A question I've been asked many times is; What kind of boat should I buy? I guess it depends on what kind of sailing you want to do and where you'll do it.

Lake Ontario is big. If you plan to cruise here you need a seaworthy boat with ballast. If racing is your thing, you want to buy what everybody else is racing. Or at least something that has a reasonable handicap rating and is fun to sail. I don't race so that's the extent of my advice. If you plan to daysail, look for something small and simple to set up and shove off with. You can even "dry sail". Some clubs have places where you can park the boat on her trailer with her mast up. Then you launch her each time you want to go for a sail. It's cheaper and you don't need bottom paint.

Small boats are ideal for small budgets, tight time schedules and shallow waters. If you want to keep her afloat, shallow draft gives you more marina choices. Little docks in shallow water usually cost quite a bit less.

There are some really nifty if unconventional designs out there with short unstayed masts like the Phil Bolger design Surf , a 15 foot sprit rig, that a solo sailor can set up at the launch ramp in minutes. But if you want one you'll probably have to build it yourself.

There are many small second hand fiberglass sailboats around that can carry two or more adults. They are mostly sloop rigged with hinged masts you can raise yourself. The 14 foot O Day Javelin or the 16 foot sloop rigged O Day daysailor can be found on Craig's list with trailer sails and outboard motor for less than 2000 dollars. Sometimes people GIVE them away. But you should be able to right such a boat alone if it capsizes.

Many older used day sailors have inadequate tank floatation for solo recoveries on choppy water. Newer day sailors and really small boats like the Sunfish or the Laser can be self rescued by one not too large or strong adult. You can add floatation to an older boat and it's probably a really good idea to do so!! You can probably get by without an outboard motor if you sail on small lakes. But padding even a sixteen footer gets to be a chore if the wind dies and leaves you a couple miles from home. We have lately been taken with the 99 dollar trolling motor plus battery solution for an auxiliary on our 15 footer. It's good for a couple miles with a full charge.