Offshore in a 24'

[mitiempo]

tager
If the boat displaces (weighs) 4200 lbs you'd better have enough foam for 4200. Not 4199.

[tager]

The story of MingMing is very exciting! That and Carina and me.
There was also another sailor sailing about the south pacific in a small boat, something like a Pearson 22. I guess when you are on a boat that small, the chance of death becomes quite a bit greater. I would definitely have to make some of the changes seen on MingMing, I particularly like the hatch instead of drop boards. I guess it is entirely possible to sail away in a 24'. It's just that something one could stand up in would be so much nicer.

Changing clothes, cooking, and cold weather are all things that are much more difficult in a boat with 4'9" headroom.

[mitiempo]

Unless you're 4'8'' tall.

[tager]

[marujosortudo]

You can certainly outfit a small boat for off shore travel. Plenty of folks have been across the ocean in 25 footers; although, often of greater displacement. The Pardey's Seraffyn displaces about 10,000#, for example. I will also second the recommendation of the John Vigor book. It even has an appendix where he itemizes outfitting a Catalina 27 for offshore cruising. I wouldn't say small boats are less safe for crossing oceans, perhaps just less comfortable . You do need a properly outfitted boat, of course. Heck, folks have taken row boats across oceans....

I would carefully look at other small boats that are on the market that might have already been outfitted partially for such work. Still, you'll probably have to do a good bit to get any boat ready. Personally, I'd be careful not to sacrifice seaworthiness for headroom. In this size vessel, it can be a real trade-off. In the meanwhile, try to get shorter

[tager]

Okay I will take off my hat and shave my head, as well as go barefoot, does that sound good?

[mitiempo]

tager
Get a copy of Sopranino, probably from the library or used book store as I think it's out of print now. It's about 2 young Englishmen who built a 19' boat, raced ity locally and across channel to France and then sailed from the Uk to the Canaries and across to the Caribbean - Barbados I think. Sopranino started what came to be called JOG racing, Junior Offshore Group. Before this everybody thought boats this size were unseaworthy (where have we heard this before? ) It ws quite a light boat. Their names were Patrick Ellam and Colin Mudie (who is currently a respected designer). Well worth reading. Also Vertue 35, story of Humphrey Barton, who worked for Laurent Giles in the UK, taking a Vertue (25' Giles design, although heavy disp) across the Atlantic. Also probably out of print. These will give you a good idea of small boats offshore.

[mitiempo]

Barefoot in this weather? Are you cold enough tager?

[Garffin]

Big dreams of a small boat! Tager you should go for it. Keep it small and simple! I also have big dreams for my 24’. I am lucky in the fact that I can stand up in my boat. What about extending the cabin to shorten the cockpit. Also check out building your own wind gen. There are some really good sites out there for making a wind gen. the benefit is that you can easly keep/get spare parts and they work really well from what I have seen so far. I think mitiempo is right on. I am thinking on the same lines. I wish you all the luck and keep us updated. I am thinking this through also. I feel like for under 10k I should have myself a good ole boat. Man there is a lot of good info and leads on here. Thanks Dan

[Tempest]

Neale's Offshore sailing companion has lots of great info for outfitting.

Here's some things I did for a Bermuda Run:

tapered Plugs for through hulls, attached to the seacock

A positive method for dogging the companionway hatches in place.

A good lee board for a sea berth to keep you in your bunk.

Dog down any loose floor boards...I used clips and bungy cord material

A beefed up First Aid kit, I'd want to be able to stitch a wound, ease the pain, splint a break etc. I got my doc to write a ****** for antibiotics and pain killers.. for me on one trip.

A good pair of bolt cutters should be aboard, should you ever need to cut away the rig.

Storm jib, tri-sail ( practice deploying)

A properly mounted eye ring in the cockpit to hook your harness to before coming on deck.

continuous jack stays fore and aft ..flat aircraft type strapping material works best. ( they sell them now already sized)

a heavy gage tarp. (If you put a hole in the hull)

Emergency VHF antenna, not too helpful unless someone is within range.

Just a couple of things that come to mind.