So, sailing the ocean blue in a Mac25 is uncomfortable at best and life threatening at worst, and the upgrades are expensive and numerous. So what kind of boat, in the 24-30ft range (trailability a plus) can I find readily on the used market (I don't have the biggest budget) that will take me safely across an ocean with less than a HUGE investment of time and money?
small Blue Water boat
- Thread starter cedarpoint
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Nor'sea 27, only trailerable one I'm aware of.
As for the rest of your question....c'mon, that's like asking your mother who the best girl to marry is. There are hundreds if not thousands of boats out there.
You want a list? Here, it's Edson's list of boats that have tiller to wheel conversions, but a good start: http://www.edsonmarine.com//support/wheel_conversion/index.php
As for the rest of your question....c'mon, that's like asking your mother who the best girl to marry is. There are hundreds if not thousands of boats out there.
You want a list? Here, it's Edson's list of boats that have tiller to wheel conversions, but a good start: http://www.edsonmarine.com//support/wheel_conversion/index.php
Why not read this associated link
right here on this board at this time!!!
http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=656824#post656824
That's why they write books! And why it's easier for the asuthors: they don't get immediate negative feedback to their suggestions! Perhaps if you told us what your budget was, we could stop trying to get you into a boat that would float and get you there safely. Hmm, that Mac 25 is gettin' real cool 'bout now, eh?
right here on this board at this time!!!
http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=656824#post656824
That's why they write books! And why it's easier for the asuthors: they don't get immediate negative feedback to their suggestions! Perhaps if you told us what your budget was, we could stop trying to get you into a boat that would float and get you there safely. Hmm, that Mac 25 is gettin' real cool 'bout now, eh?
haha yeah, I see what your saying. Ok my budget, boat and hardware included, can't exceed $7500. That's just the way it is, I'm po. But I am also going to make a long passage one way or another. Help me not get killed.
Do you want to go cruising or making ocean passages they are not the same thing. I have been studying the charts of th eChesapeake bay. You could spend years cruising around the Chesapeake. You could sail around the USA's east coast without a blue water boat. I don't know about the extreme North East but from Norfolk to South Padre Island should be doable with a Mac 25 if you stay coastal and run inside a lot of the time. $7500 is not much money to buy a boat and I expect to pay more than that getting my Pearson 323 ready to go cruising. We don't plan on crossing oceans in the P323 though some have. Go cruising!!!!! spend next summer coastal cruising and if you still have the fire you will find a blue water boat. But not for $7500.
Add ons add up
An offshore liferaft costs how much? $7500 won't buy offshore.
Looks like with that budget you are going to have to make compromises. How about settling on trailoring it to say Virgina or NC and take the ICW down to Florida and then head over to the B. Islands and maybe Dominican Republic and then returning. You can also try a leg upwind to see if you like it. Just keep in mind that it would take you about 3 days to travel 100 miles upwind (pointing is an issue in the Mac and because it's so light, the waves have a stopping effect on it much more than bigger boats). Personally, I wouldn't try leaving DR to go farther east. In fact, I believe if you didn't turn around before you got to DR would be a real feat because a lot of that would be a beat into weather too.
As Wally said, there is always the crewing option. That's actually a great way to learn and explore at the same time on very cheap budget. There are always captains looking for crew to help with legs of the trip. You will meet people you could do without and people who will enrich your lift for years to come. It will be an experience that you will never forget. Who knows, you might just find a niche and end up going around the world several times and go on to write books about it and then buy that big blue water boat for yourself. I can't think of a better career
As Wally said, there is always the crewing option. That's actually a great way to learn and explore at the same time on very cheap budget. There are always captains looking for crew to help with legs of the trip. You will meet people you could do without and people who will enrich your lift for years to come. It will be an experience that you will never forget. Who knows, you might just find a niche and end up going around the world several times and go on to write books about it and then buy that big blue water boat for yourself. I can't think of a better career
Yeah, I shopped around for a while before I paid $2800 for my offshore life-raft. It's a 6 man, but there isn't much of a price difference between a 6 man and a 4 man so no sense in getting a 4 man.
Then there is the JSD at kit price of $700 which would need to be a requirement for such a small boat (even Lin and Larry had a sea-anchor and used it a lot).
EPERB would be a great addition at $500.
So just a few additions to the boat would take up more than half of your allowance and we having even talked about all the "little" things like ropes, GPS, Binoculars...just the little things could use up all your budget. Think about that crewing idea a bit more. Personally I wish I got involved in that when I was young.
I have a plan to sail around the world soon. My current plan is to build my own software hosting company (about 40% done with the software now) and get enough clients to where it can pay for my expenses while cruising. I should have the software finished before winter and hope to get enough clients by mid spring. I'll be looking for crew for some legs, like from here to Panima and definately will need help getting through the canal so maybe I'll look you up then to see if you are interested.
look at the budget again!!!!!
You don't want to spend 7500 on a boat if that is your budget... lots of reasons for this one...
you are going to have to get some gear, may be new sails, may be a lot more....
So if you cut your budget in half - then you are looking at 3700 or so...
Something like a Columbia 28 would be cool... but not trailering....
So I think you might find yourself looking at a Mac 26D or S.... and limiiting your travel distance...
Off shore can be FL to the Bahamas...
You don't want to spend 7500 on a boat if that is your budget... lots of reasons for this one...
you are going to have to get some gear, may be new sails, may be a lot more....
So if you cut your budget in half - then you are looking at 3700 or so...
Something like a Columbia 28 would be cool... but not trailering....
So I think you might find yourself looking at a Mac 26D or S.... and limiiting your travel distance...
Off shore can be FL to the Bahamas...
A boat that can safely handle ocean crossings for $7500? No, not happening. At least not if your safety comfort level is conventional. People have taken some very light craft on long voyages, but they are not what I would call "conventional" cruisers. They are more like thrill seekers. I'm sure you can find examples of sailors crossing the Atlantic in a Catalina 27; however, you won't find many who at least I would call "prudent".
If you are truly committed to ocean passages, you will have to resign yourself to either buying a project boat and gradually bringing it up to blue water capability, or to sailing on other people's boats.
If you are truly committed to ocean passages, you will have to resign yourself to either buying a project boat and gradually bringing it up to blue water capability, or to sailing on other people's boats.
I don't understand the linkage between an ocean capable boat and a trailer sailer. Generally you can have one or the other. Take the money that would be spent on truck and trailer and use it for a better more capable boat. get a smart car for transportation.
How about an Aleutka, or an Eric Jr.
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/198...-26-Cutter-2107324/Pensacola/FL/United-States
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1979/Eric-Jr--2033648/Oak-Harbor/WA/United-States
Or a beefed up Cal 25:
http://www.cal25.com/page11/page42/WorldCruiser.html
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/198...-26-Cutter-2107324/Pensacola/FL/United-States
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1979/Eric-Jr--2033648/Oak-Harbor/WA/United-States
Or a beefed up Cal 25:
http://www.cal25.com/page11/page42/WorldCruiser.html
that first link is his boat....go get it now
Didn't know you can find a blue water boat for that cheap....wow!!!!!
The boat is a solidly designed boat and looks well thought out and it has a lot of the gear he needs included. As long as it passes survey, I'd say it's a perfect match. Do not histate!!!!! to make an offer.
Didn't know you can find a blue water boat for that cheap....wow!!!!!
The boat is a solidly designed boat and looks well thought out and it has a lot of the gear he needs included. As long as it passes survey, I'd say it's a perfect match. Do not histate!!!!! to make an offer.
Things I like about this boat is:
- the support structure inside
- the three seperate chainplates bolted to the hull per side
- the double ended to help handle the downwind waves
- good sea-births
- no cockpit to fill up with water from being poopped on
- can share outboard with dinhgy
- great gunk hole exploring boat
hmmmm....maybe I should trade my boat for it
things to make sure they are good:
- spreaders look undersized...make sure they are still strong.
- didn't say the sails were new so they most likely are old so you may need new sails.
- solor panel, make sure it works because it doesn't have a wind generator and the outboard mostlikely doesn't charge the batteries.
- will need an auto-pillot...doesn't say it has one so I bet it doesn't and it doesn't have a wind-vang.
- the support structure inside
- the three seperate chainplates bolted to the hull per side
- the double ended to help handle the downwind waves
- good sea-births
- no cockpit to fill up with water from being poopped on
- can share outboard with dinhgy
- great gunk hole exploring boat
hmmmm....maybe I should trade my boat for it
things to make sure they are good:
- spreaders look undersized...make sure they are still strong.
- didn't say the sails were new so they most likely are old so you may need new sails.
- solor panel, make sure it works because it doesn't have a wind generator and the outboard mostlikely doesn't charge the batteries.
- will need an auto-pillot...doesn't say it has one so I bet it doesn't and it doesn't have a wind-vang.
It's hard to find much about an Aleutka, but it appears it is has twin bilge keels and no particular provision for auxiliary power or some of the other things we might take for granted. Needs some careful thought before jumping in. Might be a great boat, might lead to disappointments. Better for cruising the shallows than the deep blue, one might think, but who can say until they try it.
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