If you want to convince a hesitant wifey of the joy of sailing, buy a keelboat. The principal exception would be a Nolex 30, for which you'll need to buy a tank to tow it, and good luck rigging and storing it. If you want to scratch the sailing itch, buy an inexpensive sailing dinghy.
I could not agree more with everything you said. I loved my trailer sailer and actually still miss it greatly especially the shallow water ability of a raising keel. However the seaworthiness of a keelboat is hard to beat, but it still takes me over an hour to button up the boat before I leave it.
Hi Graeme, Thanks Graeme! As another convert, I was keen to hear your thoughts. My boat can take longer to pack up (putting covers on etc.) but I can, and have, walked off it in 15 minutes. I miss my old Boomerang 20 though. Lots and lots of fun.
Dinghy sailer kept at a lake on a trailer with the mast still up. So I can sail on the lake easy. If I want to travel to a different place once in a while it is not so big a deal.
Thanks for watching! Definitely horses for courses. I think the rise in the popularity of dinghy cruising is because of the ease of movement that you mention. Thanks for joining the discussion!
I nearly went down that path and got talked out of it by experienced yachties. Just too much stuffing around before and after along with no where to store the trailer the need to update to a car type I do not like! Very happy staying in the middle with the good ol Cavalier 28.
A little off topic, but how do you find the cabin layout of the Northshore now that you've lived with it for a while? It looks like a far superior layout compared to "traditional" designs with the head forward and 7/8 of the cabin dedicated to the saloon. My son crews on a 38, but he's spent no time below other than to retrieve fenders, sails etc. I often find myself dreaming of the 33, although now that you've brought the 340 to my attention...? Thanks for the content.
A question about a 340 is never off topic! Overall I find the open-plan layout far preferable to having several tiny, claustrophobic cabins. Having the head amidships makes sense as it's in the 'working' area of the boat opposite the galley and quite seperate from the relaxing area. It also puts it in an area with full head height so you're not cramped over when showering. It's also handy when single handing as when nature calls, you don't have to go all the way forward. The layout is clever in that you still get seperate and distinct areas of the boat without the need for partitions or enclosed bulkheads. If you are thinking of getting a 330/340, I recommend the 340 as it has far superior fittings and use of space than the 330. I also recommend that you look for a 340 like mine with the companionway in the centre. The last of the Mk1s or the Mk2s have this and it's a much better design than the stb side companionway design. I'm always happy to talk about the boat so if you have any more questions please feel free to post them here or at elleraysailingadventures@gmail.com All the best and thanks a million for watching. Tony.
@@sailingelleray Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm quite sure that as the owner of a vessel like that you are more than happy to converse! You have confirmed what I believed to be the case. I'm not in the market for a yacht, as I just can't justify it at present, although I've got several people encouraging me to throw caution to the wind. Surprisingly, this includes my wife. Is she trying to tell me something? There's a particularly well cared for example in Newcastle advertised at present. It is the starboard side companionway version, however. These yachts tick so many boxes for a coastal cruiser/bay racer that it's hard to think of a yacht that competes. Once again, thanks for your reply.
If you want to convince a hesitant wifey of the joy of sailing, buy a keelboat. The principal exception would be a Nolex 30, for which you'll need to buy a tank to tow it, and good luck rigging and storing it. If you want to scratch the sailing itch, buy an inexpensive sailing dinghy.
Yes, yes and yes! Selling the idea of a porta potti to a pre-teen girl is also never easy...
I could not agree more with everything you said. I loved my trailer sailer and actually still miss it greatly especially the shallow water ability of a raising keel. However the seaworthiness of a keelboat is hard to beat, but it still takes me over an hour to button up the boat before I leave it.
Hi Graeme, Thanks Graeme! As another convert, I was keen to hear your thoughts. My boat can take longer to pack up (putting covers on etc.) but I can, and have, walked off it in 15 minutes. I miss my old Boomerang 20 though. Lots and lots of fun.
Dinghy sailer kept at a lake on a trailer with the mast still up. So I can sail on the lake easy. If I want to travel to a different place once in a while it is not so big a deal.
Thanks for watching! Definitely horses for courses. I think the rise in the popularity of dinghy cruising is because of the ease of movement that you mention. Thanks for joining the discussion!
I nearly went down that path and got talked out of it by experienced yachties. Just too much stuffing around before and after along with no where to store the trailer the need to update to a car type I do not like! Very happy staying in the middle with the good ol Cavalier 28.
Yes the before and after was a huge hassle. I've never regretted going to the keel boat.
A little off topic, but how do you find the cabin layout of the Northshore now that you've lived with it for a while? It looks like a far superior layout compared to "traditional" designs with the head forward and 7/8 of the cabin dedicated to the saloon. My son crews on a 38, but he's spent no time below other than to retrieve fenders, sails etc. I often find myself dreaming of the 33, although now that you've brought the 340 to my attention...? Thanks for the content.
A question about a 340 is never off topic! Overall I find the open-plan layout far preferable to having several tiny, claustrophobic cabins. Having the head amidships makes sense as it's in the 'working' area of the boat opposite the galley and quite seperate from the relaxing area. It also puts it in an area with full head height so you're not cramped over when showering. It's also handy when single handing as when nature calls, you don't have to go all the way forward.
The layout is clever in that you still get seperate and distinct areas of the boat without the need for partitions or enclosed bulkheads. If you are thinking of getting a 330/340, I recommend the 340 as it has far superior fittings and use of space than the 330. I also recommend that you look for a 340 like mine with the companionway in the centre. The last of the Mk1s or the Mk2s have this and it's a much better design than the stb side companionway design.
I'm always happy to talk about the boat so if you have any more questions please feel free to post them here or at elleraysailingadventures@gmail.com
All the best and thanks a million for watching. Tony.
@@sailingelleray Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm quite sure that as the owner of a vessel like that you are more than happy to converse!
You have confirmed what I believed to be the case.
I'm not in the market for a yacht, as I just can't justify it at present, although I've got several people encouraging me to throw caution to the wind. Surprisingly, this includes my wife. Is she trying to tell me something?
There's a particularly well cared for example in Newcastle advertised at present. It is the starboard side companionway version, however.
These yachts tick so many boxes for a coastal cruiser/bay racer that it's hard to think of a yacht that competes.
Once again, thanks for your reply.