Sailing cargo

[Nels]

Is there a sub forum for those who sail cargo?

[Muaddib1116]

Commercially? This is a cruisers forum, so I doubt there's much here about commercial sail cargo. Is this something you do? To describe it as a niche enterprise is sort of an understatement. I'd be interested to hear about what your operation is.

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by Nels

Is there a sub forum for those who sail cargo?

No, but if you use the forum search function and within the Google search for the forum you will find a few helpful threads.
The Google forum search is available on the desktop version of the forum.

Good luck, interesting subject.

[Snore]

I have known a few who sailed “cargo”. Some got away with it, others did a little time.

Me? I don’t run any cargo.

[Nels]

Originally Posted by Muaddib1116

Commercially? This is a cruisers forum, so I doubt there's much here about commercial sail cargo. Is this something you do? To describe it as a niche enterprise is sort of an understatement. I'd be interested to hear about what your operation is.

I wanted to explore the idea of a cruiser less than 100ft that can move cargo but isn’t dedicated to cargo. As a way to explore the world but also stay productive. I have no idea if that is a thing.. I imagine there could be small ports that aren’t accessible by larger boats. Maybe a niche thing.

[Nels]

Originally Posted by Snore

I have known a few who sailed “cargo”. Some got away with it, others did a little time.

Me? I don’t run any cargo.

It’s criminal?

[jordanbigel]

Originally Posted by Nels

I wanted to explore the idea of a cruiser less than 100ft that can move cargo but isn’t dedicated to cargo. As a way to explore the world but also stay productive. I have no idea if that is a thing.. I imagine there could be small ports that aren’t accessible by larger boats. Maybe a niche thing.

I can recall several late night, rum enhanced conversations with a cruiser who thought it would be great to personally bring back the age of sailing ships plying the pacific islands, bringing much needed sustenance to the local populace.

To my knowledge, no, this is not a thing. Still.

"I imagine there could be small ports that aren’t accessible by larger boats"

Yes, and they are served by small cargo vessels, often under 100' as you suggest, using diesel propulsion of course.

Could you compete with them and make enough to survive, using a sailing vessel? Seems to me if this were possible the people running the cargo ships now would be doing it themselves.

But who knows, anything is possible!

[Nels]

Originally Posted by jordanbigel

I can recall several late night, rum enhanced conversations with a cruiser who thought it would be great to personally bring back the age of sailing ships plying the pacific islands, bringing much needed sustenance to the local populace.



To my knowledge, no, this is not a thing. Still.



"I imagine there could be small ports that aren’t accessible by larger boats"



Yes, and they are served by small cargo vessels, often under 100' as you suggest, using diesel propulsion of course.



Could you compete with them and make enough to survive, using a sailing vessel? Seems to me if this were possible the people running the cargo ships now would be doing it themselves.



But who knows, anything is possible!

Tres hombres on YouTube seems to move cargo full time. The information is limited but it does seem to be a thing. Well, if any one knows where to find a forum for this sort of thing pass a link along. Thanks!

[KompetentKrew]

S/V Kwai used to do this - I think she had a pretty regular route and stops between Hawaii and the Cook Islands, but I find she's recently been sold.

• Old site
• New site

I suspect that having a regular route is the only way to make it economical - the random opportunities aren't there; people build businesses when regular logistics is available.

I'd think you'd run a loss taking random cargo to various interesting places (more of a loss than just sailing there for pleasure) due to the costs of duties, licensing etc. You don't know the import rules in your new destination, you need to pay to get some kind of certificate and then all your profit is gone.

FairTransport.eu (Tres Hombres & Nordlys) sail cargo on classic or traditional ships, and their business is subsidised by passengers / crew. I think they import to western Europe and sell at a massive markup to the organic / zero-carbon crowd.

[Muaddib1116]

Here's a conversation from a couple years ago. I'm not sure what happened to this guy, I think he disappeared after this.


https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ne-238683.html

[Nels]

Originally Posted by Muaddib1116

Here's a conversation from a couple years ago. I'm not sure what happened to this guy, I think he disappeared after this.


https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ne-238683.html

Thanks! This is informative. They are discussing all things I don’t know to know.

[OldManMirage]

I've always said if I had the money I would buy or build the Bruce Roberts Trader 65.

https://bruceroberts.com/public/HTML...escription.htm

And then I would try and establish some regular trading runs to the South Pacific area. Or other remote places. Just a daydream but still...if someone wants to be my rich uncle I'm game !

[Nels]

Originally Posted by OldManMirage

I've always said if I had the money I would buy or build the Bruce Roberts Trader 65.



https://bruceroberts.com/public/HTML...escription.htm



And then I would try and establish some regular trading runs to the South Pacific area. Or other remote places. Just a daydream but still...if someone wants to be my rich uncle I'm game !

Nice.

[rob denney]

Originally Posted by Nels

I wanted to explore the idea of a cruiser less than 100ft that can move cargo but isn’t dedicated to cargo. As a way to explore the world but also stay productive. I have no idea if that is a thing.. I imagine there could be small ports that aren’t accessible by larger boats. Maybe a niche thing.

G'day,
You might want to check out the Harryproa cargo proa
Cargo Ferry – Harryproa.

I am currently in Fiji assembling the prototype, should be sailing test routes to remote villages in a few months. see Cargo Ferry Prototype – Harryproa for the build blog.

[GordMay]

A little about Rob Denney ➥ Rob Denney – Harryproa