Advice for clueless newbie

[Diving Duck]

I am now in the process of building a Skerry and will be taking sailing lessons on it. So at this point I am a total novice when it comes to sailing. Also land-locked (Oklahoma) so will be learning on lakes and reservoirs. I am looking really hard at the Pocketship as my next project. In the beginning at least, all my sailing would be on inland waters, but as you probably know it can get pretty darn windy in Oklahoma. So my question is, is the Pocketship too much boat for me to handle (after I have learned to sail the Skerry)?

[chaertl]

With a little common sense you shouldn't have any trouble at all. If you can handle a small boat like the Skerry that has minimal ballast you'll probably feel safer in a Pocketship since it just doesn't want to capsize. I'm just finishing the first season and the advice I'd give is take someone with you until you're familiar with the boat and don't go out in winds over 15mph the first few times. The few times I've single handed mine I've used the main only to keep things simple which works just fine.

Take care,

Chris

[jwv630]

Hey Diving Duck:

We have a similar history as my Dad and I built a Skerry a few years ago. Although we had 20 years experience in powerboats, we never had sailed so we took a sailing course towards the end of our Skerry build. I primarily row the Skerry in the Middle river/upper Chesapeake Bay for exercise and to just to get out on the water but sail it sometimes also. Love that boat; easy to sail too. I'm now in the early stages of my Pocketship build. Plan to take another sailing course and maybe a few private lessons when it get's christened. You'll probably find sailing friends with no boat that will gladly join you and offer some tips. Go for it....

Good luck,
Jimmy Vitale
Victory II

[Diving Duck]

Thanks, to both who replied. Your answers are a great help. Pocketship will most likely be my next build, but who knows when I'll get started.

As to rowing the Skerry, I found it to be fine if someone is sitting in the stern, but when I try to row by myself in the middle seat, the weathercocking is terrible. I think it's just a little light and sits too high for winds above 10 mph. Maybe I should put a sandbag or two in the stern seat. I know this is not a Skerry forum, but if you have any thoughts I'd love to hear them--perhaps better by email, [email protected], so don't take up forum space.