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New to sailing, need help

M

Meatmeepz

New member
Hi,

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this or not...

EDIT: I am not looking for advice on which way is best to learn to sail, or whether or not my plan or decisions are good or not. I'm asking specifically about the two boats mentioned below, and if you have any specific suggestions or knowledge specifically related to these models.

I am an absolute beginner with sailing, and I've never been on a boat, but I've been researching the crap out of everything for a couple of years now. We are finally about to make our first sailboat purchase, and the boat selection has been whittled down to two possible boats: a Pearson 365, and a Waquiez 32. It is a complicated scenario where we absolutely CAN NOT visit the boats before buying (I am abroad right now), but we will use a surveyor. I'm really confused between these two boats, but am leaning toward the Waquiez. The extra space of the Pearson would be nice though. The Pearson had an exhaust problem that the sellers fixed, but it needs a jib sail, and an A/C compressor. Sounds like it needs a few more things done to it, but not sure, as the pictures and everything else seem pretty great. The Waquiez is in pretty much AMAZING condition, but does not have any A/C of any kind. We plan to pick one of these up, take a few sailing lessons, and then head down to Florida (both boats are in Maryland).

Here is the Waquiez00k0k_cN7xI3Kzp7d_1200x900.jpg

And here is the Pearson: https://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/83586

I understand that the Waquiez is a much rarer boat, and that they are of solid design, but I'm wondering how these two boats compare. Our intention is to slowly outfit it while learning to sail, and then take it down to the Caribbean, or Mexico.

Any and all information would help.

Thanks very much!
 
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"I've never been on a boat"

Thanks for the post. Would you buy an expensive car if you didn't know how to drive and had never been in a car?

My advice is to first take some lessons and offer to crew on some boats at a local yacht club. Air conditioning is not even in the top ten of your concerns.
 
Once you learn to sail, you can "bare boat" charter many different types of boats, and learn what it is you like and dislike.
Too many stories of "learn as I go" ended up being all about not learning fast enough to prevent catastrophe.
 
BobJ said:
"I've never been on a boat"

Thanks for the post. Would you buy an expensive car if you didn't know how to drive and had never been in a car?

My advice is to first take some lessons and offer to crew on some boats at a local yacht club. Air conditioning is not even in the top ten of your concerns.
Click to expand...

This is not the kind of naysayer response I am looking for. Yes, I would buy an expensive car without ever having been in one. I'd simply learn how to drive it. We are committed 100% to living aboard if we are going to be in the United States at all, and research is a valuable tool, though not in the same way experience is a valuable tool. All that being said, as I said in my post, our situation DEMANDS that we buy it without going the "buy a dingy and practice for a thousand years before moving up" route. In order to make this work, we have to use all of our funds and really work at this, and get into a boat we can both use as a live aboard and learn to sail in; we don't have funds to use sailboats as leisurely vessels on the weekends, and then go home to a house.

So what I am looking for here is a comparison between the two boats, and commentary on designs; not advice on whether or not to go through with our plan.
 
And then there are stories of multiple, multiple people who knew nothing, buying sailboats for 3000 dollars, fixing them up, and then circumnavigating. Respectfully, I'm not really looking for advice on the plan; just looking for recommendations and commentary on the brands.
 
Steevee said:
Bob's advice is probably the best and friendliest advice you will get.
Click to expand...

Except he didn't answer the question and instead gave me an alternate plan. Respectfully, not asking about how to learn to sail. I'm asking about the two boats listed above.
 
"research is a valuable tool, though not in the same way experience is a valuable tool"

You're hearing from people who have some experience.

Between the two, The Wauquiez is the better-built and better-sailing boat. But until you at least learn to spell it, please keep it tied to a dock so you don't hurt yourself or other people.

Depending where this thread goes from here, I may delete it. Starting to sound like a troll.
 
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Bob, I heard nothing from you that was relevant, so I can't see how your experience is helpful for this post. You answered a question that no one asked. There have been literally hundreds of people who have learned on huge sailboats. Have you ever heard of the Vagabonde YouTube channel? Probably the most popular sailors of this generation? He learned on a 40 foot sailboat. Is that the best way to go? Maybe not, but then again, no one was talking about that. Just because you have a ton of experience doesn't mean you can comment on my particular set of circumstances which, as I said in my OP, does not allow me to "try" before buying. We are not asking about the plan; we are asking about the boats. Your experience has thus far made no comment that was relevant to my post.
 
It is not easy to respond to your questions. It seems your inspiration came from YouTube. Instead posing your questions to YouTube, the questions are directed at a different group - people with sailing and boat ownership experience.

A boat purchase is a personal decision. The asking price is not the limit of where the spending will end. The continuing costs are sales tax, maintenance, upkeep, and upgrades. The buyers description of the boat should be approached with skepticism. For example, a seller may say the motor works fine, but the engine may need to be rebuilt or replaced (at a cost of $3-8,000 estimated costs). The same concern would apply to all the sailing equipment and the live aboard equipment. All boats that are well maintained and in excellent condition will serve someone in various ways.

If you are planning a purchase and don't have the experience to judge the consequences of a particular boat, then a marine survey gives an initial assessment. However, a marine survey will not tell if the motor is bad, the sails and rigging are past their service life or if the electronic equipment is functional and not outdated.

Based on the above general circumstances, an opinion to choose one boat over another without an inspection would be misleading. Comments are constantly presented comparing boat designs, but they are opinion and generally meaningless.

A little knowledge helps in boat buying, a lot of knowledge avoids buying someone else's problem or a boat that is not appropriate.

Ants
 
"After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical... but it is often true."

-- Mr. Spock
 
We are committed 100% to living aboard if we are going to be in the United States at all
Click to expand...
Well your research should have alerted you that live aboard status is very difficult to get in most locations. You can't just pull into a marina, even with empty slips available and expect to get live aboard status. Around here you first need to be a "regular" tenant and then request livaboard status. The wait is usually 1-3 years. Transient slips are available but for a limited time.

Yes, many have heard of La Vagaboobjob. Would you destroy a perfectly fine set of breasts for more clicks? Strippers and porn stars have similar business models.

Probably the most popular sailors of this generation?
Click to expand...
Youtube viewers does not make one "popular sailors" except with Youtube viewers. Most sailors think they are they type that ruin sailing. Giant "look at me" logos all over their boat and constantly walking around videoing themselves. Vomit. I hear these types are all over now pimping themselves and their female crew for clickbait.

Another note is we are a West Coast sailing organization. I would try to hit up forums that are close to the boats that you are looking at as there may be some people who know THOSE particular boats.

www.cruisersforums.com
www.sailinganarchy.com is by far the most trafficked website for sailing and has a very active cruisers forum. This site is very gentile in response...... be prepared for some harsh language and the typical newby thrashing.
 
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Meatmeepz said:
Hi,

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this or not...

EDIT: I am not looking for advice on which way is best to learn to sail, or whether or not my plan or decisions are good or not. I'm asking specifically about the two boats mentioned below, and if you have any specific suggestions or knowledge specifically related to these models.

I am an absolute beginner with sailing, and I've never been on a boat, but I've been researching the crap out of everything for a couple of years now. We are finally about to make our first sailboat purchase, and the boat selection has been whittled down to two possible boats: a Pearson 365, and a Waquiez 32. It is a complicated scenario where we absolutely CAN NOT visit the boats before buying (I am abroad right now), but we will use a surveyor. I'm really confused between these two boats, but am leaning toward the Waquiez. The extra space of the Pearson would be nice though. The Pearson had an exhaust problem that the sellers fixed, but it needs a jib sail, and an A/C compressor. Sounds like it needs a few more things done to it, but not sure, as the pictures and everything else seem pretty great. The Waquiez is in pretty much AMAZING condition, but does not have any A/C of any kind. We plan to pick one of these up, take a few sailing lessons, and then head down to Florida (both boats are in Maryland).

Here is the WaquiezView attachment 5163

And here is the Pearson: https://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/83586

I understand that the Waquiez is a much rarer boat, and that they are of solid design, but I'm wondering how these two boats compare. Our intention is to slowly outfit it while learning to sail, and then take it down to the Caribbean, or Mexico.

Any and all information would help.

Thanks very much!
Click to expand...

Welcome to the sport and the forum! The Wauquiez is a better boat, but either will do fine for what you are intending. Try not to be put off by the "pros"! The engine is going to be important while you learn, so make sure you have them checked out if you are not knowledgeable yourself. Good luck!
 
This is the most entertaining thread on the forum in quite some time, no way it should be deleted.

[edit] He will have so much fun over on Sailing Anarchy.

[edit edit] Looks like he deleted his post where he called Bob an idiot and the rest of us assholes. Sad.
 
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I do not know either of those designs directly, I have raced the Waquiez Pretorien 35 offshore US West coast and it held up.

There's no information regarding the Waquiez you're looking at in your post, so can't comment on that boat. I'd note that the design is not the "solid" part, it's the construction that matters. Waquiez tended to build good boats, assuming you liked the design. Buying new sails, or at least having the existing inventory examined and rebuilt by a sailmaker would be normal; I wouldn't worry about needing a new jib - the Pearson listing makes no mention of anything as regards useful information to make a decision for a boat you're not intending to keep in the local marina: what's the sail inventory, ground tackle, charging system, electronics, etc. But for $11,000 perhaps all you'd expect is a sound hull and you can add the rest.

The Pearson 365 at shoal draft should do well in thin water, not so good for upwind work as compared to a deep fin.

As regards the AC compressor - that's near the bottom of the list of important things that will make a boat go, probably somewhere after "does the freezer work?".

And I'd comment that Bob, Ants, and Solo have it about right - it reads as though you aren't aware of what you're getting in to with a boat, therefore it's difficult to make an informed decision.

- rob/beetle
 
I did a google, can you believe that Reid Stowe and 1000 Days at Sea was 10 years ago, in 2010? I feel old.
 
My YouTube feed provided a video a single sailor going to HI from LA in a 23 foot sailboat. A few minutes of watching showed it may not be the best demonstration of seamanship. To counter seasickness, an anti-sea sickness patch was applied. The evening sunset was toasted with whiskey. The boat bumpers were tied on and flopped loosely into the cockpit. Maybe the bumpers were used for cushions, but having extra loose lines and objects when trimming sails would be distracting or dangerous if the loose lines wrapped around winches or cleats. That was enough for me. (A few minutes worth).

I feel bad for the folks that use this video as an inspiration for their sailing goals.

Ants
 
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