Looking for my next boat

[Cajun Sailor]

Looking for input on my next boat, Here's my criteria.

LOA 20'-24'

Draft less than 4'9"

Crew no more than 3 required to race, one of which could be a novice

Don't have to be a tremendous athlete to race/No traps or extreme hiking

Skipper/owner with only a couple of years experience helming

To be used for Wednesday nights Avg. breeze 8-13, no chop

The occasional local weekend regatta, perhaps travel from time to time.

Some bay racing with 2-3' chop. breeze 10-15

Considering Far East 23R, Melges 20 Pros and cons of each?

Any other boats that should be in the hunt

 

[NextExit]

You're going to get different biases from people owning different boats eg., I would suggest you take a good look at a Viper 640 but take a sail on all of the boats that you are considering. You should also consider what type of help you might get from other owners and the Class Association, if there is one. I went through a similar process 4 years ago and took a road trip to SoCal to sail on a couple of the boats that made my short list and after careful consideration about the boat itself and the support from the Class/other owners that the Viper was the way to go even though I was the first one in Vancouver. That was my experience and yours might be different depending on where you are located.

 

[[email protected]]

Great boats you have on your radar. Check also:

NAU220 Hornet - Trailerable lifting keel pocket-racer with simple cabin

- web: http://www.nauticboat.hu/boat.php?id=15

- YouTube:


- FB: https://www.facebook.com/Nautic-Boat-Kft-174606542553186/?fref=ts (not so active page...)

Reacher780 - Brand new trailerable lifting keel cruiser/racer that accommodates four with an optional toilet and galley.

- web: http://www.reacher780.com/

- FB: https://www.facebook.com/reacher780/

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7vBckShI5kp2EMt6uNavyQ

Code8 - Carbon racer available in three variants; Racer, Cruiser (lifting keel) and Match

- web: http://www.codeyachts.eu/

- FB: https://www.facebook.com/codeyachts/

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfHvZDhfvgdCnjOvlNEHYwA

Drop me a PM and I can give more information about prices and shipment overseas.

 

[U20guy2]

What region are you in? I've never been a big Jboat fan but the J/70 is basically designed for your exact target audience. And are not rare hard to find boats.

The U20 is the original and still very relevant option to consider. Keel down they will all be over 5ft. But keel up most are 2ft or less.

 

[Cajun Sailor]

Texas, Galveston Bay

 

[j_boll]

I would look at look at the vx one, viper 640, or Melges 24. There will be some one design fleet starts for those boat around Texas. I'm personally biased to the Melges 24. There are 4 in Corpus Christi, 5 or 6 active in Dallas, a fleet in New Orleans, and should be 1 or 2 by you. Since you posted on the sports boat forum I will assume the Jboats are not what you are looking for but there are good J24 and j22 fleets in Texas.

 

[port tack]

I agree completely with ^ that guy.

 

[xonk1]

Save yourself some mental gymnastics - just buy what everybody else races. Remember that to race you have to have boats to race against.

 

[Vgree]

Good fleet of VX ones in your general area. We are looking to grow the fleet down in the Houston area!

It doesn't meet all your requirements but it is a fun boat!

 

[Cajun Sailor]

Isn't the Melges 24 a four man boat? and pretty technical?

VX 1 might be a little more dinghy like than I want

Any thoughts on M20

 

[j_boll]

I have never sailed the M20 but it was my understanding the the rig tuning was a lot more technical than the M24. The M24 is not any more technical than a M20. In under 12 you can easily get away sailing 3 up in PHRF and it is still manageable up to 15 or 16 but the boat is better with 4-5 people. We do really well in Corpus phrf and we have more wind and chop than Galveston. Don't let anyone tell you some bullshit about gut busting hiking on the M24, in phrf you can get away with just leg out hiking with the crew against the life line especially if you sail above class weight (not hard to do with 5 people). I would just expand my crew list. If not I would look at the viper 640. It is useful to sail one design because there is a lot of tuning and boat handling knowledge already out there.

 

[Geezer47]

If you are looking for great one-design racing on Galveston Bay...the J/22 Fleet is your best option. Fleet 6 is strong and experiencing great growth at the current time. At least 4 great local sailors have moved into the Fleet this year. Tons of fun on the Wed night races and there are plenty of major Regattas on the Bay. The SW District has Circuit Races around Tx, Ok, & La. The top of the fleet helps coach new skippers and crew. Everyone shares knowledge and more than willing to share a beer. They have a website: www.j22fleet6texas.com

I realize that the J/22 is not a genuine sport boat and does not have a sprit; but you can have a great time racing them. In my book, having a great time is more important than if I'm sailing 5.9 knots or 6.5 knots.

 

[StumbleNola]

No question the Viper 640. I actually prefer the VX as a boat, but your in the GYA. Every club in the GYA is in the process of buying Vipers for Capdeville and inter club racing, meaning in the next few years there is going to be a massive explosion of Viper racing in the area. We are actually already seeing it happen here, with I think five Vipers showing up in New Orleans in the last six months.

The M20 is stupid expensive, requires pros to do well, and isn't a terribly good boat. It's like an overpriced J70 for people with even bigger budgets.

 

[svein99]

Looking for input on my next boat, Here's my criteria.

LOA 20'-24'

Draft less than 4'9"

Crew no more than 3 required to race, one of which could be a novice

Don't have to be a tremendous athlete to race/No traps or extreme hiking

Skipper/owner with only a couple of years experience helming

To be used for Wednesday nights Avg. breeze 8-13, no chop

The occasional local weekend regatta, perhaps travel from time to time.

Some bay racing with 2-3' chop. breeze 10-15

Considering Far East 23R, Melges 20 Pros and cons of each?

Any other boats that should be in the hunt

Based on your criteria, I think the Far East fits the bill better than most of the others mentioned. A new entrant in the market is the Seascape 24. It meets your criteria and more except draft, but the swing keel allows you to beach it! In true Seascape tradition it excels in interior space while being very fast reaching without requiring extreme crew skills or numbers. First 24 expected for Newport and Annapolis fall shows.

 

[Christian]

If you are looking for great one-design racing on Galveston Bay...the J/22 Fleet is your best option. Fleet 6 is strong and experiencing great growth at the current time. At least 4 great local sailors have moved into the Fleet this year. Tons of fun on the Wed night races and there are plenty of major Regattas on the Bay. The SW District has Circuit Races around Tx, Ok, & La. The top of the fleet helps coach new skippers and crew. Everyone shares knowledge and more than willing to share a beer. They have a website: www.j22fleet6texas.com

I realize that the J/22 is not a genuine in any way a sport boat and does not have a sprit; but you can have a great time racing them against other NON-sportboats. In my book, having a great time is more important than if I'm sailing 5.9 knots or 6.5 knots.

Fixed it for you

 

[Christian]

Looking for input on my next boat, Here's my criteria.

LOA 20'-24'

Draft less than 4'9"

Crew no more than 3 required to race, one of which could be a novice

Don't have to be a tremendous athlete to race/No traps or extreme hiking

Skipper/owner with only a couple of years experience helming

To be used for Wednesday nights Avg. breeze 8-13, no chop

The occasional local weekend regatta, perhaps travel from time to time.

Some bay racing with 2-3' chop. breeze 10-15

Considering Far East 23R, Melges 20 Pros and cons of each?

Any other boats that should be in the hunt

Based on your criteria, I think the Far East fits the bill better than most of the others mentioned. A new entrant in the market is the Seascape 24. It meets your criteria and more except draft, but the swing keel allows you to beach it! In true Seascape tradition it excels in interior space while being very fast reaching without requiring extreme crew skills or numbers. First 24 expected for Newport and Annapolis fall shows.

Except that there are already an established mass of Vipers, Vx's and M24 within striking distance. I would also venture that the boats you mention are more mini cruisers than sportboats - if sportboat racing is the goal there is NO need to haul unnecessary furniture around the race course

 

[Kristian Seascape]

in your case, i would say an used Melges 24 to be a clear favourite. Plus you have other M24 sailing around...

 

[Varan]

in your case, i would say an used Melges 24 to be a clear favourite. Plus you have other M24 sailing around...

+1

 

[Cajun Sailor]

M24 and J70 on my short list but don't both have to be raced 4 up?