New Member - Chesapeake Bay

[scottr]

Hi Everyone,

I've been sailing beach cats for decades, but am now approaching the time in life when I can afford the time to do some cruising. I'm cooling my urge to buy with a club membership, which is nice enough and keeps me away from impulse purchasing. 

After a lot of hunting around, I'm looking at the 36i and 39i - boats in my price range, and attractive from a performance perspective. 

I don't anticipate any ocean crossings any time in the near future - just coastal cruising around the CONUS, and the Caribbean. In the very near future, a fair bit of time just on the Chesapeake bay. Both these boats have ~6.5' draft, which is lovely for pointing, but imposes some limits in the Chesapeake. The shoal draft version seems to be rarer, so I'm curious what kind of experiences folks with the standard keel have had on the Chesapeake. If a three cabin shoal draft 39i turned up tomorrow, I'd be hard pressed not to jump on it. 

Thanks for any thoughts...I see plenty of them around, and I know plenty of folks who draw over 6' on the bay, but figured I'd ask the owners' forum.

[MalcolmP]

You are very welcome, glad you have joined our forum.

Whilst I don't sail in the Chesapeake, I have sailed our 2008 shallow draft 39i to many places in Europe and really love her. However if I was buying again, I would not go for the shallow draft as it considerably reduces the pointing ability. The righting moment is the same as they have increased the keel weight, but to match the lower draft of the keel, they simply chopped off the shark fin tip of the rudder, Regrettably this results in her stalling in gusts, unless you reef. Dropping the main track down helps, but it definitely reduces performance. 

Lots of owners here with the 36i, but from a personal perspective, glad we went for the 39i, the double wheels are so much better for visibility and sail trimming. Also we normally berth stern to in the Mediterranean, so the gap between the wheels makes boarding easier.

We have the 3 cabin version, but again unless you are planning to regularly fill the boat up, now think the 2 cabin set-up is better as you get a much larger heads/shower and better storage.

Good luck in your hunt, always exciting looking for a new boat.

[scottr]

Thanks Malcom! I did read your other commentary on the 3 vs. 2 cabin; I have a young child (6yo) and while a 2 cabin with the garage would be ideal for most two-couple situations, I anticipate needing to stuff both other adults and children on board. I realize it's probably not as efficient, but I gather you make use of the extra cabin as a storage garage.

It's good to hear about the sailing characteristics of the shoal keel; one of the things I have struggled with since making the switch to cruisers is the fun/speed part of sailing. This keeps bringing me back to 6+ foot keel boats. 

I have shied away from the dual-wheel setups, because it seems to me to waste precious cockpit space, but I can see where the visibility would be just so much improved. Good to know that hasn't been a drawback. My wife wants "roomier" and given that the extra length adds volume exponentially, I'm really inclined to the 39. An absolute must for her is a walk-through transom so that I can set up a gangplank at least at the home marina. The club boats are both boarded via the gates on the deck, and she really dislikes it a lot. Adding a gangplank and a clear shot to the companionway through transom would be appreciated. There's a 519 five slips up from us in the marina which she really admires (a good bit out of our price range) with this setup. 

The 36i with 2 cabins, one head and a standard keel are much more common around here, and are workable if we put kids in the saloon. There are also more examples like this with the non-furling mast (which I prefer). 

[MalcolmP]

Yes we use cabin 3 as a storage area, just lift up the mattresses, so they are there when we do have 2 couples as guests. Just make sure everything is well padded when lifting it in and out of the companionway, or you will get a few war wounds on the joinery.

A passerelle/boarding plank makes life much easier, especially in the Med.

We have the classic rig too, I upgraded with full battens and Selden cars a few years ago, makes sail handling much better.

[mickmeck]

Scottr, I do sail in the Chesapeake - mostly the mid to upper - and have a 5' 3" keell. There are times that I hit bottom but that is only when I go off the beaten path. Most, if not all, of our club events are held in 6'5" or greater. Most of the locations to visit have plenty of water for you. Those that don't, well, you just get the bottom of your keel cleaned. It's only mud up here (generally) so no harm can come of it. 

Where do you think you will dock the boat?  

[scottr]

We are currently sailing out of Deltaville, but have also sailed out of Solomons island. We're in central Virginia so we'll probably wind up somewhere on the Rappahannock, maybe Fisherman's Bay.

There are aspirations of gunkholing, but in practice, AC keeps the crew happier.