Narrowing it down

Mr Jeepers · #1 (**permalink**) 11-01-2003

My wife and child of 2yrs are planning to cruise/liveaboard for 3-5yrs we will be up and down E/W coasts of the states Caribbean and eventually will circumnavigate. We would really like to have a two stateroom layout and are looking in the 36-42ft range. I''ve found nearly 70 models that would accomodate our creature comforts but now would like to narrow that down to a manageable sized list to research.

What are some things that would automatically disqualify a vessel considering the service we expect? Are there qualities that are a must? A two stateroom layout is important to us an many of the craft I''ve found are CC''s does this raise concerns(pushing saloon forward a bit etc.)? Any advice?

sailingfool · #2 (**permalink**) 11-01-2003

I gotta say that if there prime requirement that comes to your mind in selecting a boat you would like to sail around the world is "two staterooms", you might want to take some more time developing the experience to generate a more exaustive list. Getting a dozen or so criteria thrown at you by more knowledgeable people won''t give you the experience to qualify those issues and eventually rationalize a sensible choice of boat.
My advice is to get cruising for a year or two, then you''ll be better prepared to work a subject like this. You'' aren''t buying a condo for ski weekends.

Good luck.

Jeff_H · #3 (**permalink**) 11-01-2003

I am not sure that anyone else can narrow your choices for you without additional information. Selecting a boat is a very personal process based on personal tastes and needs. There are literally hundreds of models that might suit your needs as you describe them above.

It is not tha your description does not narrow things a bit. One thing is obvious, if you are cruising with a two year old you need a boat that can be single-handed because one person''s watch will be fully occupied by the two year old. Requiring two staterooms narrows things quite a bit. It means a boat newer than the early 1980''s. Wanting an center cockpit boat that can go offshore limits you to something over about 40 feet.

Anyway, to provide a meaningful narrowing of the list, it would be helpful to have answers to the following questions:
-How much sailing experience do you have?
-Are you both physically fit?
-Do you care about performance?
-What sort of budget do you have in mind for the boat?
-What sort of budget do you have in mind for fit out?
-Are you handy at repairing things?
-How comfortable do you need to be? (i.e. Do you mind ''roughing it'' or do you want all of the comforts of home?)

Anyway these answers will begin to narrow the sellections somewhat.

Respectfully,
Jeff

Mr Jeepers · #4 (**permalink**) 11-01-2003

"My advice is to get cruising for a year or two, then you''ll be better prepared to work a subject like this."
That is a fascinating proposal, sail a year or two before buying a boat. Please go on.
OK I can see why you responded this way the question was posed rather poorly. Having two staterooms is not the "prime requirement". Nonetheless, it is all a matter of trade offs I mention a two stateroom layout because that’s something we want. I also want a boat with a modicum of initial stability but with self righting capability. I want her to hold her course well but I also want maneuverability. I want a large cockpit that drains in a blink, wouldn''t everyone? I want a cabin trunk that provides good light and ventilation without damaging windward performance. I want a sloop with roller furling. I want wheel steering (p.s. I know I''m not buying a car) but wonder how important a skeg/keel hung rudder really is. I''d prefer a keel-stepped mast (makes good sense to me stepped on something ultimately solid) to a deck stepped but don''t know if this matters with proper support. Also, as stated earlier, we will be living aboard for several years so we want a two stateroom layout (and many 2 str layouts 36-42ft are CC). How should I put this...? What problems/benefits are associated with CC boats (difficulty checking the slot, difficult drainage vs. less likely to get pooped in a following sea, I don''t know)? Ski condo indeed, I''ve already got one of those. ;-)

Jeff_H · #5 (**permalink**) 11-01-2003

There are a number of problems with mid cockpit designs until you get to a boat somewhere over 40 feet. In order to make a midships cockpit work, you end up using up a lot of prime real estate, in other words the cockpit ends up in the widest part of the boat,the part of the boat most likely to have good headroom without a lot of top hamper, and the part of the boat that has the best motion from down below. With this areas used up by the cockpit and passages it is harder to develop a design that places key functions in less than ideal locations and tends to result in a boat with a lot of windage, a high vertical center of gravity, and higher weight. In order to get past the cockpit a lot of key storage areas are used up in circulation. In a boat less than 40 or so it means that the cockpit is raised significantly causing greater apparent roll accellerations.

Once you get over 40 feet, with 42 being far more ideal, then it is easier to make a center cockpit work well. The criticisms of the smaller CC boat are still valid but are less significant.

The keel/skeg hung rudder vs post hung or transom hung rudder debate will probably be eternal. Boats with post hung rudders have made many circumnavigations. The keel stepped vs decked stepped mast comes down to execution. Properly done, (moment contected at the deck to a properly engineered moment capable king post) a deck stepped mast is far superior to a keel stepped mast for offshore work. The problem is that there are few deckstepped masts that are properly constructed for offshore use.

I do think that the point is right on target about getting a lot of sailing over several seasons under your belt before selecting the ultimate boat to sail around the world.

Jeff

Mr Jeepers · #6 (**permalink**) 11-01-2003

How much sailing experience do you have?
I’ve sailed small craft extensively and my wife and I both will be taking certification courses. As I mentioned we will be starting with coastal cruising and circumnavigating much later.
Are you both physically fit?
Yes and no. My wife could stand to pump up a little.
Do you care about performance?
I don’t mind giving a bit in performance but I don’t want it to take a month to go a thousand miles in a stiff breeze.
What sort of budget do you have in mind for the boat?
40-50k
What sort of budget do you have in mind for fit out?
20-25k or 60-75k on the perfect boat if there is such a thing.
Are you handy at repairing things?
Extremely, handy hardly covers it.
How comfortable do you need to be? (i.e. Do you mind ''roughing it'' or do you want all of the comforts of home?)
We don’t need AC or hot H2O at the galley tap and we don’t own a TV now so that won’t change but tunes would be nice. We do have a laptop so we’ll need to power that. And I would like to have 120v at a couple of places(charging various battery type things). A self sufficient system would be ideal but I want the ability to plug into shore power too. A shower would be nice (with stall). We also like to cook so an oven is a must (is lpg wise considering its availability in other parts of the world?).