I don't know if any of you other sailors out there ever heard of "going to the dark side" before -- but, when I was growing up, back in the era of the first Star Wars movie in 1977, there was a saying amongst our sailing community about some folks "going to the dark side" -- meaning sailors who transitioned from a sailboat to a powerboat of some fashion.
Well...
...I've been giving this some thought with the First Mate, however, I don't think I could be sailboat-less, ever.
I saw this 1998 Ranger Tug 21 for sale, for a steal, and we tried to buy it, but someone beat us to the punch. She sure was a beauty!
Anyone else out there ever give thoughts to transitioning to the "dark side?" :-D
Was on the dark side with 2 powerboats before getting into sailing. Big fun for the kids and the dog during those years.
I love those little Rangers. There are several here that cruise together. As for me, like you I will always own a sailboat. I have been looking at the Ranger 25 and 27s. They would be so much easier for my wife to move around on, and everything but the birth is on the same level as the aft deck. On board genny means a/c while cruising and at anchor. If i had one, it would very hard to keep me from doing the great loop. At around $100-130k, I wouldnt be able to keep the Orion, but their shallow draft would allow me to keep it at our backyard dock so no renting.
Yes, every day. There were five of us who sailed together through our late teens and on until our forties. We all had sailboats or if between boats we still sailed with each other. We did bareboat charters together. Girl friends became spouses, kids came along and we still sailed on. At about fifty, they all went to the dark side except for me. We got scattered around the country so impossible to maintain that closeness except on the bareboat charters.
I'll be eighty on my next birthday, and I'm afraid age will push me to the dark side to keep me on the water. I've looked at Rangers, Rosborough 246, Eastern Sisu's and others of the semi displacement mode. What I'd really like is a Dianne's Rose, but have done my build and don't want to start another. But it would be perfect for my current sailing grounds, particularly if set up with electric power. My first mate wants a private head not under the bunk we sleep on, standing headroom, and a much better boarding ladder arrangement returning from a swim. And she is perfectly happy not hearing "ready about" any more. I think I'm ok with that.
Under the influence of the Executive Department, we went to the dark side, leaving a Freedom 33 cat-ketch onto a Mainship 34. I've been pining ever since. Wish I had our Bayfield 29 back. Currently have a Compac 16 and waiting for the weather to drop into the double digits. The heat index here is 108 today, on land, with shade.
Quote from: Urban Hermit on July 30, 2026, 10:13:14 AMUnder the influence of the Executive Department, we went to the dark side, leaving a Freedom 33 cat-ketch onto a Mainship 34. I've been pining ever since. Wish I had our Bayfield 29 back. Currently have a Compac 16 and waiting for the weather to drop into the double digits. The heat index here is 108 today, on land, with shade.
Oh, wow, I love those Bayfield 29s -- they are the models that have the huge head in the forepeak as opposed to a v-berth, right? There is one for sale, currently, somewhere around the Great Lakes, I think. I've heard that the Bayfields are really great boats -- quality construction, seaworthy, finished nicely. If I could have a "big boat" again, this one would be one of my top 3 -- the others being an Pacific Seacraft Orion (crazycarl, you are a lucky dog on that one!) or a Com-Pac 27.
Quote from: passagesfromtheheart on July 30, 2026, 01:57:59 PMOh, wow, I love those Bayfield 29s -- they are the models that have the huge head in the forepeak as opposed to a v-berth, right? There is one for sale, currently, somewhere around the Great Lakes, I think. I've heard that the Bayfields are really great boats -- quality construction, seaworthy, finished nicely. If I could have a "big boat" again, this one would be one of my top 3 -- the others being an Pacific Seacraft Orion (crazycarl, you are a lucky dog on that one!) or a Com-Pac 27.
I looked at several Bayfield 29s, none were in exceptable condition. There is a very nice bright yellow one across the creek from us.
My first "bigger" boat was a Bayfield 25. It was built like a tank, the hull was twice as thick as the O'Day 28 that replaced it 7 yrs later. Of all the sailboats I've owned it was probably the worst sailing of all of them. It needed a fair amount of wind before it really sailed decently. On the other hand, of all the boats I've owned, both sail and power, it is the boat I've felt the safest on. I've been out on Lk Michigan in it with 12 ft waves and had a blast. Came close to buying a Bayfield 32 at one point. Those are really beautiful boats.
if i ever say goodbye to sailing and move to power it wont be a slow tugboat (even though the Ranger pictured is awful pretty) i will go with speed and a good fishing platform and by that time i wont be spending the night aboard