Couples Boat - 4 years later ...

RHough · Jan 1, 2015

December 1, 2010 I started a thread with this:

I'm starting to look at boats that old guys sail.

Here is a basic SOR:
Easy to sail singlehanded or double handed
light air ability a high priority, a boat that would be sailing (not drifting about) for an evening sail in 2-8 knots of breeze.
hard to capsize in under 16-18 knots of breeze
Sipping wine and relaxing in comfort.
relatively dry I like wild but not wet and wild
I'd race the boat for fun in evening beercan races so it cannot be dull
No spinnaker required to sail off the wind but optional for the wild side.
No head required
No sleeping accommodations required
Enough cockpit space so another couple could join us
Trailerable from Canada to Mexico and back every year.
Boat and trailer absolutely less than 2500#

Boats like a Laser II are too cramped (we have one)
A Daysailer might work but still tippy in a breeze
A J80 would work but too big to think about hauling 5000 miles a year.

I'm thinking something like a Cross 18 trimaran that could use a beach cat rig but I'm starting the thread here in case there is a mono that might be god fit and I don't want to limit the choices to multi's.

The Hobbies with rack/seats are not appealing, crawling from hull to hull does not work for the romantic evening cruise requirement.

A Corsair Sprint 750 is close, but a bit big and at the upper weight limit. As much as I like the Buc 24 it is too much boat for what I need.

The gentleman's day sailers I've seen are too big and heavy.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

I have a boat ... a Hobie Getaway ... (OMG) Turns out that if you sail in warm water being wet is just fine and moving on the tramp is not the issue I thought it would be. Wench even likes the spinnaker! Simple ... easy to sail ... forgiving ... and the price is right. The new boat, wings, a single trapeze and a spinnaker kit is as pimped out as a Getaway can be. Towing weight is 500# +/- and the best deal was, "Why tow it? Lets get one for Canada and leave this one in Mexico."

I think the Cross 18 or the W-17 tris would be as good or better, but you can't call the dealer and have one delivered in 3 weeks. The 1000 hours and near equal cost of materials are time spent making waves not making sawdust.

Happy New Year!

Richard Woods · Jan 1, 2015

Great to know you are having fun in a boat!

The wing seats make a huge difference to comfort on a beach cat, imagine you in that photo without them!

Best wishes for 2015 from south Baja, where I am also sailing a small multihull off the beach.

Richard Woods

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