Ocean Crossing - How Small Is Too Small ?

[nautical62]

There are many stories of people crossing oceans in very small craft.

In my mind, the criteria should not be who did it and survived, but rather who did it and choose to do it in the same craft again?

[Hud3]

In anchorages in the West Indies, we saw some (not a lot) small boats (9 meters or so, with low freeboard) that had obviously made the jump from Europe. Most were crewed by a young couple--late twenties in age. Most were from Denmark, Sweden or Norway. They all gave the impression of being very competent, self-sufficient sailors having a grand adventure.

[Geoduck]

I bought a Nimble 20 for something to play with a few years ago. The old guy who sold it to me bought it new in Florida in 87, sailed it all over the Bahammas, down to the Virgin Islands & back to Fla. Put it on a trailer & took it home to Umatilla, Oregon - way up the Columbia river. His next trip was down the Columbia to the ocean & up the coast to Desolation Sound, BC & back to Umatilla. He was over 65 when he did this.
Great little boat but after a few days - you tend to get stiff & sore. I'm sure the boat would make it across the pond but I doubt that I could ever walk again once I got to the other side!

[Randyonr3]

Originally Posted by Geoduck

Great little boat but after a few days - you tend to get stiff & sore. I'm sure the boat would make it across the pond but I doubt that I could ever walk again once I got to the other side!

Thats a point that many thinking "small" should think about.. Stories have arisin about those crossing oceans in a Canoe and then there is the guy that crossed the pacific in a Potter.. and if crossing oceans is the only thought, then an airplane is the best plan, gets you there faster, cost less and is probably much safer, ..
Your boat becomes your life when you cut the lines to sail off across oceans or around the world, you eat, sleep, and play in that space..along with other things..
so when you pick the boat, large or small, ask yourself if you can live your life while traveling in that boat..

[Ti' Punch]

Originally Posted by HopCar

I think any argument that there is a boat that is too small to cross an ocean has been disproved many times by the people who set records for smallest boat crossings. If the design is right, then the size is determined by how uncomfortable you are willing to be. I met Hugo Vihlen one time. He didn't seem crazy but this is a man who crossed the Atlantic twice in boats shorter than he was tall. He had April Fool in his back yard at the time and he gave me a tour. It looked safe but really uncomfortable!

I just took my kids to the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, VA this weekend. They have April Fool on display in the International Small Boat Center there. I had never heard of Hugo Vihlen or April Fool before that. What an amazing character he must be. The boat looked ridiculously small, even next to all the other small boats from around the world.

[barnakiel]

This image belongs in many places of our Forum.

http://www.yrvind.com/present_projec...09/sailing.jpg

Not too small.

b.