Longest Distance in the smallest boat...

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Sailorbob8599

Well, having read all of these comments, it looks like what I have always believed and that is, if you want to do it, just about any old boat will do. You just need to have the desire and the balls to do it.

I still want to know how those fellows in the super small boats managed to cross the Atlantic complete with water and provisions for such a long trip. We're talking a passage of lengthy duration here. One needs sufficient victuals and water. Is there a super small desalinator on the market they might use?
And what about sleeping? I cannot imagine the discomfort level for even the average size fellow sleeping in a vessel that is only five feet long. How do they do it? ... Not for me.

Maybe read Guzwells "Trekka round the world". There must be info how he stored water in t here. Been too long for me to remember.

[Ribbit]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor
First time I took her out.... I had a lightweight spinning rod tied to the stern... I didn't know how well the thing was going to sail/react to the rudder and sail servos.... I didn't wanna lose my new $300 toy!

Originally Posted by Curious Sailor

Very cool! It looks expensive... Almost as much as my Sailboat! Literally!


Lol

Ah he's cheating - he didn't tell you it's a multihull! He has another one for his other foot.

[Sailorbob8599]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Maybe read Guzwells "Trekka round the world". There must be info how he stored water in t here. Been too long for me to remember.

Yabbut, Guzwell's Trekka was 24 ft long or there-abouts ... My question refers to the cockleshell boats mentioned earlier on this thread, said to be of FIVE FEET or Less ... I doubt anyone on this forum has ever had the balls to cross any ocean, or contemplate even a shorter voyage exceeding only a few days in something THAT small. If there were, someone would have responded by now.

[Don C L]

It takes balls to sail a 5 foot boat across the Atlantic?

[foufou]

Several years I met Serge Testa. He had done a circumnavigation in a 12' boat he had built. when I met him he was aboard a 60' boat he had built. He must think that larger might be better. Probably depends on ones budget.

[Sailorbob8599]

Originally Posted by Don C L

It takes balls to sail a 5 foot boat across the Atlantic?

Yup, either that or stupidity

[Tres X]

Hui

Three years ago I solo sailed a Flicka 20 Vancouver to Hilo Hawaii. Nine days later Hilo to San Diego. Only complaint was I couldn't stretch out in cockpit!

Key to going small - don't spend time in bigger vessels so you don't know what you're missing.

[Tony B]

When I was in St. Thomas, USVI, I met a young couple with a 24'sailboat, I dont remember the manufacturer. Anyway, they had traveled down the Europeaan coast from the UK to Africa and then to the Carrib. I was very impressed.
Every morning, on their way into town I could hear their inflatable dinghy whiz by. She was steering and he was continually operating the air pump to keep it aflaot.

So, the smallest is really a measure of your own personal comfort level. I have power boater friends that only day trip. On a long trip, anything smaller than the QE II, would not work for them.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Tony B

When I was in St. Thomas, USVI, I met a young couple with a 24'sailboat, I dont remember the manufacturer. Anyway, they had traveled down the Europeaan coast from the UK to Africa and then to the Carrib. I was very impressed.
Every morning, on their way into town I could hear their inflatable dinghy whiz by. She was steering and he was continually operating the air pump to keep it aflaot.

So, the smallest is really a measure of your own personal comfort level. I have power boater friends that only day trip. On a long trip, anything smaller than the QE II, would not work for them.

Speaking of a 24' Boat, this 16 year old started his circumnavigation in one that long and ended up sailing it 3/4 the way around before he had to replace it.

It was about to fall apart.

It was a Lapworth 24

Dove and Robin Lee Graham - The Voyage of the Dove Round The World

[steamgoat]

OK clearing the shelves, $25 incl p&p USA only for both.
Trekka round the world , John Guzzwell.
Shrimpy, Shane Acton , autographed by Shane and Iris.
PM me,paypal will work, Bruce. [both hardcover with jackets]

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Sailorbob8599 View Post

Well, having read all of these comments, it looks like what I have always believed and that is, if you want to do it, just about any old boat will do. You just need to have the desire and the balls to do it.

I still want to know how those fellows in the super small boats managed to cross the Atlantic complete with water and provisions for such a long trip. We're talking a passage of lengthy duration here. One needs sufficient victuals and water. Is there a super small desalinator on the market they might use?
And what about sleeping? I cannot imagine the discomfort level for even the average size fellow sleeping in a vessel that is only five feet long. How do they do it? ... Not for me.
Most of these trips were done back when the tech did not exist and folk used simpler means.. route choice.. wetter routes for rain catching.. canned food with high liquid content, soups, fruit...
1/2 -1 litre/day drinking water is ample when activity is limited and with the right diet.. so for a 50 day crossing carry 6x5L jugs and rain catcher kit.. 100 cans fruit and soup, chocolate bar, nuts dried fruit and your good to go..
They were tougher times back in the last century...
And.. they were 'Missions'... not leisure cruise's

[Sailorbob8599]

Thanks Boatman, you're the first person to answer the question as posted.
I still would not want to cross the Atlantic in a five foot boat of any kind.

[Bill Seal]

Ben Carlin DROVE a WWII amphibious jeep "Half Safe" around the world.
Something like 30,000 miles on land, 12,000 miles on water.
Never been done before, probably never be done again.
Then again, he was an Aussie.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Bill Seal

Ben Carlin DROVE a WWII amphibious jeep "Half Safe" around the world.
Something like 30,000 miles on land, 12,000 miles on water.
Never been done before, probably never be done again.
Then again, he was an Aussie.

How the hell did he carry enough beer..
Got it.. brewing kits... who drinks water..??

[reed1v]

Originally Posted by Bill Seal

Ben Carlin DROVE a WWII amphibious jeep "Half Safe" around the world.
Something like 30,000 miles on land, 12,000 miles on water.
Never been done before, probably never be done again.
Then again, he was an Aussie.

thanks for the reference. Do not see how he survived in the ocean with that can. We had a DUKW that barely survived in 4 foot seas in a protected bay. Thing was unreliable, and that was its best attribute. Guy had to have been a real nut.