From: mattp@phred.UUCP (Matt Pedersen)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: Cruising Boats (was Re: Book "Maiden Voyage")
Date: 25 Sep 92 19:10:02 GMT
Reply-To: mattp@phred.UUCP
Organization: Physio-Control


In article <1992Sep22.233841.15882@acd4.acd.com> dmb@IEDV4.acd.com ( Dave Barker ) writes:
>
> 
>	I think I would have to agree that Tania and her father
>	were, at best, ill-prepared for the trip. She points out
>	that the day she left for the voyage was also the first
>	day she had sailed the boat by herself. Even more alarming

(This isn't meant as a flame, I'm just looking at it from another view)
Isn't that what adventure is all about?  Some people plan and plan
and plan, and some people just go out and do it.  There are plenty
of people like Tania who had no experience and still sailed around
the world.  Harry Pidgeon, John Guzzwell, Ann Davison all did just
what Tania did. 

>	One response I was looking for from people on the net is what
>	they thought of the boat she used for the trip-a Contessa 26,

I heard they were based on the J. Laurent Giles Vertue class which have
a fine reputation for seaworthiness.

>	What do you think would be the smallest
>	practical boat for one or two people to use for extended
>	cruising, maybe even a circumnavigation?
>	Anybody have any suggestions for inexpensive (say between
>	$20K-$30K) long-distance cruising boats? Would one of the
>	older "cruising style" boats (Cape Dory, etc.) be better?
>	One concern I've read regarding the older Cape Dory designs
>	is that the interiors were not very efficient in their 
>	layout-i.e., not a lot of room for a given hull length.

Ah, my favorite subject, boat design.  Here's what I would look
for:
A boat with a Waterline Length over 25 feet, and the closer to
30 feet the better.  Displacement somewhere on the order of
16-18,000 lbs, not to exceed 24,000 lbs. 
Here's why.  Accomodations are dependent on waterline length, not
overall length.  You can't put accomodation forward of the LWL, and
you can only let the cockpit overhang the aft end of the LWL by a
couple feet.  So for the number lovers, here's a standard layout:
Forward cabin   6.5 feet
Head            2.0 feet
Settees         6.5 feet
Galley          3.5 feet
Cockpit         6.5 feet
Total          25.0 feet
Adding a little more waterline length gives you a lot more storage 
and elbow room all around.  That's why Cape Dories seem not to have
a lot of accomodation for their Overall Length.  However they have
what I would call standard accomodation for their waterline
length.
Sailboats are driven by their rigs, and the rigs are proportional
to the weight of the boat.  I came up with the 16-18k lbs of
displacement from the following criteria:
1)  You need sufficient sail area to move your boat well in light
    air.  A SA/Displacement ratio or 15 to 17 or so should be
    adequate.
2)  You want to be able to handle the largest sail on the boat.
    I sail on a 42' ocean racer, and the #1 on the boat is almost
    1000 sq. feet.  That's way too big for one person.  I know
    my wife wouldn't be able to handle it, and we need two or three
    when we're racing.
3)  I am assuming a single stick (cutter or sloop).  Ketches have
    never really thrilled me with their sailing ability, they seem
    really sluggish.  Your mileage may vary.
4)  If the rig gets too large you can use all sorts of mechanical
    means to handle the sails (hyraulic or electric winches, in the
    mast furling, etc).  But you really increase cost and complexity
    when you do that, so in essence you want to be able to handle
    the rig without anything more than a human powered winch.
    Either that or bring along a master mechanic with a portable
    machine shop ;=)
Using these four criteria get you a rig about 650-850 square feet
(using working sails), which the average person (me ;=) ) should
be able to handle.

Having said that, my own personal bias is toward the heavier
end of the scale, with long waterline lengths.  They go faster
(except in lighter air), have more stowage space, are more stable
and aren't as easily overpowered.  I've been in mid-30 foot, 10,000
pound boats, and they are definitely not comfortable in higher
winds.  On the other hand our 42' racer (24,000 pounds) is a
most comfortable boat, I never feel like we're overpowered with
even 35 knots over the deck.  However it is a lot of work to change 
sails on the boat (of course, we do have the rig of a 60'
cruiser @1015 sq. ft working sail).

Here's some food for thought.  All are boats I've been on.
BTW, I'm not real fond of the idea of extended offshore cruising
in a centerboard boat.
Alberg 35
Alberg 37
Bristol 35.5 (deep keel for offshore)
Cal 40
Cape Dory 36
Cape George 36 (my ultimate long distance cruiser)
Niagara 35
Ohlson 38
Pearson 36 (mid 70's design)

Probably the only boat on this list that fits the $20-30k bracket
is the Alberg 35 (maybe the Alberg 37 and Pearson 36 too).  The
only problem with boats in that price range is they typically need
a a lot of work to get them offshore capable.  However all of them
will sail anywhere from "pretty well" to "outstanding".

Matt Pedersen     mattp@phred