Long distance sailing in small yachts

[Kalinowski]

We really enjoy our Pearson 424 ketch! Excellent choice if you can swing it.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Tricolor

Found a 15 year old topic on the UK Yachtworld Forum that is for me still so valid as if it was written yesterday. Seems that now yachts must be 50' minimum with waching machine, multiple heads etc.

I think folks have just gotten used to having all the modern conveniences and don't want to sail without them so the larger boat is the answer

It's basically a small home on the water and affordable

When I sail my short cruises, I go to sail, hike, fish, kayak etc not to be in a home on the water, but my cruises are quite short....weekends and vacations

I'm not sure how it would workout being on a small boat or for that matter a large boat for months on end.

That would take some getting used to.

My 1000 sg ft apartment seems crowded with two people there but the old house at 2100 sq ft is room enough for 2-3 people and a large dog. Both have internet and cable tv etc

[Tricolor]

All so true and valid BUT the name of this topic is "Long Distance Sailing in small Yachts" some parts of your way of spending your time with sailing not fit in this topic and that's okay. [emoji106]

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Tricolor

All so true and valid BUT the name of this topic is "Long Distance Sailing in small Yachts" some parts of your way of spending your time with sailing not fit in this topic and that's okay. [emoji106]

It's all about preparation which is where I've been for the last few years......plus a lifetime on the water

You don't go out and try sailing a small boat long distance without testing which is what I'm doing

I'm not a part of the just do it crowd when it comes to crossing oceans.

If you want stories, there's Robin Lee Graham who sailed 3/4 the way around the world on a 24' boat

Tania Aebi circumnavigated on a Contessa 26 starting at 18 years old

And this guy that rounded Cape Horn on a Bristol 27.

https://www.bristol27.com/bristol-sp...52-steppin-out

Since your plan is to watch and observe, you wouldn't care about all it takes to be safe on a small boat at sea

[Tricolor]

Thank you Thom, btw in more or less than 40 years I have sailed long distance, crossed the Atlantic multiple times. Did my share, but never say never.. as some of you know I am looking for a new to me boat, because of brexit this will be most probably more sooner than later.

[thomm225]

That gets us back to the point......sailing long distance I think would be great if you have a goal in mind otherwise it would be pretty boring and pointless

Like if you plan to sail over to the Mediterranian Sea to see the island of Sardinia where the Black Stallion was filmed I'm thinking that would be a nice goal

Or to retrace some of the early explorer's routes...…

Especially if you are on a small boat, there must be a goal I'm thinking rather than just hanging out at anchor or sailing just to sail which would get old really fast and mind numbing

As far as small boats go, the key there is price.

I have around $12,500 in my boat. This over an 8 year period which includes boat price, maintenance, and upgrades

I did a bit more painting today actually and also received my 12 volt fan which means I won't need but 100 watts of solar or less this year while sailing. Right now I have my 65 watt panel powering the boat

My 46 years on the water has been on power boats for fishing since age 16 or racing beach cats in races to 100 miles. An ocean crossing at a younger age for me wouldn't be good due to the slow pace and lack of stimulation

[ferrailleur]

Xcuse my ignorance... whats's b..s..h
Thanks

Originally Posted by Tricolor

Found a 15 year old topic on the UK Yachtworld Forum that is for me still so valid as if it was written yesterday. Seems that now yachts must be 50' minimum with waching machine, multiple heads etc.

==================
Its not the size, folkboats and virtues (both 26ft) have circumnavigated and ridden out hurricains, I've met a couple on a 5 tonner (28ft) who have done an altantic circuit, there are lots more. Would trust my 32ft almost anywhere but she weighs about 9.5 tons and draws 6ft on a 20+ft keel length and is built like the proverbial b.. S.. h.. On the other hand a coroners inquest a couple of seasons back rulled that taking a large but light an shallow bodied fin keeler across bicay was reckless as the boat wasn't designed for it - despite cat A rating under the RCD. Have a serious think about whether your boat would be comfotable in a 3 day F8+ and would things break.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by ferrailleur

Xcuse my ignorance... whats's b..s..h
Thanks

Brick Sh!t House...….which many rephrase as Brick Lighthouse (which is how my boat is compared)


https://www.practical-sailor.com/rev...27-1135-1.html

[Rumbottle]

My Catalina 30 is 29'11" LOA. Built in 1978, owned by myself since end 1979, still sailing well & looking good after more than 50,000+ miles, including a sail from California to UK via Panama and a circumnavigation of the world via Cape Horn.

Great for single-handing, tracks well downwind with wind-vane. more than enough room for 2 people living onboard, lots of storage.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Rumbottle

My Catalina 30 is 29'11" LOA. Built in 1978, owned by myself since end 1979, still sailing well & looking good after more than 50,000+ miles, including a sail from California to UK via Panama and a circumnavigation of the world via Cape Horn.

Great for single-handing, tracks well downwind with wind-vane. more than enough room for 2 people living onboard, lots of storage.

I've always thought the catalina 30 gave you a lot of room below while still being decent performance. You clearly missed the memo that you can't take a Catalina offshore🤐

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Rumbottle

My Catalina 30 is 29'11" LOA. Built in 1978, owned by myself since end 1979, still sailing well & looking good after more than 50,000+ miles, including a sail from California to UK via Panama and a circumnavigation of the world via Cape Horn.

Great for single-handing, tracks well downwind with wind-vane. more than enough room for 2 people living onboard, lots of storage.

That's a very impressive CV for a Cat-30! Well done, mate. Have you done any beefing up from original, say in the rig or hull to deck joint?

And your paint job is quite attractive as well... breaks up the kinda slab sided look of the stock appearance.

Jim (not always a big fan of early Catalinas!)

[nwdiver]

28ft BCC or 34 PSC for small well built, well designed easy to live on long distance cruisers,,,,,,,both can carry allot a long way......in "Long Distance" when it's over you have to be comfortable, not many 1 year circumnavigations anymore where much of the year is sailing offshore.....

[Pizzazz]

I have a well equipped H31 and I believe it is a good size for me and two kids. Tankage/space is not an issue. For me the bottom line is that any boat is still a boat and would never be as comfortable as a nice hotel. So I spend accordingly. For passage making, I felt more comfortable on a H31 with two than on a Bene 58 with six. And passages are easy as there is always one shift on watch. The bottlenecks happen if you try to fit more people that you have cabins. Very similar to the number of bedrooms in a house.

[picklesandjesse]

Originally Posted by boatman61

32ft is my ideal for solo or 2 up liveaboard as well.. keel type is anything really as long as its well designed.

That's my boat. Last couple owned for 20 years and did 100,000 miles in her. Bought her for 27K Oz$ and she could leave again tomorrow. Came with liferaft, SSB, series drogue, self steering, spares and tools etc etc. I bought her 4 months ago and still find nice surprises. No one wanted a real offshore boat for only 2 people.

[KP44]

Originally Posted by Don C L

My only complaint about my boat is I'd like to be able to point a bit higher...and I'd like a little less rolling downwind.

Even at 18 ton and a 40 foot waterline, we can rock and roll downwind. Maybe a bit less motion but we all get some rolling and rocking.