Blue water boat vs modified coast cruiser

[Roland01]

I am at a crossroads on what boat I am going to buy in a few years time. I want to do things like cross the Atlantic/Pacific/Hawaii and the milk run in the Pacific, but also do the Great Loop, which is the first major expedition. I'll have the luxury of being able to choose the weather window of all my expeditions, and I'll be able to go during the trade winds. I'm interested coastal cruising/Keys/Caribbean/Bahamas as well.



If I go during a good weather window can I get away with a modified Catalina 38 for ocean crossings since I'm also interested in the Great Loop/coastal cruising or due to safety,comfort and other variables or am I better off buying an ocean cruiser like the Tayana 37. My budget for a sailboat will be around $100,000. Is some sort of hybrid between blue water boat and cruiser the way to go or due to logistics and safety am I better off just getting a blue water boat and buying a cheap loop boat and selling it after I'm done. Any help would be much appreciated.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Roland.

[boatman61]

When you say 'modifications' what do you mean..
Personally a bog standard 380 should be able to do what you want if everything is in good condition. Your planning on the right seasons etc so bar maybe a water maker for 20minute showers one's good to go.
But that's just me.

[wholybee]

There really isn't a clear line between a blue water boat and a coastal boat. The Catalina 38 is a fine boat and I would not hesitate to take one in good condition across an ocean.

The Catalina would be faster and more comfortable than classic "blue water" boats, as would any newer production boat.

Get what fits your budget, that surveys well, and that you can live comfortably in.

[Auklet]

I know of one Catalina 38 that’s sailed from LA to Honolulu and back twice for TransPac, which is during summer of course. But I would prefer traveling across oceans in the Tayana 37. I’ve heard remarks among knowledgeable racers about the 38 being a poor choice for extensive down-wind sailing, cruising, in ocean conditions. Apparently this is due to its configuration under the IOR racing rule system that it was built to. There’s much on the web about IOR boats generally; shouldn’t be hard to track down opinions with respect to the Cat 38 if interested.

[seandepagnier]

most people would not want the catalina for that 0.1% of the time when you are in a storm at sea

[Auklet]

Originally Posted by boatman61

When you say 'modifications' what do you mean..
Personally a bog standard 380 should be able to do what you want if everything is in good condition. Your planning on the right seasons etc so bar maybe a water maker for 20minute showers one's good to go.
But that's just me.

The Cat 380 is a newer cruising design, whereas the Cat 38 is an older racing design. Apples and oranges so to speak.

[Tetepare]

IIRC Fatty Goodlander beefed up the rig on his 51’ and was glad he did. There are safety improvements that can be done to production boats. And some should, prior to departure; eg the rudder post on the B430.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Roland01

If I go during a good weather window can I get away with a modified Catalina 38 for ocean crossings since I'm also interested in the Great Loop/coastal cruising or due to safety,comfort and other variables or am I better off buying an ocean cruiser like the Tayana 37.

Well if you are planning to need a boat "better" than a Catalina 38 you IMO are being foolish and that Tayana 37 is going to make 0 difference (it probably will make 0 difference not matter what anyway).

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Auklet

The Cat 380 is a newer cruising design, whereas the Cat 38 is an older racing design. Apples and oranges so to speak.

So I see.. just rechecked and see its an old S&S design, not keen on IOR race boats so I'll reverse my choice.

[fred4936]

We have similar aspirations, but on the east coast. We are leaving to do he Great Loop next year, and plan on cruising the Bahamas and Caribbean as well. With the great Loop, boat dimensions are an issue. We chose a Pearson 34-2. Length, draft, and air draft should work well on the Loop and the Bahamas. ICW has 65' bridge clearance, some marinas on the loop can only handle boats to 36' from what I understand. Pearson built a good boat, so we are confident in it. She may be a little small, but we can easily handle her without too many powered devices, which is a big factor. There will be a windlass installed though. Keep it simple!

[Kd9truck]

Do you mean a great loop around the world or that mostly in land route up the misssisippi a across the Great Lakes and down the east coast?
There are blue water brands like Oyster, Hylas, Moody, Hinkley, and then there are what’s called production boats like Beneteau, Jeanneau, Catalina, Pearson, all have crossed Oceans. As an Example Jeanneau (60 years oldish) have produced over 100,000. Vessels, tens of thousands of which have crossed oceans, some regularly. Some will knock the seaworthiness of a coastal cruiser, production boat (those “blue water” boats they are production boats also) but money can not replace experience.
At 100k in this market your getting a coastal cruiser and you should be looking at the 50k boats to put 40k into with 10k as back up because things happen imho.
You make no reference to your experience, this is a major factor, don’t believe what you see in the YouTube videos, they are selling a dream, your reality may be drastically different.
Cheers.

[SV__Grace]

Personally I strongly prefer a boat that can handle the worst conditions anticipated safely and as comfortably as possible.

It is naive to think that choosing weather windows will allow you to avoid nasty conditions in an ocean crossing. A lot can change in a few days, no less weeks and months.

If you've been in the ocean, out of sight of land, caught in an unanticipated 60 knot gale and 30 foot seas, you "get it." If you haven't, you are making decisions based upon assumptions and limited information and experience.

My personal preference for your situation is to get a coastal cruiser as cheaply as possible and cruise the Carribean, Mexico, PNW, etc. and get solid experience as a coastal cruiser for a few years, then when you're ready, sell and get a bluewater boat.

Most of us will attest that the boat we would buy today, based upon experience and developing our own preferences is different than the boat we would have bought a few years ago.

[Auklet]

Originally Posted by Kd9truck

There are blue water brands like Oyster, Hylas, Moody, Hinkley, and then there are what’s called production boats like Beneteau, Jeanneau, Catalina, Pearson, all have crossed Oceans.

Unless it’s a custom design and build, it’s a production boat. Produced in a factory along some kind of assembly line with a few to several others of the same basic model being assembled at the same time, etc.

[soopad00pa]

Pffft, 60kts and 30ft seas? I was bugging out in 25kts and 8ft seas.