Advice on a 28 to 30 FT Sailboat for 2 hour Tours

[hlev00]

I don't think the boat will have to be inspected if 6 or fewer passengers. You will fall into the OUPV license and I think your license is above the OUPV. Check with the USCG office for your area.

Whether your qualify for OUPV or not, if you take someone as crew that is not licensed, they actually count as a passenger. At least that is my recollection from my exam.


Harry

[joelhemington]

Originally Posted by Captain Graham

I am looking to purchase a 28 to 30 foot Sailboat for doing 2 hour sunset cruises.

I am looking at 3 older sailboats
1. 1977 Pearson 28-1
2. 1972 Ericson 29
3. 1975 C&C 30

All are about the same price and in similar condition.

The features I want are
1. Room for 4-6 passengers in 0-15 mph winds
2. Roomy foredeck for seating.
3. Stiff in 0-15 MPH winds
4. Easy to single hand
5. Main sheet traveler out of the way.
6. Easy to walk forward (wide deck and no rigging in the way.)
7. Good balance so I can leave the helm and help the passengers.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

I'd get the one that had wheel steering as you'll need to keep an eye on anyone up front which can be difficult with a tiller and six people on board. If it's got roller furling, then about the only thing you'd need crew for is running the blender (cocktails are usually mandatory on sunset cruises - I've been on many but never one I paid for) Aside from bartender duties the crew's only responsibility would be making sure the main dropped in the stack pack - it's always embarrassing having your main flopping all over the cockpit , launching and docking and keeping the fore deck clear while tacking as this is supposed to be a round trip. Make sure it's got a reliable engine.

[Don C L]

Yes, you didn't mention if any had wheels. I haven't sailed them but a guy a couple boats down has the Pearson and I have a friend who had an Ericson years ago. They love their boats, but that doesn't make me any kind of an expert! I think they are all probably fine for the job; I'd probably be looking at the roomiest, beamiest and the one with the wheel, most comfortable cockpit and maybe the highest boom too, just because comfort for 6 folks on a short sail is the priority.

[Captain Graham]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Yes, you didn't mention if any had wheels. I haven't sailed them but a guy a couple boats down has the Pearson and I have a friend who had an Ericson years ago. They love their boats, but that doesn't make me any kind of an expert! I think they are all probably fine for the job; I'd probably be looking at the roomiest, beamiest and the one with the wheel, most comfortable cockpit and maybe the highest boom too, just because comfort for 6 folks on a short sail is the priority.

Thank you for your post.
I agree I will be looking for
1. Roomiest Cockpit
2. Comfortable Cockpit
3. Boom that is out of the way.
4. Main Sheet Traveler that is out of the way.
Generally getting a boat that is best for the passengers.

I would not assume that wheel or tiller steering will give me these features.
It will depend on where the wheel or tiller is located.

Here is a video showing how tiller steering is better.
I am sure there are also examples where wheel steering is better.
It depends on the boat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNyZEihrZ1I

[Spindrift NH]

Purely from the point of maximizing cockpit seating, a wheel allows people to sit behind the helm while a tillers swing takes up that valuable seating space.

[Captain Graham]

Originally Posted by Captain Graham

I am looking to purchase a 28 to 30 foot Sailboat for doing 2 hour sunset cruises.

I am looking at 3 older sailboats
1. 1977 Pearson 28-1
2. 1972 Ericson 29
3. 1975 C&C 30

All are about the same price and in similar condition.

The features I want are
1. Room for 4-6 passengers in 0-15 mph winds
2. Roomy foredeck for seating.
3. Stiff in 0-15 MPH winds
4. Easy to single hand
5. Thanks in advance for any advice.

I just visited the Pearson 28-1 with a tiller.
The cockpit can hold 4 passengers forward of the tiller swing.
The tiller hinges up so the Captain can move it up for moving from side to side.
The mainsheet is on the cabin top out of the way.
There are clear side decks for moving forward.

So I think the boat fits my needs.

I still need to look at a few other boats before I make a decision.

[Don C L]

And jib sheets? Can you tack that Pearson without telling someone to move? One more thing you may want to consider.

[Captain Graham]

Just got a 32 ft slip at my marina. (2,200 for the season)
So now I just need to get the sailboat.

The Person 28-1 is looking good but I may wait until next year before I purchase anything.

[Captain Graham]

Still looking for a sailboat that will fit my needs.

So far the Catalina 30 with wheel steering looks like a good option.

[Spindrift NH]

As I’m sure you’ve already found, there’s lots of info about the Catalina 30’s On cruisers forum and sailboat owners. Partway through the ‘87’s the cockpit design changed to the T-cockpit allowing easier movement around the wheel which is nice when there’re passengers aboard. I had an ‘88 that I owned for 3 years and sold it for the same price as I paid for it. I really liked the boat but we decided to move to a warmer climate and buy something more appropriate for a livaboard.
As I said earlier, my buddy has been doing 2 hour tours with his for about 5 years. He’s been very successful often running 3 tours/day. Here in Charleston he runs all year.

[Captain Graham]

Originally Posted by Spindrift NH

As I’m sure you’ve already found, there’s lots of info about the Catalina 30’s On cruisers forum and sailboat owners. Partway through the ‘87’s the cockpit design changed to the T-cockpit allowing easier movement around the wheel which is nice when there’re passengers aboard. I had an ‘88 that I owned for 3 years and sold it for the same price as I paid for it. I really liked the boat but we decided to move to a warmer climate and buy something more appropriate for a livaboard.
As I said earlier, my buddy has been doing 2 hour tours with his for about 5 years. He’s been very successful often running 3 tours/day. Here in Charleston he runs all year.

Thanks for the info.

I did a web search and found the following list of sailboats and number of passengers.

https://charlestonsail.com/
We arrange tours from the following selection of Sail Boats according to group size and availability:
25ft Catalina 250, 4 passenger
27ft Albin Vega, 4 passenger
28ft Precision, 5 passenger
30 ft Catalina, 6 passenger
34 ft Beneteau, 6 passenger
34ft Tartan 3400, 6 passenger
44 ft Sloop, 6 passenger

[Uricanejack]

Hi

I used to teach sailing on C&C 30 and Catalina 30.
Of the two similar vintage the C&C were nicer.
Usual no of students was 4.
The course was day sailing on English Bay.
Both will do the job.

The C&C was ideal I probably was on later model the Late 70s early 8Os C&C 30.

The C&C stood up better to sailing school abuse.

I would suggest a dodger or spray hood for a bit of protection.
The ones I taught on were wheel steering.

Today I have a mid 80 C&C 35 mk 3

[Adelie]

Here in San Diego, on Mission Bay there is a Cal 25 that has set up benches on the bow and regularly is giving cruises. The advantage of the 25 is the raised cabin that provides a flat foredeck.
Other options for boats like this are:
Cal 28,
Columbia Defender 29
Islander 30
Islander 33

[Captain Graham]

Originally Posted by Adelie

Here in San Diego, on Mission Bay there is a Cal 25 that has set up benches on the bow and regularly is giving cruises. The advantage of the 25 is the raised cabin that provides a flat foredeck.
Other options for boats like this are:
Cal 28,
Columbia Defender 29
Islander 30
Islander 33

I am looking at doing the same with a few of these.
The back folds down.