Possibly wrong boat, but dreaming.

[sv_regulus]

I’m surprised that you elected to write about being dark and “no fear”.

It seems you missed the salient first statement, “it is not about size nor money for a brand new boat”. It is about preparation. The ocean is not about fear it is about respect. If you set out to sea into a storm the ocean will chew you up without regard for the size of your boat.

If you prepare your boat for a journey across open water, you select good weather and sea conditions there are great odds in your favor that you will make a successful passage. A seaworthy boat designed for open water is likely to get you safely to your destination.

In some ways it is much like flying. If your plane is properly prepared and you have the skills/training, and don’t take off into a thunderstorm there is a reasonable expectation that your journey will be a success. If you choose an ultralight plane and try to fly across Alaska in winter you are less likely to be successful.

You did ask if I was scared to die. Haha! You're right, preparation is key. I am taking on more risk by choosing to take a boat to sea that's not specifically designed for the task. I'm also taking on more risk by not having a lot of experience, which I can hopefully work on. I also agree that the risk can be mitigated to an extent by careful planning, preparation, and the right safety equipment. Oh, and a heavy dose of respect for just how small and insignificant a sailboat is to the might of the ocean of course!

I'll prepare the best I can and do the best I can with what I have. In a perfect life I would much rather have a purpose built vessel, but alas, tis not meant to be, for I am but a simple man. Shrugs* plenty of mad lads out there sailing about in less than ideal boats. Sam Holmes making that same crossing on a 23 ft trailer sailer with next to no equipment, an engine (a real one), or lifeboat is pretty wild.

 

[Leeward Rail]

Some quick thoughts/questions to spur some ideas for you..... as I lay awake in the middle of the night...


What is your sailing experience?
Have you thought about crewing for someone ? That way you gain experience and see if you even like the reality of offshore sailing.

Lots of people like the "idea" but not the reality.

In a perfect life I would much rather have a purpose built vessel,

What do think is purpose built for the task in that size ?

Sam Holmes making that same crossing on a 23 ft trailer sailer with next to no equipment, an engine (a real one), or lifeboat is pretty wild.

Depending on the details... minimal equipment, being engine less, or small, have little bearing on suitability.

For an insight into traditional simplicity on a small boat...You may want to read some books by Larry and Lin Pardey. Their first circumnavigation aboard Seraffyn, a 24ft wood boat lasted over a decade.

For another perspective..there is a "round the world race" on right now with boats that are "purpose built" and 19ft long.

Home

Small Boat. Huge Adventure.

minigloberace.com

There is a Contessa 26 (in the same price range as a Ericson 26-2), in our marina, that would handle a trip to Iceland,, nevermind a downwind trip to Hawaii.

Are we talking going alone ?
Single handing ocean sailing is different kettle of fish. Mentally and physically. Skillset becomes much more important.

What are you expecting out of an ocean crossing ?
As a buddy said this summer, after he got back from his first offshore passage... "it's like jogging 700 miles with nothing but open ocean to look at"


Are you planning on selling the Ericson when you arrive in Hawaii, or continuing onwards someplace ?

Edit:
Here's a few links based on my questions, specifically to get you reading/thinking... The Reddit link, is one I bookmarked from a buddy of mine, and has some relevant comments from sailors who have done the Hawaii and back run.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/obituaries/larry-pardey-dead.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/sailing/comments/17jhb5p

Edit again (can't sleep.. hehe):
While SBO has a few very knowledgeable members, it isn't much of a long distance sailing forum. I would join cruisersforum or sailnet for a start.

 

[dLj]

Thank you! I'm not sure about the hours on the engine unfortunately, as the previous owner didn't connect the hours meter. Either way I'm planning on rebuilding the diesel as that's one thing I do know how to do. As for tankage, I think I can squeeze a larger tank into the space for diesel in the same spot made out of aluminum 2024-T3.
As far as the overall condition of the boat, the deck is solid in all respects, but I've already decided to add backing plates to all critical areas. The chain plates are in good shape, but the standing rigging is showing it's age. I've already begun redoing the electrical systems, plumping, and plan to use bolt time through holes instead of the ones that came with the boat. The rudder looks good, but I plan to drop it and inspect the bearings as a good measure. There is one keel bolt on the very aft of the bilge that appears to be rusted quite severely, so I may investigate that, by the forward 4 bolts are looking good. Keel joint is visible, but the bolts are as tight as I can get them without worrying about breaking something. We'll see come summer if my local yard can help me. Also going to look into barrier coat from west marine to keep the hull nice as it's currently pretty good as far as blisters go.

Your engine isn't going to get you to Hawaii - your sails will. That keel bolt definitely needs looking at.

The five fundamentals for off-shore boat preparation.

1) Keep the people on
2) Keep the water out
3) Keep the mast up
4) Keep the keel down
5) Keep the rudder on

Get those five in solid shape. Then work on other details.

You need sailing time on your boat.

I would not add more fuel tanks inside the boat - I'd add a lot more water. How are you going to carry 80 to 100 gallons of water? It doesn't matter how much fuel you have if you're dead... You can drink sea water but there is a technique you would need to learn, but it is not a guarantee you will survive it - believe me - you don't want to find out first hand...

I'd recommend getting a paid subscription to Attainable Adventures. At something like $40 a year - it is not only the best information source for going off-shore at any price - it is stupidly cheap! You can spend a year just reading all the information on there.

Attainable Adventure Cruising

Reference and technical site for offshore voyaging and cruising in sail and motorboats.

www.morganscloud.com

dj

 

[FastOlson]

I hope the OP does some searching for info at the main owners' site, ericsonyachts.org.
Registering there is not complicated and there is no cost to sign up.
There are 25 years of archives there. Sisterships have cruised oceans.
There are answers, both archival and current, there.

 

[sv_regulus]

Some quick thoughts/questions to spur some ideas for you..... as I lay awake in the middle of the night...


What is your sailing experience?
Have you thought about crewing for someone ? That way you gain experience and see if you even like the reality of offshore sailing.

Lots of people like the "idea" but not the reality.



What do think is purpose built for the task in that size ?



Depending on the details... minimal equipment, being engine less, or small, have little bearing on suitability.

For an insight into traditional simplicity on a small boat...You may want to read some books by Larry and Lin Pardey. Their first circumnavigation aboard Seraffyn, a 24ft wood boat lasted over a decade.

For another perspective..there is a "round the world race" on right now with boats that are "purpose built" and 19ft long.

Home

Small Boat. Huge Adventure.

minigloberace.com

There is a Contessa 26 (in the same price range as a Ericson 26-2), in our marina, that would handle a trip to Iceland,, nevermind a downwind trip to Hawaii.

Are we talking going alone ?
Single handing ocean sailing is different kettle of fish. Mentally and physically. Skillset becomes much more important.

What are you expecting out of an ocean crossing ?
As a buddy said this summer, after he got back from his first offshore passage... "it's like jogging 700 miles with nothing but open ocean to look at"


Are you planning on selling the Ericson when you arrive in Hawaii, or continuing onwards someplace ?

Edit:
Here's a few links based on my questions, specifically to get you reading/thinking... The Reddit link, is one I bookmarked from a buddy of mine, and has some relevant comments from sailors who have done the Hawaii and back run.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/obituaries/larry-pardey-dead.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/sailing/comments/17jhb5p

Edit again (can't sleep.. hehe):
While SBO has a few very knowledgeable members, it isn't much of a long distance sailing forum. I would join cruisersforum or sailnet for a start.

My sailing experience is a mix of club racing and learning to sail on a ranger 20. Obviously where I learned to sail is no ocean, but 20-30 knot days aren't uncommon and gusts are the norm here. Largely learned what I have from online resources as well as the older gentleman in the sailing club here, some of them fairly accomplished racers and blue water sailors.

I was looking into a few crewing websites and apps and I'm going to try to take a trip this coming summer on a longer venture to make sure this is what I want.

I would say anything with a much better AVS than the E-26. That's my biggest concern is her stability. Based on my assessments and research (I come from aerospace) she has great initial stability, but very poor righting moment, AVS, and overall stability in rough conditions. Ranked as a class 3 vessel and an SSS number of somewhere in the low 20s. Seemingly because of her large beam for length and overall hull design.

I'm expecting excitement, miserable feelings, lack of sleep to the extreme, etc.

I was planning on holding on to the boat at least for a while, but it depends on how the crossing goes I suppose. XD

Thank you for all the resources!

 

[mermike]

As others have said, get as much sailing experience as you can before trying such a thing. You have crossed the first hurdle, you have a boat. Now go out sailing! Sail in increasingly difficult conditions. Sail the heck out of it. Continuously evaluate your boat against your goal, but more importantly, evaluate yourself. The process of learning about both is part of the joy of sailing.

You'll figure out for yourself whether you and your boat are up to the task, and when you're ready to go.