|
By Tom Linskey
 Off-the-beach boat
What it is: A dinghy, boardboat, or multihull (catamaran or trimaran) that can be easily cartopped or trailered and is light enough to be hand-carried (with the help of a few friends or a dolly) between the water and your car. New off-the-beach boats range from 7 to 16 or so feet in length; prices run from $700 to $3,000.
What it can do: An off-the-beach boat offers absolute ease and speed of setup (rigging the boat) and simplicity of sailing at a minimum in purchase and maintenance costs. An off-the-beach boat’s close connection with wind and water results in a gratifying immediacy of cause and effect for the sailor; shift your weight, pull on the tiller, or trim the mainsheet, and the boat responds at once. This quality makes an off-the-beach boat the best vehicle for learning to sail – and, if you choose a high-performance boat, to experience the buzz of riding waves or the thrill of planing.
Skills you’ll need: An off-the-beach boat requires more nimbleness than physical strength to sail. Some caveats: You must be able to swim and to right the boat and pull yourself back aboard if it capsizes. The degree of sailing skill you’ll need varies from none to novice (in dedicated learn-to-sail boats, such as the Escape) to intermediate (Laser, MX-Ray and other performers). Safe sailing practices, such as wearing a PFD (personal flotation device), appropriate sailing gear (a wetsuit or drysuit), and basic weather smarts (recognizing and avoiding dangerous weather) are important.
Money/time commitment: An off-the-beach boat will take a minimal bite out of your budget and leisure time. Add-ons are few and low-priced, and you can be out on the water within minutes of arriving at your water-access site.
Get this boat: If your time and money are limited, if you want to learn the basics of sailing and/or build a solid foundation of sailing skills for racing, or if quick, easy access and the sheer simplicity of sailing are what appeal to you.
|
