After small boat sailing and racing - Solings, Sunfish, Windsurfers & Hobie 16s, and wanting to be able to go cruising, I jumped into skippering a Hunter 33, with a tall rig for the sluggish summer winds of New York and Connecticut's Long Island Sound. This was with friends and BAWYK (Before and with young kids). Since the kids flew the nest, I'm starting my 4th season with Imogene Z, a classic bay sailer; 17' Oday 1982.
Imogene Z has new everything except the basics - hull, mast and centerboard. Just needing a used trailer now. I'm musing about converting a Hobie 16 trailer for the Oday. Currently taking my time (or coming up with strategies to take my time and not allowing myself to be completely seduced by lust - you all know about that, eh? ) in choosing a liveaboard boat between 28 and 29.8 feet if I'm really rational or up to 32 if not.
I am spending my free time scouting about, making my list of essentials and contemplating the compromises. Financially, I want to keep the new old boat under 30 feet, because after 30 feet, every foot from foot No 1 is more expensive and I'm still a working woman. Unfortunately or fortunately, there are some real lookers at 32 feet and of course, storage is an issue.
Constantly updating and changing my List of Must haves, Great to Have and what I can just forgetta about.
Also, I don't like just sitting in the slip or at the mooring for days. If the wind is up, I want to go sailing and want a boat that's easy to just fling off the lines.
I would love to test sail a midsize displacement sloop around 30 feet with fractional rig & tiller steering, but haven't found that yet.... looking for practical beauty that exudes magic and is a joy to sail !
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