what size and type sailboat?
 

Hi,

My family is interested in what sailboat to buy and learn that can handle
offshore or perhaps ocean crossing. Older fits our budget better.

What type? How long?

I know this is vague but just trying to develop preliminary ideas to
consider.

thanks
marshall

what size and type sailboat?
 

Hi Marshall,
I would suggest starting with a sloop or Marconi rig, a single masted
boat with a
main and foresail. It is one of the simplest rigs to handle. For learning,
a smaller boat would have advantages, but for ocean crossings you will need a
larger vessel.
The disadvantage of a larger boat is that is has larger sail which require
winches and
can be a handful in a blow. Many of the newer boats have roller reefing jibs
and main sails, which would make sail handling easier, but more susceptible
to failures
which is critical on an ocean cruise. You can overcome some of the sail
handling
problems with a fractional rig, that is one with more than one mast. This
reduces the
size of the sails and usually makes the boat easier to balance. If you can
manage, I
would start with a smaller boat to learn on, and trade up to a larger boat
for your
ocean cruising. If you go with a sloop, try and get a boat with a keel
design that allows it to sail comfortably with main alone, usually a full
length keel does this. This
helps when learning, and is even more important on ocean voyages.

Sherwin D.

MarshallE wrote:

Hi,

My family is interested in what sailboat to buy and learn that can handle
offshore or perhaps ocean crossing. Older fits our budget better.

What type? How long?

I know this is vague but just trying to develop preliminary ideas to
consider.

thanks
marshall

what size and type sailboat?
 

For what you are talking about, assuming a family of four, it would be
hard to beat an Endeavor 32 if you can find one. Built like a tank,
reasonable speed, docile handling but responsive enough that you can
understand what the boat is doing while you are learning. Good
interior layout.

These aren't true blue water boats but have done long voyages.

You can see pictures and read about ours he

http://home.maine.rr.com/rlma/Boat.htm

--

Roger Long



"MarshallE" wrote in message
. ..
Hi,

My family is interested in what sailboat to buy and learn that can
handle
offshore or perhaps ocean crossing. Older fits our budget better.

What type? How long?

I know this is vague but just trying to develop preliminary ideas to
consider.

thanks
marshall

what size and type sailboat?
 

A lot depends on your and your family's level of experience and commitment.
Have you been offshore? If not, I'd suggest taking one of the many available
offshore/coastal classes, if for nothing more than to get a feeling for it.
It's not all peaches and cream. I'd also suggest chartering various boats of
different makes and sizes. This will give you some idea of the accomodations
you can expect, and the typical offshore class lasts for a couple of days,
so you'll get an idea what it's like to handle night sailing, standing
watches, etc.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"MarshallE" wrote in message
. ..
Hi,

My family is interested in what sailboat to buy and learn that can handle
offshore or perhaps ocean crossing. Older fits our budget better.

What type? How long?

I know this is vague but just trying to develop preliminary ideas to
consider.

thanks
marshall

what size and type sailboat?
 

Never sailed mine in the ocean...bot I know they have crossed them.
Older, tough as nails, lots of weight...alberg 35

Lots of old 60's FG boats would do...... allied luders 33 would work.

He didn't start with a Luders 33 but he finished with one:

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...in+graham+dove

Ric

what size and type sailboat?
 

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 03:59:52 GMT, "MarshallE"
wrote:

Hi,

My family is interested in what sailboat to buy and learn that can handle
offshore or perhaps ocean crossing. Older fits our budget better.

What type? How long?

Buy an older 27 to 30 foot masthead sloop for next to nothing and do
some coastal cruising before you even think of offshore. It will teach
you a lot about sailing, and about what you want in a boat.

Ryk

what size and type sailboat?
 

Dave wrote:
On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 00:10:22 -0600, sherwindu said:


a fractional rig, that is one with more than one mast.


?????


What's with that??
I thought 'fractional rig' meant the jib only went a fraction of the way
up the mast.

what size and type sailboat?
 

Marshall,

My two cents. Last year I bought my first boat. 20 year old steel hull.

May I suggest this:

http://old.cruisingworld.com/steelpay.htm

And then this:

http://yachtworld.com/core/listing/c... pbsint=&ps=30

Or search (advanced) yachtworld.com for "33' steel sailboat".

My guess is that is the same boat described in the second piece above.

I have this same boat but with a cutter rig. Brewer still sells the
plans and suggests the cutter for open water cruising. The sloop
configuration is easier to sail in coastal waters but the
reconfiguration to cutter is relatively straight forward.

Steel is "unconventional" but so what. I can attest to the fine quality
of the hull, but not the interior. These boats were finished by the
owners. Mine is beautiful. She gets a lot of attention. I singlehanded
her from Shelbourne N.S. to Sydney, as a novice, so she must be both
"easy" and "forgiving."

Best of luck,

Howard


MarshallE wrote:
Hi,

My family is interested in what sailboat to buy and learn that can handle
offshore or perhaps ocean crossing. Older fits our budget better.

What type? How long?

I know this is vague but just trying to develop preliminary ideas to
consider.

thanks
marshall

what size and type sailboat?
 

It is...

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Don White" wrote in message
...
Dave wrote:
On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 00:10:22 -0600, sherwindu
said:


a fractional rig, that is one with more than one mast.


?????


What's with that??
I thought 'fractional rig' meant the jib only went a fraction of the way
up the mast.

what size and type sailboat?
 

"Dave" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 00:10:22 -0600, sherwindu
said:

a fractional rig, that is one with more than one mast.

?????

Remember, the advice you get here is worth exactly what you paid for it!
G

what size and type sailboat?
 

Yes, folks. I misused the term, which I have heard mentioned around, but always
thought it meant a distributed sail plan. However, my suggestion for that still
stands.

Sherwin D.

Don White wrote:

Dave wrote:
On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 00:10:22 -0600, sherwindu said:


a fractional rig, that is one with more than one mast.


?????

What's with that??
I thought 'fractional rig' meant the jib only went a fraction of the way
up the mast.

what size and type sailboat?
 

Errr... didn't you say you had years of experience? :-) I guess, due to the
head sail being smaller, you would have less sail to deal with, but the key
would be making sure you're in control to begin with. For example, most of
the time, a furler is just fine. In fact, it gives you lots of flexibility.
But, if you know there's a blow coming, having the ability to put on a storm
head sail would help a lot. I don't believe it should be either or, because
most of the time, you'd probably get better use out of a furler.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"sherwindu" wrote in message
...
Yes, folks. I misused the term, which I have heard mentioned around, but
always
thought it meant a distributed sail plan. However, my suggestion for that
still
stands.

Sherwin D.

Don White wrote:

Dave wrote:
On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 00:10:22 -0600, sherwindu
said:


a fractional rig, that is one with more than one mast.


?????

What's with that??
I thought 'fractional rig' meant the jib only went a fraction of the way
up the mast.

what size and type sailboat?
 

Please keep the ideas and types of boats coming. THIS is great for
newbies!!
Marshall
"Howard" wrote in message
ervers.com...
Marshall,

My two cents. Last year I bought my first boat. 20 year old steel hull.

May I suggest this:

http://old.cruisingworld.com/steelpay.htm

And then this:


http://yachtworld.com/core/listing/c... pbsint=&ps=30

Or search (advanced) yachtworld.com for "33' steel sailboat".

My guess is that is the same boat described in the second piece above.

I have this same boat but with a cutter rig. Brewer still sells the
plans and suggests the cutter for open water cruising. The sloop
configuration is easier to sail in coastal waters but the
reconfiguration to cutter is relatively straight forward.

Steel is "unconventional" but so what. I can attest to the fine quality
of the hull, but not the interior. These boats were finished by the
owners. Mine is beautiful. She gets a lot of attention. I singlehanded
her from Shelbourne N.S. to Sydney, as a novice, so she must be both
"easy" and "forgiving."

Best of luck,

Howard


MarshallE wrote:
Hi,

My family is interested in what sailboat to buy and learn that can
handle
offshore or perhaps ocean crossing. Older fits our budget better.

What type? How long?

I know this is vague but just trying to develop preliminary ideas to
consider.

thanks
marshall

what size and type sailboat?
 

"Capt. JG" wrote:

Errr... didn't you say you had years of experience? :-)

Oh Oh, I failed the terminology test. My experience is at sea, and not
browsing through the 'sailing for idiots' book.

I guess, due to the
head sail being smaller, you would have less sail to deal with, but the key
would be making sure you're in control to begin with. For example, most of
the time, a furler is just fine. In fact, it gives you lots of flexibility.
But, if you know there's a blow coming, having the ability to put on a storm
head sail would help a lot. I don't believe it should be either or, because
most of the time, you'd probably get better use out of a furler.

I never owned a furler, but have crewed on boats with them. I don't trust
the
things. They are good for racers, single handlers, and lazy people. Like
anything
else mechanical, they have the possibility of jamming, just when you need
them,
especially when trying to shorten sail in a blow where it can be down right
dangerous.



--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"sherwindu" wrote in message
...
Yes, folks. I misused the term, which I have heard mentioned around, but
always
thought it meant a distributed sail plan. However, my suggestion for that
still
stands.

Sherwin D.

Don White wrote:

Dave wrote:
On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 00:10:22 -0600, sherwindu
said:


a fractional rig, that is one with more than one mast.


?????

What's with that??
I thought 'fractional rig' meant the jib only went a fraction of the way
up the mast.

what size and type sailboat?
 

Yes, disregard everything I said. I used the wrong word! You people that
harp on terminology are a bunch of pedantic snobs.

Gordon wrote:

"Dave" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 00:10:22 -0600, sherwindu
said:

a fractional rig, that is one with more than one mast.

?????

Remember, the advice you get here is worth exactly what you paid for it!
G

what size and type sailboat?
 

sherwindu wrote:

I never owned a furler, but have crewed on boats with them. I don't trust
the things. They are good for racers, single handlers, and lazy people. Like
anything else mechanical, they have the possibility of jamming, just when you
needthem, especially when trying to shorten sail in a blow where it can be
down right dangerous.

"Good for racers"? Hardly not - they rarely set well when
furled and when not the whole mechanism is windage.

But that's not my point here. Where I sail, Adriatic and
Greek waters, we often experience unexpected, sudden and
very strong katabatic winds. It is impossible to predict the
onset of these winds that arrive instantly and soon raise a
short and steep sea. I was often caught out with a hanked
genoa up by these winds and found myself struggling on the
foredeck to lower sail with my wife on the helm fighting to
keep the bows up to windward. When one time the entire sail
was taken overboard after lowering by a wave breaking over
the bow and I had to haul it back, hand over hand, swept by
further waves, I vowed never to go through that again and to
fit a furling headsail.
That was fifteen years ago and I've never looked back, nor
had any problem with my furling system. One pull on a line
in the cockpit and the sail is immediately reduced or
completely furled. For me, "trying to shorten sail in a
blow" without a furling headsail "can be downright
dangerous", on a plunging foredeck swept by waves.

See details of the Adriatic bora wind he
http://www.istrianet.org/istria/mete...s-bora-adr.htm

BrianH.

what size and type sailboat?
 

BrianH wrote:


But that's not my point here. Where I sail, Adriatic and
Greek waters, we often experience unexpected, sudden and
very strong katabatic winds.

I too have sailed Greek and Turkish waters on many voyages
from my home base in Israel, and encountered many strong winds.
If you are refering to the Meltimi winds, they can be nasty. However,
I never had a problem changing my hanked on foresails. In a real fix,
you can always just drop the jib and sail with main alone. In my
experience, the winds never came up so quick that I wasn't able
to safely shorten sail or remove the jib.


It is impossible to predict the
onset of these winds that arrive instantly and soon raise a
short and steep sea. I was often caught out with a hanked
genoa up by these winds and found myself struggling on the
foredeck to lower sail with my wife on the helm fighting to
keep the bows up to windward. When one time the entire sail
was taken overboard after lowering by a wave breaking over
the bow and I had to haul it back, hand over hand, swept by
further waves, I vowed never to go through that again and to
fit a furling headsail.
That was fifteen years ago and I've never looked back, nor
had any problem with my furling system. One pull on a line
in the cockpit and the sail is immediately reduced or
completely furled. For me, "trying to shorten sail in a
blow" without a furling headsail "can be downright
dangerous", on a plunging foredeck swept by waves.

Maybe I'm just a traditionalist, but somehow roller reefing takes
out a lot of the romance of sailing. Also, as you mention, you cannot
get as good a sail trim and shape with one designed for all sizes, as opposed
to
different sails optimized for their size.



See details of the Adriatic bora wind he
http://www.istrianet.org/istria/mete...s-bora-adr.htm

BrianH.