might do, and the current location might be warmer too
Catalac 8m in Montego Bay — Catamaran For Sale By Owner – CatamaranSite

 

[capnsensible]

My top tips.

I guess if you dont know about sailing boats, looking at them out of the water is a bit pointless.

The catamaran idea isn't bad but.....

Small catamarans don't heel much but they can be bouncy with bow lifting up and down.

To sail a yacht, they generally need to have a headsail and mainsail in balance.

You could end up chucking money down the drain. Have you considered an occasional charter in the area you want to be at in benevolent times of year? Ownership can be an unwelcome burden.

All my own opinion.

 

[Adios]

Get a classic narrow heavy 70s style yacht. I've only had older boats and they sit in the water not on it and the water flips them about much less. I was in a lumpy sea recently in a modern Hanse. Light weight, flat bottom. It flys up and down with every movement of the water under it and flips this way and that. Horrible motion to it especially when not moving much, once wind in the sails it was much better but motoring and at anchor forget it. I'd rule out anything with a saildrive as thats an easy way to tell the hull is dish shape

 

[Zing]

Having sold my rather spacy and comfortable 26 ft. long, 10 ft. beam flybridge power cruiser at 77 and having never set foot on a windjammer in my life I am looking for a similar size monohull sailboat for my remaining days at sea. If I am to lure my 74 years old seasickness prone wife with a bad back to join me in this ludicrous adventure I need to offer her as much creature and motion comfort as possible. The intended use is summer day motoring only excursions with the occasional week long trip in the fairly protected bays of Chalkidiki, Greece in no mote than 5 BFT weather. I hope to learn how to sail (sort of) with a jib only and would be quite sufficient until I possibly dare to raise the main one day. Searching for the most suitable brand/type of keel/width in the 8000 to 12000 Euro price range I am in need of advice about the boat that would have the highest roll, pitch and yaw resistance in view of the above mentioned circumstances.

You say you are 77 and have never set foot on a windjammer. It’s physically demanding getting around a heeled sailing boat compared to a motor boat, so I think you really need to see if you and your wife can cope with it and judge if you will be able to cope in your 80s first. A cat sails flatter, but more jerky, so it’s not necessarily better for you. More people seem to go from sail to motor at your age than the other way around because of this.

 

[ChromeDome]

Motorsailers are generally long keeled, non racing boats, nimble and good natured in most conditions. Quite spacious below and cosy interior.

Given your post I believe it would be better to find something near Chalkidiki than far away.

Thus, both imported and local designs may be in play and it really requires visiting and inspecting the boats, which will have been in sun and salt water for several years, possibly maintained by the book. Or not.

 

[mjcoon]

I only once sailed in Chalkidiki, a rare flotilla in August 1984. Many problems; I don't think it was offered again and we never went back!

And I was not sure whether your enquiry was going to turn out to about boat motion or bowel motions. I guess they are related...

 

[doug748]

I don't think it's a great proposition at that price point kolyo. In any case your choice highly likely to be limited to what you can get locally, either that or a dodgy delivery trip on an untried 15 grand boat.

I would look for one of those small Greek fishing boats about 6 - 7 metres and confine myself to afternoons out and fishing. Some have a mast and set modest sail.
At least it is usually easy to get alongside in Greece in order to load the CinC.

 

[kolyo]

Thanks very much to all who responded.

Unfortunately a cat will be too wide for the entrance to my mooring .
I have been told that a bilge keel boat is more roll resistant compared to the other types of keel, the downsides being worse sailing performance and slamming at higher speeds and or in rough open water. Both minuses are irrelevant in my case. I have been attracted to a bilge keel variety of Seamaster 23 (2.3 ton weight) with a fairly recent 2 cylinder Beta 10 hp.

 

[WoodyP]

I would suggest becoming a lake sailor but you don't say where you are.

 

[Blueboatman]

Be sure to report back
I suppose at this price point- if it is to be taken at face value?- it’s not too much invested for the opportunity of further adventures and something new.

And if it doesn’t grab you, so what? Sell on , move on.
For myself , old sailing boats need fettling , fettling takes time . Time is valuable . At 74 x2 , time is doubly valuable …
Rent it first , second , then decide ??

 

[kolyo]

My sailing area is pretty much a lake, the bay between Kassandra and Sidonia in the Aegian. 8 n. miles from shore to shoe at its widest.

 

[Wansworth]

My sailing area is pretty much a lake, the bay between Kassandra and Sidonia in the Aegian. 8 n. miles from shore to shoe at its widest.

As already mentioned a nice wooden fishing craft,a parasol,picnic hamper,……..back for tea

 

[kolyo]

...old sailing boats need fettling , fettling takes time . Time is valuable . At 74 x2 , time is doubly valuable …
Rent it first , second , then decide ??

Been fettling all my life. To stay alive. Why not carry on?