Do You Have Any Good Stories From Your 20s?

Whatever boat you had in your 20s was probably small. In fact, for most sailors, it was boats in their 20s that created some of their fondest memories. We’re thinking 20s like a Cal 20, a Santana 22, a Ranger 23, a Cal 27 or a Catalina 27. Those formative years on these formative boats were what started kids and families on a lifelong path into sailing. We’ve written and heard much about all these idle boats in the “20s” that should be sent to the dumpster. Before they go, we thought we should show what’s possible with a few photos of boats currently listed in our Classifieds.

Most people also have some really good stories from their 20s. After all, it’s in your 20s that you are learning a lot. You may still be a little socially awkward, or unsure how much scope you should let out when you anchor. Maybe when you tie a cleat, your hitch is backward. Who cares? The 20s are very forgiving. It’s much easier to push smaller boats around. You can fend them off a dock, and if you don’t, the damage is much less than from something bigger. And if it’s a boat from the 1970s, a few scuffs and dings seem much less important.

We have great memories of a weekend cruise to Vallejo on a friend’s Ranger 23 in the early ’80s. A small boat means a short cruise can be a big adventure. It was blustery, choppy and a challenge getting home, but we were cruising in the same waters where Jack London had his adventures as a member of the Fish Patrol. We had a much better boat than his, with better sails and more comfort. It was a blast.

It’s also amazing how many 20-year-olds or younger you can pack into a 20-something-ft boat. How many people really get into sailing because of luxury? Given how much sailing is associated with “luxury,” you’d think it was an important feature to most sailors. However, looking back on your 20s, there wasn’t much luxury associated with all the fun you were having with seven friends overnight on that 27-footer. There may be a time when luxury becomes more important, but it doesn’t have the thrill or laughter from that wave over the bow that swept all the sandwiches overboard.

While these all look like “c ruising boats” there was a time when you might see any of them racing with MORA (the Midget Ocean Racing Association). Started in 1965, MORA organized offshore races for boats 30-ft and under. They’d race from San Francisco Bay to Newport Beach, San Diego, Catalina or Ensenada. The story in our August 1977 issue talks about the race that year, which included 23 boats from a Cal 20 to a Yankee 30 that sailed from San Francisco to Newport Beach. The 1979 MORA schedule featured lots of ocean racing, including one to San Diego. That seems like a long race in a small boat until you remember that Webb Chiles singlehanded around the world in a Moore 24.

We have to say, these boats in our classifieds look pretty sharp considering they’re all 40–50 years old. It just shows you that, in the right hands, these boats can have many happy lifetimes with a series of owners. We don’t know the history of these boats. Perhaps one was bought for $1,000 and someone spent years upgrading it. Or maybe another was passed down through the family. Our thought is that a lot of people are tired of spending their weeks and weekends at a keyboard, and a little time with a wrench or mixing epoxy might be just what the doctor ordered. Take on the project with a couple of good friends and you’ll become even better friends … or maybe worst enemies. Real adventures push you to the limit.

Boats in their 20s are known as “pocket cruisers.” They have all the features, benefits and abilities of larger cruisers, though it all fits in your pocket. Or a small, inexpensive slip. Small slips are pretty easy to find up and down the West Coast. The boats are easy to rig, so you can be off the dock and sailing quickly. They’re quick to put away. There are lots of good reasons to love small boats.

What could go wrong with one of these 20-footers? Like their first owners, they’re not as young as they used to be. But the spirit and ability to show you a good time may still be there. These tried-and-true designs were the foundation of many sailors’ dreams. They’ve got boatloads of stories of soggy, cold and wild afternoon sails to brilliant evening sunsets that end long after dark.

We know there are hundreds of these boats scattered around the Bay. Some look as great as the boats pictured here. Many look far worse but could look like these again. Others do need to go to the dump. If you have one of those old boats that’s not going anywhere, consider finding people to share it with. There are opportunities to trade out some work for boat usage. If you’re tempted to buy one of those great “bargains” we suggest you do your homework first. Make sure you have a place to keep it and you can get the required insurance. Then make sure you check out the boat thoroughly and understand the work, time or money that may be required. Maybe a high-pressure wash will do it, but often there’s much more.

The four boats pictured here look pretty smart and ready for continued good times on San Francisco Bay. We can’t vouch for any individual boat, but we can say we had good times sailing on 20-footers in our 20s.

For more on this topic, see our story on Trash or Treasure.

Have you got a good sailing story from your 20s? Send it to [email protected].