Blue Water Boats?

[chris_gee]

The difficulty I see with such a question is that any data has to be interpreted. That is one's choice will be influenced by $$, age and degree of discomfort tolerated, crew age, size, conservatism, and experience, and anticipated sailing grounds. One might also attach different weights to the opinions of different people, as one tends to adjust one's opinion to what one's opinion was at purchase ie owner loyalty. Hunters and Catalinas have their place but most do not consider them as true blue water although they may well suffice for the Bahamas.
Therefore the advice to study some of the threads and sources to understand the bases for a decision is not dismissive rather very practical.
Even then you will find some areas of contention eg displacement and speed versus comfort, both in motion and not.
By understanding the various elements you can then make an informed decision based on what in practice you will actually end up doing and what you can afford. Inevitably some compromise will be required.

[Tempest245]

34 Sabre here....

Annapolis to Bermuda 1 -1/2 times...hehe....
Annapolis to Jacksonville 36 hours offshore
Annapolis to Block island and points beyond...several times.
Annapolis to St Michaels island....a gazillion times...lol

a few offshore lessons learned.....SSB is invaluable, as is refrigeration....

I won't go into all the other safety at sea criteria..which is a rather lengthy topic.

The chief criteria..for any vessel imo ...would be a well found vessel, with adequate sensors, ( wind, speed, depth, ) Navigatiom. long distance communication, refrigeration or a darn good plan to keep food from spoiling, adequate tankage.
A fit, competent crew.

Good Luck in your search.

[Danceswithsails]

Im particularly interested in this subj as well. This is quite educational for this day sailor. Im outgrowng my dinghy faster than I climb on it. Thanks for all your inputs. Never had much to say 'bout lawyers but God Bless Sealawyers.

Ahoy yall from the inland 'skeeter lairs of Texas.

___/)

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by almost_there

Ex-Calif, Thanks for the link!

No problem

Originally Posted by almost_there

I was hoping for factual answers of pesonal experience. (i.e. I have a Hobicat and I've sailed from Antarctica to the moon). :-)

There are no bad questions...

Actually I have sort of figured out that many "real world" cruisers have websites and blogs to chronicle their boat and adventures.

Many links to these blogs get posted here - maybe someone should start a "post a link to your blog here" thread?

I surf several of the blogs and have a preference for those that describe their problems and solutions - i.e. changing the mast in Bora Bora type stuff. These types usually will have a history of the boat refit and so on.

The ones with lot's of pictures of scenery are nice but not really what I am after. It's a bit of research and digging of course...

[Hud3]

Following up on Dan's comment, here's a thread on members' websites/blogs

www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f61/how-many-have-website-blog-their-boat-12128.htmlCF

You can find a lot of other good info by using this CF-specific Google search engine

Cruisers & Sailing Forum

[Ex-Calif]

Good Stuff Hud.

I thought I had seen a thread of blogs somewhere...

[camaraderie]

Well the Mahina Expeditions bluewater boat list is not comprehensive but is certainly a good place to start.
Mahina Expedition - Offshore Cruising Instruction

and yes.... mine is bluewater too! US East Coast, Bahamas and Caribbean passages made.

[RaptorDance]

I concur that John and Amanda's (Mahina Expeditions) list is a good place to look. You'll notice that Catalina's are NOT listed (you mentioned them in your earlier post). They are excellent boats for coastal cruising, but generally considered too lightly built for blue water.

Personally, I'd rather be sailing a Valiant (especially since we own one!)!

Regards,
Bill

[mdtighe]

Originally Posted by Hud3

To answer your specific question...

The boat is a 2001 Island Packet 380.

Cruising history:
Chesapeake Bay cruising (four seasons)
Hampton Roads, Va to Bermuda and back
Hampton Roads, Va to BVI (offshore, twice)
USVI to Bahamas (Abacos), then around Hatteras to Chesapeake Bay
Lesser Antilles (PR to Grenada, several circuits)

Glad you are happy with your IP. May I ask you a follow up question?

Money is typically a consideration for everyone (and is for me as well), but if money was not a major driver and you wanted a bluewater boat that would last 20 years would you purchase your IP again or consider other boats?

I really like the safety of an IP with the full foil keel, cutter rig and all the gear for bluewater comfort, but they are not very pretty to me. Where the lines and beauty of Hylas, Hallberg-Rassey, etc. make we weak in the knees like a beautiful girl when you were 16.

Did you consider any of these in your hunt?

IP
Hylas
Hallberg-Rassy
Cabo Rico
Pacific Seacraft
Oyster
Valiant
Tartan
Morris

Thanks,

Martin

[Weyalan]

I money were no object, I'm sure we all have a "dream" boat that we would trade our current vessel for, at the drop of a hat (fwiw, for me that boat is probably a new Swan 44').

Nevertheless, money is always a factor, so we all compromise. I am not a rich man, and seeing as I have no desire to be, I probably never will be either. So I have a relatively old (1984) relatively spartan (IOR "1-ton") 40' ex-racing boat. It has done half a dozen or so Sydney-Hobart races, so it can handle the tough stuff. It is long enough that it handles offshore conditions well and short enough that it is realistic for 2 people to handle (both under sail, and manouvering into marina berths etc). Because it was a fairly basic fit-out, I can refit it to suit my own whims and pecadillos (well, Lisa's really ).

A compromise; for sure. But it is bought and paid for and gets plenty of use...

[Pblais]

Nevertheless, money is always a factor, so we all compromise.

If everything were equal we would all own the same boat. You can make all the hypothetical deals you like. But as our good friend says. The money always matters. You can do the best you can or you can stay on land and complain about it. Everybody can have a best shot. The trick is to make the most of it and make it your own. I think it's OK to feel good about that no matter what it gets you.

bought and paid for and gets plenty of use...

That's a best shot every time.