Chrysler Sailors Forum

Just curious on peoples experience in the ocean with the C26. Im new to sailing, but im an old salt when it comes to power boating.(sorry!) My new C26 is a long time dream come true, and by the looks of her, she seems like she will take the ocean well, however I have limited experience with sailing. My C26 is a swing keel, and im curious who has ocean experience with this boat and what i might expect when I get her out there. I fully intend to learn the boat here in arizona on Lake pleasant.(a very sailboat friendly lake known for good sailing conditions), but after I complete some more sailing courses(I have completed an extensive sailing course, but it was many years ago!), and get comfortable with her, I plan to head to Sandiego and take her out to Catalina Island and various other places along the California coast. Just hoping to hear some stories and get some guidance!

Here is a C-26 swing keel that sailed from Canada to Cuba and Bahamas. Pick your weather windows wisely. These videos should get you dreaming:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKFqK0Dp ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFrYu6Kt ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dagUAClS ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKl68nLP ... re=related

This is the link to Guillaumes web site about the c26 bahamas trip. http://quebec-bahamas.blogspot.com/ . I have drooled over making this trip myself. Hence, whenever I work on my boat, I make changes with the thought of a summer in the Bahamas Out islands.

Check out Windward's post " A few vids from 08". Jeff sails his 26 hard.
Clair

If you like to study the numbers, check out Carl's sail calculator at http://www.image-ination.com/sailcalc.html . Choose a boat you think is "seaworthy" and compare its numbers to a Chrysler. You might be surprised.

If anyones willing to sponcer my trip I will test Shaken Knot Stirred to the Bahamas and back

If by sponsorship, you mean a bunch of ramen noodles and vienna sausages, perhaps we can work something out.

By the way Mario, I forgot to tell you something. I am the guy that you sent a PM to on Sailnet about a week ago. Just wanted to let you know that my screen name is different over there, that I got your message, and I'm already on here (obviously) . Thanks for the invitation though!

If by sponsorship, you mean: You pay for YNK to do a reconnaissance mission, and I send you pictures, sure.

The C-26 was designed for lake and Close In Coastal Cruising and was never designed as a true Blue Water boat.

Having owned a true Blue Water boat, and sailed on a number of them over the years, I would recommend that IF you truly want a Blue Water boat then go get one but don't use the Chrysler as one (a number of the smaller ones are available inexpensively at the moment). The difference in construction, rigging, built in righting capabilities are like night and day between the Chrysler and a true Blue Water boat.

The Chrysler does great at what it was designed to for ... lake and close in coastal cruising. If you start pushing it past it's design parameters you start reducing your safety margin ... by a LOT. (Even going to the Bahamas is more than I would want to do, that passage can get very rough ... though the Keys would be fine)