Most but not all racing is done in [...]]]> When purchasing a sailboat the first question you want to ask yourself is “What do I want to use it for?” Do you want to day sail around a local lake, do you want to race your boat or do you want to spend weekends camping on board?

Most but not all racing is done in relatively small boats, ranging from 8 to 28 feet, called “one designs”. In a one design, each boat of a given class is built to very rigorous standards and are supposed to be identical to each other thus making the race a test of skill versus one of hardware. If you want to sail one designs, then find out what the local clubs or groups are racing and buy one of those. These clubs are always looking for new members to race with and will usually help you to find and purchase your boat. Most one designs are not conducive to day sailing but there are some that will perform both functions quite well. Some racing is done via a handicap system in which case you can buy pretty much what ever you want as long as it is conducive to the local style of racing.

For day sailing, most people choose a somewhat larger heavier boat than a one design but one that can be carried on a trailer. These usually range from 16 to 25 feet long. While most boats will suffice for tooling around on a pleasant afternoon, try to purchase one that will best conform to local sailing conditions such as water depth and average wind strength. A very heavy boat on a lake with light winds will be frustrating to sail as would be one that is constantly running aground.

For camping or living on-board, you will probably want something 28 feet or longer. These boats are not readily able to be towed and must reside in a marine. Such boats usually come with a small engine, head (toilet) and small galley (kitchen). Obviously the larger the boat, the more elaborate and roomy the accommodations. Once again, take local conditions into account. Big boats draw more water and are not suitable for areas where the water depth can vary widely or is normally very shallow. They are also much slower in handling and thus require much more room to maneuver.

The vast majority of boats these days are built of fiberglass. You want to find a boat where the hull is smooth with no bubbles or blisters on the surface. The wood or “brightwork” may be varnished or not but it should be solid without soft spots, rot or cracks. The running rigging or lines that control the sails should be smooth and not frayed and the sails should be in good shape with no tears, worn spots, split seams or be all stretched out. This last is somewhat hard to judge. Newer sails are often very stiff, almost plastic like, older sails are soft and somewhat baggy. If there is decking, make sure that it is firm and does not flex much or at all. Most boats leak a little, this is why large boats have a “bilge pump”. Some designs will leak more than others, but it should never be more than a very small amount. If any of the boats leak quite a bit, then you will either need to find and repair the leak or buy something else.