I have sailed small boats (<20ft.) extensivly for 25 years in all kinds of weather conditions. I am now considering moving to a keelboat as I have the time and would use it quite extensivly for cruising. After gaining experience, I plan to sail it around the world. My question is, if money was not an issue, would you jump right into something in the 40-65 foot range or gradually increase the size of the boat over several years?
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Dave
Depends ...
I went from sailing very small boats to a 36 footer in one shot. Why didn't I go bigger? Two reasons: Money and strength of crew. Money is obvious. The crew consists of my small wife and three daughters. Their strength to manage the sails was a consideration. (Yes, I know I could do it, but my wife is pretty reticent about taking the wheel and prefers to work the sails). Why didn't we go for something smaller first? If we were going to buy a boat, we wanted something that would be comfortable for the five of us. Anything smaller would have felt more like camping and too crowded. I think it all goes to how you are planning to use the boat - single handing it or with a capable crew. Some people are concerned about their ability to handle a larger boat around the docks/moorings. I wasn't too concerned about that. Understanding that there is a ton more momentum in a large sail boat, taking it very easy, and practicing, practicing in the early season when there are few others around got me over any concerns that might have been lingering.
I went from sailing very small boats to a 36 footer in one shot. Why didn't I go bigger? Two reasons: Money and strength of crew. Money is obvious. The crew consists of my small wife and three daughters. Their strength to manage the sails was a consideration. (Yes, I know I could do it, but my wife is pretty reticent about taking the wheel and prefers to work the sails). Why didn't we go for something smaller first? If we were going to buy a boat, we wanted something that would be comfortable for the five of us. Anything smaller would have felt more like camping and too crowded. I think it all goes to how you are planning to use the boat - single handing it or with a capable crew. Some people are concerned about their ability to handle a larger boat around the docks/moorings. I wasn't too concerned about that. Understanding that there is a ton more momentum in a large sail boat, taking it very easy, and practicing, practicing in the early season when there are few others around got me over any concerns that might have been lingering.
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Steve O.
Solo?
If you are going solo then 40' is about the extent that you want to handle by yourself, and then it will take lots of customizing to set it up for single-handing.
If you are going solo then 40' is about the extent that you want to handle by yourself, and then it will take lots of customizing to set it up for single-handing.
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John Dawson
Ditto
I would agree with Steve O; do more research on what sizes have been handy for solo. There are some great mid-range boats. Go for savy and sustainability over size and heavy dependance on gadgetry when alone.
I would agree with Steve O; do more research on what sizes have been handy for solo. There are some great mid-range boats. Go for savy and sustainability over size and heavy dependance on gadgetry when alone.
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Jack
I take my 411 out by myself
My 411 and I get along great together. Go for the big boat! Don't waist time moving up. good luck Jack
My 411 and I get along great together. Go for the big boat! Don't waist time moving up. good luck Jack
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Tim
It is clear to me
Go for something in the 25-30 range. You have an awfull lot to learn about cruising. If you never sailed anything larger than 20 feet then you never had to deal with things like navigation, MOB, ATONS, electronics, weather, currents, anchoring or other cruising related aspecs of sailing. Learn and find what you like about a smaller boat before you waste your money on something larger and harder to handle. Enroll in as many USCGA or USPS courses as you can. They are very helpfull especially if you plan to solo. I have learned volumes about single handing by reading about the Golden Globe, Hobart, BOC and Whitbread races. If you have never heard of any of the things I have mentionaed all the more reason to bone up on your cruising skills. Also consider the safety of your family and/or crew. There are way too many un or underexperienced cruisers out there in boats that are too large. If you want to impress your neighbors then get the larger boat. If you want to truly learn about sailing/cruising then work your way up. Good luck Tim
Go for something in the 25-30 range. You have an awfull lot to learn about cruising. If you never sailed anything larger than 20 feet then you never had to deal with things like navigation, MOB, ATONS, electronics, weather, currents, anchoring or other cruising related aspecs of sailing. Learn and find what you like about a smaller boat before you waste your money on something larger and harder to handle. Enroll in as many USCGA or USPS courses as you can. They are very helpfull especially if you plan to solo. I have learned volumes about single handing by reading about the Golden Globe, Hobart, BOC and Whitbread races. If you have never heard of any of the things I have mentionaed all the more reason to bone up on your cruising skills. Also consider the safety of your family and/or crew. There are way too many un or underexperienced cruisers out there in boats that are too large. If you want to impress your neighbors then get the larger boat. If you want to truly learn about sailing/cruising then work your way up. Good luck Tim
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Norm Freedman
It's about money
I really think it's about how much your willing to spend and how valuable you consider your time. I single hand a 45' boat and I'm 65. I have electric winches, leasure furl main, a bow thruster and all the comforts of home. It's very expensive and extremely time consuming to change boats. You might get a few things wrong the first time, but you can make changes way easier and cheaper than going the "intermediate" boat route. Also, it's much cheaper to hire someone, if necessary, to teach you what you need to know, or even crew on another boat on a passage or two, than to have to change boats. This is just my opinion. I didn't do it this way, but then my decisions were financial ones. The other opinions posted here all make, IMHO, valid points.
I really think it's about how much your willing to spend and how valuable you consider your time. I single hand a 45' boat and I'm 65. I have electric winches, leasure furl main, a bow thruster and all the comforts of home. It's very expensive and extremely time consuming to change boats. You might get a few things wrong the first time, but you can make changes way easier and cheaper than going the "intermediate" boat route. Also, it's much cheaper to hire someone, if necessary, to teach you what you need to know, or even crew on another boat on a passage or two, than to have to change boats. This is just my opinion. I didn't do it this way, but then my decisions were financial ones. The other opinions posted here all make, IMHO, valid points.
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David Foster
Life is short - pick one 30 to 40 feet
If you are going alone, many have done it on a 30 footer. This is a great size, and there a good designs available that will do the job for you. 65 feet is great, but I think it requires a crew of more than two. As size goes up, the sailing forces in the rigging go up much faster. System complexity and cost also increase rapidly. But I would charter on different sizes, find what you want for your cruising plan and crew, then buy it, and start getting it ready. Life is too short to sneak up on the answer, especially if money is no object! I don't see a lot of value in learning in a smaller keel boat before moving up. Because they are quicker, you learn more in an hour on a dinghy than in a day on a cruising keel boat. The cruising boat has a lot more content in contingency plans, careful planning, and using/maintaining complex systems. So you might as well start on the target design. All IMHO! David Lady Lillie
If you are going alone, many have done it on a 30 footer. This is a great size, and there a good designs available that will do the job for you. 65 feet is great, but I think it requires a crew of more than two. As size goes up, the sailing forces in the rigging go up much faster. System complexity and cost also increase rapidly. But I would charter on different sizes, find what you want for your cruising plan and crew, then buy it, and start getting it ready. Life is too short to sneak up on the answer, especially if money is no object! I don't see a lot of value in learning in a smaller keel boat before moving up. Because they are quicker, you learn more in an hour on a dinghy than in a day on a cruising keel boat. The cruising boat has a lot more content in contingency plans, careful planning, and using/maintaining complex systems. So you might as well start on the target design. All IMHO! David Lady Lillie
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Kevin
I say go for an intermediate boat
Mike, I moved up from small boats two years back. I bought a 27 foot model that I was familiar with and now have two years of keel boat experience. There will be one more bigger boat down the road for me. If I had waited to buy after extensively researching bigger boats and then searching the market I might still be wthout a boat. Trust me, a keelboat is a lot more work and mtce. than my Laser and Siren were. But my 27 footer is definetly helping me decide what I want and don't want in a boat. Kevin
Mike, I moved up from small boats two years back. I bought a 27 foot model that I was familiar with and now have two years of keel boat experience. There will be one more bigger boat down the road for me. If I had waited to buy after extensively researching bigger boats and then searching the market I might still be wthout a boat. Trust me, a keelboat is a lot more work and mtce. than my Laser and Siren were. But my 27 footer is definetly helping me decide what I want and don't want in a boat. Kevin
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Tom
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Robert
KISS
Remember, KEEP IT SIMPLE SAILOR! What ever size boat you decide on, remember that ANYTHING can and probably will happen out in the big tank. As previously stated, bigger boats are great, BUT require more gadgetry, mechanical parts and possibly electronics for a soloist to handle. Example: If your steering cable breaks during a blow, could you quickly install an emergency tiller and more importantly, how hard is it going to be to steer that BIG boat. OR: What would happen if the new jib furling system jams right when you need to reduce or drop the jib? Very big boats have very big sails that are very hard to work under heavy weather conditions. Mike, I would suggest that you get the size boat that you think you can handle comfortably without all the frills, in all sorts of weather and situations, and then add on all the extras if it doesn't already have them. If it comes with all the frills, GREAT! But, I'd go out and practice sailing that baby without them, just in case. Good luck, Robert.
Remember, KEEP IT SIMPLE SAILOR! What ever size boat you decide on, remember that ANYTHING can and probably will happen out in the big tank. As previously stated, bigger boats are great, BUT require more gadgetry, mechanical parts and possibly electronics for a soloist to handle. Example: If your steering cable breaks during a blow, could you quickly install an emergency tiller and more importantly, how hard is it going to be to steer that BIG boat. OR: What would happen if the new jib furling system jams right when you need to reduce or drop the jib? Very big boats have very big sails that are very hard to work under heavy weather conditions. Mike, I would suggest that you get the size boat that you think you can handle comfortably without all the frills, in all sorts of weather and situations, and then add on all the extras if it doesn't already have them. If it comes with all the frills, GREAT! But, I'd go out and practice sailing that baby without them, just in case. Good luck, Robert.
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Warren
Right Boat
You must be able to "single hand" the boat. No larger than 30' - 33' Suggest a "full keel" type Cape Dory Allied Southern Cross Good Luck! Warren
You must be able to "single hand" the boat. No larger than 30' - 33' Suggest a "full keel" type Cape Dory Allied Southern Cross Good Luck! Warren
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Clyde
Aid To Navigation Systems (ATONS)
Buoys are floating ATONS and lighthouses are lighted ATONS. Fair Winds. Clyde
Buoys are floating ATONS and lighthouses are lighted ATONS. Fair Winds. Clyde
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Tom
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tom
think displacement think lifestyle
As has been mentioned before: When thinking about a boat think displacement not length. The tiny Pacific Seacraft Flicka only 20' long has circumnavigated several times. A catalina 30 while much larger probably hasn't crossed the Atlantic. There are books on choosing boats. The most important thing is to decide how you will use the boat. When you circumnavigate are you going to stop a lot and gunkhole up rivers etc or are you going to stay at sea most of the time??? Will you be eating alone or have a keg with a bunch of friends?? Will you be eating rice and fish or steak from the freezer?? When something breaks will you fix it yourself or throw money at it??? Is air conditioning a necessity or a useless complication?? Imagine the lifestyle that you want to have and then the boat will almost pick itself. Tom
As has been mentioned before: When thinking about a boat think displacement not length. The tiny Pacific Seacraft Flicka only 20' long has circumnavigated several times. A catalina 30 while much larger probably hasn't crossed the Atlantic. There are books on choosing boats. The most important thing is to decide how you will use the boat. When you circumnavigate are you going to stop a lot and gunkhole up rivers etc or are you going to stay at sea most of the time??? Will you be eating alone or have a keg with a bunch of friends?? Will you be eating rice and fish or steak from the freezer?? When something breaks will you fix it yourself or throw money at it??? Is air conditioning a necessity or a useless complication?? Imagine the lifestyle that you want to have and then the boat will almost pick itself. Tom
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