Length: Whaddya Think?

[pokerrick1]

Once I get an idea on where folks sit on length, then there will be one final question.

That wouldn't be "price" would it??

On the length question - - - What Scott said - - - 32' - - - bigger is better

Rick

[Paulieb]

When you say price is not a factor, I assume you are talking purchase price, not upkeep/maintenance, and as long as my Nissan Xterra can tow it, weight is not a big issue.

I would still go with the smaller boat. To me, a bigger boat means more maintenance and more ongoing costs. More tires, brakes, axles to replace/maintain, larger engine to maintain, bigger slip fees, more fuel, larger $$ sails, you get the idea, the list goes on.

I bought an because it was large enough for my family and I to get on the water, but small enough for me to handle on my own as far as sailing and doing the maintenance myself. In my eyes larger just multiples all the complexity and ongoing costs. Larger also says to me more displacment, which says more draft, which means less places I can go.

Paulieb

[Hamin' X]

I think that you need to look at the market segment that you want to penetrate. I don't have the hard figures, but it seems to me that if you are aiming at the trailer sailor market, rather than the sailboat that can be trailered market, you would need to keep it at 28', or under. I believe that that is where the market niche is. When you start getting too big, people will just say, "What the heck, I'll just get a real displacment boat on the used market".

~Rich

[Gazmn]

I Trailered my down to Key Largo, Fl from Metro, NYC area. I have a tandem axle, galvanized trailer & 1500 Chevy diesel pickup with a "check engine" light that Never goes off

I did it by myself & preferred driving at night so I couldn't see this monstrosity swaying behind me


Oh did I mention I drove it back up after a 10" snow storm

What mattered was once I got there - & also once the trip was through the ability to relax in comfort -not the white knuckle drive [ & believe me this is hard for me ]

But in for a trailering penny, in for a pound .
& I don't care how much I pi$$ off my neighbors parking the monstrosity in MY driveway.

Go BIG : 9'W 32'L - or 30' Either is okay. & adds incentive [ Supersized ]
to explain trade UP to wife.

Wish I could buy one - but I have a lot invested in Ms. Ollie & it would have to be one Hull of a deal...

Afterall, I might be living in it after swap

[Gazmn]

Next Please...

[JustSail]

28 feet. I don't really need anything much longer. Also there are limitations on size at my marina which is on an inland lake.

[daydreamerbob]

size matters - 32 for me - assuming everything is functional (practical) as on my BLUE

I am more concerned with comfort for more people - i have a family of 6 you know...

[dutchwinter]

32 ft
because with the factory installed etec my mac measures at 29, and that puts me an a 32 foot slip anyhow. also you could have a real forward berth, and probably a standing shower and real galley. I know that all the hardware and sails would be more spendy, but if you still had the option of trailering, and keeping it at home, it would offset many other costs. Id basically go with the biggest trailerable boat that i could get. the only issue would be at that size, would that eliminate the powering versatility of the mac? don't forget the whole best of both worlds aspect. My boat is moored at the ass end of an inlet. sailing out to the more open area of the sound takes a sailor a good chunk of time, whereas I can be out there much faster. With unpredictable seas, and storms, there's are huge advantages to having a beefy engine. and lets not forget tubing. if a 32 with the full shower in the head, and galley could do all that the MAC does, then Id pay considerably more for the full functionality. and if the wife kicked you out for spending so much, you'd have a place to live.

[Hamin' X]

As Art has discussed in another thread, this boat will not be a powersailor.

~Rich

[Uncle Jim]

Put me down for the bigger is better group.

Seadreamer and I have been talking about a 33footer since seeing the hunters in Annapolis last fall. It might be a couple of years yet. that's about as big as we want to go for the next boat.

Jim

[RocketsCrew]

28 is fine, but beamier would be great. A foot wider on the even and it would satisfy our crew.

[Richard O'Brien]

I was enamored with the 28' KIWI you had Art. It had adequate berth length. a place for dressing with a small hanging locker. Fits in the driveway, but mostly I believe it had seaworthiness, and speed. Bulb keel, on a lifting dagger-board, and a bowsprit with lots of sail if you needed it. The only other boat that caught my attention so much was a trailerable Dehler that ran circles around many of the boats at our marina, and was partially water-ballasted.

Richard

[SkiDeep2001]

No way I want a longer boat. Wider beam would be good but I'm single so room is not an issue.When I went to Sequim 2 weeks ago I took the Washington State ferry out of Edmonds and back from Kingston. When I measured boat on hook to my pickup with 8 1/2 foot camper on with extended hitch I thought it was 43 feet. Ticket guy in Edmonds said yeah looks about right. Fare for 40-50 feet is $72.25 and when I asked is that for both ways he laughed maniacally. One way bud,sorry. So when I come back from Kinston side, the guy in the booth says, ooh, I have to measure you. I said here's my receipt from Edmonds and he charged me 40-50 ft. fare. His response was I gotta do my job and I said no prob, it's 90 degrees out and you just want to get some sun. (he looked like surfer dude) You're right he laughs as he starts walking wheel measure back. He comes back and says 51 feet and that's not counting your motor sticking out, you could always lower it but you're still over 50 feet. Dang, I said, so what's that going to cost me? $86.70 . So he says being the nice guy I am I'll cut you some slack and put you at under 50 and even give you the senior discount, I'm 56. So I paid $69.50. Next time I sail over, I'll throw my golf clubs and mountain bike below deck. Sad part is I used to work at Todd, Lockheed and Marine Power shipyards as a shipfitter in the 70's early 80's and I was off on my measurement by almost 10 feet. DOH Rob

[waternwaves]

well, if we are all dreaming here.
I am going to stick with an X+8

34 ft, 150 hp, 620+ ft of sail. 9 ft beam, 500 gallon ballast.