Advantages to have a small boat

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Just the name Bayliner would send me in the direction of the Columbia 23..

Funny part to me is they are the same from the sheerline to the bottom of the keel. Literally made from the same moulds.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Funny part to me is they are the same from the sheerline to the bottom of the keel. Literally made from the same moulds.

And from the sheerline up they totally lost the plot..

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by hamburking

...lets just ask any of the survivors of the Titanic for their opinion...

YES. A contessa 26 is definitely SAFER than the QM2...but a lot less comfortable.

When was the last time a Contessa 26 was on the 11oclock news?

So a contessa hitting a iceberg would survive?

Sent from my vivo Y35 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by daletournier

So a contessa hitting a iceberg would survive?

Sent from my vivo Y35 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

Actually the berg that the titanic hit I would say it.would have stood a better chance than the titanic yes
Factor one was the depth below the waterline of the dammage was deeper than the contestas draft and second the speed at which the.contact was made would likely have pushed the sailboat away due to inertia and tunnage alone

[barnakiel]

Among many other advantages, small boats are AFFORDABLE. This implies a relatively decent sailing boat can be had by nearly anybody today (talking the Western/Westernized World only) and then the sky is the limit.

Looking at all the bigger boats tied to their docks makes the small boat sailor think very deep about the way the world is wired to hold us up, to kill the dream. SAIL! and think of those millions of young people striving to make the rich man even richer while being spoon-fed the dream of sailing the perfect catamaran during their perfect retirement.

So, in a way, small boats are a finger pointed at the moon.

DREAM BIG, sail while you can.

;-)
b.

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Actually the berg that the titanic hit I would say it.would have stood a better chance than the titanic yes
Factor one was the depth below the waterline of the dammage was deeper than the contestas draft and second the speed at which the.contact was made would likely have pushed the sailboat away due to inertia and tunnage alone

Oh come on!! Contessa 26's are built for ice? Look they are great little boats, as are many little boats but the arguments are getting silly.

Few would choose a small boat over a big boat based on speculation that the smaller being safer. Few would chose a small boat over a large boat period, other than funds. I've had small, medium and now large, most that own large (and i mean very large) boats would go back to smaller.

Sent from my vivo Y35 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Among many other advantages, small boats are AFFORDABLE. This implies a relatively decent sailing boat can be had by nearly anybody today (talking the Western/Westernized World only) and then the sky is the limit.

Looking at all the bigger boats tied to their docks makes the small boat sailor think very deep about the way the world is wired to hold us up, to kill the dream. SAIL! and think of those millions of young people striving to make the rich man even richer while being spoon-fed the dream of sailing the perfect catamaran during their perfect retirement.

So, in a way, small boats are a finger pointed at the moon.

DREAM BIG, sail while you can.

;-)
b.

A different finger and pointing comes to mind.

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Among many other advantages, small boats are AFFORDABLE. This implies a relatively decent sailing boat can be had by nearly anybody today (talking the Western/Westernized World only) and then the sky is the limit.

Looking at all the bigger boats tied to their docks makes the small boat sailor think very deep about the way the world is wired to hold us up, to kill the dream. SAIL! and think of those millions of young people striving to make the rich man even richer while being spoon-fed the dream of sailing the perfect catamaran during their perfect retirement.

So, in a way, small boats are a finger pointed at the moon.

DREAM BIG, sail while you can.

;-)
b.

100%, well said. You don't need a big boat to have an incredible adventure.

Sent from my vivo Y35 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by daletournier

Oh come on!! Contessa 26's are built for ice? Look they are great little boats, as are many little boats but the arguments are getting silly.

Few would choose a small boat over a big boat based on speculation that the smaller being safer. Few would chose a small boat over a large boat period, other than funds. I've had small, medium and now large, most that own large (and i mean very large) boats would go back to smaller.

Sent from my vivo Y35 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

I never said they were ice rated I simply said.in that exact situation it may fare better than the titanic. I have been on bigger and I have had.smalle and yes my next boat will be 8 ft longer than my curent one simply because I want stannding head room in the head. The 68 islander 30 is to hard to find so im looking at the 33 whi h is still a morc boat .

[markpierce]

Regardless,, one needs a boat meeting one's needs, such as ceiling height, storage capacity, amenities, and as the list goes on.

[Pendragon35]

Originally Posted by Suijin

Common advice is to buy the smallest boat that fits your needs, for all of the above reasons. People often buy more boat than they need and then are surprised by the costs of maintaining them.

Definitely do this. I have an Alberg 35 now, 35' sloop, long keel. I love her and for what we do, she's great. But I used to have a Catalina 22 and there are days I miss the easiness of an outboard and a little boat that took five minutes from arrival to underway.

Also, small boats let you know when you make a mistake; on big ones, it's less obvious. If you're new, you need the boat's feedback to learn.

Go sailing every chance you get: let people know you're available, there are lots of boats that aren't out because someone's spouse doesn't like sailing and he/she doesn't feel confident about single handling; they would love a crew.

[barnakiel]

C26 is indeed a decent small boat. The design is based on (if not ripped off) a Folkboat design and thus inherits most of the properties: it sails well, it is cramped inside and it rolls downwind like hell. Still, a great choice for one or intimate two, on routes that are not long downwind adventures.

A Scandinavian IF is virtually the same boat and interestingly often priced at a fraction of what C26 askings tend to be. Probably this difference comes from numbers available. Also maybe the engine makes for some of it.

I would pick up an IF for far offshore sailing but a Contessa is probably the better boat for inshore waters and where it gets more windy - a better cruising choice.

There are very many C26-like boats around - in Europe, In the UK and in the States. Fewer in the Med. Many of such designs were the weapon of choice of long range sailors in the 60'ies and 70'ies.

Cheers,
b.

[weavis]

Mod comment:
If your post has been deleted it is because of the language content.

SERIOUSLY.... if you need to use the F words its history....

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by weavis

Mod comment:
If your post has been deleted it is because of the language content.

SERIOUSLY.... if you need to use the F words its history....

There wasn't an F word.

There was an F .........now I have added some letters and altered the sentence

The Contessa 26 is one A-awesome boat!

But the design definitely rolls downwind until it's not FUN anymore!

My boat is of a similar design and when I was bringing it down here for the first time the wind got up a bit out of the NE as I crossed the open water section where the ocean meets the bay.

The boat did great but rolled, and rolled, .........

Not being used to it, I was on the verge of blowing chunk(s)

Anyway here are three good videos of C26's.

The first one is great because it shows you just how well proportioned a C26 is. The other two are of C26's crossing the Atlantic.

In the second, the guy Nick tells it like it is for new sailors the first few days out if you aren't used to it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3pcXWUZ5Pk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r3mno5oo7s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuFK-uzwjRU

[weavis]

What is the accepted definition of a small boat?