Sailing Big on a Small Sailboat

• #48 in Best Sailing Books

18 Reviews

Sort by: Most Helpful ▲ Date Rating

While the subject matter is excellent, the authours opinion is too prevalent.

JD Cardwell considers all sailboats under 22' as "not really cruisers". There are many on the water that would disagree. While a bigger trailerable may be more comfortable, it's also harder to tow, and more expensive.

The authour needlessly runs the risk of pushing the dream beyond the scope of those with limited resources.

This book may be considered valuable by those with or considering boats between 22 to 26 feet, but probably not to others.

Lastly, the authour obviously places more importance on creature comfort than seaworthiness, O.K. for the marina crowd, but offensive to the true cruising sailor.

The larger boat crews, in my boating area, discuss construction quite a lot because there is concern that an older racing sail boat isn't strong enough for West Coast of Vancouver Island (British Columbia Canada) duty. My wife ordered "Sailing Big on a Small Sailboat" because she and I have always been concerned about our 26 footer; others being quick to say the boat is to small.

Dr. Jerry Cardwell, who wrote Sailing Big on a Small Sailboat, was a Catalina 22 loyal. When Catalina changed the 22 mold, Dr Cardwell was NOT sure that this was an upgrade and did an extensive study of production pocket cruisers. He ended up strongly recommending the Mac26x, our vessel, while giving praise to many trailerable sailboats that owing to the riggors required for trailering are built stronger than many 30 to 60 foot sail boats. He states.

"A common misconception about sailboats is that 'bigger' means 'safer' That is simply not true. ... In fact, there are sea and weather conditions when a smaller, trailerable sailboat may actually be safer than a much larger sailboat."

The book is an especially exciting read for a Mac26x owner (there are over 5,000 of them) because Cardwell spends some time discussing the history of production in fiber glass and the history of MacGregor Yachts.

The major finding regarding our vessel from his book is that dealers told Cardwell that the Mac26x has an additional layer of glass fiber throughout the hull than is normal for trailerables. This was done because there was a question about the vibration and pounding the hull would take owing to motoring at wide open throttle with the standard 50 hp engine.

Dr. Cardwell was a guy who was to smart to buy new. He expected to purchase his Mac26x after others took the depreciation. He has quite a theory of buying used. I highly recommend the book even though I disagree with the buying used notion. You just do not see that much depreciation in trailerable boats. It is the engines that depreciate. While Cardwell never owned a Mac26x, he did make himself the authority. There are Mac26x factoids through out the work. Its a must purchase item for Mac26x owners but any used boat prospect will benefit because they will come to see trailerable vessels as more seaworthy than the waterbound. Highest rating. Read cover to cover and more than once!

I have a copy of the second edition published in 1997. This is book for people who are considering buying a trailerable boat in the 22' to 26' range that has some overnight sleeping accomodations. "Sailing Big on a Small Sailboat" builds the case for a trailerable sailboat and reviews the features of four popular trailerable sailboats. I think the author has done a excellent job in his narrow focus. Some of the specs of the four boats he uses as examples have changed in recent years and could use a bit of updating.

I have a concern in that Cardwell only has four pages (pages 115 to 118) on the subject of "Heavy Weather." On Lake Erie where I sail, we get squalls and other sudden storms with rapidly building wind and waves. There would be value in a book that explicitly gives more information on what happens on these types of boats when the wind rises to over 16 knots and waves start running over 3 feet, in other words Force 5 conditions.

I have friends who sail and cruise on Lake Erie. They are McGregor 26X owners. Caldwell gave high marks to the McGregor. My friends get very nervous when the wind goes over 16 knots and head for the nearest harbour. They have owned the boat for 3 years. They are in the process of upgrading to a larger and non-trailerable fixed keel sloop. They are tired of running for the nearest port when a squall blows through or the wind picks up. I generally agree with what Cardwell wrote, however I think he underplayed the challenges of being able to handle these types of boats in Force 5 conditions. I read the book and seriously considered a trailor sailor, but I bought a used Catalina 30. I do not regret my choice.

This book is a nice feature survey book of typical trailerables that I found useful as a dinghy owner looking to upgrade. It gives some sound specific recommendations: get a stainless steel swimming ladder so you can climb in when exhausted from working on the boat.

I think the author keeps his boat at the marina though, because it's missing a couple of key topics: 1) what does it take to pull these boats (engine power, launching) and 2)how about raising the mast - do you need three people? Some sort of rig?

Also missing is any real discussion of how do these boats handle in a knockdown/capsize.

This is a wonderful book for those that own or are looking to own a sailboat in the 22' to 25' range. Mr. Cardwell covers all aspects of selecting and outfitting a sailboat of this size.

His main point: Spend fewer dollars on a smaller boat and have enough money left over to fully outfit it rather than spend your last dollar on a somewhat larger boat.

I really enjoyed Mr. Cardwell's conversational tone and his many anecdotes. This updated edition also gives a short review of the Catalina 22MKII, the Catalina 250, the McGregor 26x and the Hunter 240. I highly recommend this book.

Sadly, J.D. Cardwell's wife tells us in the closing note to the book of her husband's untimely death from a heart attack while doing one the things he loved most: Sailing.

For me this book was useful only in that it pointed out to me that there is such a thing as trailer sailing. All well and good. However I rapidly(less than a week) out grew the book's very narrow scope, and now have no use for it. Would even hesitate to give to a friend because all the boats he recommends are pretty heavy, hence require a reasonably powerful vehicle to tow. No where does he even acknowledge that there is a relationship between displacement and tow vehicle size. Most of us can't go buy a dedicated towing machine.

I would suggest Jerry Cardwell's "Sailing Big on a Small Sailboat" to anyone interested in purchasing a new or used trailerable sailboat. This book is not a "how to" book on sailing; but rather is an insightful book on sailing comfortably, and safely, on a 22 to 26 foot crusing sailboat. I really liked this book and wish there were more like it.

This book was vital in making me realise that my 20 foot sail boat was just as "real" as those thrity foot plus expensive yachts. It was inspirational at a time when I felt I needed to get in over my head and buy a bigger boat. However, I agree with others who feel the book was a little narrow in its coverage and I confess the boats suggested are all very expensive in Australia and rare to find compared to other designs on the market. Nevertheless, the information is ideal for a beginner, someone contemplating getting into sailing rahter than an existing owner and his words are true, you can sail Big on a small boat.

This book was my bible when I went looking for a trailerable sailboat. Hard to imagine making he journey without it, and I'm very pleased with the boat I bought. Essential for others considering this way to sail.

A fair review, but narrow in scope - he certainly made friends at three sailboat manufacturers. They are all he mentions in the book. Otherwise, generally good stuff. Good winter reading, but don't choose reading this over actually going sailing.

Now in a new third edition revised and updated by yachting journalist Dieter Loibner, Sailing Big on a Small Sailboat is 20-year sailing veteran Jerry Cardwell's guide to owning and enjoying cruises on an affordable small sailboat according to the basic principle, "You can sail big on a small sailboat far more easily and for much less money than you can sail small on a big sailboat." Chapters offer a basic primer of all aspects of a modest sailboat; how to deal with sailing dangers from physical injury to heavy weather to crew overboard to broken rigging or rudder; what absolute necessities to bring such as distress signals, emergency lights, a global positioning system, and sail repair/rigging tape; how to properly assess the quality of a used boat before spending one's hard-earned money; and much more. Written in a straightforward tone for readers of all backgrounds, Sailing Big on a Small Sailboat is a first-rate primer for anyone interested in tasting the thrill of the waves on a modest budget.

Only the first few pages of this book contain anything of value--a discussion of the virtues of going small vs. large. And even that is nothing that can't be found online with a few good searches. The few reviews he includes are of boats many people wouldn't consider "small." After that, it's pure filler, stuff you can find anywhere. Bummer.

This is the third edition of this book the material seems up to date circa 2007. If you are looking at small boats and have not purchased yet this book will be very helpful. If you own a small boat this book will suggest many good ideas for upgrading your boat. I like the organization of this book excellent TOC page; good index. Chapters are well organized and clearly written with summaries at the end of each chapter. Length =240 pages. 9 Chapters. Covers used boat buying and trailers as well. If you are looking at the purchase of a trailer sailer this is a good guide. If you already have your boat there are still many good ideas to be found here.

When I ordered this I was expecting something completely different, on its arrival I put it on the night stand where eventually I picked it up again. Since then I have read through this now countless times looking at details that I missed the first time through! Well written for the novice to intermediate sailor looking for their first or second sailboat.

I would highly recommend this to anyone in the market for their first or second boat, excellent information..

It's a big book especially for one who is going to buy a small boat. But if You have one allready it's usefull as well

If your thinking of upgrading from a single sailor boat to a "small boat" this is a great place to start and ontop of that a good read. Lots of pratical ideas on making the daysailer a weekend joy. Good advice on many aspects that will help to increase your sailing enjoyment and knowledage.

This text is good for the prospective buyer of a small sailboat.
It does outline the features and high points of a good cross section of trailerable sailboats.

As an owner of the Rhodes22 I bought the book to see how it was actually reviewed by the author. I did benefit from the chapter on trailers and
on cruising.

I wish that they had written about more boats...
The categories discussed in the book are all fine, and if this is the only book you are buying it is very well written, but more discussion of actual boats that fit the bill would have been more instructive as to the pluses and minuses of each individual boat.
Otherwise, a nice update.