I'm wondering if anyone has had any regrets on getting a bigger boat?
I have the approval (in principle!) from my wife to get a bigger boat, on a recent trip it was a bit cramped with 2 adults and 2 kids on a 25foot yacht for a week, we didn't mind being cramped for a week, but you can't take all the toys I'd like to, like kayaks and scuba gear that I'm trying and hoping to get the kids interested in.
Although only 25 foot, I find that size perfect being single handed, boat is cheap to run, systems are light and simple, boat is easy to manoeuvre around in tight quarters etc etc.
Im a little slower than the forty footers but usually end up in the same anchorages, though I have to leave earlier and get there later some times, it's the same view on a cheaper budget.
Initial purchase price of the bigger boat is ok, its the additional maintenance costs that are a worry!,
I suppose I could hire scuba tanks, kayaks, push bikes at destinations, but that's a bit restrictive, maybe hiring isn't as restrictive as I think??
whats others experience or thoughts?
cheers

Why not:
Hookah instead of scuba- or snorkeling? (Hookah good for bottom cleaning too.)
Inflatable kayaks
Folding pushbikes.
Lot cheaper than a bigger boat.

I hear what you're saying Shaun, I too have 'sort of' permission for a bigger boat in about a year..... or so.

Been looking at Bear's favourites. There are a few very nice Swanson 36 around for not much money.... obviously they're well lived in, older and not as spacious as newer boats, but they do look OK from the pics. Although one I saw in Newport was absolutely disgraceful and really not worth the $35k he'd put on it.

I think it's more fun looking, than actually buying....

Our 28 footer was dramatically cheaper to run than our 36 footer, although they are in many respects similar in design style. The 28 footer was so much lighter (although it is proportionately the same weight) that it was more fun to sail in many ways in medium winds. The extra draft is also an issue.

We love the new boat to bits, but bigger is not better in all respects. The comfort when anchored, separate head, interior room and deck space for toys are great. The slower motion when offshore is very nice but part of that is the different hull sections.

Our medium-size 36 footer is still short of space for bikes and inflatables down below. I'd say it's definitely better overall, but arguably no better on a cost/fun ratio. We kept the 28 which is being restored and while we would never get rid of the 36, I'll be happy to sail the 28 again.

Select to expand quote

BlueMoon said..
I'm wondering if anyone has had any regrets on getting a bigger boat?
I have the approval (in principle!) from my wife to get a bigger boat, on a recent trip it was a bit cramped with 2 adults and 2 kids on a 25foot yacht for a week, we didn't mind being cramped for a week, but you can't take all the toys I'd like to, like kayaks and scuba gear that I'm trying and hoping to get the kids interested in.
Although only 25 foot, I find that size perfect being single handed, boat is cheap to run, systems are light and simple, boat is easy to manoeuvre around in tight quarters etc etc.
Im a little slower than the forty footers but usually end up in the same anchorages, though I have to leave earlier and get there later some times, it's the same view on a cheaper budget.
Initial purchase price of the bigger boat is ok, its the additional maintenance costs that are a worry!,
I suppose I could hire scuba tanks, kayaks, push bikes at destinations, but that's a bit restrictive, maybe hiring isn't as restrictive as I think??
whats others experience or thoughts?
cheers

depends how much space you are after. Just going from a 25 to a 29-31 foot will give you much more space. Plenty of older 29-3 footer on the market for $20-30K. Go see a few. Going larger 35-40 ft will cost at least twice as much.

I find the worse thing for me about the bigger boat is cluttering it up with the toys. It sort of makes me lose interest... the act of going for a sail becomes a chore.
I just like to sail without stopping or doing the touristy/ playground thing, but the missus likes to swim, go ashore, kayak and now she wants a sup. You can do all that from the back of the ute
I might go buy a hobbie cat

Well, I have purposely down sized and to make it easier as I get older (read more unfit) and cheaper.
And have made the boat as simple as I possibly can.
Just a log and compass with tiler pilot.
Not even a furler, with winches at the mast and two cockpit winches.
I wanted to get back to simple fun sailing with minimum cost and maintenance.
Rig is small and sails just dacron cross cut.
I want to get underway as quickly as possible and pack the boat away as quickly as possible.
Get back to the fun of just sailing was the aim.
Also experience has taught me that almost all the stuff cruisers carry never gets used after the first few weeks so I travel light.
This will not suit every one but after a year I will see if I have made the right decisions for what I wanted to do.

In simple terms the cost rises in proportion to the cube of size, work rises in accordance with the square of size. If that is your concern then don't get a bigger boat because fun probably only rises in direct proportion to size.

G'day BlueMoon,
I ask myself this question regularly.
We are a family of 5 we all sail. All our boats have been racing orientated. Although we have cruised as well as raced all of them ( I prefer a fast ride over creature comforts). Over the last 20 years we have gone from 22' to 26' to 30' to our current boat 36'.
Maintenance wise the 26 didn't cost much more than the 22, the 30 cost about double the 26 and the 36 about double the 30.
There's plenty of inexpensive big boats around these days, so it's not buying them that's the big cost but maintaining them = $$$. I've found as the boats get bigger there's less maintenance you can do yourself (rigging, antifoul etc)
Comparing the 4 boats;
The 22 was my favourite.
The 26 gave the most bang for the buck.
The 30 sort of wasn't small enough to be cheap & easy but wasn't big enough to warrant the extra cost & hassle.
The 36 is the easiest to handle especially solo and is the most comfortable. We won't go any bigger & will probably keep this boat (even though I expect to spend 100k on it over the next 10 years).
Even though I think of dowsizing to a 26 again (which would meet most of our boating needs & save money) we've got older & it's hard to go back & anyway the 36 is really pretty and lovely to sail...
You may be able to sail further afield with a bigger boat however we have found there are many places the 36 won't fit that the smaller boats would...
I hope my ramblings help you.

30 feet seems to be the sweet spot. Easy to sail solo. Gear is light enough to lug about. Fly a spinnaker solo and not get into too much trouble. Fin and skeg it's easy to get two coats of antifoul from a 4 litre tin. Encapsulated keel so no maintenance and a shaft drive so no major bills down the track. Capable of going anywhere.
The problem is boat envy! All these people keep turning up with flash larger boats. First boat is a Farr 37! it's just getting crazy.

Select to expand quote

Hort said..
G'day BlueMoon,
I ask myself this question regularly.
We are a family of 5 we all sail. All our boats have been racing orientated. Although we have cruised as well as raced all of them ( I prefer a fast ride over creature comforts). Over the last 20 years we have gone from 22' to 26' to 30' to our current boat 36'.
Maintenance wise the 26 didn't cost much more than the 22, the 30 cost about double the 26 and the 36 about double the 30.
There's plenty of inexpensive big boats around these days, so it's not buying them that's the big cost but maintaining them = $$$. I've found as the boats get bigger there's less maintenance you can do yourself (rigging, antifoul etc)
Comparing the 4 boats;
The 22 was my favourite.
The 26 gave the most bang for the buck.
The 30 sort of wasn't small enough to be cheap & easy but wasn't big enough to warrant the extra cost & hassle.
The 36 is the easiest to handle especially solo and is the most comfortable. We won't go any bigger & will probably keep this boat (even though I expect to spend 100k on it over the next 10 years).
Even though I think of dowsizing to a 26 again (which would meet most of our boating needs & save money) we've got older & it's hard to go back & anyway the 36 is really pretty and lovely to sail...
You may be able to sail further afield with a bigger boat however we have found there are many places the 36 won't fit that the smaller boats would...
I hope my ramblings help you.

I have been wondering the same thing.
Hort, your answer has made me a content person with my Endeavour 26 and $2k a year cost to maintain.
Now if I can only convert it so I can raise the keel and swing up the rudder, It would be perfect.

interesting topic, as i too would like to get something a bit bigger eventually (currently 31 foot).

if we are talking about a liveaboard for 2 or 3 people, how does that change the equations?

Hi all

I think it depends on what you intend to do with it

When i go for the sail for the day my 28 footer is perfect but when we go away on it for a few days we would like something with a bit more room, a fridge, a proper stove instead of the maxi metho one, a toilet with standing room, a comfy bed instead of sleeping on the settee's and a shower

The Jenneau 349 i race on has all of this but hoisting sails takes a lot longer with a lot more effort, the spinnaker is a lot larger and takes a lot longer to pack and when things go wrong it takes more effort to sort it out

I often thing i would like a larger boat but for what i do with it at the moment i am happy with the 28 footer but if i was retired and going on longer trips i would probably look at something around the 36 foot mark

We have friends with a late model Catalina 32 footer that has plenty of space inside and has a furling main and head sail and I am not sure how it sails but it doesn't seem to be a bad compromise between size and space and easy to handle

Regards Don

Select to expand quote

Jolene said..
I find the worse thing for me about the bigger boat is cluttering it up with the toys. It sort of makes me lose interest... the act of going for a sail becomes a chore.
I just like to sail without stopping or doing the touristy/ playground thing, but the missus likes to swim, go ashore, kayak and now she wants a sup. You can do all that from the back of the ute
I might go buy a hobbie cat

don't they like that sort of a stuff? Get her a ute and u keep the boat

We've been living on a 28' Compass for over 2 years. Love it!

Cheers

Bristol

P.s. just the 2 of us, although we did have 6 overnight once!

Yes. when I want to go out and its blowing sideways across the dock and its low tide, and it's too tight to get the boat out by yourself without putting it on the lumpy bits or the boat ramp.
My last boat you could get on and off the dock by manhandling it, even if it was in my current berth.
That I miss.

I am with lydia and Ramona, 30 feet does seem to be the sweet spot.

I also subscribe to the ethic in that old Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young song. If you can't be with the one you love, love the one your'e with.

We just bought our first sail boat , so far its been a blast learning to sail on a larger Catamaran , I have been single handing it at every chance I get , including docking ,and have been surprised how easy it actually is , I ll report back when something goes terribly wrong

If cost is one of your considerations though stay well clear of big expensive complicated system boats hahaha even when doing all the work yourself they will make you spend some dollars .

Hi All So far moving from a 20 foot trailable catamaran ( Jarcat 6) to a 28 foot trailer sailer (Imexus 28) has been great. Perhaps a bigger jump than from 25 feet to 30.
I wanted to stay trailable however for all the other advantages that brings and it has coped easily with the 2 adults 2 kids accommodation issue. I chartered a 33 foot Beneteau a couple of years ago and it wasn't really that much bigger but came with all the usual keel boat restrictions to use and cruising areas. Standing head room, a separate head area, and carrying capacity are probably the issues for smaller yachts and growing families. My unusual choice has all these along with luxuries like stern and internal shower (rarely used), three battery system and up to 370 litres of water capacity. I am about to return to the Whitsunday's with my relatively recently purchased yacht in April so it will make a direct back to back comparison with my charter trip eighteen months ago. This is my seventh trip up there with 3 chartering and 3 in my own small TS's previously.
Re the kids, my unusual choice ( Imexus 28) has that one sorted. Nothing like offering tubing, kneeboarding and wakeboarding on a windless day to get them enthused about coming and I also have an inflatable SUP and the capacity to carry several on the side rails in gentle conditions.
I have found that being restricted to just sailing to holiday destinations wasn't what I wanted so have remained trailable despite the compromises this entailed.
Perhaps if your current yacht is a keel boat this is another option to be explored via RL28, Macgregor 26, Court 750 and similar larger TS's.
I think its hard however to combine a cruiser with a racer unless you go way up in size as most smaller yachts need to be stripped bare to be really competitive around the cans so unless this is your focus why worry about it too much about that half a knot extra.
From my experience more time is sometimes spent under motor when cruising unless we include the long passage sails which having a trailer sailer avoids.
Just my few cents worth from another perspective.
Regards Graeme

It really depends on how you use the boat. For a day sailor or over night camper 30 foot is great.
For a weekend cruiser or a occasional week cruiser 30 to 40 foot.
For a full time liveaboard adventure cruiser 37 to 42 foot or over.
i love having 1000 litres of fresh water onboard (wish I had a water maker to keep it topped up) love all the mod cons that a 42 footer can take.
The down side is mooring in windage or unknown berths when single handing or light on crew.needing a bow thruster would be my choice at over 40ft but the water maker would come first so I can live on the pick.
So no regreats going from 37 foot to 42 foot and not much of a cost diffrence.

Hi Given Blue Moon was talking wife and kids and keeping them entertained I would guess he wasn't talking about moving on board for months or permenantly. Extended holidaying on board say 2-4 weeks ( as this is all most of us get unless packing it in for a cruising life) is a different proposition I feel. Personally unless a dedicated most weekends around the cans racer or twilight sailer I would consider chartering as an option as whilst expensive when considered in its one lump cost it isn't really compared to the high cost of a larger yacht encured over a whole year when you also include purchase funding costs with all the maintence expenses. Very different if per Southace it is your home. Regardless of where you live a non trailable yacht will have very limited cruising ground choices unless holidays are very long and ocean passages are a serious part of the enjoyment for the family which based on other comments Blue Moon made are probably not.
These comments come after extensive research and many on water trials but are perhaps biased by my personal love of travelling to and sailing in different places all the time. Some of us return to the same holiday home or caravan park year after year for the comfort of familiarity whilst others seek new experiences and sights constantly.
Depends on personal style of course.
Graeme

/\

It also depends on your tow vehicle. A quick look indicates that a 10 year old Land Cruiser, which you'd need to tow a big TY, costs about $30,000+. For that sort of money, plus the trailer and 4WD rego and maintenance, you can do a lot of maintenance on the big boat and get a lot of other new experiences and sights.

I can't agree that small yachts need to be stripped out to race - my 2000kg 28'er was quite competitive even when I lived aboard full time for two years.

Thank you all for the responses, I think your right Grith and Donk it depends on what I want to do, and after a fairly extended time wise Sailing trip last year, I probably need to realise I'm limited now to a week here, fortnight there or so and limited to a fairly local area(NSW coast) for at least a few years. Thanks Hort, Frant and Chris for the cost comparisons, cost is a major factor for me at the moment with other financial commitments it's probably not wise to take on a larger boat.
cheers all for the good replies you have made me a very contented sailor.

If cost is an issue, but you want a bigger boat, maybe consider a small syndicate? I'm in my second syndicate of 4 and wouldn't have it any other way at this stage of my life, working full time, wife works and busy teenage kids.

The key is good partners and flexibility with some set ground rules. We have an agreement drawn up, but it's never been referred to over a disagreement. We don't put limits on use by anyone, but just have a rotating first choice roster that's rarely referred to. The boat just has to be left clean and tidy after use with not much personal stuff left onboard. What is onboard, can be used by anyone - fishing rods, SUPs etc. We share costs evenly, even though some use the boat a lot more than others, just put in a bit of extra fuel etc. A no blame policy for accidents and incidents (s$&t happens), but if you break something, you do your best to arrange getting it fixed promptly.

We race the boat together and often do small trips away if family aren't interested. We all pitch in at haul out time and have a few work days throughout the year to chip away at that endless to do list. The boat would be one of the best maintained in our club.

Might be worth considering.

Hi I think Freeradical's idea is great especially if you can find 2 or 3 good partners to do it with. Partnerships in leisure or business can be fraught however and I would recommend a very good and tight written agreement that hopefully never has to be referred to between responsible co owners.
I have seen some good established ones on offer to buy a share off an exiting partner that I considered earlier but also love customising myself and decided I would be better to charter than go the co ownership direction. Might be different if it was at my yacht club in a pen with people I knew and liked to sail with occassionally like Freeradical. Sounds an ideal arrangement and congratulate you on its success. Regards Graeme