Re: M_Boats: how about 15 vs. 17

Gilbert, You're right. Bigger is better. But,................. Bigger is heavier; needs a bigger tow vehicle Bigger costs more. Bigger is lots more work: has more volume and area. Bigger means that toys for the "bigger" are more expensive: lines are heavier and longer; winches get more expensive (on a -15 you don't need any winches); and outboards are larger. Yes, bigger can give you standing headroom and a nice galley, but at that point you no longer have a trailerable boat; it becomes a home on the water with marina charges for dockage in the summer and storage costs in the winter. That's the trouble with sailing! It's always a compromise................ Connie