Weekender vs Vacationer cockpit size

[bharleyh]

Hi everyone. I've become a Weekender owner and have only sailed her once. My brother gave me a sailing lesson in it and got me hooked on sailing. I've since read everything I could find on the 'net about Weekenders and have learned so much about the boat. I've become interested in the Vacationer also and I'm  starting to think about building one when I retire (7 years from now). I love the Weekender and the only gripe I have about it is the small cockpit. It seemed cramped for three adults, I like a little more elbow room. Does anyone have some side by side pictures of the Weekender and Vacationer that can give me an idea of the size difference? Or maybe the dimensions of the Vacationer cockpit? I could then compare these with my dimensions on the Weekender. TIA

Bharleyh

[Frank Hagan]

I don't know what the actual cockpit size is on the Vacationer.  Konrad has one he just refurbished; maybe he can give us a measurement of the total width at the stern, at the companionway, and the length. 

The Vacationer kind of pushes the limits on how big a non-ballasted, flat bottomed boat should be.  Konrad has the nickname "Konradical" for a reason; he's a lake sailor but I think he's dipped the rail a few times, so maybe he can comment on how it sails.  I'm not sure how the Vacationer would do in coastal waters.

If you're going to spend that much, a better small-cabin boat might be Graham's Belhaven 19.  The description of the cockpit:

The cockpit offers a comfortable sailing and lounging environment.  The seats are 6" 9" long to allow for sleeping out under the stars.  The mizzen is set high enough to set up a bimini underneath - to protect you from the sun in hot climates or for those sensitive to the solar rays. The cockpit is self-draining.  There is no cockpit motor well.  Because of it's size, we don't want to rob cockpit space.  For those who need an outboard (up to 6 HP), it may be transom hung.  There are two generous cockpit lockers for stowage.  While underway, a  modern compact outboard will easily stow in one of these, or the outboard can ride on it's bracket on the transom.

This boat has a 7' beam (width at the widest part), and the cockpit makes pretty good use of that width.  Scott Dunsworth built the first one (I think), and launched it with Graham ("Designer" in the B&B Forum).  I attached a couple of pics, including one of Scott and Graham sailing his Belhaven on its launch day.

[bharleyh]

The Belhaven 19 is a great looking boat with lots of cockpit room. I've also looked at the Princess Sharpie 22, Vacationer, and the 21' Fancy Free (Glen L design). These are all great looking boats but I'm not sure they would be the boat for my sailing plans. I would like to have a "camper" type boat that would be capable of sailing from Dana Point (CA) to Oxnard and possibly Catalina Island or the channel islands. That pretty much rules out the flat bottom boats. I would also like to sail some larger mountain lakes which means I need to keep the boat trailerable and light enough to take up twisty mountain roads.

It looks like I might have to have two boats, the Weekender (for mountain lakes), and something that can sail the inner waters in southern California and still be launched from a trailer. Is the Potter 19 capable of sailing to the islands in So Cal? Maybe I should buy a fixer-upper production boat. Possibly fixing up a beater will satisfy the boat building urge.

So many decisions. But retirement is years away so I have tome to study the options. Thanks for the reply.

Bharleyh

[Frank Hagan]

The Princess Sharpie 22 and the Belhaven 19 are both suitable for coastal cruising.  I'll have to look at the Glen-L design again, but its probably OK.

The small production boats built here on the west coast ... the Potter 19 and the Montgomery 17 ... are both good camper sailers and can go to the islands.  And you can pick them up pretty reasonably.  The So Cal Potter club goes to Anacapa and Catalina once a year.  A couple of Montgomery's join in with the flotilla.  The next day sail they have is May 30 (next Saturday) out of Marina Del Rey.  You can check out their calendar at http://www.howies.net/socalpotter/ (click on "2009 Events").  They have a day sail once a month, usually near the end of the month, on a Saturday. 

Sailboats are slow; it takes half a day to get to Anacapa, and half to get back.  They usually motor over and then sail back.  Unless the wind won't cooperate, and then they motor the entire way.  Same with Catalina, but at least there you can moor and get out on the island itself (and buy gas, at prices only a Saudi Prince would love).

You can sail from Oxnard to Dana Point (2 days probably), but not the other way.  You would be motoring all the way, unless you went half-way to Hawai'i.  The San Francisco - Ensenada race travels south, and then guys either motor back or sail out nearly to Hawai'i to get back.  Sometimes the guys sailing beat the guys motoring.  But you could do Long Beach to Dana Point on a two day trip.  One guy I talked to would drive up, launch his boat, put it in a guest dock, and drive back home.  Then he would hop on the Amtrak, catch a bus, and be at his boat for the sail home.