Started with dinghy; What’s next...

C

centex

New Member
i bought a used (and old) laser late last year, as my first sail boat. I took ASA 101 last year also.

In March I bought a sunfish since the kids were (still are) home from college for an extended summer.

im kinda wanting something that can have myself and 3 others (and still be solo’d.

I keep my laser and sunfish at the lake for easy trolley launching or on board slip on water. I really like the ease of access.

I’m interested in pondering logical next steps. With Covid it’s kind of hard to test ride.

J22 Crosses my mind for reasonable cost, and they seem popular. but I really don’t know if I’ll dig a keelboat on a lake or not.

Ive always liked the look of hobie cats, but the rigging and launching looks slow. Honestly I work a lot and like to sail after work, so time matters.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

thanks,
Barry
 
I've often debated the same myself, but haven't made the plunge, so to speak... and am still just sailing on my Sunfish. All 3 I list below are quite a bit smaller than a J22... but I was mainly looking for a sailboat bigger than a Sunfish that can take 2 or 3 extra adults, but still be solo sailed if I wanted to.

So the couple I've looked at and found them all pretty appealing are as follows:

RS Quest: RS Quest Sailboat –the best-seller for training or family sailing

Topaz Argo: Topaz & Topper Sailboats - Argo

Melges 15: Melges 15 | Melges

cheers,
tag
 
Your choices look solid. I really want a small step up in size, but dinghys can be stored on dock, and keel boats in slips. Anything in between requires a trailer and a ramp. I’m lazy.... to your point, a smaller boat is certainly an appropriate step.
Thanks for the thoughts
 
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I have similar thoughts going through my head, including looking at the J/22. Another boat of similar size but designed to be singlehanded friendly is the Harbor 20 but they are expensive. A Daysailer might be a good option but I haven't seen one on the water. Lastly, if you're not concerned about performance, you could look at a catboat in the 15-20 foot range. Plenty of room for guests and only a main sail, but I hear they don't point well at at a recent pursuit race were all handicapped as slower than a Laser.
 
Those are good options presented by Tag... I'm partial to the Melges line, I like their designs, but I imagine they're pricey, I never got so far as to ask how much they cost. Too busy fixing an old beat-up Laser & Minifish... but from what I've seen firsthand in terms of performance, I like boats built by the Melges Family (or design team). However, I suspect my destiny is to always buy the best deal on Craigslist, LOL. :confused:

Meh, no worries, any boat is better than no boat at all... and one can still find good deals on performance craft. :rolleyes:
 
Thanks for the thoughts. I really don’t want to trailer, I think that means big enough to keep in wet slip. Or small enough to launch from trolly. I think the later is tough since I want to be able to take a couple of others people with me (hence wanting bigger than sunfish or laser)

thanks for the advice
 
tag said:
I've often debated the same myself, but haven't made the plunge, so to speak... and am still just sailing on my Sunfish. All 3 I list below are quite a bit smaller than a J22... but I was mainly looking for a sailboat bigger than a Sunfish that can take 2 or 3 extra adults, but still be solo sailed if I wanted to.

So the couple I've looked at and found them all pretty appealing are as follows:

RS Quest: RS Quest Sailboat –the best-seller for training or family sailing

Topaz Argo: Topaz & Topper Sailboats - Argo

Melges 15: Melges 15 | Melges

cheers,
tag
Click to expand...
I've been looking online for my first new boat since finally saying goodbye to a much-loved 1967 Chrysler Lone Star 13. These were the same three boats that caught my eye, with Argo and Quest the leading contenders. Does anybody have any experience with them? I don't want to be capsizing, but want to have fun and these look like really fun boats. Too fun for an older sailor?
 
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One of my main constraints is I don’t want to trailer a boat. It needs to be small enough for trolly launch, or big enough to keep in wet slip. And still be able to pack in 3 Adults (4 would be nice), and still be sailed solo.
I really want a mono hull, but one of the plastic hull Hobie may be my best option given my limiting criteria.
 
I asked a small sailboat dealer his thoughts about comparing these 3 sailboats (note he sells the Melges 15), and he responded with this:
However, since they [RS Quest and Topaz Argo] are rotomolded, they can’t be favorably compared to the M15.
Comfort, speed, responsiveness, finish quality, stiffness, looks all go hands down to the M15. No offense to the Argo or Quest - both great boats.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I'd know the difference in hull construction when I was out sailing it, but a racer might care more?

I made a quick and simple spreadsheet to compare these 3 based on what spec's I could find online:

m15 rs quest argo comparison.JPG
 
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