Your 27 - 32 ft story...

[Fullbore]

28’ Pearson Triton. Sweet boat. Sailed 6 years around Apostle Islands in Lake Superior, starting in 1986.

(Now, ~30 years later, ready to close on 2004 Beneteau 323, mainly for day sailing in Corpus Christi Bay (Texas) and in Gulf of Mexico.)

[Lexi22]

Originally Posted by Don C L

some good, some bad ok, just kidding
add Cape Dory 27 and 28 in there with the 30s

nope, not adding those boats.

[Lexi22]

Originally Posted by Don C L

add Cape Dor...

don't tell me what to do.

[Lexi22]

Originally Posted by Don C L

some good, some bad ok, just kidding
add Cape Dory 27 and 28 in there with the 30s

Just kidding too ; of course, I'll add those two to the list...
Allied Seawind Mk II ketch 32, Bayfield 32 / 29, Bodega 30, Bristol 27, Cal 28, Caliber 28, Cape Dory 31 / 28 / 27, Cape George 31, Catalina 30 / 28mkii / 27, C&C 32 / 30 / 27, Cheoy Lee Luders 30, Clipper Marine 30, Contessa 32 / 28 / 27, Columbia 29, Compac 27, Endeavour 32, Ericson 28, Freedom 32, Hullmaster 27, Great Dane 28, Hartley RORC 32, Herreshoff H-28, Hunter 31 / 27, Irwin 27, Islander 32, Island Packet 27, J30, Karmac 30, Kingscruiser 28, Liberty 28, Mariner 28, Mirage 27, Newport 30, Nicholson 32, Nonsuch 30, O'Day 27, Pearson 30, Rawson 30, Sabre 28, Shipman 28, Tartan 27-2, Trintella 1A, US 27, Vancouver 28 / 27, Watkins 27, Yankee 30...

[PaulSommers]

I have had a Ganley 30 for the past 10 years. Bought the boat in Nova Scotia and sailed down the east coast, out to the Bahamas and back to Florida, and then down into the western Caribbean to Rio Dulce, Guatemala, then to and through the Panama Canal and up to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. All that with 2-5 mo. of cruising over a 4 year period. Many adventures with customs officials and port captains, lots of interesting food in the dozen countries we entered, no problems with security issues.

The rig is a single junk sail with an unstayed mast - really easy to reef and unreef, simple to fix rigging issues (just carry spare line). The hull is steel - always chasing small rust spots, needed a new paint job in Rio Dulce but still looks good 6 years later. With only 30 feet LOA, it is fine for 1 or 2 people; 3 would be a crowd. It is a very comfortable boat at sea, won't win races, but it will get you there.

Both the junk rig and the steel hull make Dragon's Wing an "exotic" cruising boat. But it works. You don't need 40 feet unless you have a family or other crew you want to bring along. You will need a much larger budget with the more typical 40-50 footers I saw in major cruising ports like Shelter Bay. But I met a single hander there, as well as a Danish couple, on boats under 30 feet. They were headed for Polynesia!

[Lexi22]

Originally Posted by PaulSommers

I have had a Ganley 30 for the past 10 years.

A great post, but I couldn't find any info about Ganley 30 online. Would like to share a photo? Probably, most boats on the list on this thread would be hard to find around in cgood condition. Newer Hunter and Catalina boats are more likely to come with less headaches...

[Don C L]

Here is one
https://www.luxuryatch.com/1996-bill...y-snowbird-30/

[Lexi22]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Here is one
https://www.luxuryatch.com/1996-bill...y-snowbird-30/

It's steel... Cool.

[barnakiel]

Our boat is 26.


It is just like any other boat, just on the small side of the spectrum.


I think this size is only marginally good for any extended adventure. Unsafe, unstable, most of the time lacking something (speed, tankage, comfort, etc.).


Then again, there are some benefits too : price, little maintenance, low running costs, lower marina fees, ease of handling in bad weather, access to shallower spots, etc., etc.


On many occasions, we were treated very well by local people in places far away only on the basis of the fact that our boat was "so small". Kind of like having a baby onboard. A door opener.



In retro, I would buy the same boat again without too much thinking.

[scareygary]

I owned and dearly loved a Yankee 30 as well as others on this forum. That boat was a delight to sail, and, in my opinion, was one of the most beautiful designs. Sparkman and Stephens knew their craft and designed a boat that was beautifully balanced, could handle rough weather ( I did one ocean race in up to 40 knots of breeze), and always felt safe. I also owned a newer design by S and S that is sort of a 'big brother', a Tartan 30 which has a foot more beam and, hence, more room. It, too, was a wonderful sailing vessel with fin keel, skeg hung rudder, diesel engine up forward in the cabin where it was easy to work on, yet in the middle of the boat where one wants weight. I'd recommend either. I've downsized to a 26' Albin 7.9 meter these days since I've become aged...but bought it specifically because of the fin keel, skeg hung rudder and engine placement that served me so well on the previous boats mentioned. The current boat is quite slow by comparison; both the Yankee and Tartan get up and go for a 30 footer.....;I'd recommend either....