Best???
I've seen this kind of question come up in boating forums all over the internet, and just think it's time to make a basic statement:
Boats are COMPROMISES. All of them are. Whether it's for space down below, rigging, keel types, or anything else, each has positive and negative aspects.
Each one of us has preferences, too. We can see that from the comments about the, for instance, C36s in an earlier post on this topic.
Many of us, in the past, have answered the "What is the Best" question with a simple answer: "The boats we already own."
Friends of mine have taken their C34s to the Bahamas, and one last year from Vancouver, BC, to Mexico. They all survived.
Steph "The Boat Babe" and her significant other took their 25 footer to the Bahamas. They survived, and he's now making the Solar Stick.
There is simply no "Best" boat. It involves making choices and compromises to suit what you like and what your budget is.
My friend who took his C34 to Mexico wrote this after his first 1500 miles:
I find it really interesting on the whole debate of what makes an offshore sail boat. It is unbelievable how much BS floats around and how many people have opinions but no experience based on the particular boat they happen to have an opinion on. I now believe it matters far more how the boat is prepared than what boat it is. Obviously you need a minimum standard in terms of hull integrity and rig strength and I think the Catalina 34 has that easilly. The question is can the boat and crew be prepared for offshore? I believe the answer question lies only with the skipper who does the preparation. In our case, we have had a fairly good shakedown cruise and I rate the boat highly. I've had "experienced" sailors who were aghast that I would take my family with no offshore experience in a Catalina 34 from Vancouver to San Francisco - a nasty bit of coast. And it takes some serious thought to call bull#### and say you're up to the challenge having never sailed in an ocean swell. I've also had experienced sailors who say go to the Marquesas and you'll find a lot of less capable boats than yours crewed by Europeans having the time of their lives. And you'll also find North Americans with real fancy boats with a lot of broken bits waiting for parts.
I urge you all to stop thinking of "best" start thinking of "what is appropriate and safe."
Beneteau, Catalina are much like Tartan and Sabre, only the T & S cost a lot more for finishes down below. Compare a Hinckley or a Hood to all four of those? No contest. Flicka at 20 feet, Dana at 24, Cabo Rico vs a Westerly?
C'mon.
You might want to read a few books, like "Desirable and Undesirable Characteristics of Offshore Boats" or Nigel Calder's "Cruising Handbook" to get an idea of the TRADEOFFS that work and don't work. But given that, people have sailed all over on boats that would be considered "undesirable" anyway, and had great fun doing it, just like my friend wrote.
Your boat, your choice.
Enjoy.
