Updated Offshore Cruising Boat List - January 2008

[224]

Dear Mr. S. Dog,
Thank you for your guidance, I assure you that will never happen again.
I remain,
224

[BlandingFarm]

This list stinks. Four manufacturers that have boats in the A catagory CE certification are Catalina Yachts, Beneteau Yachts, Hunter Yachts and Jeanneau Yachts. All build well and have more miles sailing around the world than any boat listed

[sailingdog]

BlandingFarm-

Catalina, Beneteau, Hunter and Jeanneau may have Category A EU RCD certifications, but that doesn't necessarily indicate that their boats are suitable for extended bluewater voyaging. Many of their boats which are EU RCD A certified are not suitable due to a serious lack of proper handholds, unseakindly motion, lack of tankage and stowage, etc.

From reading some of Blanding's other posts, he's whining about it because he owns a Catalina 42 that was left off the list.

[camaraderie]

Blanding... while there are a few models that might be considered Ocean Capable... the brands are not built for extended ocean cruising by their mfrs. and most have significant shortcomings. Our other moderator CD owns a Cat400 and is tech editor for the magazine and agrees with this. The Mahina guy has a few hundred thousand miles of blue water under his belt so any boat on his list is blue water capable for extended cruising. I don't agree with his leaving off my boat either...but I respect his overall knowledge and there is a reason entire brands have been left off his list and every other list of blue water boats. Exactly what are YOUR credentials that you can challenge his judgment on 3 major brands?
BTW...having owned two...I am no Catalina basher. They are great values for the $$ for what most sailors do with their boats. But I'd take my 20 year old Tayana to sea over any brand new Cat any day of the week. On the Chesapeake...I'd take the new Cat.

[rtbates]

At least he knows that Cape Dories belong on that list!!

[BlandingFarm]

Sailingdog,

Sorry, I don't own a Catalina 42. I have been involved in manufacturing of Catalina, Beneteau, Jeanneau & Hunter and I know as a fact that if you need to add stowage, tank etc, it can be done.

If you called the owner of Catalina, he will say that his Catalina 42 can sail around the world but he will worry about the person at the wheel more than the boat.

Quit you whinning. you just upset that you paid too much money for a boat that has the same building techniques as Catalina etc.

[GreenEgg]

Hi Folks.

This is a great forum!


I noticed the the Northern 29' was not on this list.

Any comments on the Northern?

[camaraderie]

Welcome GreenEgg! I don't know enough about them to make a judgement but they look like solid boats. Would expect that storage and tankage for distance cruising would be an issue with the pinched ends and narrow beam but hat's what makes her look pretty too!

[GreenEgg]

Thanks Camaraderie!

[captainchetco]

Another boat which makes an excellent cruiser with a turn of speed (Same genre as a Valiant, only older & cheaper) is a Gulfstar. Generally a performance cruiser underbody (cruising fin design) but built heavy. Excellent upwind performance, a bit squirrley going down.

They also made a shoal draft long keel. One of that design, a 50' (s/v "Talion") just won the March Banderas Bay Regatta, passing many of the boats in faster classes, including multi hulls.

They are very solid, with more teak than some like, occasional blister problems, conservative rig and sail area. But surprisingly fast! A very good cruiser which will handle heavy weather (bow to the sea) is comfortable, dryer than most and will allow you to outsail the average storm.