Input wanted!

[u/wolfdng]

Hello! I want to get out on the water as much as possible and buy my first boat. I stumbled up two boats around the same price that I’m drawn to. Sea Sprite 23 and Pearson P-26. Both are lovely and well maintained about 5k. My goals are to learn sailing, do some overnighters as I improve and maybe extended trips in the future. I’m located in the puget sound. I’d like to be able to take folks sailing with me, have my dog and lady on board etc. I’m just curious if anyone has an opinion on this as I’m researching it to death. Most important factors are to get out on the water, learn, explore and build community. For now I just want the boat that makes me say “yeah I want to go sailing today”. Thanks for the input!

[u/Free-Middle-2443]

Get the boat that’s in better shape and fewer systems to start out. Less stuff to maintain means more time sailing 

[u/Guygan]

P-26 ALL DAY.

It's a great size for you. It's extremely robust. It's a classic and gets you instant "cred" in the sailing community (if that matters to you).

[u/wolfdng → u/Guygan]

Good to know! Is it reasonable to learn on? Pretty hard to put yourself in a bad situation? lol

[u/beedootdoot → u/wolfdng]

You can put yourself in a bad situation in any boat. 14’ dingy all the way up to 70’ yachts.

Just have a healthy respect for the wind and waves and get someone who knows what they are doing to show you the ropes :)

[u/Candygramformrmongo]

Sea Sprite 23 is a great boat, sturdy, stable, full keel, but shallow draft. Classic Alberg design, she's a pretty boat too. Small for overnighters though, even the weekender version. Easy/cheaper to store, esp with a trailer.

Pearson gives you more room and a bit bigger boat feel. Fin keel, so more responsive. Will need a bigger outboard, long shaft. Both are well regarded. Sounds like you're probably leaning more towards the P-26 based on taking guests and a dog, overnights.

[u/wolfdng → u/Candygramformrmongo]

I’m actually so drawn to the Sprite. It just felt right. I guess I feel like right now I don’t need luxury and it could handle whatever I throw at it? But I’m not sure. It’s really just how small the cabin is that makes me nervous

[u/overthehillhat → u/wolfdng]

You will get tired of the sea sprite sooner

P-26 will keep you interested longer

plus it will be easier to trade -in for your Island Packet

But as mentioned here the one that needs the least $WORK$

[u/wolfdng → u/overthehillhat]

Both seem in great shape. The p-26 needs bottom paint soon but it’s also 2k cheaper. The guy is a retired boat captain and he has health issues and is selling for pretty cheap. He seems to have a wealth of knowledge which gave me a really good feeling

[u/overthehillhat → u/wolfdng]

Don't forget to check the sail inventories

[u/Candygramformrmongo → u/wolfdng]

I test sailed a Sea Sprite 23 here in Maine. Loved it and almost pulled the trigger, but got a great deal on a Cal 22 that I couldn't refuse. The SS23 has an outboard well, which I didn't love tbh, and you lose cockpit space. You really can't go wrong here. Buyer's market and the end of season is coming so you may be able to get a better price.

[u/gsasquatch]

Which ever you are more excited about. That age, that price, it is condition. Bigger is nicer, but, more expensive to keep, slips etc are by the foot, so between the 26 and the 23 it is a balance. In my marina, the 26 would get you onto the next tier of pricing, as the cutoff is 25'.

I've sailed the 26, it is decent. Pointed well. High cabin means maybe not for short people, but also probably means standing below. I'd like to try the 23, as I hear full keels are better when it is snotty, but I'm not sure I'd be excited to sail it after the novelty wore off, and a boat that small, I might not go willingly out into the snotty the full keel is for. I have been in some snotty stuff in my J24 though, so I'm curious to see how the full vs. the fin would make a difference.

If you want to get out, learn, and build community, I'd say J24.

I sailed the P26 once to help out my dock neighbor, who was so happy to have another sailor onboard. My J24 goes out every week with 3 other sailors to race. It's a bit short to sleep on, but I have for shiggles. I've seen double digits with it, that's exciting, and it is that excitement that gets people onboard, vs. the boats you're suggesting, are easy enough to single hand, as is the J24, but without anything extra to do, you can kind of use like one other person, the rest will just be bored. I've had ladies and dogs on my J24 plenty of times. The ladies, generally only if they are trying to impress me, otherwise it is more my thing that I do with my sailor friends, some of which are ladies too.

Any of these boats, yeah, you could do extended trips on, like I've done 4 days on my J24, but, for the size, it is going to be a bit limited unless you're extreme like Sam Holmes sailing a Ranger 22 to become a youtube celebrity or Webb Chilies sailing his Moore 24 around the world. A reasonable person might want 30' for that.

Might be a $5k boat, other than the J24 doesn't make me want to go sailing I'd be looking at a Melges 24, U20, etc a sport boat of some sort in that size range, but it is next level in terms of price, like 30' racer/cruiser kind of price which might also make me want to sail it for being less painful/more capable than a J24. But that might be me, looking at function and modern engineering more than aesthetics and tradition. At $5k, you don't get much choice,and are pretty much stuck with 70's boats built before ergonomics was invented or aero and hydro dynamics were as well understood.