Opinions on boats

[hopefulsailor]

I spoke to Captain Smollett on this and I wanted to run it across everyone else. I am planning on purchasing a a boat in about 3 weeks (that's my plan, but no rush), this will be my first boat I have every owned. I have got a list together of boats I plan on looking at. I plan on single handing and staying near the coast at first and living aboard for a while.
This list is it in no order:

1. Bristol 24
2. Cape Dory 25D
3. Albin Vega 27
4. Tartan 27
5. Pearson Ariel 26

Am I missing anything? Is there a good boat out there that I over looked?

[Sooner]

Pearson 27 Renegade

[Captain Smollett]

Am I missing anything? Is there a good boat out there that I over looked?

Yes, but it's a good list.  You have to start somewhere.   ;D

It might help, too, to mention

(a) how many people
(b) cruising plans / destinations for THIS boat

Dana 24 is certainly worth looking at if you see one available, as are several other Pacific Seacraft models in that size range.

[CharlieJ]

Any of those would do just fine. Of course, I'm personally partial to the Ariel. I've ALWAYS liked the way they sail.

Close to my Meridian, just as tad bigger

[hopefulsailor]

Right now I am just planning for myself. Maybe 2 people for extended trips. I want to stay in areas where it is warm and tropical.

[Travelnik]

26' Westerly Centaur, strong enough to cross oceans, and shoal draft. (But then again, I'm rather fond of Westerlys.)  ;D

I'd be looking for one if I was planning to get a bigger boat!  ;)

The Westerly Nomad or W22 are also very strong, with standing headroom for me at 6'. (Mine was also sailed to the US from the UK by the original owner.)

(Sorry, I don't really have much experience with many other makes.)

BTW, a lot of it will depend on your budget. A 20' Flicka, 22' Falmouth Cutter, or Dana 24 would be nice, but they are pretty expensive when you can find them.

[Jim_ME]

Since you have included several 27-footers, I would add the Alberg designed Bristol 27.

I would only rate the Bristol 24 as fair, at 5920 lbs, and with a D/L ratio of 447.18
http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=502

http://offshore-sailor.com/sailboat-design/2-design-factors.html?start=2
"D/L Ratios of around...300 would put us into the medium displacement range; and by the time we get to the 450 mark, things are getting seriously heavy."

If you are going to go to about 6000 lbs of the B24, I would advise going to 6600 lbs of the Alberg Bristol 27 with its D/L of 398.13 (in the more conventional range).
http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=521

I'm also not suggesting that an Bristol 27 will be any better for your purposes than an Ariel 26 (or Meridian 25).

My appreciation of the Albin Vega 27 is growing. It seems to have a similar hull size and interior layout as a B27 or even Triton 28, and a displacement of less than an Ariel 26. This gives it a fairly light D/L of 186.03
http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=549

It doesn't seem like boats with a D/L ratio this low usually do so well, but the Vega seems to be an exception...

"She has earned the reputation as an inexpensive all weather cruiser and an ideal starter boat."
http://bluewaterboats.org/albin-vega-27/

If you should set up a boat for occasional trailering, as a few here have done with their Ariels (even Alberg 30s), the Vega offers a lot of cruise-ability to displacement.

The folks at Blue Water Boats also have favorable reviews of the Bristol 27
http://bluewaterboats.org/bristol-27/
Ariel, Triton, Alberg 30...so no surprises there.

[Seadogdave]

Hi there - A great book I recommend is Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere, by John Vigor.  It has a couple of your boats on your list.  He gives a comprehensive review of 20 boats and it's fun reading.  I have a Catalina 27 (included in the book), but probably a boat most would not be recommending (not built as strongly as others).  But the price was right - free.  Good Luck!

[jotruk]

I like the Hunter 27 I can sail it single handed and it has a lot of room.

One you defiantly want to keep away from is the Bayliner sail boats. I had a 24 footer and it was dang hard to sail even with 2 people. I spent as much time sailing side ways and backwards as I did farward.

[Cyric30]

I will post this as i haven't seen it linked, and im pretty sure you've been told about it or found it on your own but
Atom Voyages has a trove of useful information.

http://atomvoyages.com/planning/good-old-boats-list.html

[Frank]

That IS a wondeful site with a TON of info.  James is a member here as well.

[Captain Smollett]

A great book I recommend is Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere, by John Vigor.

Grog for that recommendation; indeed a great little book.

The thing to remember about that book is that it gives examples of type. 

It's not an exhaustive list...those are not the ONLY 20 boats that would be good at taking your anywhere.  It's a sample to show the kinds of things to look for in a good, small, long distance cruiser.

[hopefulsailor]

I've read that book, that's where most of the boats came from. I have also been looking at atomvoyages website and some of the boats I listed came off there to.
Thanks for all the info guys. Appreciate all the input and advice. 
I'm kinda digg'n the Pearson Renegade 27. Looks like a lot of space and it has a cool name.

[Headcase]

I am most definitely biased, but I love my Bristol 24. There are compromises, there are compromises to any sailboat. I do know that I will fail before she does though.

My personal vibe. When you walk away from the boat. Look over your shoulder without thinking about it and smile. Well dude, you have found the boat for you.

Love. You can learn all the math in the 'Verse, but you take a boat to the sea that you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.   Cptn Malcolm Reynolds

[Travelnik]

Look over your shoulder without thinking about it and smile. Well dude, you have found the boat for you.

That's how I actually saw my boat for the first time. In the late '90s, I was going down the highway to a job, and went past a boat repair shop. As I passed, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a great looking sailboat that was in the process of being restored.

I turned my head so hard, I almost got whiplash! Then I hit the brakes, and backed up along the shoulder to get a better look.

I thought she was the most beautiful boat I'd ever seen (outside of a picture that I saw in a book years ago, of a 32' wooden Uffa Fox designed boat). It was love at first sight. I really wanted her, but I didn't have any money for a boat, or any place to keep one.

Several years later, in 2003, I bought a house. Now, I could look for a boat. Eventually, I did buy that boat, and didn't even recognize her as the same one until the PO showed me some pictures of her during the rebuild.

Some things are just meant to be. (A few years later, she was stolen, and it took 6 years to finally track her down, and get her back again. I still have her, but she will need some TLC now.)

Love. You can learn all the math in the 'Verse, but you take a boat to the sea that you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.   Cptn Malcolm Reynolds

Grog to ya for that! Browncoats Unite!

[Godot]

There's a billion different boats out there that meet your criteria. Close to shore, learn to sail, live aboard for awhile.

Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I'd buy a somewhat older Catalina 27. Tons out there for good prices. Fun to sail. Active fleets. Lots of room for the length. Later, if you like, you can probably sell for about the same as you bought for.

First learn to sail and live on the small space. Learn what you like and don't like, and what kind of a sailor you are going to be. It will take some time to figure out what you like and don't like.

Choose a different model if they are more prevalent in your area. Or get something that is rather cheap (but not too much of a project) that you won't lose your shirt on when it is time to move on. I can almost guarantee your first boat won't be the right boat for you. So don't worry about it. Just get something that is reasonably handy, has enough room for your immediate needs, and won't break the bank. Then go sailing.

[Jim_ME]

I am most definitely biased, but I love my Bristol 24. There are compromises, there are compromises to any sailboat.

I should probably always start with a disclaimer that anyone other than the person who has asked about a potential boat--especially those who already own a boat--should pay no attention to any comments that I might make. My intent was not to criticize anyone's choice of boat that they already have.

I might have been more generous and said that the Bristol 24 is a good boat. I do like the appearance with the nice sheer to the hull, and nicely traditional and proportioned cabin trunk--and especially how roomy the cabin layout with the starboard side dinette with galley opposite to port is.

A few years ago, when I picked up a boat from a boatyard, there was a Bristol 24 that had been abandoned and offered for free, and I thought long and hard about claiming it, but thought that I may have reached my boat limit. I recommended it to a friend of mine, but someone else got it first. Good that it was saved by somebody.

[Headcase]

Didn't figure it was so much a criticism as that you preferred other flavors of ice cream. They make a bunch of different ones for a reason. Be a boring world if we all looked at it the same way.

[hopefulsailor]

I think I have readjusted my list.
1. Albin Vega 27
2. Pearson Triton 28
3. Cape Dory 25D
4. Catalina 27
5. Pearson Ariel 26
Any body know where a good place to find these at? I am limited to the Internet right now until the first of august. Then I am going to go find one and buy it, learn to sail it, and take off. In that order.

[Captain Smollett]

Any body know where a good place to find these at? I am limited to the Internet right now

yachtworld and sailingtexas are two of the most popular boat-for-sale sites.  Don't discount Craigslist.  Folks find good deals on there often, but they tend more to the 'project boat' side of the spectrum in my observation.

Go to the owner's group web sites for each of those models and see what they have listed.  These will likely be in better shape.  Also, join the various sites/mailing lists, as sometimes boats for sale are not posted on the site, but people send out a message that they are selling their boat.  At least that's my observation with the A-30 list.

until the first of august. Then I am going to go find one and buy it, learn to sail it, and take off. In that order.

I know you are excited about getting started, but buying a boat (worth having) can take a while...up to a year or so.  It's my opinion that this step really should not be rushed.  You have to know what you are getting, and it can take a while to find what you want.

Not rushing into a boat can mean a big part of the difference between getting what you want out of your cruise and spending the whole time 'fighting the boat.'