What size cruising boat is best (a reality check)?

[Tom Spohn]

Number crunching

I have personally tried to buy cars, skis, cameras, and boats by reading all the test reports and trying to objectively determine which is the best. In most cases I have changed my mind after test driving whatever it was I was interested in. Many boat outfitters have a number of different types and sizes of boats you can rent for a weekend. If you try enough you will find that some criteria are more important than others. Also the criteria of your crew is important unless you want to leave the Admiral at home! So, by all means get the numbers, but make the decision on actually sailing the boat for at least a couple of days before buying.

 

[David11054]

Handling loads go up by the cube of the length

That's particularly important for line handling. The is a huge difference between the load on a line on a 30 footer in a medium breeze, and a 40 footer. I can often trim in the genny sheet on our '77 h27 by hand, while the same task on a 37 footer needs lots of cranking on the winch. And the Admiral just gave up trying to trim the genny on the Catalina 34 we chartered in the Apostles.Simplicity is also an issue of size and age of the boat. We have _no_ electric pumps on Lady Lillie. Our electic load is radio, navigation, and lights only. One battery is good for anchoring out so the whole charging and switching issue is very simple. I can take apart and service nearly every system on the boat. And they are easy to understand and fix.At 7,000 pounds, it is easy to adjust the boat while docked. Moving a mid 30's boat with twice that mass means a whole lot of push for just a little movement, especially for the Admiral.We have certainly enjoyed chartering 34 to 37 foot boats. But we have to say that there is a lot of wasted space for the two of us on such a boat. Our 27 footer has standing (6 foot) head room for me, and just feels right. On the other hand, it has 4 quite comfortable bunks when my Dad, and two large brothers join me for our annual summer cruise.Finally, speed is a real issue. But we can easily plan our cruising on Lake Erie with enough spare days to pick our weather, and the 40 nm crossing of the lake is an OK day if we average 4 knots. Most of our cruising is well below hull speed in any case.I'm not saying a 27 footer is the boat for anyone else. I'm just saying that these are real factors people tend to forget when they quickly decide a 40 footer is for them.DavidLady Lillie

 

[Robert Gainer]

Handling loads go up by the cube of the length ?

David,You said, “Handling loads go up by the cube of the length.” Sorry, I am not very good at math so it’s difficult to fathom where the cubed relationship comes from. Sail area varies as the square of the waterline if everything else scales the same. So doesn’t load from the sail scale as the square of the LWL. That’s a big enough change and you are right about larger boats needing winches but it’s hardly as large a change as you are talking about. Wind pressure varies with the square of wind speed but that’s independent of boat size so that doesn’t enter into it. Displacement, heeling moment from wind and resistance all vary as the cube of the LWL but they have no direct affect on the strain on the mainsheet. The maximum strain on the sheets is only a function of sail area and wind speed and is only indirectly influenced by stability.All the best,Robert Gainer

 

[r.w.landau]

Ok, I have not read the tread...

This is often a thread.There are many people out there looking for the right boat.The right boat is one you can handle and are comfortable with. The right boat is affordable not only the price but the maintenance.( bottom paint, sails, docking)The right boat does not limit your need to be at a dock.(financially)The right boat has managable sails when tired and ready to be at rest.The right boat is one that has the room for the people crusing. The right boat is one you don't mind taking out for a daysail while you are cruising.The right boat is most of the time, the boat you have now. The right boat will accomodate a few guests for a few days. ( you will have guests much less than you think)Enjoy it, don't anticipate a greater need. I am a contractor. I buy tools when I need them. If I bought all the tools available, I first could not aford them and second may never use them. Be reasonable and smart. Start with less and if needed pay the price to super size.If you Supersize before you start there is no up and it is even harder to go down, and the money has already been spent.Bigger is not safer if you can not handle it!r.w.landau