Sailing is a fun and enjoyable activity for everyone, no matter the experience level.
Mastering how to sail a primary boat is effortless. I encourage beginners to practice in the right environment as they can gain considerable experience with time.
Since most beginners make the mistake of picking the wrong boat to start with, they get frustrated and quit before they can sail by themselves.
In this blog, I will cover the best small sailboats for beginners to help mitigate this problem.
Hunter 15 is a safe and versatile boat for both beginners and masters in sailing.
Key Specifications
Passenger capacity: 4
Length overall: 4.4 m (14′6″)
Draft – Board Up: (6″)0.15 m
Draft – Board Down: (3’0″)0.92 m
Key Features
Material: fiberglass
Appendages: lifting keel
Intended use: daysailer
Hunter 15 by Marlow Hunter
Pros
Stainless steel arch
Spacious cockpit area
Easy to balance
Cons
It doesn’t sail well in downwind
No separate starting battery
Why I Have Included the Hunter 15 Sailboat in My List
I have included this boat in my list because it has a comfortable wide beam, a contoured self-bailing cockpit and fiberglass construction.
Additionally, it is designed to allow beginners to sail around with ease, and it is a safe boat giving sailors a confident feeling and peace of mind as they sail.
Catalina 16.5 is a small, powerful recreational sailing boat constructed predominantly of fiberglass.
Key Specifications
LOA: 16.33 ft. / 4.98 m
Approximate Base Wt.: 430lb.
Draft Board up: 5″
Draft Board down: 4’5″
Key Features
Fiberglass composite Kick-up rudder
Stainless steel standing rigging
Adjustable hiking straps
Self-bailing cockpit
Catalina 16.5 sailboat
Pros
Fast sailboat
Spacious cockpit area
Easy to sail and rig around
Cons
Difficult to balance
Why I Have Included Catalina 16.5 Sailboat in My List
I have included Catalina 16.5 boat in the list because of its fantastic design, is versatile, and you can get them in two designs: the keel model and the centreboard model.
So, What’s the Best Small Sailing Boat For Beginners?
Here are my top three picks of best small sailboat for beginners:
Sunfish
Hunter 15
Catalina 16.5
If I had to pick one, I would go for Hunter 15 sailboat because it has the the best safety features. The Hunter 15 sailboat is also easy to operate, plus you can dock with no problem. The boat is easy to maintain, and it’s not complicated for a beginner.
What is your choice?
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Igor
Hi, I’m Igor, Skipper of S/Y "The Hooker". A decade ago, I conquered my childhood dream: to be a sailing skipper, own a sailing yacht. Yes, it knocked dullness out of my urban life — Read more →
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