Wendy wrote:
I am more interested in the former, obviously I'm not averse to a bit of
work, but I decidedly do not want a project. Boats are enough work as it
is.


Sounds to me like you already know a lot about it. But shopping for the
boat itself can be a daunting project. How are you at library research?
Check out a few references on small boat surveying, the one that I have
on my shelf and find very good is Ian Nicholson's "Surveying Small
Craft." Then you will have some excellent parameters to start weeding
out the boats on the market that you know you don't want.



Skip Gundlach's saga on this list will inform you mightily. It's worth
it to take the time necessary to decide, because a thousand miles
offshore, there's no tow truck, is there? G


I'll google up the saga. I've been doing a bit of flying and, as
problematic as the broken-down boat can be, I can't imagine the situation
would be as dire as an aviation-related failure.

You might be surprised. Things can happen quickly on the water, and
consequences can be dire indeed... I mean, it can be fatal, how much
more dire can it get?

Anyway, it is certainly possible and a very interesting challenge. Go
for it!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

On Thu, 29 Jan 2004 11:53:00 -0600, "Wendy"
wrote:

Right then- would like to do some single-handing now and again, I am pretty
fit (rock climber), barring 60' seas I doubt I'd fall off, and I probably
have a year or so to find what I want.

Well, then, certain attributes suggest themselves: lines *already* led
back to the cockpit--maybe even a center cockpit, which is arguably
better for women due to the better visibility (I assume you aren't six
feet tall or better...), current autopilot thrown in or provision for
same...a windvane is a bonus, seeing as a single-handed ocean sailor
would want one...Having a year is great...as you will want to check
out a lot of boats. Read The Saga of Skip Gundlach in these archives,
as he is on a very similar mission except he needs a bigger boat
because he is the world's tallest freestanding sailor G



I have loads of experience on the water, just not much fooling around with
sails. I've all the documents rounded up to sit for the USCG 100-ton
license, I've just not gotten around to doing it.

I would suggest it then for purely insurance-related reasons, and
delivery skipper is a good way to "try before you buy", when you think
about it. As for sail changes, join a club race crew on a 35-40 foo
boat. Work the foredeck. Oh, the sails you'll see!

The transatlantic
delivery idea is a good one, but not terribly practical at this point in
time. I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand, though.

Even a Newport-BVIs-USVIs would do it...just enough to get a feel for
proper offshore weather and waves.



I am more interested in the former, obviously I'm not averse to a bit of
work, but I decidedly do not want a project. Boats are enough work as it
is.

Yes, that's true enough. But a lot of otder boats, if well-maintained,
are simple enough because they simply don't have a great deal on board
to go wrong. Fewer thru-hulls, fewer electronics. no elaborate
fridges, bidets, or air-conditioning...it all equals less to break.



I'll google up the saga. I've been doing a bit of flying and, as
problematic as the broken-down boat can be, I can't imagine the situation
would be as dire as an aviation-related failure. I can deal with stress

Well, I was thinking along the lines of "hitting a container while
asleep". Having the seamanship to rig a fothering sail or collision
mat (and having that made up ahead of time) is the way to avoid
stress. It's the stuff that happens on the sunny, light air days that
can get you...not necessarily the survival storm drama.

Good points, all of them- thanks for taking the time to write them.

My pleasure. I hope to be where Skip is and where you are
going...long-term cruising...and I follow these processes avidly.

R.

Well, then, certain attributes suggest themselves: lines *already* led
back to the cockpit--maybe even a center cockpit, which is arguably
better for women due to the better visibility

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?! bull**** that is.

x-no-archive:yes


(JAXAshby) wrote:

Well, then, certain attributes suggest themselves: lines *already* led
back to the cockpit--maybe even a center cockpit, which is arguably
better for women due to the better visibility

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?! bull**** that is.

What is wrong with better visibilty?

I prefer a center cockpit because of

a) better visibility forward (not aft because we have so much stuff on
the aft deck that we can't see aft very well but YMWV on that). We
still have a blind spot under the bow, but I have much less problem
seeing and the blind spot is less for me in a center cockpit. Except
for entering harbors etc, and even for anchoring I prefer to sit and
steer. Or rather - for most of the time I prefer to sit and let the
autopilot steer.

b) Less motion in the cockpit because it's closer to the center of the
boat.

I see nothing wrong with all lines led back to the cockpit - seems
sensible to me. If you are single handing you don't want to be having
to go up on deck to do something to the sails.

I do think someone who is doing a passage needs to have a wind vane
for steering rather than, or in addition to an autopilot. We don't
have one, but we don't do passages so we just use the autopilot. If
you have one, but sure it is big enough to handle the boat.



grandma Rosalie

S/V RosalieAnn, Leonardtown, MD
CSY 44 WO #156
http://home.mindspring.com/~gmbeasley/id2.html

x-no-archive:yes


(JAXAshby) wrote:

Well, then, certain attributes suggest themselves: lines *already* led
back to the cockpit--maybe even a center cockpit, which is arguably
better for women due to the better visibility

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?! bull**** that is.

What is wrong with better visibilty?

I prefer a center cockpit because of

a) better visibility forward (not aft because we have so much stuff on
the aft deck that we can't see aft very well but YMWV on that). We
still have a blind spot under the bow, but I have much less problem
seeing and the blind spot is less for me in a center cockpit. Except
for entering harbors etc, and even for anchoring I prefer to sit and
steer. Or rather - for most of the time I prefer to sit and let the
autopilot steer.

b) Less motion in the cockpit because it's closer to the center of the
boat.

I see nothing wrong with all lines led back to the cockpit - seems
sensible to me. If you are single handing you don't want to be having
to go up on deck to do something to the sails.

I do think someone who is doing a passage needs to have a wind vane
for steering rather than, or in addition to an autopilot. We don't
have one, but we don't do passages so we just use the autopilot. If
you have one, but sure it is big enough to handle the boat.



grandma Rosalie

S/V RosalieAnn, Leonardtown, MD
CSY 44 WO #156
http://home.mindspring.com/~gmbeasley/id2.html

Well, then, certain attributes suggest themselves: lines *already* led
back to the cockpit--maybe even a center cockpit, which is arguably
better for women due to the better visibility

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?! bull**** that is.

I would suggest it then for purely insurance-related reasons, and
delivery skipper is a good way to "try before you buy"

bull****!

I would suggest it then for purely insurance-related reasons, and
delivery skipper is a good way to "try before you buy"

bull****!

Well, I was thinking along the lines of "hitting a container while
asleep"

only if you have reading books.

Well, I was thinking along the lines of "hitting a container while
asleep"

only if you have reading books.