Taylor Sailing

 Can you buy a used sailboat for under $2,000? Yes, with careful shopping and due diligence you can and it will not be a massive "project" boat! What do I mean by a project boat?  Has not been in the water for a long time. Fiberglass and/or gelcoat issues that require repair before putting her in the water. The owner, or previous owners, started a rehab on the boat and left it half finished. Missing key boat specific components - mast, boom, rudder, tiller, standing rigging, centerboard or dagger board. Missing sails, running rigging, blocks, and other typical sailing components. Missing a motor and/or motor hardware. I have bought and worked on a project boat and could have purchased a similar setup, without all of the work, for less than I put into sailboat (time and money). The hours I have spent on my "deal" project boat don't add up to the time I have sailed her (yet)! So now I avoid project boats because there are too many bar...

How to Find a Used Sailboat Part Two First things first . . . decode the Hull Identification Number (HIN). While the HIN does not provide a lot of data, it is critical starting point because you get the manufacturer and year/month the sailboat was made. HIN Location Typically they are on the transom starboard side up high. Transom molded in HIN Early in my search for a 20+ foot sailboat, I ran across what I thought was a deal on a 20' Hunter sailboat with trailer. The price was about $1,500 on Craigslist and I was excited! I asked the seller for the Hull Identification Number (HIN) and he sent me a photo of the number HUN20022M83E. Hull Identification numbers started to be mandatory in the USA as of November 1, 1972. From November 1, 1972 to July of 1984 the HIN numbers are two formats - Straight and Model Year. EARLY HIN TYPES, November 1, 1972 through July 30, 1984 The manufacturer had the option of giving either the model year or date of manufacture...

How to Find a Low Cost Sailboat Part One My interest in sailing started after a trip to the gulf coast of Florida. I was fascinated with the thought of using the wind to power my thirst for water adventures. Fast forward to today and I have a 1991 Macgregor 26S (26' long with water ballast) "trailer sailor" and a 1982 Precision 16 dinghy (16' long with live ballast - the crew is the ballast). I take family out on the Macgregor (has a cabin) and I race the Precision 16. Precision 16 Line Drawing Precision 16 on a Trailer with Oars! Macgregor 26S Line Drawing Macgregor 26S Promotion Photo I live in the southwest of Ohio which is the tri-state area near Cincinnati. There are many sailing associations located at the numerous lakes that also have sailing racing seasons from April to October.  Before you go looking for a sailboat I would recommend finding some of the sailing associations or groups near you. Talk to the leadership and if you li...