Go Small - Go Now

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Lin and Larry Pardey’s cruising mantra:
“Go Small, Go Simple, Go Now”

As can be deduced from the size of their boats (“Seraffyn” @ 24'7", “Taleisin” @ 29'6"), .

Gord, I agree with you, but Taleisin doesn't fall into the easy, simple, or small category. It might be fine for a Shipwright to own but an ex-office worker chucking it all in to run away to sea it would be among the worst boats imho to start with.

Its hull length may be 30 but the overhangs fore and aft add 10 feet. The whole thing is timber and needs specialised care on a full time basis. Every bit of kit for it would need to be hand made and probably expensively.

Its a beautiful boat but its not a cruising boat for the feignt hearted. I think its a passion than people would need to be very experienced in timber boats to appreciate... or for the boat to appreciate being touched

It is a fine boat: Lots of pictures at Taleisin | YachtPals.com
Sailors in the Spotlight - Lin and Larry Pardey | YachtPals.com

[creakyboy]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Gord, I agree with you, but Taleisin doesn't fall into the easy, simple, or small category. It might be fine for a Shipwright to own but an ex-office worker chucking it all in to run away to sea it would be among the worst boats imho to start with.

Its hull length may be 30 but the overhangs fore and aft add 10 feet. The whole thing is timber and needs specialised care on a full time basis. Every bit of kit for it would need to be hand made and probably expensively.

Its a beautiful boat but its not a cruising boat for the feignt hearted. I think its a passion than people would need to be very experienced in timber boats to appreciate... or for the boat to appreciate being touched

It is a fine boat: Lots of pictures at Taleisin | YachtPals.com
Sailors in the Spotlight - Lin and Larry Pardey | YachtPals.com

Agreed, I have alot of respect for the Pardeys and what they have accomplished,however it does bear remembering that wooden boats take alot of care and attention,which is fine if You are a 'wood butcher' by trade(or enjoy it as a hobby)...but just as an example,if You are a sparky by trade then all the electrical mod cons would be easier for You to maintain/fix...definitions of "simple" would vary from person to person as much as the definition of "comfortable"

[dcstrng]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

...not a cruising boat for the feignt hearted. I think its a passion than people would need to be very experienced in timber boats to appreciate...

True all of the above, but it was my understanding that the center of gravity of the discussion was on general size (however one might measure it) rather than strictly the medium… Having proven to myself that, at least where conventional wood is concerned, I’m wholly inadequate to the task – both in inclination and in temperament – I nonetheless don’t feel it rules out similarly founded vessels constructed in less labor intensive materials… The vessels themselves enjoy almost sterling reputations for their purpose, and while some of the traditional channel cutter aficionados (be it Bristol, Cornish, Falmouth or whatever) do turn up their noses at the Hess designs, it isn’t because of their sea keeping or passage making capabilities – from what I read they get their nose out of joint because Hess Americanized the channel cutter in their eye to the point of distorting some of the graceful features; although, I prefer them – that robust, full-bodied bulldog look with a jaunty cabin top and generous freeboard forward just looks right to me… but those are more discussions on esthetics, which vary widely from one skipper to the next…

Two areas I think the Pardeys do diverge from the more conformist cruisers I see transiting about are in the areas of techno-gizmos and in the need for actual elbow-room (as versus load-carrying capabilities…). But these are just simple choices… is a 40-LWL vessel inherently superior to a 25-LWL or a 50-LWL… the question is superior for whom… Although now a refugee from the geriatric ward, I’ve done somewhat larger both power and sail, but have been attracted to the straightforward efficiency of a well found smaller vessel and now find (for me) that the smallest is best; smallest being the smallest boat that will allow me legitimate standing headroom at least somewhere and reasonably comfortable motion in a seaway – so I don’t get to elect a 20’ bulb-keeled, hard-bilged/planning hull; however, my beloved Admiral differs and would probably prefer something approaching 35-LWL… so I’ve offered a compromise… she buys it and maintains and I’ll skipper it for her… her solution to the dilemma was to buy her own center console, so there you go… as always, beauty is in the eye of the beholder…