Spring has sprung in North America. The days are now longer (thank you Daylight Savings), the weather is warmer, and summer is less than 100 days away. Spring also signifies the beginning of cottage season across North America. The cottage life is unique to North America and sees thousands of people and families clear out of towns and cities and head to their cottages for the summer season. The cottage sailor embodies a vast range of traits; from large families to solo sailors, beginners to seasoned pros. Luckily, RS Sailing offers several sailboats that can suit any location and any sailor, allowing you to make the most of your sailing season.
Well acquainted with the cottage lifestyle is RS Distributor and small boat expert, Morten Fogh from Fogh Marine. A long-time exhibitor at the Cottage Life Show in Ontario, Canada, Morten is well-versed when it comes to deciding what boat will fit your cottage. As Fogh Marine prepares to head to this year’s show, taking place April 7-10 in Mississauga, Ontario, we look back at Morten’s top tips and tricks to consider when deciding on a boat for your cottage.
According to Morten, there are four main questions to ask yourself. The first thing to consider is who will be using the boat. “You have to ask yourself, ‘who is going to use this? Do you want the ability to sail it solo, yet take a second or third person? Perhaps the entire family?’” RS offers options for any number of sailors. The RS Zest and RS Neo are perfect for the solo sailor with room for 2-3 while the RS Quest and RS Toura offer enough space to fit the entire family.
The next thing to ask yourself is what your sailing area looks like. “… is it a beach or a steep rock cliff? Is it protected from waves?” Morten states. “Where are you going to keep the boat, on a dock or will you leave it in the water?” While all RS boats are built to be durable, there are some that need slightly more care than others.
The third question a cottage sailor needs to consider involves their level of expertise and comfort. “You have to ask yourself, ‘how good at sailing are you?’” Morten says. “Be honest and you will enjoy your experience more.” With its diverse range of boats, RS has boats for both the experienced sailor, something that will challenge and excite them, as well as the novice sailor, a boat that is more stable and forgiving.
Finally, it is important to consider your sailing area and its conditions. “When deciding on a boat I ask people to describe their sailing area,” Morten says. “Is [it] generally windy or calm? Are there waves or large tides?” Calm conditions may allow for a boat with a larger sail area and a slightly less stable, but faster hull.
Answering these questions will help you narrow down your options and pinpoint what exactly you are looking for in your perfect cottage boat. Likely, it will lead to even more questions. But as Morten says, “that’s normal and good! [It] means that you’re thinking!” Your local dealer can help answer all of those additional questions and find the boat that fits all of your needs.
So, as you prepare for summer and get your cottage ready for the season ahead ask yourself these questions and you are sure to have a summer filled of fun, sun and sailing. Click here to buy tickets to this year’s Cottage Life Show. And reach out to your local dealer to learn more and see what boats are available in your area.
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