Yet Another 'Which Boat?' Thread

[otherthan]

Hello I have a list of sailboats I find interesting, I optained a thompson t-24 (photo) but if you think any of these other boats will do a better job, let me know as I can manage to buy one and work on it this winter.

challenger 7.4 a 4000lb 24ft but with standing headroom and a 2090lb ballast, I love this little boat and can see myself putting legs on it for tidal use.
hughes 25 I love its design, seems like a solid and well thot out boat.
northern 25 looks like my thompson in an all fiberglass package.

iv asked about these boats on an other forum but no answers

my boat will be use to navigate to Asia (the mollucan sea) so yes I understand about modifications and the size limitations.
however I got my inspiration from reading guys doing crossing on lesser sailboats.
thank for anny comments
rgds

[Drew13440]

None is better than the other IMHO. If you already own the Thompson and can make her seaworthy, she'll do fine relative to the others. Here's a refit story:

Boat Afloat

[SaltyMonkey]

I think your displacement is 6000, but I would rather have a lot of it so I can carry all my cookies, tea and equipment.

Her D/L is fine. She may be a bit of a heeler and uncomfortable. Don't know her SA. Should be moderately well in a roll.

Challenger - probably more comfortable and a better heeler, but she is way too light a boat for me. She is the fastest though.

Hughes - good in light air; more comfortable and better heeler.

Northern - good in light air; more comfortable and better heeler. About on par as the hughes.

My vote is the Northern because of the skeg, the highest D/L and the S + S design mark.

[otherthan]

as we speach I only have a hand down on the thompson, she turns out the most expensive and needs major work, this kills me as shes such a nice boat.

as I understand all 3 others are just as good.

I have no experience with sailboats, however from the specs I knew the thompson would be the least confortable.
iv always favored the challenger for its strong construction and 50% ballast ratio, both the hughes and northern are well designed boats, with the northern offering a little more elbow space.
I feel comfortable perchasing anny of these and will save half the investment of the thompson on either.
pleas feel free to add any coments befor I make a mouve!!
rgds

[SaltyMonkey]

The challenger has a 53% B/D, but she is only 163.88 D/L, 14.6 SA/D. Her displacement is only 4000 lbs.

The northern seems to be the best compromise - has a healthy 45% B/D, 319 D/L, 16.42 SA/D. Her displacement is 5100 lbs.

The challenger theoretical hull speed is 6.31
The northern theoretical hull speed is 5.88

Up to you.

[SaltyMonkey]

you should be able to carry more gear on the Thompson, followed by the northern. The challenger and hughes are about even and significantly lower.

[otherthan]

the challenger has the longest LWL if it means anything?

I do fiberglass work and was going to do a skeg to protect the rudder.

however if the northern is still available I will jump on it this monday.
both ar same price thow the northern needs more TLC.

cheers

[otherthan]

The thompson need a lot of refit, shes rotten the entier floors and some deck structure, nothing I cant do this winter. but is she woth it when so many boats only need water?
I have to admit shes spacious and extreamly attractive, I have a soft spot for hear but unfortunatly I also have limited budget.

[SaltyMonkey]

Lots of more important things to work on than rigging a skeg!

There are also other variables to decide that I cannot without looking at boat.
- Placement of chain plates
- Size of cockpit
- Freeboard
- Interior
- Access
- # hours on engine etc
and so on and so on

Design characteristics are one piece of the puzzle.

[Boracay]

While there are good arguments in favour of small boats, and many long voyages have been made in them it would almost certainly be easier, safer and perhaps cheaper to start with a somewhat larger boat, maybe around the 30' mark.

[otherthan]

define cheeper, as every larger boat iv seen needed expensive work costed more to optain and operate in every way. I just got seperated and my entier budjet is no more then $5000, exept for the thompson at $4000 all my other choices ar in the $2500 range (ready to sail) I am a mécanic and have lots of fiberglass experience, having been (lived) in dominican rep some time, iv been working on boats enough to make a living at it, tho iv never sailed I know this lifestyle will fit me well.
this was my dream 20 years ago when I got maried, now at 45 id rather start small but get starting then butting this project on the back burner again.
in the last 10 years I almost died 3 times from the sequel of an accident, trust me I have some living to catch up.
cheers

[SaltyMonkey]

I absolutely totally agree w/ Boracay. However, I wanted to stick to the parameters that I was given within this discussion. Not sure cheaper, but certainly speed, tankage, storage and comfort. I'm looking 30 feet and larger - possibly 36 being ideal for me.

[otherthan]

saltmonkey hears my original plan, my optimal boat would be a westerly centaure but its out of my reach.

I have the bildge keel section of a severly damaged westerly, my plan was to graft these to a challenger's hull and use the boat as anny bilge keeler at low tide.

I dont need a larger boat to island hop and caostal navigate, my goal is to stay clear of marinas as much as possible. in my old life iv been the big house big truck guy, now keeping it simple makes me happy.
comfort? maybe but safty, man unleash a 45 after 20 year mariage and safty whent out with the ex.
really I can take a beatting or two
cheers

[SaltyMonkey]

Coasting - what is your detail cruising plan? please list.

I would not modify the design of another boat through grafting and the like. Its only going to distort the design and sailing characteristics.

past lives and bad luck - should have nothing to do with choosing the right boat. You are not a cat with 7, and any danger after 3 is bad luck for a man.

Boats: I'm sure you have seen these lists, but I will show them to you anyway in hopes you might find something where you are...

Atom Voyages | Voyages Aboard the Sailboat Atom -* Good Old Boats List - choosing a* small voyaging sailboat

Bottom of this:
Mahina Expedition - Offshore Cruising Instruction

Best Cruisers

PSC 25's are out there cheap too.

[SaltyMonkey]

Where is your location right now? I will do a search