I love the Beneteau 235 and I wanted to know the thoughts of others about the idea of possibility of taking it to South America. I know others have taken smaller boats. If I stayed close to shore I thought I'd be ok.
Beneteau 235 big enough for Ocean travel???
- Thread starter flyingrv6
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Anything is Possible
I met a guy who sailed to the Bahamas and spent a month there with his son on a B235. He had a great time. But if I was picking a boat it wouldn't be my first choice. Pacific Seacraft makes a boat called a FLicka that has made some incredible voyages. 20' long but heavily built. Full keel The B235 can run circles around it on a calm day but when it gets rough the Flicka is the one. I really like the B235 but not for ocean passage making.
I met a guy who sailed to the Bahamas and spent a month there with his son on a B235. He had a great time. But if I was picking a boat it wouldn't be my first choice. Pacific Seacraft makes a boat called a FLicka that has made some incredible voyages. 20' long but heavily built. Full keel The B235 can run circles around it on a calm day but when it gets rough the Flicka is the one. I really like the B235 but not for ocean passage making.
Insurance..
Let me know when your ready to go off-shore inthis thing so I can take a HUGE Life Insurance Policy on you..hopefully I never collect on it..but,if I do...I promise to buy myself a bigger boat and retire to sail away into the sunset where I'll toast you every evening.>>>> Fair Winds>>> David
Let me know when your ready to go off-shore inthis thing so I can take a HUGE Life Insurance Policy on you..hopefully I never collect on it..but,if I do...I promise to buy myself a bigger boat and retire to sail away into the sunset where I'll toast you every evening.>>>> Fair Winds>>> David
SV Prana
Go to the attached link to see what "can be done" in a 235. This individual was an inspiration to Steph and I... I don't know how to access the full log of this journey, but if you can find it, it will truly inspire you as well. You might do a quick google search to see if you can find the rest of the log postings as they are a fascinating story of an 8 month cruise on his Beneteau 235. We were told MANY times that we couldn't do what we have done in a Hunter 25.5 It feels good to fly in the face of the "nay-sayers" every now and then. EDIT: I can't find the rest of the log and I am afraid that it may have disappeared into a black hole... In a nutshell, Thomas and his dog Kiva sailed a Beneteau 235 from Texas to the southernmost islands in the Exumas chain. An outstanding story (I read it as he was posting the log in "real" time back in 2003) that anyone who has ever asked the question "could I?" should read. I truly hope someone else knows where to find this article...
Go to the attached link to see what "can be done" in a 235. This individual was an inspiration to Steph and I... I don't know how to access the full log of this journey, but if you can find it, it will truly inspire you as well. You might do a quick google search to see if you can find the rest of the log postings as they are a fascinating story of an 8 month cruise on his Beneteau 235. We were told MANY times that we couldn't do what we have done in a Hunter 25.5 It feels good to fly in the face of the "nay-sayers" every now and then. EDIT: I can't find the rest of the log and I am afraid that it may have disappeared into a black hole... In a nutshell, Thomas and his dog Kiva sailed a Beneteau 235 from Texas to the southernmost islands in the Exumas chain. An outstanding story (I read it as he was posting the log in "real" time back in 2003) that anyone who has ever asked the question "could I?" should read. I truly hope someone else knows where to find this article...
ocean going
magellan and columbus set out in vessels far less seaworthy and had no idea where they were going, but then, columbus lost two of his three ships and magellan got munched half way. how brave are you? how foolish?
magellan and columbus set out in vessels far less seaworthy and had no idea where they were going, but then, columbus lost two of his three ships and magellan got munched half way. how brave are you? how foolish?
Not Totally True..
Actually,Thomas began in Texas and went accrost the InterCoastal Canal to New Orleans..hauled his boat there for work..then TRUCKED it to Florida where he sailed on to the Islands.And,if you followed his writtings closely,many times he wished for5 a larger boat..but,as you point oput..made due with what he had.I'm not saying you cannot go off-shore in a small boat (Pollanesians did it in little more than open canoes)..I'm saying WHY TEST YOUR LUCK?
Actually,Thomas began in Texas and went accrost the InterCoastal Canal to New Orleans..hauled his boat there for work..then TRUCKED it to Florida where he sailed on to the Islands.And,if you followed his writtings closely,many times he wished for5 a larger boat..but,as you point oput..made due with what he had.I'm not saying you cannot go off-shore in a small boat (Pollanesians did it in little more than open canoes)..I'm saying WHY TEST YOUR LUCK?
Yes, Beneteau 235 is big enough for Ocean travel
people do it in much smaller boats. I really like the Beneteau 235. The Nav table in the bathroom is very nice! I want to make sure you feel comfortable out there. Please let me know when you are leaving and we get some insurance. I pay for it!
people do it in much smaller boats. I really like the Beneteau 235. The Nav table in the bathroom is very nice! I want to make sure you feel comfortable out there. Please let me know when you are leaving and we get some insurance. I pay for it!
mortyd one guestion
where did you get your degree in Naval engineering? I work for a Naval Ship Yard for many year and your understand about ship construction and ballast is very exciting. Do you lecture any where in the NY area?
where did you get your degree in Naval engineering? I work for a Naval Ship Yard for many year and your understand about ship construction and ballast is very exciting. Do you lecture any where in the NY area?
Brian, you are not in open water
for that long. You can pick and chose when to leave port and then be out in blue water for a day or two maybe three or four tops. Not to go into who boat is built better, the Hunter 25 is stronger than the Beneteau 235. The Beneteau 235 is a go fast boat built light and the Hunter 25 is a small coastal cruiser. If you want a blue water boat you have to buy a blue water boat. If you want a go fast boat you buy a go fast boat. If you want something in the middle, you don't go into blue water on long cruises. flyingrv6, if you really are thinking serious about this get practical sailor boat review for the Beneteau 235. See what the professional say. I my opinion, whenever you go out you take your life in your hands. If you don't have a blue water rated boat, your odds go down substantially.
for that long. You can pick and chose when to leave port and then be out in blue water for a day or two maybe three or four tops. Not to go into who boat is built better, the Hunter 25 is stronger than the Beneteau 235. The Beneteau 235 is a go fast boat built light and the Hunter 25 is a small coastal cruiser. If you want a blue water boat you have to buy a blue water boat. If you want a go fast boat you buy a go fast boat. If you want something in the middle, you don't go into blue water on long cruises. flyingrv6, if you really are thinking serious about this get practical sailor boat review for the Beneteau 235. See what the professional say. I my opinion, whenever you go out you take your life in your hands. If you don't have a blue water rated boat, your odds go down substantially.
'Cocktail' boats
Seems there are many "experts" on this forum and lotta opinions from them. Mr Fly I would tell you what you want to hear, but I am confined to the truth and my experience. 1) A Hunter 25 is a 'lake' boat or at best kept inside a bay and in protected waters. I took a 28ft boat to Hawaii once but would NOT take a Hunter 25 down the coast I know well. 2) A Bennytow is no better and in some ways a whole lot worse than a Hunter, these are well known as 'cocktail' boats for sitting in the marina and having cocktails. 3) Yes, indeedy, there have been many adventurers that have set off crossing oceans and been successful in small boats. Serge Testa comes to mind, and my favorite (he called himself a "milktoast" kinda guy) a brave editor for the Plain Dealer in Ohio, Mr Robert Manry took a wooden daysailer with center board across the atlantic; 14 foot long. I met the fellow on 'Sea-Egg' in Auckland New Zealand in '74 we had a few beers, I remember him being very confident and a knowledgable guy as he had already crossed the Pacific ocean, he wa lost in the Tasman on a 'two week run' to Australia. I once took two of my friends on an adventure in a wood 26 foot cutter cruising six isles in Hawaii, we had an outboard, six gallons of gas, and had to constantly bail with buckets...;-) Sure you can do it, but why not do it in a real cruiser?
Seems there are many "experts" on this forum and lotta opinions from them. Mr Fly I would tell you what you want to hear, but I am confined to the truth and my experience. 1) A Hunter 25 is a 'lake' boat or at best kept inside a bay and in protected waters. I took a 28ft boat to Hawaii once but would NOT take a Hunter 25 down the coast I know well. 2) A Bennytow is no better and in some ways a whole lot worse than a Hunter, these are well known as 'cocktail' boats for sitting in the marina and having cocktails. 3) Yes, indeedy, there have been many adventurers that have set off crossing oceans and been successful in small boats. Serge Testa comes to mind, and my favorite (he called himself a "milktoast" kinda guy) a brave editor for the Plain Dealer in Ohio, Mr Robert Manry took a wooden daysailer with center board across the atlantic; 14 foot long. I met the fellow on 'Sea-Egg' in Auckland New Zealand in '74 we had a few beers, I remember him being very confident and a knowledgable guy as he had already crossed the Pacific ocean, he wa lost in the Tasman on a 'two week run' to Australia. I once took two of my friends on an adventure in a wood 26 foot cutter cruising six isles in Hawaii, we had an outboard, six gallons of gas, and had to constantly bail with buckets...;-) Sure you can do it, but why not do it in a real cruiser?
Sea keeping ability is not something often
mentioned here. But It certainly is the most important factor in surviving an ocean crossing, The next is the seamanship of the crew. If you have a marginal boat and a very capable crew you can accomplish much. But if crew and boat are both marginal we may never see you again.
mentioned here. But It certainly is the most important factor in surviving an ocean crossing, The next is the seamanship of the crew. If you have a marginal boat and a very capable crew you can accomplish much. But if crew and boat are both marginal we may never see you again.
Beneteau235
Ross Said "But if crew and boat are both marginal we may never see you again." ...and if you are here asking whether such a boat is suitable...you ARE a marginal crew or you would not be asking! Sorry to be blunt but the idea deserves bluntness.
Ross Said "But if crew and boat are both marginal we may never see you again." ...and if you are here asking whether such a boat is suitable...you ARE a marginal crew or you would not be asking! Sorry to be blunt but the idea deserves bluntness.
Will the real Beneteau sailors stand up, please ??
Disinclined to participate in threads where the original poster poses a life-or-death question without any evidence of attempted self-education, I just watched this thread scroll by until "Cap'n Ron" went OT with the following slur: "A Bennytow is no better and in some ways a whole lot worse than a Hunter, these are well known as 'cocktail' boats for sitting in the marina and having cocktails". Without knowing "Cap'n Ron"s real identity I can only assume that his moniker is well-chosen. Perhaps that is why none of the Beneteau owners on this board has attempted to educate the Cap'n about the considerable offshore achievements of many Beneteaus. On the other hand, it is conceivable, of course, that the Beneteau owners on this board were indeed too busy drinking their cocktails to be disturbed by an inconvenient truth...... The long and the short of it is that, even though I am a long-time Hunter owner, I find myself time-and-again prompted to stand up for Beneteaus whenever the discussion on the US-based sailing boards sinks to the level of simplistic, unsubstantiated slurs. Just in case the board's collective hard disks crashed a long time ago and our short-term memories have been addled by watching boat-babe, let me reiterate for the record that in 2003 the Beneteau First 40.7 "First National Real Estate", skippered by Michael Spies, won both the IMS and overal IRC divisions of the Sydney-Hobart race; generally considered to be one of the most grueling offshore tests. In fact, under todays racing rules, they should have won the overall race title as well! This year no fewer than seven Beneteau Firsts participated in the 2006 Sydney-Hobart race. In spite of the demanding conditions all seven finished. So, don't ever let the "watch-me-sail-my-crabcrusher-out-of-chicken-harbor-someday" crowd discourage you from realizing your own bluewater cruising dreams as soon as you're good and ready, even when a (properly prepared) Beneteau (or Jeanneau. or Catalina or Hunter) is what you plan to sail! Does that mean that I consider "a Beneteau 235 big enough for ocean travel??" I suggest that flyingrv6 (again, a fitting moniker) pays close attention to what Ross and Camaraderie had to say about that. See yah out there someday.... Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II" Port Vila, Vanuatu
Disinclined to participate in threads where the original poster poses a life-or-death question without any evidence of attempted self-education, I just watched this thread scroll by until "Cap'n Ron" went OT with the following slur: "A Bennytow is no better and in some ways a whole lot worse than a Hunter, these are well known as 'cocktail' boats for sitting in the marina and having cocktails". Without knowing "Cap'n Ron"s real identity I can only assume that his moniker is well-chosen. Perhaps that is why none of the Beneteau owners on this board has attempted to educate the Cap'n about the considerable offshore achievements of many Beneteaus. On the other hand, it is conceivable, of course, that the Beneteau owners on this board were indeed too busy drinking their cocktails to be disturbed by an inconvenient truth...... The long and the short of it is that, even though I am a long-time Hunter owner, I find myself time-and-again prompted to stand up for Beneteaus whenever the discussion on the US-based sailing boards sinks to the level of simplistic, unsubstantiated slurs. Just in case the board's collective hard disks crashed a long time ago and our short-term memories have been addled by watching boat-babe, let me reiterate for the record that in 2003 the Beneteau First 40.7 "First National Real Estate", skippered by Michael Spies, won both the IMS and overal IRC divisions of the Sydney-Hobart race; generally considered to be one of the most grueling offshore tests. In fact, under todays racing rules, they should have won the overall race title as well! This year no fewer than seven Beneteau Firsts participated in the 2006 Sydney-Hobart race. In spite of the demanding conditions all seven finished. So, don't ever let the "watch-me-sail-my-crabcrusher-out-of-chicken-harbor-someday" crowd discourage you from realizing your own bluewater cruising dreams as soon as you're good and ready, even when a (properly prepared) Beneteau (or Jeanneau. or Catalina or Hunter) is what you plan to sail! Does that mean that I consider "a Beneteau 235 big enough for ocean travel??" I suggest that flyingrv6 (again, a fitting moniker) pays close attention to what Ross and Camaraderie had to say about that. See yah out there someday.... Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II" Port Vila, Vanuatu
ocean going
waffle, you may be a brilliant naval engineer, but i think maybe you missed common sense and humor 101. if somebody had the skill needed to safely take such a boat into open seas, he'd hardly be asking an anonymous forum like this if it is safe. no?
waffle, you may be a brilliant naval engineer, but i think maybe you missed common sense and humor 101. if somebody had the skill needed to safely take such a boat into open seas, he'd hardly be asking an anonymous forum like this if it is safe. no?
Captian Ron...
I am sure that Captian Ron has very good reasons for his opinion. Perhaps he could help to clarify and explain a few things. A very very large percentage of the world wide charter fleet consists of Beneteau Boats. 1) how many of them are lost to heavy weather? 2) how many people dye anually or are injured on these boats? 3) who insures there death traps? 4) how do so many of them manage to cross oceans? 5) why do people enjoy sailing these things? 6) why do the charter companies continue to rely on these poorly constructed boats? 7) Do you wear a Greek fisherman's hat, smoke a pipe, and say AARG a lot? Thanks Ron. It is always fun to read what you have to say. Best regards.
I am sure that Captian Ron has very good reasons for his opinion. Perhaps he could help to clarify and explain a few things. A very very large percentage of the world wide charter fleet consists of Beneteau Boats. 1) how many of them are lost to heavy weather? 2) how many people dye anually or are injured on these boats? 3) who insures there death traps? 4) how do so many of them manage to cross oceans? 5) why do people enjoy sailing these things? 6) why do the charter companies continue to rely on these poorly constructed boats? 7) Do you wear a Greek fisherman's hat, smoke a pipe, and say AARG a lot? Thanks Ron. It is always fun to read what you have to say. Best regards.
Learning Curve
I wasn't sure what my Pearson would do in rough conditions. So I started out where rescue was likely. We went out in Mobile Bay with the wind 20 gusting to 30 just outside of safety . The Pearson did well. We sailed overnight several times from Pensacola to Panama City. Bumped into some 12-15' waves outside the entrance to Mobile Bay the Pearson did fine. I haven't met any really heavy weather but I ave a lot of confidence in my Pearson. I had a Macgregor 26 water ballast prior to the Pearson. Conditions in Mobile bay that the Pearson handled easily would be very difficult for the Mac 26. We are talking double reefed main no headsail and praying not to broach in the steep chop. I loved my Mac 26 it is a very capable trailerable boat that is fast in light conditions. It can handle most anything that you can expect in a small to moderate lake. But I think that it would broach and roll in 12' waves. Even if it did handle the conditions it would beat me to death in a few hours. So Flyinggrv6 I suggest that you go out in the lake in the rough conditions when you usualy head for shelter. Stay close to rescue. Maybe even line someone up to come help if things get out of hand. If you flip and lose your boat close to rescue that is bad but you get rescued. If a sudden thunderstorm flips you out on the gulf stream you might be up in North Carolina before anyone even knows that you are in trouble. What I am suggesting is a reality check. Sometimes we have to compare our ideals to reality. Seriously you can do a lot in the Bahamas and farther south without a major passage and with skill and luck you can do a lot. BUT if I was picking a boat the B235 wouldn't be the boat. I felt pretty vulnerable th elast time I made a passage from Panama City to Pensacola the forcast was for the wind to die down after dark so I left up the sails. Well after dark the wind increased and we had a sea full of whitecaps some splashing over the dodger. I wanted to put in a reef but didn't want to get up on the deck at night in 5-7' waves. The wind held steady about 20 knots much of the night so we were OK without a reef. My wife went below and slept for several hours. I doubt that sleep would be possible in a B235 and I suspect a Beneteau 235 would be a handful under those conditions. Just dropping sails and sitting out the night would be miserable and since the wind was from the south you'd probably be on the beach by morning. With 5-7' waves we had a few 12 footers come through. A 12' wave can roll a 23' boat. Heck a 12' wave can roll a 32' boat under the right conditions.
I wasn't sure what my Pearson would do in rough conditions. So I started out where rescue was likely. We went out in Mobile Bay with the wind 20 gusting to 30 just outside of safety . The Pearson did well. We sailed overnight several times from Pensacola to Panama City. Bumped into some 12-15' waves outside the entrance to Mobile Bay the Pearson did fine. I haven't met any really heavy weather but I ave a lot of confidence in my Pearson. I had a Macgregor 26 water ballast prior to the Pearson. Conditions in Mobile bay that the Pearson handled easily would be very difficult for the Mac 26. We are talking double reefed main no headsail and praying not to broach in the steep chop. I loved my Mac 26 it is a very capable trailerable boat that is fast in light conditions. It can handle most anything that you can expect in a small to moderate lake. But I think that it would broach and roll in 12' waves. Even if it did handle the conditions it would beat me to death in a few hours. So Flyinggrv6 I suggest that you go out in the lake in the rough conditions when you usualy head for shelter. Stay close to rescue. Maybe even line someone up to come help if things get out of hand. If you flip and lose your boat close to rescue that is bad but you get rescued. If a sudden thunderstorm flips you out on the gulf stream you might be up in North Carolina before anyone even knows that you are in trouble. What I am suggesting is a reality check. Sometimes we have to compare our ideals to reality. Seriously you can do a lot in the Bahamas and farther south without a major passage and with skill and luck you can do a lot. BUT if I was picking a boat the B235 wouldn't be the boat. I felt pretty vulnerable th elast time I made a passage from Panama City to Pensacola the forcast was for the wind to die down after dark so I left up the sails. Well after dark the wind increased and we had a sea full of whitecaps some splashing over the dodger. I wanted to put in a reef but didn't want to get up on the deck at night in 5-7' waves. The wind held steady about 20 knots much of the night so we were OK without a reef. My wife went below and slept for several hours. I doubt that sleep would be possible in a B235 and I suspect a Beneteau 235 would be a handful under those conditions. Just dropping sails and sitting out the night would be miserable and since the wind was from the south you'd probably be on the beach by morning. With 5-7' waves we had a few 12 footers come through. A 12' wave can roll a 23' boat. Heck a 12' wave can roll a 32' boat under the right conditions.
Waffle, I admire your experience in a naval
ship yard. I was in the Air Force with Curtis Le May. I was a welder in a field maintenance shop in Maine and he was the CO of the Strategic Air Command. You have never defined your job in the navy yard and it would sure help your credibility.
ship yard. I was in the Air Force with Curtis Le May. I was a welder in a field maintenance shop in Maine and he was the CO of the Strategic Air Command. You have never defined your job in the navy yard and it would sure help your credibility.
Missed his key point
He said "close to shore". That likely means a few hundred day sails to South America. Where's the problem? If your boat is sound, all you need is experience, motivation, navigation, supplies and weather for coastal cruising. Anything anyone can come up with in addition to this list falls into a category already on this list. And if you get tired near the end, you can always trailer it back to Chicago from Corpus Christi.
He said "close to shore". That likely means a few hundred day sails to South America. Where's the problem? If your boat is sound, all you need is experience, motivation, navigation, supplies and weather for coastal cruising. Anything anyone can come up with in addition to this list falls into a category already on this list. And if you get tired near the end, you can always trailer it back to Chicago from Corpus Christi.
When I look at the charts there seems to be
two options for getting to South America from the south coast of the USA either island hopping from the east coast of Florida or following the coast along the gulf down past Mexico and Central America. Either way involves stretches with few ports of refuge.
two options for getting to South America from the south coast of the USA either island hopping from the east coast of Florida or following the coast along the gulf down past Mexico and Central America. Either way involves stretches with few ports of refuge.
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