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Originally Posted by Kacper
Look at Kacper, in a 32' Bayfield, heading out across the Pacific this August  |
Since Kacper is singlehanding on a 32', does that make it OK for my family of four to go out in a 112' vessel?
I understand what you're saying SD, but different strokes for different folks. Look at Dawn Riley - she lives on a Passport 40, just for herself!
If we wanted all of the comforts of home and if we weren't researching this carefully, we'd probably end up with a Hunter or Beneteau. I can get a smaller one of these with the three cabins I'm looking for (my wife and I, my son and my daughter). But we want a bluewater vessel. A boat capable of taking my family safely down the coast, perhaps across to South America, maybe to Europe - who knows. Money is not a major issue. I hate camping with a passion, but I love the water and I love turning off that motor. We launched Pelican on Thursday, and on Friday I sailed her into Back Creek under full sail and only dropped them when in sight of Port Annapolis Marina. I have a motor for auxilliary power only. Comfortable bluewater vessels with 3 cabins are almost all 48'+
Do I want a 50'+ boat? Yes. Why? Because I like to spread out. I love space. I love toys and gadgets. Do I depend on them? No way. But I sure do love them! Do I like my privacy? You bet! A 40' boat just doesn't give me enough privacy. It certainly doesn't give my two kids any privacy - sharing a cabin. I'm getting a larger boat so we have room for my wife's triathlon bike and my road racer, plus my kids bikes. Could we fit those on our 40 footer and also provision and bring other items? Nope. I want a queen or king sized bed since I'm not a small guy and I like to spread out while sleeping. I want a center cockpit so we have separation and privacy from the kids when my wife and I want it. We need a 50'+ boat for this.
So yes, I *could* get away with a smaller boat, but I'm not trying to prove anything. I want to be comfortable. I want to sail. I want to see culture, and show it to my kids. I want to enjoy myself. I want to anchor out instead of going to a marina. I want lots of things, and a bigger boat does it for us, and I'm not the least bit ashamed of it.
You mention that a smaller boat costs less to buy and maintain, so you have more money for a cruising kitty. I'm incredibly fortunate and this should not be an issue for my family as long as things don't change between now and when we go for our cruise (and if things do change, we won't even be able to do a smaller boat - owning a company has its disadvantages, like using your house as collateral for lines of credit).
You mention that larger boats aren't ask good for gunkholing. I don't disagree with this, but that's why we're now leaning towards a ketch and a keel/centerboard model. Hopefully, that combo will increase our ability to go places while allowing us to stay big.
I don't disagree on the maintenance problems, but we will be going into this with our eyes open. We will have identified the most major potential issues and drafted plans to deal with them.
For us, by going to a larger boat, we'll be more comfortable and our trip will be more about the sailing and our family time rather than being frustrated about our close quarters (even in a 50'-55' boat, quarters are still very close).
You ask the question "Do great minds choose smaller boats?" I proffer that if this is true, and smaller boats, less money and simplicity are what make great minds and great sailors, Mike Sanderson on ABN Amro One, Robin Knox-Johnston on his Open 60 Saga Insurance, and others must be complete idiots since they are sailing on huge, very complex, incredibly expensive boats.
I take offense that you feel that if you don't rough it and cruise in a small boat, you must not be a "great mind" and you aren't a true sailor. I'd actually lean in the other direction... you'd be stupid not to buy the biggest boat you can afford (from a purchase, refit, maintenance and cruising kitty perspective) and actually be comfortable. I'm not sure where comfort exactly is when it comes to determining your dedication to the sport. I recall reading that Joshua Slocum often wished for a larger boat - he just couldn't afford it.
To me, a great mind is one who chooses to sail. A not so great mind is one that chooses to discriminate based upon what others sail.
We'll buy each other rum punches some day and debate it for hours like true sailors should
