First Sailboat

[Radial4.7]

Planning to buy my first sailboat. I have zero experience. I will teach myself and sail solo in Cape Cod and close by beaches. Middle-aged guy here. 150lb, 5'7". Need to work out more though.

My short list:
Laser Radial
Weta Trimaran
Hobie Wave

Any comments? Big Mistake? Better ideas?

 

[Xeon]

Best advice . If you can, do a sailing course first, however basic.

It will speed up your learning curve no end and save you no end of pain and frustration. 😀

There is nothing the matter with teaching yourself ( I went that way myself ) but you tend to learn bad habits that hinder your sailing latter on . It took me decades to unlearn some of mine .

Re boats , if you don’t mind hiking you cannot go wrong with a radial but it will be tippier than the other boats you mentioned.

Ps what ever you decide and what every boat you choose, make sure you can get it upright after a capsize before you do anything risky on open water .

 

[TBW]

If you are considering a Weta you could probably add Windrider 16 to your list too. Good beach boats.

Waves are fun boats.

 

[Alan Crawford]

Compared to the Laser Radial, the Weta will be very stable. Very different boats. The Laser Radial will provide much faster "feedback" on your mistakes than the Weta. Both are good boats. Based on having owned a Weta, if you have a place to keep the boat assembled and ready to sail, it's a great choice (along with an "easy" beach to launch from as the boat weighs more than a Laser) but if you have to assemble / disassemble each time you want to go sailing, that can be a detriment (some will say no big deal but not me). You could also add an Aero to your list. Much lighter than a Laser so much easier to maneuver on the beach.

 

[tillerman]

Compared to the Laser Radial, the Weta will be very stable. Very different boats. The Laser Radial will provide much faster "feedback" on your mistakes than the Weta. Both are good boats. Based on having owned a Weta, if you have a place to keep the boat assembled and ready to sail, it's a great choice (along with an "easy" beach to launch from as the boat weighs more than a Laser) but if you have to assemble / disassemble each time you want to go sailing, that can be a detriment (some will say no big deal but not me). You could also add an Aero to your list. Much lighter than a Laser so much easier to maneuver on the beach.

The Aero is lighter than a Laser (and more fun.) But do practice your capsize recoveries in safe waters before venturing too far in the Aero on your own.

 

[Radial4.7]

By the way, I haven't moved to Cape Cod yet. I don't know much about the waters of New England shores. Do you folks think I'll be safe to learn in the ocean there? My disadvantage, I believe, is that I'll singlehand.

Also, I was leaning more toward the Wave option as I wish to be able to master A-Cat one day; I thought it could be a good start to get my feet wet on that path.

At the moment, all is a blurry vision in my head which has been inspired from what I've been watching here and there. As you guys possibly have figured out, the boats I contemplate about are quite different from each other. One day, I envy the A-Cat sailors, the next day, I tell myself to hop on a Laser, the thousands couldn't have all gone wrong learning the ropes. And then there is Weta. Too many options out there. I believe Sunfishes and Waves can be rented at some beaches of Cape Cod. I think I might rent a Sunfish as a start and then a Wave for an hour or so - before I buy anything.

I've checked the RS Areo out, looks fantastic in the photos, modern design and definately cartoppable - With my size, I assume 7 would be a balanced option. I've always had a weak spot for modern, newer and faster. However, something like a Sunfish might be a good very first boat perhaps, prior to getting on a ultra modern fast design. I think I'll go through this cycle of thoughts until the day I make the purchase. Let's hope I will be at a reasonable phase of that cycle when the time comes. A lot to figure out, including some sailing appearel for cold weather.

So, what else boats might I be missing from my short list for the purpose? Should I also check out a couple of keel designs?

Thanks for all the answers. I learned a lot. I'll practice my capsize recoveries in safe waters as a first thing and possibly take a brief sailing course not to progress into some bad habits.

PS: I'm very interested in your comments. My responds require a moderator approval as I am a new member, so I tried to respond them all in this comment. Rocket seems like a great upgrade to Sunfish. It's way lighter, so it seems easier to the little sedan I drive when cartopped. About the water inside the internal flotation foam issue in the old Sunfishes, I think there might a solution. If I am not mistaken - read about the process somewhere years ago - by cutting two holes and drying the interior out with vents after sealing the cracks and leaks could eliminate the big portion of the problem. Then some caps should be installed to close the holes. Although, I am not so sure if I am eager to deal with that. I'll look for already installed caps in case I go with a used one - if the fix I recall is not an urban myth. Do the new Sunfishes still come with those foams? I wonder if the modern techniques used in the Rocket benefit from a similar type of foam solution inside the hull. Windrider 16 was an interesting one, possibly a lot of dry fun at a windy lake setting.

 

[feralcomp]

Start with a cheap sunfish; this time of year you can find them for <$500. Excellent simple to rig boat, simple to sail initially, easy to right...

 

[Bill5]

If there was a dictionary entry for first sailboat, Sunfish would definitely be top 3.

 

[UniformWhiskey]

Start with a cheap sunfish; this time of year you can find them for <$500. Excellent simple to rig boat, simple to sail initially, easy to right...

As stated above the Sunfish is dead simple to learn and is a plenty fun for a new sailor.

One word of caution, when looking at a used Sunfish make sure you go over the hull for damage and try lifting it up by the bow handle. It should be ~120lbs/54 kg, however, if it gets water inside the internal flotation foam can absorb it and the boat can then weigh up to 300lbs/136kgs. Sails, lines, foils, etc can all be replaced but from what I understand you can't easily get a soggy hull back to fighting weight even if you try drying it out. An overweight Sunfish will still sail, but will be an absolute PITA trying to move ashore. I solo carry an aluminum rowboat up and down to the lake every year and its a piece of cake compared to moving an overweight Sunfish 10 feet.

Alternatively if you are interested in a Sunfish and looking to buy new I would check out out the Fulcrum Speedworks Rocket, its pretty much an updated Sunfish. I've ordered one for myself for next season.

Cheers,
-John

 

[Radial4.7]

My short list becomes,

Laser
Weta
Wave
Sunfish
Rocket
Areo

 

[Dillon Waltner]

My advice is not to get hung up on particular models or rigging types. Find a boat you can afford and can transport easily enough to go sailing as often as possible and then go sailing. If you can find a local racing fleet, volunteer to crew. The principles of sailing a Sunfish are the same on a Laser or a catamaran or a sloop or even a blue water cruiser, it's just the equipment that varies. Spend a year sailing as much as you can and you will be armed with most of the information you need to look for the boat (or boats) you really want long term.

 

[sunseeker]

My short list becomes,

Laser
Weta
Wave
Sunfish
Rocket
Areo

All those boats certain advantages, but you absolutely can not go wrong with a Rocket. If you don’t like it, or grow out of it, you’ll have no problem selling it for very close to what you bought it for.

 

[munt]

Every boat on the list is a decent learning tool. Each has its goods and bads. Simplest are Rocket and Wave, both good learning tools, both fun at more advanced levels too. Wetas are great. Aero is kinda like a Weta but without any of the Weta advantages. Laser has some bad habits but there sure are lots of great sailors on em. Just pick any of the above, sail the living shit out of it, keeping in mind that in a few years you will evolve and so will your taste in boats. The main thing is how much time you spend sailing, that's really the only relevant criteria.

 

[tillerman]

Every boat on the list is a decent learning tool. Each has its goods and bads. Simplest are Rocket and Wave, both good learning tools, both fun at more advanced levels too. Wetas are great. Aero is kinda like a Weta but without any of the Weta advantages. Laser has some bad habits but there sure are lots of great sailors on em. Just pick any of the above, sail the living shit out of it, keeping in mind that in a few years you will evolve and so will your taste in boats. The main thing is how much time you spend sailing, that's really the only relevant criteria.

What? In what way is an Aero like a Weta? Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking the Weta. I haven't sailed a Weta but we (Aeros) did share a course with the Wetas at the Gorge in 2015 so I have seen the Weta up close. It looked like a very interesting boat but surely nothing like an Aero.

 

[Bill5]

They both have a mast

 

[Steam Flyer]

What? In what way is an Aero like a Weta? Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking the Weta. I haven't sailed a Weta but we (Aeros) did share a course with the Wetas at the Gorge in 2015 so I have seen the Weta up close. It looked like a very interesting boat but surely nothing like an Aero.

They have very largely the same vocabulary, equipment, and "go" using the same basic principles.
From a beginner standpoint, the biggest difference is that the Weta doesn't heel and you might get away with not needing to practice capsize drills.

 

[Xeon]

They have very largely the same vocabulary, equipment, and "go" using the same basic principles.
From a beginner standpoint, the biggest difference is that the Weta doesn't heel and you might get away with not needing to practice capsize drills.

It could be argued that it’s more important to practice capsize drill with a boat like weta than a boat like a sunfish/Laser/Aero .

 

[Bill5]

Yeesh

 

[tillerman]

Yeesh

Yeah. I saw that before. I think that whole process would be enough to put me off buying a Weta. But they do look like fun.

 

[munt]

What I find similar, strangely enough, is that the Aero is basically a Weta without amas and the Weta is an Aero with amas. Interestingly, when powered up downwind the Weta amas aren't doing much so then it really is like an Aero. I also feel like both boats appeal to a similar person; mature, with lots of experience who still enjoys performance and can move around well-enough so that technique and cunning makes a fast, responsive boat very fun. You can race either in good fleets or you can just go out and charge. Btw, in my opinion you have to try pretty hard to flip a Weta whereas the Aero is made to flip but also much easier to right. Both are wet and both are fun as hell. Sailing is fun as hell. I would also contend that a decent 2500 dollar beach cat will smoke Wetas and eat Aeros for breakfast, probably less wet and you can buy 3 or 4 of em for the price of a used Aero or Weta. But one thing is for certain:
ruminating about which boat is perfect and never buying one and sailing the shit out of it is a horrible lifestyle choice.