James Baldwin's Pocket Bluewater Cruising Boat List
There are often people looking to get a bluewater capable boat for a relatively low budget. James Baldwin, of Atom fame, has posted a list of about sixty boats that are under 33' which he considers fairly capable and easily modified to be used as bluewater pocket cruisers. I'm pretty impressed with the list, but it is limited to monohulls. Many of these boats are available for under $30,000. If you don't require a 40'+ monster and can deal with the limitations of a smaller boat.... your dream boat may be on this list.
I've also copied the boat names and specifications, but not his entire article here for your consideration. James has commented on most of the boats and listed some of the pluses and minuses of them.
Cape Dory 27 - LOD: 27’1” LWL: 20’ Beam: 8’6” Draft: 4’ Displacement: 7,500 lbs. Ballast: 3,000 lbs. Sail area: 365 sq. ft. General Comments: Alberg design. 227 built between 1976-84. More info: CDSOA, Inc. -- CD27
Cheoy Lee Newell Cadet / Offshore 27 - LOD: 26’10” LWL: 19’6” Beam: 7’8” Draft: 4’4” Displacement: 6,900 lbs. Ballast: 2,700 lbs. (iron in cement) General Comments: At least two versions were built in the 1960’s at the Honk Kong yard. Minuses: Teak decks from the 1960’s are a maintenance problem. More info: Cheoy Lee Cadets
Cheoy Lee Bermuda 30 - LOA: 29'7" LWL: 24' Beam: 8'9" Draft: 3'8" Displacement: 10,100 lbs. Ballast: Sail Area: 343 sq. ft. General Comments: Available as ketch or sloop. Built in Hong Kong from 1962-67 in wood and fiberglass. Minuses: Lots of wood to maintain even on the fiberglass version. More info: Cheoy Lee Bermudas
Cheoy Lee Luders 30 – LOA: 29'10" LWL: 22' Beam: 9'1" Draft: 4'9" Displacement: 9,900 lbs. Ballast: 3,750 lbs. Sail area: 425 sq. ft.
More info: Luders 30 - Cheoy Lee
Rhodes Chesapeake 32 - LOA: 31'9" LWL: 22'1" Beam: 8'9" Draft: 4'9" Displacement: ? Ballast: 3,750 lbs. external lead. Sail area: 408 sq. ft. working sail and 588 with genoa.
More info: History
Westsail 32 - LOA: About 40' including bowsprit and boomkin. LOD: 32’ LWL: 27’6” Beam: 11’ Draft: 5’ Displacement: 19,500 Ballast: 7,000 lbs internal (lead/iron on early boats and all lead casting on later models). Sail area: 629 sq. ft.
More info: Westsail 32 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia WOA Web Site
To this list, I'd add the following boats:
Hallberg Rassy Monsun 31
Elizabethan 29, 30, 31
Golden Hind 31
__________________
Sailingdog Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
If you're new to the Sailnet Forums... please read this POST.
BTW, James has added the Monsun 31, Elizabethan 29 and Golden Hind to the list IIRC.
__________________
Sailingdog Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
If you're new to the Sailnet Forums... please read this POST.
I often tell my wife that, despite my ignorance, there is not much the ALbemarle Sound can throw at us that our Camper Nicholson 31 can't handle. Maybe now she'll beleive me.
__________________
In over my head?
First Boat, a well-equipped 1977 Camper Nicholson 31
What is all this stuff and how does it work?
She won't believe you... she's married to you...so it isn't possible.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hertfordnc
I often tell my wife that, despite my ignorance, there is not much the ALbemarle Sound can throw at us that our Camper Nicholson 31 can't handle. Maybe now she'll beleive me.
__________________
Sailingdog Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
If you're new to the Sailnet Forums... please read this POST.
Many of these boats are available for under $30,000. If you don't require a 40'+ monster and can deal with the limitations of a smaller boat.... your dream boat may be on this list. 
!!
