What Makes a Boat 'Bluewater' ?

[simonpickard]

Hello all,

Still very new to all this so please bear with me.
My dream is to buy a boat, sail all over the world in it.

The more I read up on the types of boat that can do this the more confused I get!

For example..

Hanse 470e. I saw one of these at the Sydney boat show and fell in love. Could you sail this anywhere? If not why not? Could you take this boat and make it blue water safe? I understand the water tanks are quite small 80gal, is this why people wouldn't try to sail around the world in something like this? Coud I increase this amount of water / get a watermaker?

Sorry for all the questions. I'm trying to learn as much as I can but the whole starting point has confused me I have to say.

Regards,
Simon

[hummingway]

Beautiful boat. I try not to fall in love with a boat that will cost a half mill but that's just me

It has features like the self tacking jib and lines under the deck that I would wonder about. This is ignorance leading to speculation speaking now but with the self tacking jib is it possible to heave to? If there is a problem with the lines how easy to deal with them is it when they're running under deck?

[simonpickard]

"Beautiful boat. I try not to fall in love with a boat that will cost a half mill but that's just me "

Hehe, while I'm dreaming I though... Why not dream!

[Boracay]

The boat should have a CE rating. Ask what the rating is and what it means.

My opinion is that the term "Blue Water" is much abused. Think in terms of hull/deck/keel integrity, equipment condition, rating and installation and crew experience. All three need to work together.

[LakeSuperior]

It seems like if you have to ask the general bluewater boat question then you aren't ready for bluewater sailing...Kind of a Catch-22.

There's only about 1000 dimensions to the answer.

[simonpickard]

The CE rating of both the smaller 45's and larger 47 /49' is A (Ocean).
Read about that and it seems that's about the best rating you can get.

So I guess really the only issue would be the size of water tanks, which could be increased, or bottled water stored on longer passages?

Regards,
Simon

[simonpickard]

"It seems like if you have to ask the general bluewater boat question then you aren't ready for bluewater sailing...Kind of a Catch-22."

I totally agree. However I'm a terror for wanting to learn. This thread has been most helpful to me already with the CE rating hint.

I know I have a lot to learn before setting off into the blue, but piece by piece I'm trying to sort things out in my head.

Regards,
Simon

[jim_thomsen]

Simon,
Don't listen to anyone who says you need more knowledge & experience before you plan a sailing trip. Many of these people are not bluewater sailors. It's amazing how many people we meet who had never sailed before they took off (Beth Leonard-and I think her book is the best for crusing info-and Evan bought a boat and sailed off with no experience.)
For really good information on what makes a good bluewater boat look at John Neal's site: Mahina Expedition - Selecting A Boat for Offshore Cruising
Good luck! Sailing the oceans really is a great life!

[Eleven]

The difference is the weather that you won't be able to avoid, and the distance to the nearest diversion. Boat speed is a factor in dodging bad weather but there are plenty of posts and videos here about how bad it gets. Search 'Queens Birthday Storm' (see top right of this screen). People fail before a good boat gives up, but even good boats fail, eventually, then mono's sink, cats turn upside down. Two thousand miles to swim or drift?
but I'm biased, and too poor to go Ocean sailing.

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by jim_thomsen

Simon,
Don't listen to anyone who says you need more knowledge & experience before you plan a sailing trip. Many of these people are not bluewater sailors. It's amazing how many people we meet who had never sailed before they took off (Beth Leonard-and I think her book is the best for crusing info-and Evan bought a boat and sailed off with no experience.)
For really good information on what makes a good bluewater boat look at John Neal's site: Mahina Expedition - Selecting A Boat for Offshore Cruising
Good luck! Sailing the oceans really is a great life!

After 23 years in the USCG I was amazed at how many boaters needed rescuing because they took the advice "that you really don't need much experience"...

But then again... you know how many "experienced" boaters get saved every year????

So in one aspect you are correct...THINKING you are experienced isn't really a good answer either...

I totally agree that anyone asking the basics of whether a boat is capable isn't CLOSE to being ready. THOSE of us in the know understand that almost ANY boat can be made ready or ...but you have to start with a skipper that knows that.

[Sabbatical II]

Welcome to the forum Simon. The "bluewater" question is not easy to answer. I think some one has crossed the Atlantic in a bath tub, but that doesn't make it "bluewater". With a skilled sailor almost any new production boat over 30' could be sailed around the world. Most are lightly built and would require massive upgrades in tankage and other areas to satisfy an experienced skipper. A genuine bluewater cruiser should be structurally sound (preferably bulletproof) and have enough displacement and tankage to carry all the gear and supplies required without greatly effecting the performance or stability of the vessel.
Here are a few examples www.bwcy.com.au I have no affilliation with this company other than I visit them every week to check on the progress of my boat. Oh, yes and from time to time I send them some more money. If you visit their factory (and they'd make you welcome) you will quickly been shown the difference between a coastal and a bluewater cruiser. The volume market in sailboats is in lightweight, fast & nimble coastal & inshore vessels, hence this is what the high volume manufacturers build. The Hanse range is a good example of these. Yes, you could (& people do) sail them around the world although I think I would be a bit more comfortable with a medium to heavy displacement vessel.

Greg

[boatman61]

'What makes a Blue Water Boat'.....
now thats a question...
Usually its the Skipper....
ain't no such thing as a 'Bulletproof Boat' and thats what they're supposed to be....
In the Brochure....
Dream on Suckers....

[Eleven]

Accurate comments from Boatman61.
A man who's sailed more different boats in a wide variety of waters, especially the Biscay, and always, with no exceptions, got back to dry land, with the boat!
The boat is just the tool that the craftsman uses to carve his own path.

[SimonV]

Welcolm to the forum Simon, all the good/great sailors Iknow are called Simon.

[speciald@ocens.]

I don't like the Hanse as an oceann sailing boat because of the open transom but that is just my opinion. I feel that an offshore boat should have a secure cockpit that you sit in not on.