Sorry, but there are boats built and designed for 'bluewater' sailing, and ones which are not. This is not to say that one cannot cross oceans in a row boat or traverse Niagara Falls in a barrell, only that it is unwise to do so. There are a number of
books on the topic, but if we are talking about monohulls the following seem to be consensus opinions as to what makes a bluewater boat:
1. solid, if not necessarily heavy construction (boats have developed stress cracks and structural failures in heavy seas).
2. a small cockpit with a high bridgedeck, watertight cockpit lockers and at least four 1 1/2" cockpit drains (inevitably the cockpit will be swamped and you do not want water to flood the interior).
3. balance in the rig and hull design so that the boat does not have excessive weather/lee
helm and tracks well (saves wear and tear on both a human helmsman and a windvane/autopilot).
4. substantial spars/rigging with open body turnbuckles (loosing a rig is a disaster offshore).
5. significant rocker in the underbody (as Robert Perry, NA says, it is rocker and not 'U' or 'V' sections in the underbody that avoid pounding in heavy seas.
6. narrower, rather than wider beam for
LOA (assists in righting ability and reduces weatherhelm when healing).
7. moderate freeboard (improves sailing and
anchoring stability in strong winds)
8. an easy to set up and useable
emergency tiller (steering systems can break, and many
center cockpit vessels have
emergency tillers that can only be utilitzed below decks!).
9. strong bow roller for at least 2 anchors and strong bow, stern and spring
cleats.
10. smaller and stronger portlights/hatches that can withstand knockdowns and worse.
11. adequate handholds below.
12. sufficient sea berths for the anticipated crew.
13. a
galley designed to allow the cook to brace him/herself and a side to side gimballed
stove.
14. the ability to sail to windward in heavy sea/wind conditions sufficient to
claw off a lee shore.
16. the ability to heave to.
17. adequate ventilation.
18. a proper chart table/navigation station
19. a well protected
rudder (best is at the end of a
full keel, a skeg is next best).
20
offshore sails with adequate construction and
reefs for all conditions.
21. positive locks for all cabin doors/floor hatches.
22. adequate tankage for water/fuel for long passages.
23. sufficient
storage space for stores for long passages.
24.
Companionway drop boards with positive locking.
The list can go on, and there have been numerous
books written on the subject. No matter how you want to cut it, the above are all important features in a 'bluewater' or
offshore boat. Many boats can be modified to have some, or all of the above features. But regardless, all of the above are features of a true 'bluewater' or 'offshore' sailing
monohull. There IS a difference.
Brad