smallest boat I have been out in rough seas and 40+ winds was a 22 foot
Westerly, which was built tough enough to take on the North Sea. I have also
been on a Nimrod 54 (Hunter 54) and most certainly would NOT take thing to sea.

I personally know a guy who crossed the North Atlantic twice (once in November)
and then sailed to Nova Scotia (starting in a snow storm in December) on a
Bristol 27. I know for a fact you would NOT take a Nimrod offshore, even for
money.

yes, ALL ELSE BEING EQUAL, a longer boat will have a more comfortable ride in
the rough stuff (and "steady 20 knot winds" as was claimed earlier in this
thread are NOT rough stuff) than a shorter boat. **HOWEVER** a good small boat
can be fine offshore while a price point, large coastal cruiser taken offshore
can make your wife a widow.

Horses for courses.

Also consider that a 45 footer taken offshore should have at least three _good_
crew onboard, and a 55 footer should have five _good_ crew onboard. While a 27
footer (worthy of offshore travel) needs only one good person onboard and maybe
one so-so crew.

The mainsail on a 55 footer weighs four or five or six times what the mainsail
on a 27 footer weighs (important when raising or lowering or repairing or
storing the mainsail) AND takes the same more effort to **trim in** one foot,
AND requires trimming in of maybe 2 or 3 feet for a total effort on the large
boat mainsail of roughly 10x total effort.

This is not the greatest of problems when the winds are under 10 knots, but do
come into play in 15 knot winds, are are hell to pay in 20 knots, and are
impossible by hand in the occasional 40+ knots of wind (meaning you are screwed
unless every last electric winch works and stays working)

I would not take a Nimrod 36 to sea.

==========================================

OK, I eagerly await your report on the Bristol 27 experience.

==========================================

Wayne, a Bristol 27 will be far more comfortable at sea than a Nimrod 36.

=============================================== ============

You may be right Jax because I have no experience wiith either. I'd
suggest you spend a week on each one beating to weather in the open
ocean and then give us a full report on your findings.