Small boats that sail well ?

[Seajet]

Well re. mast compression load snags I can only report from the boats I was alongside; if it hadn't been so striking I wouldn't remember it but I certainly would think it was a coincidence to see a range of boats from the same builder with the same snag together like that ( it was at Bucklers Hard say 1988ish ).

As the OP mentioned only occasional overnighting maybe a light boat like a Dehler or Red Fox will suit him better, though considering the conditions one often has to punch into to go anywhere at all from Chichester I'm not so sure.

I have found the majority of people who say 'might stop over the odd night' actually end up cruising, at least to an extent, either because they have to stay overnight or longer when going anywhere, or hopefully because they find they enjoy it...

I've done 3 week cruises around the Channel Isles & West Country with 3 adults aboard, and weekends with 4, and while I'm sure either of the boats mentioned will be considerably faster say F3 or less, I'd fancy my chances going into something stronger.

Please do not think I am having a go, both the others are fine boats and each boat mentioned in this whole thread offers individual strengths and weaknesses - our discussion as owners is the info the OP requires !

 

[Little Rascal]

Missed so far are ...the Hunter Europa 19 ...

I'm pretty chuffed with mine ... but she's a fin.

One of these might do ya nicely though:

 

[PWR]

Jag 22 with lifting keel, very good to sail, tad uncomfortable for the overnights though

If going bigger, I have a Sadler 25 bilge keel that feels like a much bigger boat, solid as a rock.

 

[Signed Out]

No Minis or Micros?

OK, Sonata got a brief credit, but what about other Mini-tonners and Micros? But are widely available cheaply, and will probably sail better than most mentioned here. (Is a Ruffian a Mini? or too big?).

Minis are all about 22', and Micros 18'. And for the price of a Fox you could buy 4 or more in a reasonable state.

Eboats, Limbos, Evo 22/Glass Onions, etc for Minis.

Gems, Puppeteers, Junos, etc. for Micros.

If less room is OK, how about a Hunter Formula 1?

And Coplands are nice- Harrier 20, Fox Terrier 22 (very like Medina 20 and Sonata).

 

[Bosun Higgs]

I invite your recommendations for us for modestly-priced boats that sail well, particularly to windward.

.

You always were going to get a list of any boat under 25 ft and I think you have. Its a truism that every little tub that floats has its own band of enthusiasts.

 

[ostell]

Just sold my Westerly 21 to a couple who took it from Chichester to Falmouth, taking Monday to Friday to do it. Been in touch with them since and they have been more than happy with the boat and said that,even in a blow, they feel safe and secure.

If you're not too tall standing headroom and 4 berth (well 3 1/2) and usually all the usual offices.

 

[shaunksb]

Here's a Dutch 22 being driven fairly hard, probably a tad oversailed, but he has got four on board and two on the rail. Seems to be going OK, but i'd have put one reef in the main and rolled the genny a touch..given age and infirmity etc...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09Ht2z1WFjI&feature=related


Tim

I like the look of that.

I'm currently restoring a Juno and having sailed her a few times before stripping her down can confirm they sail well and can be trailed/sailed/launched by one person.

 

[Little Rascal]

You always were going to get a list of any boat under 25 ft and I think you have. Its a truism that every little tub that floats has its own band of enthusiasts.

Funny, that!

The length is to be up to about 22 feet.

 

[Burnham Bob]

another boat to add to the list is a halcyon 23. my first boat and great for the kind of sailing you have in mind.

mine was a fin but they did make a bilge keeler although i'm not sure about the ability to windward.

due to engine faiure i pushed mine along with a 4hp outboard for one season although the inboard yanmar 1GM10 i installed later was ideal.

as a previous poster said, you'll get a list of small boats from their fans. that's what i am and apart from a sluggishnesss in light airs iwas delighted with my 23.

going rate around 3-4k

 

[Fantasie 19]

I'm pretty chuffed with mine ... but she's a fin.

One of these might do ya nicely though:

Honest question - what stops it from tipping forward or aft when dried out, or does it???

 

[Fantasie 19]

You always were going to get a list of any boat under 25 ft and I think you have. Its a truism that every little tub that floats has its own band of enthusiasts.

Not necessarily* - I love my boat more than most - and at 19' fits the bill - but based on the OP's question I wouldn't recommend her... I know her limits..

* but it is looking that way..

 

[Ubergeekian]

Honest question - what stops it from tipping forward or aft when dried out, or does it???

Maybe that's what broke the rudder off and snapped the anchor chain?

 

[Fantasie 19]

Maybe that's what broke the rudder off and snapped the anchor chain?

Well worth recommending then..

 

[Little Rascal]

Honest question - what stops it from tipping forward or aft when dried out, or does it???

Not sure! Asked myself that question! As I said, this is not my boat... The rudder has been removed, I suppose for that reason.

My fin keeler lets me muck about in the cockpit when it's on the trailer where only the keel is supported directly... I have plans to try drying out alongside at some point... but very cautiously, with lots of warps!

How does it work for the Andersons, Andy?

 

[Fantasie 19]

Not sure! Asked myself that question! As I said, this is not my boat... The rudder has been removed, I suppose for that reason.

My fin keeler lets me muck about in the cockpit when it's on the trailer where only the keel is supported directly... I have plans to try drying out alongside at some point... but very cautiously, with lots of warps!

How does it work for the Andersons, Andy?

I can only assume the rudder provides support - I'm a fairly "chunky" chap - I'd be worried about moving too far forward...

The Anderson keel goes quite a way up into the hull only leaving only a smallish bulb underneath - so the one's near me (inlcuding Seajet's) mostly lay over on their sides at not too dramatic an angle....

Anyway - apologies for the thread drift...

 

[Seajet]

The Anderson's ballast bulb usually sinks into soft mud, so she settles upright;

If one is aboard it's possible to trim the boat by body weight sitting in the right place and make sure she settles upright. On hard stuff - which I avoid like the plague anyway - she'd heel at 20 degrees unless using legs, which I would say should only be used when someone is around, ie not leaving the boat to use legs on a hard sand mooring.

The A22 keel bulb is veed on top so as to fair in with the hull when raised; this seems to avoid the snags with small stones and mud which other lift keelers get.

I have long had the impression this shape to the bulb has an 'end plate' effect keeping flow over the keel.

Also the keel is not a flat plate as some people seem to think, it's rounded at the leading edge and the aft third is tapered to a narrow trailing edge.

Then again anyone who's settled on hard sand in any boat will know it's VERY cruel on a boat, too much so in my view.

 

[Seajet]

Jag'22;

I do have to say something about this one; I have seen two lift keel examples where the hull was so weak it had actually sagged down around the keel, or to put it another way the keel had gone up into the hull...Not exactly a star performer in the speed or seaworthiness departments either.

 

[Little Rascal]

Anyway - apologies for the thread drift...

Me too, sorry!

Re-reading the OP: My first choice would be the Anderson 22 - got the performance, seaworthiness and obviously proven to work in Chi Harbour

If not the A22, I would also consider the Hurley 22, Coribee and Halcyon 23, they might not be so quick but they'd certainly take you places...

Don't think your wife would like the Europa's (lack of) accomodation TBH...

 

[Topcat47]

I've tried a Galleon (22) that was kept in a Langstone Harbour mud berth. It was a fin keel and sailed quite well. It also had standing headroom.


Hurleys have a good rep, but I found the 20 & 22 quite cramped. The 24/70 is more my cup of tea. JSASTC had halcyon 27s in the 60's and 70's; excellent wee seaboats but small inside. They tried to replace them with Victoria 28s which was NOT as a success and currently they (JSASTC) have nothing smaller than the 34's (which replaced the Contessa 32s at the same time).

There's a Van de Stadt 22 as well (the name escapes me) that came in bilge and fin versions and sailed rather well. They had standing headroom under part of the coachroof, but SWMBO vetoed it due to it's still being relatively claustrophobic.

The problem is, of course, that they are all long in the tooth now.

 

[Boathook]

Hawk 20 with the cuddy for overnighting?