What happened to the "small" "Affordable" cruisers?

[Rhwins]

Photos of original Austin Mini's next to the current MINI Coopers demonstrate the same trend in cars.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by Rhwins

Photos of original Austin Mini's next to the current MINI Coopers demonstrate the same trend in cars.

ain't that the truth!

[barnakiel]

Nothing changed.


Rich people in big(-ger boats) cruise in their boats. Less rich people in small(-er) boats cruise in their boats.


Who can, buys a cat.


A limited number of nutters in very small boats (4-6 meters LOA) are cruising, sailing and circumnavigating too.



I do not see anything has changed. Not much anyways.


Where are you?


Perhaps your view is strongly influenced by where you are. Some places are very specific, e.g. very posh (think of Maiorca, Marbella, Palo Alto, etc.)


b.

[Davo1404]

Originally Posted by Adelie

No, no don’t build unless that’s a goal in and of itself.
Start building and it’ll be another 10yr before you go. Unlikely to save you much money either.

Totally agree. I spent 7 years in the 1980s building a 40 ft yacht. Wouldn't recommend it today. Lots of bargains around if you are prepared to look for a while.

[barnakiel]

Building your own boat is an amazing adventure and you should absolutely do!


It will keep you in relative safety of the shed too - indefinitely!


Me and my mate will be busy sailing meanwhile.



barnakiel

[SeaYote]

i LOVE this topic and the responses - I think we can all use a bit of right sizing (self included) right about now.
...and HECK Yeah, the rap is awesome. Just when I think y'all (or should I say; yawl?) are a bunch of barnacle butted boat nerds, along comes a boat rap.... !!!

[Rodneyr]

I am 61 and dream of having the opportunity to go sailing once this covid 19 pandemic clears our country of Australia. I have only sailed once when l in my thirties and now more than ever wish to follow that dream.
I understand that everyone wants something bigger with some bells and whistles, but l have found that it's not the piece of equipment you have to take you onto your destination but how you go about doing it that. You may have the smallest boat or vehicle, but the journey, experiences and people you meet will be what you remember, and tge tougher you do that journey may give you a better sense of pride.
As my wife has told me, its not the size of the thing, but the joy you get from using it. Haaaa
I hope that as our summer is approaching l can too, enter the world sailing and serenity l hope it will bring.
Stay safe and healthy.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by wingssail

There are plenty, PLENTY, of good 30'-36' boats around, and CHEAP. You'll have no trouble finding one if you're willing to do some R&R (which is not rest and relaxation).

What he says.


In the EU, decent grp boats can be had from say 2k upwards.


Sure a 2k boat is not something to jump into and sail the world, but basically we are talking of new rigging, good sails and a reliaible outboard plus some bottom paint. 5k plus the change you need for beer in the Caribbean (beer in the Caribbean is a main part of your budget even if it is not the main part of your diet!).



I think for less than 10k you can have a small package to sail the Atlantic loop, maybe even the world loop - if you are nasty, spoiled and fearless. Fearless, yes.


Boats are cheap. Because young people do not want to do hard, challenging, dangerous things anymore. Generation Z are soft people, sitting on the couch and watching Netflix series.


When I was their age, I watched Rambo.


barnakiel

[Davo1404]

Wife & I have owned a 1972 32ft IOR half tonner for 27 years & have sailed many coastal & offshore miles. We get so many other yachties who think that we have a death wish sailing such a small yacht off shore with just the 2 of us. When I tell them that we have only in the past year changed from hanked on to a furler as we are now both in our 60s. They really think we are crazy.

[Kamakiriad66]

I know exactly what you mean. The wife and i wanted something either of us could handle single-handed if the other was injured, and strong enough to make the occassional long passage.

WE could buy a new boat.

We ended up buying a Bene Oceanis 331.

Not a huge boat, but extremely well laid out interior for long passages and a great deal of space for storage for a couple.

The rig is perfect if you use a yankee-stay for long passages and a genoa for coastal sailing.

It has all the modern amenities crammed into 34 feet of class-a rated hull.

I feel it is a compromise between old and new.

I wish there were more options in that 30-34 category that werent 50 years old. I wish someone made a new boat that didn't cost 120+k.

Honestly the closest we found was the Hanse 315 for new.

If someone made a 31-32 foot tough as nails cruising boat on the west coast they would make a killing. People swap old Catalinas out here all the time. A new version of the Catalina 27-30 for about 60 grand would be a sales BEAST.

The money is there, but manufacturers want to make more than that.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Rodneyr

I am 61 and dream of having the opportunity to go sailing once this covid 19 pandemic clears our country of Australia. I have only sailed once when l in my thirties and now more than ever wish to follow that dream.
I understand that everyone wants something bigger with some bells and whistles, but l have found that it's not the piece of equipment you have to take you onto your destination but how you go about doing it that. You may have the smallest boat or vehicle, but the journey, experiences and people you meet will be what you remember, and tge tougher you do that journey may give you a better sense of pride.
As my wife has told me, its not the size of the thing, but the joy you get from using it. Haaaa
I hope that as our summer is approaching l can too, enter the world sailing and serenity l hope it will bring.
Stay safe and healthy.

That's the spirit!


You may find interesting the story of our friend Bill Hughes on his boat Kymika.


Bill took off from Australia when he retired and we met him while transiting the Indian Ocean. Later we met him again in RSA, Africa. Later he sailed to his old country Wales and then he continued to close the big loop in Australia. He had a small accident there in the Torres Strait on his way back.


You can achieve anything you can imagine. As long as you go for it.


https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-no...wales-11155650


The image taken from our boat while sailing RSA coast.


Cheers,
barnakiel

[SeaYote]

I saw a rather adorable little power cruiser at a local marina and had to look it up --- Ranger Tugs - 23 to 41 feet.
Seems like it would be a nimble and comfortable cruiser.
Anyone have experience with these?

[Calif.Ted]

Originally Posted by SeaYote

I saw a rather adorable little power cruiser at a local marina and had to look it up --- Ranger Tugs - 23 to 41 feet.
Seems like it would be a nimble and comfortable cruiser.
Anyone have experience with these?

Nice boats but wicked expensive.
Small boats went the way of small boat builders, there was a time you couldn't swing a cat around here without hitting a boat builder of some sort.
All gone now.

[lo2jones]

Not sure anyone hit this point: less than 40 is fine, and good in that you can get into small harbors and in prime real estate at the Cay. A boat over 40 means you’ll be in the back 40.
Under 40ft and you have to be very careful about what you take along with you due to weight limitations. Over 40 and you can worry less.

[barnakiel]

Yep.



50 is excellent. 40 is very nice too. 30 is amazing but can be a bit irresponsible. And 20 is just too young.


It took me 50 years to discover this simple truth.


b.