is the Carribean coastal sailing or offshore?

[Stillraining]

Cam thats an excellent write up and summary from Jeff..I vote for it to be more easily accessed as in a Sticky or something ( Gosh I hate that term )

FWIW.. my boat has the big panel's and flex that is why I would not cross an ocean in it...New maybe 25 years old no thanks.

[Jeff_H]

Originally Posted by johnshasteen

Jeff, you added the vintage Pearsons, but left off the same period Bristols - same construction, same hull shape, same guys designed them (Alberg, Alden, Herreshoff , Hood). Coincidence? I think not!! The same guys built them. Clint and Everett sold Pearson to Grumman in the 60's and started Bristol Marine.
You can find a nice "first generation" Bristol 30 or 32 in that price range as well (and built by the Pearsons, not Grumman) - I know where a very nice B30 is for sail at well under $10K.

John:
I'm not exactly sure precisely what you are referring to in your comment above. When I responded to the question back in 2002, I was answering a specific question about the Pearson 30, which I assumed was the 1970's era Pearson 30 and not the earlier 30 foot Wanderer/Coaster or later Flyer or 303. At the time that I posted my earlier list of boats, the Bristol 33 was over the arbitrary $25,000 budget that we were discussing, and I am not a fan of the smaller Bristols as distance cruisers.

Just to clarify some earlier comments, the earliest Pearsons were designed by Alberg, Tripp and Rhodes. When the Pearson cousins split up Clint used Alberg to design the first Bristol that went into production, the Bristol 27 before moving on to Alden, Hood, Herreshoff and then back to the Hood/Dieter Empacher team.

You are right that when Clint first started Bristol, he was guilty of the same sloppy build techniques employed when he was at Pearson Yachts, but I would argue that over time his build quality and the quality of the designs definitely improved.

I think that this improvement probably began during the period that he employed Halsey Herreshoff, and I think that the Herreshoff designed Bristol 23, 26, and 34/34 were some of the best designs that Bristol ever produced, while the later Hood designed 35.5, 38.8, and 41.1 were probably the best built Bristols.

Jeff

[SVAuspicious]

Since we have dredged this thread out of the past (and an interesting topic it is), I'd like to go back to what I read as the original question: is the Caribbean offshore sailing?

I think it doesn't have to be, which immediately leads to a vocabulary discussion: what the heck is offshore sailing? In my opinion, you are "offshore" when your passage plan takes you beyond the reach of a reasonable weather forecast. I think that's about three days, so somewhere between 250 and 500 miles depending on your boat.

If you accept that, all the "offshore sailors" shuttling between Lake Worth and the Bahamas are coastal sailors.

In my opinion, you can do a lot of neat cruising in light-weight production boats.Watch the weather. You can certainly launch off across an ocean but you are rolling the dice and taking your chances.

The Caribbean makes that easier as you work your way down the US East Coast, across to the Bahamas, down-island as far as Grenada, the ABCs, and coast-wise (ignoring personal security issues) all the way around (if one wishes) back to Florida.

You can do that in a pretty light boat.

The longer a hop is the less confidence you can have in weather forecasting, and the more prepared you must be to be whomped.

sail fast, dave
S/V Auspicious

[Robby Barlow]

Is this just my PC or is this thread really 6 yrs. old?

[deepblueme]

I don't care how old the thread is it's still a great read lots of useful stuuf there, as always thanks Jeff!!!

[JimsCAL]

Originally Posted by deepblueme

I don't care how old the thread is it's still a great read lots of useful stuuf there, as always thanks Jeff!!!

I second that. Great info Jeff!!

[chucklesR]

Thanks Jeff,
I'm aware you have the background and experience to have written this up based on real world considerations.
One of the things I like about sailnet is the honesty that comes with experts aren't held to a sponsor's wallet.

Seriously, thanks.

Now, everyone go out and buy catamarans.

[AlanBrown]

Wow! And the suggestions just keep on coming!

Nobody has responded yet all of your original question "...would I be happier in the roominess of a coastal cruiser or would it be unsafe to cross the gulf in a 30 year old coastal cruiser such as an O Day, Hunter, Irwin, ect... "

You have actually posed a 2-part question. The answer to the second part, as others have already addressed, is easy. Any 30-year old boat that has been properly maintained, should be more than adequate for what you have planned. My 27-year old Hunter 30 works fine for my trips through the Keys and trips to the Bahamas.

As a rule a coastal cruiser (ie light displacement) is designed to island hop, not cross big oceans. The trips you have planned (Keys & Bahamas) do not involve any long offshore passages. If my recollection is correct, the longest offshore passage between FL and the lower Caribbean you could possibly have is about 100 miles, from the Bahamas to Luperon in the DR. This is certainly doable in the right weather and in any sound vessel. So, a coastal cruiser will work just fine for you.

You also raise the roominess (comfort-level?) question. This is the tough part to answer as only you can answer it.

For example, when I was single handing my Hunter, I was very happy with its size. I had lots of storage room and could handle it easily. Now with a partner aboard, we've got twice as much gear, carry twice as much food, etc. Space is now cramped. Forget about inviting guests to cruise with us!

You haven't mentioned crew size or what amenities you'd like to see aboard. Is refrigeration important? How about a windlass? How about an extra stateroom for guests? All of these are what I'll be looking for in my next boat. Only you can determine what you want.

Finally, my advice to you is to buy the largest boat you can afford that contains whatever creature comforts you feel are necessary. Walk the docks, hit the shows, and make up your own mind as to what is important. Try not to focus on specific boat manufacturers. If you fall in love with a particular vessel, then start asking questions and doing your homework. When you think you've finally got it nailed down and are about to make a purchase decision, get the boat professionally surveyed.

Good luck and take your time!

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by AlanBrown

Wow! And the suggestions just keep on coming!

Nobody has responded yet all of your original question "...would I be happier in the roominess of a coastal cruiser or would it be unsafe to cross the gulf in a 30 year old coastal cruiser such as an O Day, Hunter, Irwin, ect... "

The original question is a bit moot at this point, as it is over SIX YEARS OLD, and if the OP hasn't figured it out by now, they're never gonna. They've probably bought a boat, and gone to the Caribbean and are now sitting anchored out someplace drinking fruity drinks with a little umbrella in the cockpit.

[Cruisingdad]

To the original poster...

You can do it if you don't take a Telstar. They have too many anchors, all the wires are soldered, and are weighed down by solar sticks making them unsafe.

Other than that, original poster, what do you think?

- CD