Is it Possible to Go Blue Water in a 13 Foot Guppy?

[Wireless1]

Originally Posted by pete2169

Hi Ann,
I can store 30 gallons of water aboard the guppy. I also have a hand operated water desalinator that can make quart of fresh water from sea water in about 45 minutes.
I also have a solar still that can make up to a half gallon of freshwater a day in direct sunlight. I have navigation lights on the bow and stern and I plan to mount a light on top of the mast too. Pete

I really don't know if you are serious or this is one of the longest running gags I've seen here in the forums. You have one solar still? Inflatable no doubt. Got a patch kit? Heck, get a bunch of solar stills while you're at it. They are about as tough as those kiddy life preservers. Have you practiced pumping that Survivor manual water-maker for 45 minutes every day for a couple of months? For practical training for the voyage, I recommend not using any water except what you can pump each day so you can get used to it. It looks to be about a year and a half you've been posting your 9 posts...hmm? So you're prepping to cross the ocean in a 13' lightweight untested boat. I'll tell yah what; I have a personally autographed copy Hugo's book >> "Fathers Day" << and if you make it as far south as San Diego on your shakedown cruise, I'll meet you at the customs dock and let you have my copy. It's good Karma to have it on board because your boat is about 8 feet longer than Hugo's boat, and Hugo successfully crossed the Atlantic in his 5 footer.

Have you sailed your boat in the ocean yet? Have you set a departure date? Don't forget to get a water proof GoPro camera so you can document everything for us to watch later.
Or maybe you could make a video blog like my friend >> Roz Savage << (click the link or Google Roz's name). She has ROWED solo across three oceans. Check out her blogs. She might have some good info for you, and maybe you will see what kind of boat and preparation it really takes to do such voyaging. It can be done, but maybe you might want to rethink your vessel and gear a little bit. Whatever you decide, and whatever happens, Good luck to you.....even if you're just pullin' our anchor chains!

[Yowieboy]

I'm not suggesting that the OP is as clueless as this chap, but just came across this piece of entertaining news:

RNLI Rescue Man Attempting to Sail to America in a Dinghy | Boats and Outboards

[Yowieboy]

And here is sort of the other end of the scale when it comes to ocean voyaging in very small boats:

Interesting Sailboats: SVEN YRVIND CIRCUMNAVIGATION ON A 3m SAILBOAT

[Mr42]

You only live once, might as well drown upwind from your 13' boat in the middle of the Atlantic.

Go for it, I say. It sounds to me like a brilliant way to test the limits of the human condition.


Peace.

[Mr42]

... or Pacific, whatever.


Peace.

[tbodine88]

Originally Posted by Yowieboy

And here is sort of the other end of the scale when it comes to ocean voyaging in very small boats:

Interesting Sailboats: SVEN YRVIND CIRCUMNAVIGATION ON A 3m SAILBOAT

The obvious difference between the two examples is the first guy sailed an open boat and had little experience. The second sailed a closed boat and had lots of experience.

The ocean is a large and seldom a gentle place, beware!

[Blue Crab]

Offshore Marine Forecast from Hatteras out 200 NM: NW winds 30-45 gusting 50-60 ... waves 18 to 25 with the occasional wave twice that high.

Been blowing ~25-40 all night at my slip. Wind chill at 7. You know I had to get up at 3 am to double a line to keep a cleat attached to the boat. Dat's boating! Your Guppy experience may vary.

Love yer armchairs mates!

[s/v Beth]

I wonder where Pete is...I would be real interested to know how he did at the bar. Bet he never got much beyond Bouy #7.

[Johnniegee]

read this:

http://www.bluemoment.com/pdf/shrimpy.pdf

evverytime Ithink this is hard I read this... builds my confidence.

[Morgali]

Originally Posted by OutOfControl

Blue Crab, close but no cigar.
It was Laura Dekker and the boat was a 38' Jeanneau Gin Fizz named "Guppy".

Laura Dekker is one of my personal heros, and the reason I now own another boat, and this time a sailboat. She actually amazes me with her knowledge and bravery for her age. She is savvy, skilled, and determined. We could all use a little more of those traits.

I have her book, it's a great read and I recommend it. I was going to donate it to the book-sharing shelf at fisherman's terminal in Ballard, WA. I received plenty of benefit from those shared books back when I was a commercial fisherman, so it feels right to give back. There's a documentary movie out about her voyage. It's not as fleshed out as I would have liked, with more footage of the trip and the actual sailing, but there's enough to keep you into it.

[Shrew]

Nice hijack on a thread started in 2012 and dead since 2016. This zombie thread should be given a mercy killing.

[Morgali]

yeah, sorry about that. I was kinda hoping pete was still around. wanted to see what became of his trip.

[Don C L]

https://www.duckworksmagazine.com/04.../012/index.htm

OK I know, old thread, but just for a FYI I knew a guy in Santa Barbara who used to sail one of these Sea Mews out to the islands pretty regularly in a variety of weather. No engine... or anything else really besides sails, He was pretty salty. It was a surprisingly fast and stable boat to my eye.

[Rockinar]

Some old sailors have said when the seas are calm and it's foggy, they have seen "crazy Pete" still on his way in the Pacific.

[Don C L]

There wasn't a whole lot more boat to Letcher's "Island Girl" and that was pretty much a bluewater cruiser...