Calling EricM?

At work the other day I came across a sailboat. Me being me, I thought “Hey! I need a sailboat!” So naturally, I’m now obsessing over sailboats.

The ideal situation would be to find a boat for under $500 that could

1. Handle 2 adults (200lb and 170lb, but hopefully by the summer we’ll be down to 180lb and 165lb)
2. Be stored leaned against a wall in the garage and not take up more than 3 feet of room, and
3. Fit on a modified Harbor Freight trailer—preferably the standard autocross trailer, but realistically speaking I think it would require the folding 4X8 trailer, especially considering that I would like to take this on trips ranging from 4 miles to 400 miles.

What would you guys recommend? From my quick internet searches, it would appear that the Snarks and Sunfishes (and variations thereof) would be the common solution here. Words of advice? Caution? Anything else? FYI, this would be towed by a Miata. The boat would not be launched, it would be picked up and brought to the water by hand. Seeing as the biggest hills I would have to deal with are on-ramps, I don’t think there would be any issues with this.

Also, this just popped into my head:

Judge Schmails said: It's easy to grin, when your ship comes in, and you've got the stock market beat! But the man worth while, is the man who can smile... when his shorts are too tight in the seat!

My first thought was "Mall Rats".

This is a Sunfish. Found on this Cl Listing for $2500
You may see this as a two man boat since one can be on each side. The reality is that both people would have to be on the same side at most all times. The only way this is a two man boat is if one of the "men" is a child.

Where are you located and what body of water would you typically be on?
I will look to see what is popular in your area and see if I can point you in the direction of people currently racing boats on those bodies of water that may need crew.

The cheapest boat is one that someone else owns!

Taken from my profile, here I am racing boats. The city in the distance is downtown Cleveland.

For two people, beach launched, the easiest answer will be Hobie but that will not store in a 3 foot space.

JohnRW1621 wrote: This is a Sunfish. Found on this Cl Listing for $2500 You may see this as a two man boat since one can be on each side. The reality is that both people would have to be on the same side at most all times. The only way this is a two man boat is if one of the "men" is a child. Where are you located and what body of water would you typically be on? I will look to see what is popular in your area and see if I can point you in the direction of people currently racing boats on those bodies of water that may need crew. The cheapest boat is one that someone else owns!

I'd seen that, which is making me rule out the Sunfish (and the Laser as well).

I'm in central Illinois, and would be on sailing on either a reservoir (Lake Evergreen and Lake Bloomington--both of these likely have too much tree cover ) or a nuclear cooling lake (Clinton Lake), as well as in a small cove in [the bay of] Green Bay. As for folks looking for a crew, I'll wait on EricM to weigh in on that one as he is active in this area.

The second adult is my girlfriend, who taught sailing at a kids summer camp, so she knows what she is doing enough to figure it out for us. I'd like it to be something we could do together, but understand it might not be possible to do at the same time in the same boat.

JohnRW1621 wrote: The cheapest boat is one that someone else owns! For two people, beach launched, the easiest answer will be Hobie but that will not store in a 3 foot space.

I'm well aware of "cheap boats"--I've been around them my whole life, but never sailboats, always fishing boats/runabouts.

I've considered the Hobie, but the storage comes as an issue. Still working that one out as I don't want to spend the $100 a month on a storage unit.

Here, this falls right in your budget:
http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/boa/3658685354.html
I know nothing about a Rebel. As most would say, it is likely a typical 4ktsb (4 knot E36 M3 box) a designation given to the run of the mill standard sailboat (which is what you are looking for.)

Even as a small sailboat, this Rebel is 16ft long for just the boat. Add in the additional length of the trailer tongue and mast hanging out the back; this may not fit in a typical one car garage (too long.)

I guess I should also mention I can't move on this until mid-May when I move out of my apartment.

2 is the killer here. My first suggestion would have been a Hobie 16 but , though it would work, it would be a pain to lay it on it's side everytime like that. The other issue is where are you going to put the mast? A Hobie 16 will fit in a 1 car garage no problem, except the mast. The mast is 27' long so clearly it wouldn't.

Sunfish/laser is too small for 2 people.

How about a 420? Do you already have the HF trailer? A lot of these small boats can be car topped.

Enyar wrote: #2 is the killer here. My first suggestion would have been a Hobie 16 but , though it would work, it would be a pain to lay it on it's side everytime like that. The other issue is where are you going to put the mast? A Hobie 16 will fit in a 1 car garage no problem, except the mast. The mast is 27' long so clearly it wouldn't.

Mast is not an issue; that could be stored in the backyard.

Enyar wrote: How about a 420? Do you already have the HF trailer? A lot of these small boats can be car topped.

I do not have a trailer yet, but for car-topped,

mtn wrote: FYI, this would be towed by a Miata. The boat would not be launched, it would be picked up and brought to the water by hand. Seeing as the biggest hills I would have to deal with are on-ramps, I don’t think there would be any issues with this.

I'm not really familiar with what's popular in your area but I think that you would be well suited to a Laser Pico. There are many boats that fit your criteria but I'd recommend looking for a boat that is light weight, easy to set up, easy to sail and easy to maintain.

I'd recommend looking into joining a yacht club in your area. Some (the ones without restraunts and swanky clubhouses) are actually fairly reasonable price wise and offer an entire fleet of boats to their members meaning you don't have to own your own.

Hobbies cats are great boats for heavy wind, but they don't tac for an E36 M3. They handle very differently (much less maneuverable) than single keel boats and don't point as well but can be good fun if you sail on a wide lake or bay with strong winds. Also, some models of the Hobbie cat go through trampolines like an RX-7 goes through oil and they aren't cheap.

I'm not familiar with the Rebel either but a 110lbs. centerboard means you aren't going to be able to carry this thing.

AMF Force 5.

Heck yeah, M-Scow.
How much can the GF carry? 420lb hull weight (dry)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M_Scow

CL asking $970 with trailer

You'll be really hard pressed to find something that meets all your criteria for <$500 and is ready to sail. An El Toro is very small and checks all the boxes, but would be very tight with two people. I've personal experience that it can be done though.

There are many boats that suit everything but price though. I own a C-Lark 14, that I love. It is essentially a 7/8ths scale Thistle.

El Toro:

Mezzanine wrote: You'll be really hard pressed to find something that meets all your criteria for <$500 *and is ready to sail*. An El Toro is very small and checks all the boxes, but would be very tight with two people. I've personal experience that it can be done though. There are many boats that suit everything but price though. I own a C-Lark 14, that I love. It is essentially a 7/8ths scale Thistle.

Price is somewhat flexible, especially if it is something that I could get close to my purchase price back if I find that it is not for me, or that it is for me and I need more.

Rule of thumb is you will own your first boat for 18 months.
In those 18 months you will either find you love it and therefore want more boat or hate it and want no boat.

In my opinion, even more so than cars, boats do not sell anywhere near asking price.

I've done pretty well buying sailboats low and selling high after only a small investment of labor. Without a huge amount of inside knowledge or experience too. If you buy a common boat (like many that have been listed), you should do fine reselling.

This thread, and a canceled appt in my late afternoon schedule, has encouraged me and reminded me that it is Weds and therefore a good night to go tell some lies and drink one dollar beers at the Sailing Club.

JohnRW1621 wrote: This thread, and a canceled appt in my late afternoon schedule, has encouraged me and reminded me that it is Weds and therefore a good night to go tell some lies and drink one dollar beers at the Sailing Club.

You're welcome

In reply to mtn:

I have experience with a sunfish and this spring will sail my 17' O'Day daysailer for the first time. The sunfish is doable for 2 people as a beach sailer to go out for an hour or 2. My wife and I have used a borrowed sunfish on vacation in that manner. This fall I picked up my own sunfish for $50 needing only a few minor hull repairs (no trailer) - it was a deal (not long after, I found the DS) I would think the Rebel or similar 14' would be perfect for what you've described with one exception - I don't know that it could be carried. But if the ramp isn't too steep, I would think a Miata could launch it.

I might be able to help you. I've sent you a PM

Alternatively, you could crew for someone. You can learn a great deal about sailing this way and its free! Just be sure to tell them that you are a novice.

Sunfish, butterfly... M scow... There are lots of answers... all of them slow.

i grew up on butterflys and sunfish at a smaller big lake... I couldn't go back... I just couldn't...

For the size of boat and waterline length/portability you are considering, the boat is going to be nearly useless on anything but a puddle in medium air given the amount of weight you are talking about.. Well... I mean you could have a lot of fun sure... but yeah... Really it won't make a heck of a lot of difference....

For what is is worth the class minimum for H16 racing is 285lbs... My wife and I are about 330lbs, and are right in the zone when the wind kicks up.. a H16 will carry three adults... and sometime we do that when th wind really kicks up just to hold it down... but 285-350lbs or so is really the sweet spot...

Being a cheapskate myself I rescued a hobie 14, found out is really wasn't what my 225bs needed... but I had a ton of fun..... Sailed it about 6 months before i bought a 16, and I am hooked.. and to be honest... It really now eats into the car habit..

Instead of finding a boat you can store I would find a local yacht/sailing club and find a place to store MORE boat than you are asking about ready to go. My H16 spends the summer with the mast up just yards from the water, ready to go. It really took me some time to figure this out as the price of entry seemed a little high... It wasn't in my case.. With the boat ready to go I get MUCH more time on the and it isn't such a 'hassle' to blast out to the lake. And with my beach wheels... I can ride a bike, or drive whatever I want to and from the lake....

And nonsense about the tramps, and whatnot... Old boats sure.. after 30 yrs they might need a replacement, Ok... and sure we don't point as high as a monoslow boat.. We don't need to... We go faster. Even on a windward/leeward course outrunning a Thistle is absolutely no problem... (portmouth ratings are close but that has not been our experience.. Only the very slowest of our hobie fleet can be caught by the best of the local thistles) Oh.. but you can't tack at every whim because the inherent stability and light weight of the design means tacking takes practice... Ok.. So when playing on the lake... do you want to tack all day... Or haul ass....

I would encourage you to find a local Hobie Fleet and try it out... Most if not all hobie sailors are VERY welcoming kind of people and would be more than happy to take you out to fly a hull... in fact.. Whenever I travel.. i always hit up the local hobie fleet and very rarely don't find a ride.. it really is a fun group of people.... Besides.. more often than not there is always someone looking for another victim... eerrr uuuhhh I mean crew... yeah.. that's it... crew..

http://www.hcana.hobieclass.com/default.asp?Page=9578&MenuID=ABOUT__|/c10817/3027/

My youtube channel...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCWsDQBb_oc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRFp7N0lrlk

There is also a Hobie forum... Just post up there that you want to try out a 16...

http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/index.php

Someone will get you on the water..

I have nearly spent my whole life on the water... This is the most fun I have had..

A hobie will be the fastest you can go for your buck, but doesn't meet your trailer or storage criteria. I would look for a sabot/el toro to meet all your requirements.

I really need to go get my Dad's hobie 16. It looks just like the one in the picture, but with blue hulls.

fritzsch wrote: I might be able to help you. I've sent you a PM

I did not get it. Try me on cicenet?