Will be attending the Annapolis Sail show this year. Lots of new vessels and plenty on sales reps to tell their story. Looking for comments about the proper size of vessel and possible brands that would fit the bill. I already have my own ideas but would like to hear from those who have taken the extended world trips. I will not by buying a Swan...too much money. I am looking at the so called production boats. (the big 3 or whatever). Thanks
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Design is first
Then the size is up to you and your crew (or in my case, Admiral.) Design includes seaworthiness, strength, safety, and speed capabilities. Then come issues like storage, comfort, communication, and space. There are some good books on the subject - I liking "The Complete Guide to Choosing a Cruising Sailboat" by Marshall because it covers the issues well even if some of his designs wouldn't fit us. His "Voyager" design for ocean cruising is 48 feet long, by the way. David Lady Lillie
Then the size is up to you and your crew (or in my case, Admiral.) Design includes seaworthiness, strength, safety, and speed capabilities. Then come issues like storage, comfort, communication, and space. There are some good books on the subject - I liking "The Complete Guide to Choosing a Cruising Sailboat" by Marshall because it covers the issues well even if some of his designs wouldn't fit us. His "Voyager" design for ocean cruising is 48 feet long, by the way. David Lady Lillie
Here is an example
Here are 3 links, that represent a slice of cruising boats. The first 2 are from the Boat US website Boater to boater, the last writes for Cruising world. All are on boats less than 40', with 2 people on board. http://www.boatus.com/cruising/ithaka/specs.asp http://www.boatus.com/cruising/littlegidding/specs.asp http://www.qsl.net/vu2msy/Wild_Card/Thumbnail_for_Web/index.htm
Here are 3 links, that represent a slice of cruising boats. The first 2 are from the Boat US website Boater to boater, the last writes for Cruising world. All are on boats less than 40', with 2 people on board. http://www.boatus.com/cruising/ithaka/specs.asp http://www.boatus.com/cruising/littlegidding/specs.asp http://www.qsl.net/vu2msy/Wild_Card/Thumbnail_for_Web/index.htm
Met a couple that circumnavigated in 27'
They had a Pacific Seacraft Orion and seemed very happy with the boat. They were lucky and said that the only bad weather that they encountered was a storm as they sailed from Cape Town south africa to St Helen island. The choice is kinda like a road trip. Would you rather drive cross country in a 45' motor home a sports car or a 4 wheel drive truck with a camper shell??? All would have advantages and disadvantages. We have a 32' Pearson right now and it provides the essentials and is fairly easy for a couple to handle though my wife can't reef the main sail alone or raise the anchor. We have ran aground and been able to get off unassisted. With a larger boat that might not be possible. My biggest concern with a larger boat is falling. Sailing on a Beneteau recently one of the crew fell across the cockpit when we were knocked over by a gust. It was pure luck that he wasn't injured. My Pearson's cockpit is too small for such a fall. My Pearson's cockpit isn't that comfortable at the dock but I feel very secure in 15' waves. When you look around inside a potential boat think about what would happen if the boat suddenly rolled 45 degrees. Would you fall 15' to the leeward??? My wife fell once but with our 11' beam she just fell a few feet and landed on the settee. I haven't been at sea in very rough conditions but the little that I have makes me very afraid of some of these beamy boats and falling.
They had a Pacific Seacraft Orion and seemed very happy with the boat. They were lucky and said that the only bad weather that they encountered was a storm as they sailed from Cape Town south africa to St Helen island. The choice is kinda like a road trip. Would you rather drive cross country in a 45' motor home a sports car or a 4 wheel drive truck with a camper shell??? All would have advantages and disadvantages. We have a 32' Pearson right now and it provides the essentials and is fairly easy for a couple to handle though my wife can't reef the main sail alone or raise the anchor. We have ran aground and been able to get off unassisted. With a larger boat that might not be possible. My biggest concern with a larger boat is falling. Sailing on a Beneteau recently one of the crew fell across the cockpit when we were knocked over by a gust. It was pure luck that he wasn't injured. My Pearson's cockpit is too small for such a fall. My Pearson's cockpit isn't that comfortable at the dock but I feel very secure in 15' waves. When you look around inside a potential boat think about what would happen if the boat suddenly rolled 45 degrees. Would you fall 15' to the leeward??? My wife fell once but with our 11' beam she just fell a few feet and landed on the settee. I haven't been at sea in very rough conditions but the little that I have makes me very afraid of some of these beamy boats and falling.
Caliber 40 LRC
small LWL for a 40 LOA. My 376 has the same LWL. Only has a sail area of 739 for 21,000 lbs. My H376 has 850 for 16,000 lbs. This means it will ride the waves better then mine but will be slower then mine in light wind. Only has 85 Gallons of water. Better then my 75 but not what one would consider a blue water tank. Has a nice 140 gallon fuel tank with an estimated 1,000 miles range compared to my 350 miles...that's nice...but you'll need it
It doesn't have a open transome so you'll depend on drains to drain the cockpitt while being dumped on but to compensate, it's a small cockpit. It does have some nice storage but I'm not a fan of the small births. It has a modified keel so it will go straigher and heave-to better and also has a keel protector. All in all, it's kind of a half-way designed blue water boat. Built strong, has some nice features for cruising. Not fast but not slow. Not perfect for ocean crossing but safer then most production boats. If you like the interior (I don't) then this would be a good cruising boat to cross oceans with. I wonder what the price range is.
small LWL for a 40 LOA. My 376 has the same LWL. Only has a sail area of 739 for 21,000 lbs. My H376 has 850 for 16,000 lbs. This means it will ride the waves better then mine but will be slower then mine in light wind. Only has 85 Gallons of water. Better then my 75 but not what one would consider a blue water tank. Has a nice 140 gallon fuel tank with an estimated 1,000 miles range compared to my 350 miles...that's nice...but you'll need it
It doesn't have a open transome so you'll depend on drains to drain the cockpitt while being dumped on but to compensate, it's a small cockpit. It does have some nice storage but I'm not a fan of the small births. It has a modified keel so it will go straigher and heave-to better and also has a keel protector. All in all, it's kind of a half-way designed blue water boat. Built strong, has some nice features for cruising. Not fast but not slow. Not perfect for ocean crossing but safer then most production boats. If you like the interior (I don't) then this would be a good cruising boat to cross oceans with. I wonder what the price range is.Pacific Seacraft
If I were blue water cruising I'd take a serious look at the Crealock designed Pacific Seacraft 34 and 37...or larger if money were no object.
If I were blue water cruising I'd take a serious look at the Crealock designed Pacific Seacraft 34 and 37...or larger if money were no object.
40 is fine
Any younger and you wouldn't appreciate it as much. Any older and you might encounter some health/strength issues.
Any younger and you wouldn't appreciate it as much. Any older and you might encounter some health/strength issues.
Pacific Seacraft...don't think so.
It's a medium light boat with not much sail. The LWL is short for it's LOA. It only has 31 gallon fuel tank. It only has 85 gallons of water. Engine access is terrible (only the front). Not a fan of the births. It does have a modified keel and protected rudder and a strong engine to fight a strong current or headwind, so that's good. You just aren't going to get very far on 31 gallons. I wouldn't purchase this to cross an ocean with. If I already owned it and decided I wanted to cross an ocean...maybe. If you find a boat with: 300 gallons for water 150+ gallons for fuel then that boat is designed to cross an ocean. So if your looking for a boat designed for it, look for that.
It's a medium light boat with not much sail. The LWL is short for it's LOA. It only has 31 gallon fuel tank. It only has 85 gallons of water. Engine access is terrible (only the front). Not a fan of the births. It does have a modified keel and protected rudder and a strong engine to fight a strong current or headwind, so that's good. You just aren't going to get very far on 31 gallons. I wouldn't purchase this to cross an ocean with. If I already owned it and decided I wanted to cross an ocean...maybe. If you find a boat with: 300 gallons for water 150+ gallons for fuel then that boat is designed to cross an ocean. So if your looking for a boat designed for it, look for that.
Here is a link to a story about the Pardey's
http://www.48north.com/nov_2005/pardeys.htm Franklin, I am sure that you have heard of them and their sailings. I won't dispute your requirments for water and fuel but it can and has been managed with much less. Ross
http://www.48north.com/nov_2005/pardeys.htm Franklin, I am sure that you have heard of them and their sailings. I won't dispute your requirments for water and fuel but it can and has been managed with much less. Ross
Pacific Seacraft -Read Some More
The Boat made the Sailing Hall of Fame. Designers Comments: "One must bear in mind the main purpose of a design. The 37 was, throughout,aimed at those people who, while wanting a pleasant boat to sail locally, just might want one day a boat able to take them in safety to any part of the world; and this with as much speed and comfort as possible without detracting from seaworthiness. I consider crew fatigue to be a major enemy of seaworthiness, and this meant an easy motion, dryness, strength, windward ability, a comfortable deep cockpit, a safe interior and, above all, ease of handling and balance with or without steering aids. With a small crew, possibly no longer athletically endowed, these are what make for fast passages. The principal dimensions, amount of overhang, underwater shape were all chosen for that main purpose, hopefully including a touch of elegance. There are negatives. Interior volume tends to be judged relative to overall length making the hull with longer overhangs seem smaller. Similarly, the ratio of beam to overall length appears less, whereas the more important ratio of beam to waterline length may be normal. The displacement/length ratio will also seem larger with the longer overhangs. Beware the numbers game, its too easy to fake. Finally, with shameless conceit, a great deal of thought went into the underwater afterbody in a effort to produce a boat which would take care of its crew under the most severe conditions. Perhaps it worked; we had reports from two 37 owners caught out under just such conditions, in each case running for their lives under bare poles before heavy wind and seas hitting the peg at 12 knots when surfing. Both made the same remark,' steering was so easy it would have been more fun with a tiller.'" Bill Crealock
The Boat made the Sailing Hall of Fame. Designers Comments: "One must bear in mind the main purpose of a design. The 37 was, throughout,aimed at those people who, while wanting a pleasant boat to sail locally, just might want one day a boat able to take them in safety to any part of the world; and this with as much speed and comfort as possible without detracting from seaworthiness. I consider crew fatigue to be a major enemy of seaworthiness, and this meant an easy motion, dryness, strength, windward ability, a comfortable deep cockpit, a safe interior and, above all, ease of handling and balance with or without steering aids. With a small crew, possibly no longer athletically endowed, these are what make for fast passages. The principal dimensions, amount of overhang, underwater shape were all chosen for that main purpose, hopefully including a touch of elegance. There are negatives. Interior volume tends to be judged relative to overall length making the hull with longer overhangs seem smaller. Similarly, the ratio of beam to overall length appears less, whereas the more important ratio of beam to waterline length may be normal. The displacement/length ratio will also seem larger with the longer overhangs. Beware the numbers game, its too easy to fake. Finally, with shameless conceit, a great deal of thought went into the underwater afterbody in a effort to produce a boat which would take care of its crew under the most severe conditions. Perhaps it worked; we had reports from two 37 owners caught out under just such conditions, in each case running for their lives under bare poles before heavy wind and seas hitting the peg at 12 knots when surfing. Both made the same remark,' steering was so easy it would have been more fun with a tiller.'" Bill Crealock
when you get down to it.
It depends on your budget. you can do it with a hundred boats. your cost is the key and how much gear and people you take along. buying a proberly outfitted cruiser is often the most affordable way to gol.
It depends on your budget. you can do it with a hundred boats. your cost is the key and how much gear and people you take along. buying a proberly outfitted cruiser is often the most affordable way to gol.
I hear that they are pretty good at it too
Quote, "yeah...I've heard of them also that they like to sail without an engine." Larry says that every port in the world can be and has been entered without an engine. You just can't be in a hurry.
Quote, "yeah...I've heard of them also that they like to sail without an engine." Larry says that every port in the world can be and has been entered without an engine. You just can't be in a hurry.
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