This is not meant to be an all encompassing list of how to evaluate boats for cruising
offshore. Just some off the
head ramblings. Many of the posts above are great and have opinions about the same things and have pointed out many others than listed here.
We just got another
boat, specifically for going
offshore. It is night and day compared to our previous offshore
boat (which was a Whitby 42 - Ted Brewer design). It was very heavy,
center cockpit (I love center cockpits for offshore), and was a
ketch. The
ketch rig meant the main
mast was shorter which meant the
mainsail was much easier to handle. The ketch rig gave it more options for sail configurations for different conditions, and, it had an inner forestay although it was not a "cutter-rigged ketch" really. It sailed Ok in reaching conditions, could hardly sail to
weather in good conditions, but was solid, comfortable, and dry in lousy conditions. It had good seabunks with lee cloths on both sides of the
salon - very desirable in my book. A narrow u-shaped
galley. A solid powerful
engine. Good tankage (may be too much). A cutaway
full keel and a
keel hung
rudder. It's main was also an in the
mast roller furler. It made handling/reefing the main so much easier in heavy conditions. It dramatically reduced the time needed on
deck to reef. But it also was not an efficient sail.
All of the above I looked for in a
new boat, except for a
full keel. A full
keel is more comfortable and handles "easier" in big seas. I did want a boat that points to windward better, and a faster boat. I wanted big tankage, but settled for less. The
galley is not as compact or as deep as I would prefer. My wife has been thrown out of the galley and across the boat more than once when she did not have a belt on. A belt would be useful on the new but not as secure, but she the opposite side of the galley is a close-in wall so the damage would not be as great.
It is not a center-cockpit, something I looked for but could not find in my
price range for a boat in good condition. The new
cockpit is as close to a
center cockpit as you would think for its design since 4 feet were added aft of the
cockpit by the previous owner. I did want a heavy boat and got that. It is older and stoutly built. I required that. It does not have two seaberths in the
salon, and the one is definitely not as secure as I would like. I worry about that - truly a compromise I may regret.
The
cutter rig is tall and powerful so I can point well and fast(er). I don't believe for one second all the claims for fast rigs being able to outsail storms - especially to miss them, or even to get out of them faster. To do that you have to be in the right kind of storm going in the right direction. As far as just staying in port until the
weather forecast is 100% favorable - that is fine unless there are always squalls and/or gales for the entire season in the course you have to take. We have waited 10-14 days several times and still got the crap kicked out of us several times.
100% on the mark is a dry boat. Keep the
water on the outside. Leaking cockpits/portlights are depressing and expensive and more than an inconvenience. Friends have had their nav stations drenched ruining copious amounts of PCs, radios,
gear, and books/charts. I have had to sleep in a berth with a continuous drip and there are very few things more miserable (never on one of my boats).
Of course, you want the thru hulls and hoses to be 100%. Stout, well-maintained, and properly installed. Otherwise you will have to replace them. That would affect which boat I would go for. The
engine should be a well-known brand with
parts available for wherever you intend to
cruise, with lots of spares. I like seeing boats where the previous owner had stocked the important spares in advance as it gave me more comfort in how they thought and in how they maintained the important bits on the boat.
Handholds, handholds, handholds. Enough said. Protection on
deck for moving around in big seas. Lines, blocks, and winches set up for ease of use in all conditions, with thought given to those heavy conditions. E.g. can you reef the main while short-handed.
Steering - critical as others have noted. Solid, backups, spares. Know how to use your backups and how to rig them. Not all boats are setup well for this. With a a
windvane pilot or the ability to add one.
Protections from the elements in the cockpit is a major factor on my
buying requirements. The ads with open cockpits and small dodgers where you can see the
sails at the
helm at all times look great in the ads. Not so much when it is pouring rain and green
water from the bow. The sun is the flip-side and just as big a problem. I would not have an offshore boat without a good
dodger that extends past the
companionway and a
bimini that gives some protection at the
helm. Not so good
racing or in good weather but worth its weight in gold in bad weather or intense sun. Nice to have some shade in your living room in the tropics too, or at
anchor in the rain.
The list goes on and on as far as what I used to disqualify potential candidates. But there are always compromises on some things. Some things are musts though.
I know this is a years-old thread but many will look at it anew since this is an ongoing issue for the wannabe cruisers who are coming in to keep this lifestyle alive. Tons of
books available too. One I just picked up is "The Voyagers Handbook" by Beth Leonard. Not the easiest to read if you are a
newbie but it covers almost all the bases for three different
budget levels with rationales given for all. But one thing is for sure - for every opinion there will be a diametrically opposite one. Good luck.