How to know if a sailboat is good?

Question

what should I look for? does brand matters or can it be any kind? and why are flickas so good?

Answer 1

Knowing if a sailboat is "good" is a bit of a loaded question.  Almost all brands are good, individual boats may not be.  There is also the question of intended use.  Different boats are built for different purposes.  I love my Precision 18 but I wouldn't take it from Florida to Cozumel.  As for what to look for.  If you want a serious offshore cruiser then Pacific Seacraft (maker of the Flicka), Island Packett, Cabo Rico, Swan, Nautor, Tartan, Hylas and Oyster are all made for just that purpose.  For coastal cruising there is Catalina, Hunter, Ranger, Balboa, ad infinitum.  If you want a daysailor then Precision, Catalina and Hunter (Again) Flying Scot, Laser etc. are all good choices.  Look for a boat that shows she has been cared for.  The wood is kept up.  The sheets look no more than 5 years old.  The sails aren't showing sunlight through the cloth or the seams.  A qualified S.A.M.S. or N.A.M.S. surveyor can look out for your best interests in regard to the condition of the boat for your intended use.

As for Flickas,  I could write a book on them.  Keeping it short.  The Flicka was one of Pacific Seacraft's most popular boats.  Some say it is Bruce Bingham's best design, and that is saying a lot.  It was designed to be a single or double handed go anywhere, do anything type of boat.  The fit and finish are  higher than just about any of the competing brands.  There have been several  (more than 30) people that have gone around the world in these diminuitive but sturdy craft....... Alone.   They are a full keel design and handle rough weather better than some 30 footers.  They are capable of being trailered.  One of their better qualities is their resale value.  They continue to hold their value because of Pacific Seacraft's build reputation and the soundness of the design.  I am a huge fan of these boats and have sailed several in the last 25 years.  I delivered one from Destin, FL to Miami, FL in February of 1993 and the boat didn't care about the 6-8 foot seas and the brutally cold (and wet) wind we had the whole trip.  I felt safer on that boat than the 35 Hunter that I delivered the month before.  Bottom Line, you can't go wrong with a Flicka if you want a "forever boat" that you can do anything with.  I know this answers your questions.

Answer 2

make sure are not made out of tarplin.

Make sure the hull is intact

Answer 3

James R covers the question very well.  I'm a past owner of a Flicka and lived aboard for quite a while.

Two things not mentioned yet, when sailing, does the boat 'feel good' to you.  Becoming one with the boat under sail is not just a concept.  If you are comfortable with the feel of the vessel it counts a lot.

Another boat not mentioned is the Westerly.  I had a Westerly 22' and when the Coast Guard raised a red flag for foul weather, my boat almost cried to be taken out.

You need to look at what is important to you, form or function.  Having a pretty boat that isn't above tupperware in quality can get you killed.

Answer 4

things to look for when buying a boat. 1. cracks in the fiberglass especially around fittings that have a lot of load on them like the shrouds.2. water stains around the inside of the hull where the deck meets the hull this is caused by water leakage and will give you nothing but hassles.3. look at the sails fully unfolded look for lots of broken strings in the seams or thin spots in the sails this is telling you this sail is worn out and in need of replacing that will cost a pretty penny even when you have the sail restitched it will still cost alot. 4. BRAND DOES MATTER!!!!! some boats are designed solely for the lakes and ponds they are dangerous in a port or even just off shore this is due to there having little in the way of ballast. some boats are very wide to make them lean less but this makes the boat dangerous at sea as the boat once it tips over and it can tip over while at sea these boats have a hard time righting themselves. look for boats that have as close to a 50/50 weight distribution between the weight of the ballast and the weight of the hull above water. this is a very good sea boat characteristic. as for flickas i don't have any knowledge of them.

Answer 5

Easy answer to this one is the fact that you are still  alive, Then sailing has moments of "I want my mummy" which is duly followed by "I want more".

The design of boat is the one that you feel comfortable with...

join a club and go from there