Gozzard 36 as a Bluewater, Liveaboard Cruising Yacht

[GypsyJohn]

My wife, our dog and I are about to buy a bluewater, liveaboard cruising yacht in USA. We will spend a season in the Caribbean, then head west across the South Pacific to Australia or Asia. I have spent months narrowing a list of boats within our limited budget in the 36 – 38’ range and the shortlist includes older models of: Tayana 37; Cabo Rico 38; and Gozzard 36. The final choice will be influenced by the best deal, subject to the wisdom from this forum. I need a boat that has a comfortable motion at sea as the admiral suffers mal de mer worse than me.

In another thread, “Understanding the Ratios”, there were many contradictory thoughts about how meaningful the ratios are, so it is time to seek the thoughts of sailors here who have sailed on these boats in a real ocean swell.

The key ratios are: Tayana 37 (Capsize Screening Formula 1.63, Motion Comfort Ratio 40.8); Cabo Rico 38 (CSF 1.65, MCR 40.0) and Gozzard 36 (CSF 1.83, MCR 32.0). Based on the ratios, the Gozzard will be less comfortable and at greater risk in nasty seas.

1) How significant are the differences in these ratios?
2) Subjectively, how does the Gozzard feel when the waves get belligerent?

Many thanks in advance for the combined wisdom flowing across this thread.

[unbusted67]

Pblais has a Gozzard I believe.

[zeehag]

gozzards sail nice. didnt sail one in heavy seas, but they perform well in caribean.

[ronbo1]

I wouldn't place much stock in ratios and numbers, not because I have a Gozzard but in the real world they are only guides. In fact, Ted Brewer famously said he created his "comfort ratio" as a lark.

Any of those named boats would be a good choice. My experience with Gozzard is they are ruggedly built and will take you anywhere.

By the way, I had a Gozzard36 before buying a 44.

Ronbo

[Play Actor]

You might add the Baba/Tashiba 35/36 or 40 to your list. Very similar boat. We had almost the same list 23 years ago, and have been happy with our Baba 35 ever since.

[zeehag]

baba /tashiba are not clipper bow. they are traditional. gozzard has clipper bow. very similar but completely different.
try bayfield--is gozzard.

[Play Actor]

Right you are, Zeehag, although the OP mentioned the Tayana 37, as well. Should probably look at your Formosa, if a clipper bow is important. The Bayfields fit too, as you say.

[sv Winterlude]

I always heard the clipper bows tended to hobbyhorse more than other designs. We loved an aquaintance's Gozzard 44. We were sure the 36 was our boat. I love the look and I loved the inside configuration.

But we ended up with a Passport 37 on Bob Perry's recommendation (over a Tashiba 36 & 40 that we were looking at at the same time). Only 24 built, our boat is built to go around the world ... unfortunately it's crew is not. If you're looking at Baba/Tashiba/Tayana, if there's a Passport available, take a look.

[zeehag]

isnt the clipper bow that hobbyhorses--i have seen more double enders including ingrids and babas hobbyhorse--is due to being improperly load trimmed. ANY improperly loaded boat will hobbyhorse.

[SaltyMonkey]

Dear Santa:

SaltyMonkey would like a boat for xmas - any boaty is good for SaltyMonkey - hobbyhorsie or not.

I know i know..SaltyMonkey has been mischievous and grumpy this year BUT whats your point? AYE?

Bayfields are nice boats and because they are affordable for SaltyMonkey!

[Mike OReilly]

Can't do a direct comparison with your three options GypsyJohn, although I can tell you that there is a noticable difference between our previous boat (Grampian-34; CSF: 1.75, MCR: 29.97) compared to our current boat (Rafiki-37; CSF: 1.6, MCR: 45.23).

Our Rafiki's motion in a rough seaway is noticeably easier to take. Not that the Grampian was bad, but our new (old) boat just cuts through the slop that much easier. My wife, who also suffers from mal de mer, suffers much less on our Rafiki.

That being said, I think all your choices (plus the others mentioned) are great boats. I would confidently go to sea in any of them.

[GypsyJohn]

Many thanks for the feedback esteemed members. My wife likes the layout of the Gozzard, so looks like it stays firmly planted on the shortlist.

[cabo_sailor]

One other thing you might look at in terms of a blue water boat is tankage and storage space. I have a Cabo Rico 38 that hold roughly 50 gal of diesel and 180 gal of water. Before I bought the Cabo I looked at Gozzards. A very handsome vessel but for me the tankage was more suited to coastal cruising.

Just a thought,
Rich

[Cheechako]

Too much weight in the ends can cause hobby horsing. Most the double enders have long waterlines and minimal hull overhangs. (Perry) Some of the older designs with clipper bows (Garden) have much shorter waterlines/to OAL and thus more weight in the ends past the waterline. Dont think I would worry about it either way though. Those all sound like great boats.

[GypsyJohn]

Good point Cabo_sailor. Given the usage and areas I will be cruising, I will install a watermaker so not too stressed about the water storage, providing I always keep an emergency supply - not that a watermaker would ever fail mind you! The diesel however is more of a concern. After a quick search, I notice that Gozzard fuel tanks have steadily increased over the years, from 40 gallons in the early models I am looking at. Clearly the designer saw the need for more tankage. Interestingly the holding tank is bigger, at 60 gallons.

Agreed Cheechako. At one time the Ta Yang boatyard decided to put tanks in the bow of the Tayana 37, without discussion with the designer (Bob Perry). Later, most owner had to find space mid ship to repositioin the tanks to stop the hobby horsing.

The research continues ...