Wayne.B wrote:

The OP was talking about crossing oceans and living aboard, not
coastal cruising.

Oh, so he was. Something about the "new to boating" in the subject line
made me overlook that.

Still, Donna Lange had completed her circumnavigation in a 28 footer and she
probably didn't know any more four years ago than this fellow does now.

Finances are key to that independent lifestyle he talks about. Boats eat up
money fast as we all know only too well. Unless he has a lot of independent
income, holding down the money drain by going small might be worth more
discomfort in big seas.
--
Roger Long