Boat for polar cruising

[simonEdwards]

I remember your constant stream of advice and criticism while Rutherford was sailing the NW passage in a 27' Albin Vega. Well as we all know he succeeded in that and continued to Cape Horn and back to Maryland.
Since then, while you are still planning, he has been to the Arctic on two expedition, crossed the Pacific and spent months in the Atlantic gathering data. On a recent delivery I was amused to see your boat warm and cost in southern Mexico. You remind me of Montgomery of Alamein....just get it done, then your advice and criticisms will have some validity.

[northwestsailor]

Originally Posted by simonEdwards

I remember your constant stream of advice and criticism while Rutherford was sailing the NW passage in a 27' Albin Vega. Well as we all know he succeeded in that and continued to Cape Horn and back to Maryland.
Since then, while you are still planning, he has been to the Arctic on two expedition, crossed the Pacific and spent months in the Atlantic gathering data. On a recent delivery I was amused to see your boat warm and cost in southern Mexico. You remind me of Montgomery of Alamein....just get it done, then your advice and criticisms will have some validity.

To whom is your criticism directed? I think Matt Rutherford is a sailor's sailor. I think it was amazing what he did and has done given the equipment he has available to him. The fact that he is still alive is testament to his nautical abilities.

BTW I do wish I was down in Mexico with my boat right now. I would have my shorts and T-shirt on instead of bundled up like I was headed to the North Pole.

[carstenb]

Seaworthy Lass ( amoderator on this forum) is currency Selling their aluminium boat - ti would be quite suitcase for polar cruising. You should send her a PM and ask about it

Originally Posted by sdf

Hi everyone, recently I have been thinking about the best suited boats for sailing the Arctic and Antarctic peninsula (or around ice in general), and can't decide between anything, so I have turned to this forum for help. My question is: If you were choosing a boat for OCCASIONAL polar cruising, what features would you want the boat to have? If possible, please touch on the following:
Hull Material - Metal or fiberglass/wooden? I have seen videos and read about fiberglass boats going to these places without any problems. What do you think?
Keel - fixed or lifting? full or fin?
Rudder - skeg hung? spade? transom hung? What are your thoughts on a transom hung rudder that can kick up if it hits anything solid?
Cockpit? open or closed? Center or aft?
Rig- Big or small?

I guess what I am asking is if you were choosing a boat, would it be something like an OVNI or a more modern, lightweight boat? (something like an RM 1360) How does fiberglass really handle the ice? obviously not crashing into an iceberg the size of your boat, but the inevitable bump against one of the smaller chunks of drift ice?

Thanks in advance for answering.

[Kim Gregory]

Sdf, or others thinking about polar cruising should read Leslie Sike's book about his cruise to Hudson's Bay in 1985 in his steel 'Aqua Star'.
Links:
https://books.google.ca/books?id=3q6...ike%22&f=false

Nonfiction Book Review: Something Worth Doing: The Sub-Artic Voyage of Aqua-Star by Judith Chopra, Author W. W. Norton & Company $35 (0p) ISBN 978-0-393-03446-2

"In 1985, a sub-arctic sailing expedition across the Hudson Bay earned Leslie and Carolann Sike the “Cruising World Metal”. AQUA STAR was the FIRST sailing yacht ever to enter Canada’s Arctic Seaport in Churchill, Manitoba.
After the Hudson Bay expedition Aqua Star sailed to Leningrad U.S.S.R (now St. Petersburg) via Green Land Island, the estimated mileage on the Aqua Star was 40,000 miles."

[simonEdwards]

Originally Posted by northwestsailor

To whom is your criticism directed? I think Matt Rutherford is a sailor's sailor. I think it was amazing what he did and has done given the equipment he has available to him. The fact that he is still alive is testament to his nautical abilities.

BTW I do wish I was down in Mexico with my boat right now. I would have my shorts and T-shirt on instead of bundled up like I was headed to the North Pole.

Sorry my reply was directed to 'GG2015'
not the forum generally!?

[TeddyDiver]

Just to remind that having a steel or alloy hull doesn't make the boat ice classed. With normal scantlings the plates dent like tins if driven in ice. More important than the material is the insulation..

BR Teddy

[johnyhask]

Reading this thread with interest and was wondering if your standard grp 40' cruiser would be capable of visiting the South Pole briefly as apposed to full on polar cruising? I.e. A relatively lengthy enough weather window to pop ashore for a day or two and then head back north?

[SailOar]

Originally Posted by johnyhask

Reading this thread with interest and was wondering if your standard grp 40' cruiser would be capable of visiting the South Pole briefly as apposed to full on polar cruising? I.e. A relatively lengthy enough weather window to pop ashore for a day or two and then head back north?

Currently, getting to the south pole in any type of boat other than an iceboat is problematical, but if you do manage to reach there you can likely stay for as long as you want.



However, with ocean temperatures rising faster than ever, no doubt you will soon be able to sail there:

Figure 11. Antarctic sub-ice topography, showing regions below present sea level in blue.
A suggestion of water depth is provided by the selected color ramp and hillshade raster beneath.
Looks like a terrific place to go fishing.

Spatial Analysis of Raster data - An Antarctic Example; from UT Austin Geosciences

[johnyhask]

Originally Posted by SailOar

Currently, getting to the south pole in any type of boat other than an iceboat is problematical, but if you do manage to reach there you can likely stay for as long as you want.







However, with ocean temperatures rising faster than ever, no doubt you will soon be able to sail there:

Figure 11. Antarctic sub-ice topography, showing regions below present sea level in blue.

A suggestion of water depth is provided by the selected color ramp and hillshade raster beneath.

Looks like a terrific place to go fishing.

Spatial Analysis of Raster data - An Antarctic Example; from UT Austin Geosciences

After an Atlantic row (7 weeks unsupported wooden pairs boat) and an unsupported Amazon trek I had an unsupported trek to the South Pole (sled manhaul) on my bucket list. But the budget worked out at nearly £50k. Mainly flights. I already have most of the kit. A bit of me had the little spark flickering away deep in my grey matter to if I could take said boat down there as part of the expedition? I would want to take an experienced skipper but in the process of buying 40 something ft boat to live aboard. Two in the running at mo. A sun oddessey 43ds or an Oceanis 440. Oh and extra blankets lol. Just daydreaming at mo. But you never know. [emoji12]

[northwestsailor]

This is the boat if you want to do polar exploration. Heavy aluminum plate with hard chines, retractable keel with a flat bottom for beaching and shallow waters, drying out etc.

[Stumble]

Originally Posted by johnyhask

Reading this thread with interest and was wondering if your standard grp 40' cruiser would be capable of visiting the South Pole briefly as apposed to full on polar cruising? I.e. A relatively lengthy enough weather window to pop ashore for a day or two and then head back north?

Capable, yes, ideal no. Fiberglass has terrible abrasion properties, which means light ice flows are your major source of worry. Big chunks are actually less of a concern since they deal primarily with impact protection where fiberglass is pretty good.

If you really want to head to Iceland flow country the options are a steel/aluminium band around the waterline, or a metal boat (I would go with aluminium).

[DeepFrz]

And don't forget the insulation. Lots of insulation, ventilation and heat.

[johnyhask]

Originally Posted by northwestsailor

This is the boat if you want to do polar exploration. Heavy aluminum plate with hard chines, retractable keel with a flat bottom for beaching and shallow waters, drying out etc.

Wow that's beautiful in its ugliness and pure function. How much does something like that cost, rigged and ready to go. 'Just wondering

[Scot McPherson]

Originally Posted by northwestsailor

This is the boat if you want to do polar exploration. Heavy aluminum plate with hard chines, retractable keel with a flat bottom for beaching and shallow waters, drying out etc.

Its camouflaged to look like an iceberg

[northwestsailor]

Originally Posted by johnyhask

Wow that's beautiful in its ugliness and pure function. How much does something like that cost, rigged and ready to go. 'Just wondering

To buy a new one would be very expensive upwards of $500K. If you buy used then maybe half that or a little more.