Correct crusier for atlantic crossing +live on for 2 ????
- Thread starter garylex
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Gary,Look for the book titles that have been recommended
and stay in touch with the forum. We can be a crusty opinionated bunch. I am curmudgeonly on occassion. But for the most part we are kinda like a big club, each with a favorite table but we get up and move around a lot too.
and stay in touch with the forum. We can be a crusty opinionated bunch. I am curmudgeonly on occassion. But for the most part we are kinda like a big club, each with a favorite table but we get up and move around a lot too.
Gary
I should have put in my post why I feel you should not buy to small of a first boat.. Almost every sailing school I have been around will get you out of small keel boats and into 30'+ boats before your done with the course.. As Tony said and I also believe (other then docking) bigger boats ( to a Point ) are easier to sail...more comfortable to be on..( You did say you were getting up there in age right)..me too.. and I dont move around as fast as i use to...little boats react VERY quickly..They are great to own if on a limited budget or to learn on as they teach you sail and sail trim dynamics better then a big boat because you just plain come to a stop if doing it wrong or flip over... My first boat was a MAC 21... a fantastic safe boat to learn on...I outgrew it in basically the first season...By that I mean that I wanted more performance to race...to actually get somewhere with a wake behind me...to have some winches to ply with (no it didnt have any) to get some real canvas in the air.. My second boat was a San Juan 24...basicly a IOR 1/4 ton racer...it was a blast and I learned more on it then the Mac 21...the SJ 24 is a tender boat and will lay over fairly readily if you not on top of it ..the mac took effort to lay over...but we did it...
My 41 is easier to sail then the San Juan 24...as far as having to be on you toes and really sail it, that is...yes it does take more people or physical umph but it is a more relaxing sail... Buying something 27 to 32' I feel would suit you just perfectly...I will not even try to enter the brand debate...just buy one READY to sail...I have rebuilt two boats ( power boats ) never again...yes you learn about the boat but you will waste all that time you could have been on the water...AND if you need or want to sell it right away a project boat is hard to get rid of..and you will almost never get out of it what you have into it not even counting your time...a boat that just needs a little TLC often needs more then that although if you know what to look for can be found... When I said my current boat is not a blue water boat thats because the boat wasent designed for it...Big,yes...roomie,yes...nice looking,yes solidily built,no...does that mean its a piece of junk ? no...it is a fantastic coastal cruiser doing what it was designed to do..just not up to the strength standards an ocean crosser needs...just like the Super cub Lear jet example.. You will not out grow a medium sized boat in your first few years...It will take you off the coast a little ways without being afraid so much and let you explore some further ports of call in more comfort...letting you find out if this sailing life is for you. As always this is just an opinion, of one guy...meaning no more maybe then the next..I have owned a boat of some sort since 14 years of age..and made my share of mistakes...mostly because I wasent as smart as you to ask questions.. Again good luck
I should have put in my post why I feel you should not buy to small of a first boat.. Almost every sailing school I have been around will get you out of small keel boats and into 30'+ boats before your done with the course.. As Tony said and I also believe (other then docking) bigger boats ( to a Point ) are easier to sail...more comfortable to be on..( You did say you were getting up there in age right)..me too.. and I dont move around as fast as i use to...little boats react VERY quickly..They are great to own if on a limited budget or to learn on as they teach you sail and sail trim dynamics better then a big boat because you just plain come to a stop if doing it wrong or flip over... My first boat was a MAC 21... a fantastic safe boat to learn on...I outgrew it in basically the first season...By that I mean that I wanted more performance to race...to actually get somewhere with a wake behind me...to have some winches to ply with (no it didnt have any) to get some real canvas in the air.. My second boat was a San Juan 24...basicly a IOR 1/4 ton racer...it was a blast and I learned more on it then the Mac 21...the SJ 24 is a tender boat and will lay over fairly readily if you not on top of it ..the mac took effort to lay over...but we did it...
My 41 is easier to sail then the San Juan 24...as far as having to be on you toes and really sail it, that is...yes it does take more people or physical umph but it is a more relaxing sail... Buying something 27 to 32' I feel would suit you just perfectly...I will not even try to enter the brand debate...just buy one READY to sail...I have rebuilt two boats ( power boats ) never again...yes you learn about the boat but you will waste all that time you could have been on the water...AND if you need or want to sell it right away a project boat is hard to get rid of..and you will almost never get out of it what you have into it not even counting your time...a boat that just needs a little TLC often needs more then that although if you know what to look for can be found... When I said my current boat is not a blue water boat thats because the boat wasent designed for it...Big,yes...roomie,yes...nice looking,yes solidily built,no...does that mean its a piece of junk ? no...it is a fantastic coastal cruiser doing what it was designed to do..just not up to the strength standards an ocean crosser needs...just like the Super cub Lear jet example.. You will not out grow a medium sized boat in your first few years...It will take you off the coast a little ways without being afraid so much and let you explore some further ports of call in more comfort...letting you find out if this sailing life is for you. As always this is just an opinion, of one guy...meaning no more maybe then the next..I have owned a boat of some sort since 14 years of age..and made my share of mistakes...mostly because I wasent as smart as you to ask questions.. Again good luck
An attempt to give some direct answers
At this point I think we have made it pretty clear that the "best boat" does not exist. If I were looking for an offshore boat, I would tend towards the Tartan in the list of boats you mention, but there are many others such as Caliber, Island Packet, Tayana, Hans Christian, Amal, Morris, valiant, older Morgans and Pearsons, Shannon, and on goes the list. The boat market is packed with boats that you probably haven't heard of that are great candidates. Size is difficult to recomend. Some swear by their 45 footers, but I wouldn't want one for a number of reasons - I prefer the mid 30s. The Pardeys lived aboard a 26 footer for years, travelling the world without even an engine. Do you gotta have a TV and air conditioning? I don't, but I gotta have a good stereo and a guitar. Some people long distance cruise w/o a refrig and live on 12 volts. I could handle the 12 volts, but I gotta have cold beer. On electronics you asked about the bugs and yes, they are pretty much worked out. I don't think US companies are the only choice, but I would buy from a well known company. For ocean cruising, auto pilots should either be wind vane type or below deck installations as both are a bit more robust than the above deck units. There are a few direct answers from someone who has only cruised the Great Lake. My longest trip being 3 months. You will soon see that, now that I have offered my opinion, it won't take long for someone else to disagree with me. That is the nature of sailing and part of what makes these boards fun.
At this point I think we have made it pretty clear that the "best boat" does not exist. If I were looking for an offshore boat, I would tend towards the Tartan in the list of boats you mention, but there are many others such as Caliber, Island Packet, Tayana, Hans Christian, Amal, Morris, valiant, older Morgans and Pearsons, Shannon, and on goes the list. The boat market is packed with boats that you probably haven't heard of that are great candidates. Size is difficult to recomend. Some swear by their 45 footers, but I wouldn't want one for a number of reasons - I prefer the mid 30s. The Pardeys lived aboard a 26 footer for years, travelling the world without even an engine. Do you gotta have a TV and air conditioning? I don't, but I gotta have a good stereo and a guitar. Some people long distance cruise w/o a refrig and live on 12 volts. I could handle the 12 volts, but I gotta have cold beer. On electronics you asked about the bugs and yes, they are pretty much worked out. I don't think US companies are the only choice, but I would buy from a well known company. For ocean cruising, auto pilots should either be wind vane type or below deck installations as both are a bit more robust than the above deck units. There are a few direct answers from someone who has only cruised the Great Lake. My longest trip being 3 months. You will soon see that, now that I have offered my opinion, it won't take long for someone else to disagree with me. That is the nature of sailing and part of what makes these boards fun.
Thanks Mainsail
I can tell from your suggestions that you have learned from experiences and this gives me much to consider and investigate that I had no clue off. Having said that I thank you much for your time to help me and all others out . Cheers
I can tell from your suggestions that you have learned from experiences and this gives me much to consider and investigate that I had no clue off. Having said that I thank you much for your time to help me and all others out . Cheers
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