Okay - as much as I hate reviving old posts (and as much as you guys probably hate to see old posts revived), I felt that this was the most appropriate and recent post that showed that I used the search criteria before just asking a stupid question...
I have been looking at 26S boats as you all know...and several of the people have talked to me about a sea trial.
I keep thinking to myself - "I know what boat I want, what's the point?" I am mechanically-inclined enough to be able to see some of the issues, know enough about fiberglass to catch major issues, etc. It isn't like I'm wondering if I want this or a different design...it's "do I want the 26S that's behind door #1 or door #3?".
And I was going to ask if I REALLY REALLY needed to do a sea trial in a boat that isn't "new"***, is well-proven with thousands having been made (not like a boat that they made 50 or 60 of and each one is different than the next one I'll see...), and a boat which has...well...fewer "big" items that can be wrong with it (small engine, one mast, bitty cabin, etc.).
***I am looking at boats that are 16-18 years old and I realize that...they aren't going to be perfect, and I'm not really shopping for "perfect"... So I just wonder how much I'm going to learn about a particular boat on a sea trial...whatd'ya think?