First time sailor looking to buy a C&C 25'

[capslock118]

Hi There,

I have recently come to an opportunity to trade my 19' open bow for a 1975 25' C&C sail.

I've never owned or used a sail boat before though I have run and used motor boats all my life; my 19' open bow is the first boat i've personally owned.

I intend, if this deal works out, to get lessons on sailing before the 2011 season.

I've read solid reviews about this make/model of boat; fast and stable is what I keep reading.

Now, I have a newborn and my spouse and i would learn to sail.

Would you recommend this boat for a first time sailor? I'm not intimidated by the work I would need to put into it but rather the ability to handle the boat on the water by myself or, when needed, with help from my spouse.

Thoughts?

 

[1fishbone]

Re: First time sailor looking to buy a C&C 25'

Yes, it's old, but the build quality was outstanding.
I'll 'assume' it's fixed fin keel, outboard powered.

The condition of the sails...they should be crisp, not faded, check all the 'connection points'!
The engine is the other major point to check.

The biggest hurdle is docking, even under ideal conditions they're a bear to handle....you can learn!

Having your wife take the class is optimal, you'll need her help until you both learn to do it by yourself.

Make sure you have a boarding ladder!! Going into the drink is almost inevitable!

Stay clear of that boom! When it's free, one wave or wind gust can send it FLYING......
One firm hand on it AT ALL TIMES it's free and stay UNDER IT!

The first time the wind fills the sails and you cut off the engine will be an experience hard to beat!!

 

[Donald Borne]

Re: First time sailor looking to buy a C&C 25'

There is quite a selection on E-bay under used sailboats you may have to wait until after the first of the year most ads are off now I have seen a lot of good buys there lately.

 

[capslock118]

Re: First time sailor looking to buy a C&C 25'

I'll 'assume' it's fixed fin keel, outboard powered.

It is fixed fin, I believe it is outboard but i will be confirming today when i see it.

The condition of the sails...they should be crisp, not faded, check all the 'connection points'!
The engine is the other major point to check.

Might be hard to see the quality of the sails as the boat is laid up for the year. by connection points i'm assuming you mean where the ropes connect to the boat?

Checking the engine should be fairly easy; that part i know

The biggest hurdle is docking, even under ideal conditions they're a bear to handle....you can learn!

It will be moored if we get the boat which might actully prove to be more difficult

 

[tommays]

Re: First time sailor looking to buy a C&C 25'

The big issue is they all have cored decks and in this case balsa which is a GREAT core material BUT the core ALWAYS gets wet over time kind of like the plywood deck/stringers/transom in a powerboat only a bit harder to fix


The issues will tend to be around all the deck hardware and when tapped will sound hollow

 

[ghamby]

Re: First time sailor looking to buy a C&C 25'

The connection points are the head, tack, and clew of a sail,the three points
of the triangle. For the mainsail, the head is at the top where the halyard connects. The Tack is at the bottom wear the boom and mast intersect. The clew is at the end of the boom. For the headsail, the tack is toward the bow at the bottom the clew is foward of the mast at the bottom. Have the seller
get the sails out and take them somewhere you can inspect them closely.
Ask to see the most current survey of the boat. If you are serious about
buying, have a survey done.
The point about wet balsa core is truly valid, check that closley.
good luck, post pics, GH

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: First time sailor looking to buy a C&C 25'

sailboats can be fun and great boats but they can also be death draps and dangerous to you and other boaters. get lessons before you take it out and i would recomend lessons and a small boat for your first one

 

[pmillar]

Re: First time sailor looking to buy a C&C 25'

Lessons are great but I also recommend taking an experienced sailor along your first few times out with your new boat - whatever it may be. C&C has a pretty good reputation, fwiw. Like any old boat, the condition is probably more important than the make.

 

[Mark SF]

Re: First time sailor looking to buy a C&C 25'

"One firm hand on it AT ALL TIMES it's free and stay UNDER IT!"

The first time the wind fills the sails and you cut off the engine will be an experience hard to beat!![/QUOTE]

Are you serious? That's terrible advice. You never lean on or hold the boom or anything else that's likely to move suddenly, as it will just make sure you fly out of the boat. No way you are stopping the boom moving if the wind catches the mainsail.

As you move around the boat, you hold onto something FIXED. One hand for the boat. Things that are suitable are the lifelines, shrouds, stays, mast.