2 posts
Hi,
I learnt to sail a bit over a year ago and I've fallen for it completely. I'm looking to buy my first. Something under 20ft that can take 2-4 people around Moreton Bay.
The sort of thing we can carry enough stuff to camp overnight on one of the islands.
All of my sailing has been in 40-70ft monohulls, , but I don't have that space or that money, or in my 15ft canoe that I turned into a little sail boat which has about an inch of freeboard. I want something ideally <$2k.
I'm going to try going up to the Sunshine Coast to rent a beach cat to see what they're like, as I was looking at the caper cats with their storage compartment.
Any other suggestions, or know a way I can try out some smaller boats?
Thanks for your help.
NSW
7757 posts
A Corsair would be fine in the smaller size group. Crew of 3 and plenty about for about a grand. Keep an eye out for a Status 19. There are a few about getting down to that price range. Exceptionally good boat to sail. Open flat cockpit ideal for camping and a good load carrier.
2 posts
Thanks for all the responses. I'll definitely check out that Hartley. No idea what is worth, but can't hurt to make an offer.
The wildfire looks amazing, although I doubt I'll be able to find one in Queensland, far less in my price range.
I'll keep an eye out for the corsairs too. They look like good fun. The ones you posted are in Melbourne, but good pictures.
NSW
7757 posts
They are Status 19's in Melbourne for sale. They are on Lake Albert and part of a sailing school. I had a look at them a few years back when I was picking up a sailing dinghy from the club. Well used but they would be a good buy. Windrushes usually sell from about $6000.
194 posts
The problem with a Hartley is that they can and do capsize and swamp in a way that makes them unable to be righted without outside assistance, which may not be good when you're cruising in the middle of Morton Bay without any rescue boat near by.
You want to either get something that is self righting (like most yachts and some trailer sailors) or can be reasonably easily righted and sailed on (like a Corsair)
QLD
197 posts
I guess it depends a bit on what sort of car you have.
The Gem 550 is a nice modern 18 foot t/s with a cabin for the kids to hide in when it gets rough, but they are 8k+.
For my money the venerable Corsair is a great boat for the following reasons:
-Lightweight with respect to towing.
-Low cost.
-Very stable as far as unballasted dinghys go(difficult to capsize, even when trying to).
-Simple, easily managed rig.
-They sail beautifully due to their pedigree.
-They offer a dry ride.
-They have an excellent payload(2 adults 2 children no worries).
-Self bailing cockpit via venturi drain. I never had water in the cockpit once I put new neoprene strips around the centre board case.
-They are fibreglass, so I have no idea how long a Corsair will last.
-There is heaps of storage space under the foredeck for camping gear.
-Really long and comfortable cockpit with moulded seats.
They are getting long in the tooth and I'd love to see a Mark II realeased onto the market, but they are still such a sweet ride. In saying that, I wouldn't sail too far off the shoreline with kids on board. It's 30 km from my local beach at Redcliffe to Tangalooma and I wouldn't do a crossing like that in any unballasted trailer boat with children on board.
On my own I'd do it without hesitation.
