Passage Maker J-24 - Any Suggestions

[smo]

has anyone set up a j-24 for passagemaking
I'mm looking to purchase a used sailboat for and extended singlehanded cruise

would like your input on how suitable the j-24 would be

and any suggestions on other racing boats of that size bracket 22-27

smo

[svHyLyte]

MOdifying the J-24 might be a bit tough, and costly. COnsider, however, a J-30, see Extended Cruising

[MarkJ]

Welcome to the forum

Perhaps defining "extended" would help... some peoples idea of extened is to the Bahamas.... other people include the 5 capes or a few canals. (No, not the ICW but Panama and Suez)

Also I note you mention the words 'cruise' and 'race'. If a cruising boat wouldnt do well in a race, why would a race boat be good in a cruise?

Third: Singlehanded.... Sometimes boats are known to add aditional crew as they travel... would a girly-whirly like the idea of a romantic kidnapping on such a boat?

Boat buying is fun


Mark

[savoir]

Tell him he's dreamin'.

[Ex-Calif]

Having raced J24s for about 4 years I would never consider one for anything but overnights.

I have done a delivery against the tide here and spent 12 hours on the boat. There is no backrest and the boat is very light. We were against tide so we pounded pretty much all day.

I was a wreck at the end of 8 hours.

[smo]

what mods would you suggest on a j-24 for passage making (crossing the atlantic)
positive floatation
updated rigging
reef points in mainsail
auto pilot or windvane self steerer
positve locking hatch board


any other suggestions for a 22-28 foor racer style sailboat for a ocean passage>?

[speciald@ocens.]

Don't J-24s have a problem of sinking when they heel too far as the cockpit hatches open and flood the boat?

[Ex-Calif]

Crossing the Atlantic?

Yes - J24s have been broached in races when surfing under spin and with the hatch open they have flooded and sunk. Part of the racing game.

[cal40john]

I can't find the picture now, but I've seen a picture of a J24 with crew standing on the keel to try and right it. I've been told that this would only occur if the boat had already started to take on water, but I believe that I've read that the point of vanishing stability is only 95 degrees. To me this boat doesn't broach or knockdown, it capsizes. Not something I want to deal with offshore. So I would do something ridiculous like add a keel extension, which leads to keel to hull reinforcement which leads to ...

John

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by smo

any other suggestions for a 22-28 foor racer style sailboat for a ocean passage>?

Why the facination to covert a race boat for cruising?

If you gave a budget and the locations were you want to sale your sure to get some suitable answers, oh an dif you update your profile with your currrent location if will be even more specific and suitable advice.

In the meantime this boat won the recent OSTAR on handicap, bloody good effort in rebuilding her and then to win:

http://www.pbo.co.uk/fileBank/PDF/pbo-ostar-june09.pdf

Pete

[Bash]

Passage-making in a J-24? Noooooooooooo! It's a totally wet boat. Even if you rigged a dodger you're still talking full foulies in the cockpit.

A good cruiser keeps its owner dry.

[Sailmonkey]

The J-24 relies on rail meat to compensate for a lighter keel. We used to wet sand the bottom by sending a guy up to the masthead to pull the boat over........I'll not be singlehanding one of these anywhere other than a shallow bay or lake.

[speedoo]

Biggest problem with the J-24 for extended cruising is, as already mentioned, the cockpit seating offers no back support. Other than that, it's really not a bad boat for single handed cruising, although it's probably too light and too tender for offshore.

on edit: the BEST thing about the J-24 for single handing is that the boat sails very well under main alone, even in winds of 10-12 knots. This is something that I wish more cruising boats would offer. I really don't understand why cruising boats all have to have big genoas with masthead rigs (rather than fractional)... it makes single handing so much more difficult.

[ChrisClipper]

My brother just sailed his J 22 from Grand Cayman to Montego Bay and back, dual handed, so he could race his own boat there. He said he had a blast except for the fatigue. I also knew a couple that cruised a Shark 24 for year all over the Islands. Now would I do it? Nope, I like a lot of boat around me but if I pass anyone our there trying it in a little J then i will happily toss them a couple of cold beers.

[Avalon119]

Originally Posted by cal40john

I've seen a picture of a J24 with crew standing on the keel to try and right it.
John

It was the J/24 North Americans in Rochester. Lots of swamping / sinking etc - was blowing a steady 30 knots - so imagine 40++ knots for 3 days and nights - no thanks. Love the boats, my dad had one and I have been on and around them for 20 years, but she's a lake boat. The best advice here is the Sigma 33 project mentioned. The J/24 is a dinghy with a keel.