What makes a boat a go-anywhere blue-water cruiser?

[trbgld]

Hello everybody!

I'm wondering what qualities a sailboat must have to be a (go anywhere) blue-water cruiser. I have some limited sailing experience (Meds only) but fell in love with it and I am now looking at affordable sailboats to do some extended cruising on big waters.

Of course there are the well known boats which have the reputation of being capable to take you anywhere, but what if this boat is not a famous design?

I have found this boat which is almost the right size and amount of "project-boat" I'm looking for, but I can't find any information on this design and thus its sea-worthiness. I believe as a ketch-rigged steel boat with a medium long keel it sort of falls into the go-anywhere category. I believe she's a good boat, but I would be really happy if anybody could share his/her opinion about her. (Don't worry about the interior since this would entirely be redone.)

[MarkJ]

The most important thing is your boat is admired by people on the internet forums.



Mark

[boatman61]

As long as you don't mind a slow boat she'll do fine..

[trbgld]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

The most important thing is your boat is admired by people on the internet forums.

Well, she is not mine. All I'm asking here is your opinions about her presumed seaworthiness.

Originally Posted by boatman61

As long as you don't mind a slow boat she'll do fine..

Slow shouldn't be a problem But I'm interested. How do you tell that she'll be crawling?

[TeddyDiver]

Considering the boat in the OP link I 'd say it's not. Might be a blue water boat what comes to seaworthiness but biggest flaw i found is "Kraftstofftank Ja" which indicates it's pretty much nothing, and that's not enough to "go-anywhere"

BR Teddy

[boatman61]

Weight vs Size.. being a steel boat owner (39ft) who regularly gets passed by lighter plastic boats off similar and smaller size.. till I turn on the engine and pass them at 7.5kts..
But.. she doesn't bounce around the way a plastic fantastic will

[trbgld]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

but biggest flaw i found is "Kraftstofftank Ja" which indicates it's pretty much nothing, and that's not enough to "go-anywhere"

I don't get it. "Kraftstofftank Ja" only means that she has a fuel tank But yes, I should have posted the english link instead.

Originally Posted by boatman61

Weight vs Size.. being a steel boat owner (39ft) who regularly gets passed by lighter plastic boats off similar and smaller size.. till I turn on the engine and pass them at 7.5kts..
But.. she doesn't bounce around the way a plastic fantastic will

Thanks for you opinion! I actually prefer slow over shake! And I don't have a problem with being overtaken (my car is 24 years old and looks like a brick).

[Snore]

Originally Posted by trbgld

Hello everybody!

I'm wondering what qualities a sailboat must have to be a (go anywhere) blue-water cruiser .

IMHO- The single determining factor is the person at the helm. We have all seen boats that "never should have made it" do incredible things. And stout sea-worthy boat abandoned in relatively stable condition.

Aside from that there are those who swear by full keel heavy boats and others who want light fast boats that bounce you like you are in a cement mixer.

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by trbgld

I don't get it. "Kraftstofftank Ja" only means that she has a fuel tank But yes, I should have posted the english link instead.

Thanks, I can read german. My point about the fuel tank is the size. If it's so little there's no point to mention the volume then it's inadaquate..

BR Teddy

[trbgld]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

Thanks, I can read german. My point about the fuel tank is the size. If it's so little there's no point to mention the volume then it's inadaquate..

BR Teddy

I'm currently contacting the broker with a lot of questions before we head out to have a look, If the fuel tank is indeed to small, we will have to replace it.

[Lancelot]

A hull.

[SV DestinyAscen]

The weather and the person sailing her.

When I was last in Britain, there were plenty of folks in boats below 30 ft sailing around the isles. One guy from Norway I think had just sailed from faroe islands. The north sea and channel are pretty challenging conditions.

[Don C L]

Welcome here!
Well, I know what it is like to fall irrationally in love with a boat. It sounds like you really want this one to be the one. I couldn't find info on this boat either. I'd like to see it under the waterline and see its displacement to waterline numbers and the depth of the ballast for my own way of telling its bluewaterness. Don't believe a bluewater boat has to be so strong and heavy that you must accept slow too. There are many very strong, bluewater, boats that are fast and go to weather well too. Steel is not required for a well-respected boat, though it might be preferable for those planning on sailing among ice floes.

[LadyStardust]

For long offshore passages you will probably need some sort of windvane steering, have a think about how you might fit one given the size and position of the rudder.

[jrbogie]

the sailor makes any boat a go anywhere boat. that the question was even asked suggests a good deal of experience is needed in small boats.