Which Boats will People Consider Bluewater in 2025?

[sea_hunter]

Originally Posted by SloopJonB

Sounds very nice, but it also sounds a lot like "The kitchen of tomorrow" we used to see in the 50's & 60's. Unfortunately the only real advance that came true from those dreams was the microwave (Radar range).

Oh yeah, we forgot about the self cleaning range LOL. Actually ALL the technology I exampled exist today, from flir to virtual streaming, forward facing sonar, side scan sonar, AIS, including much of the software. It's just a matter of time till somebody puts it together into a package. Think iBoat.

[SloopJonB]

Originally Posted by sea_hunter

Oh yeah, we forgot about the self cleaning range LOL. Actually ALL the technology I exampled exist today, from flir to virtual streaming, forward facing sonar, side scan sonar, AIS, including much of the software. It's just a matter of time till somebody puts it together into a package. Think iBoat.

Actually, these days I'm thinking more staysail schooner. I don't really want an electronic "interface vehicle" although a big GPS plotter is sure nice to have.

[cupper3]

Originally Posted by JonEisberg

.....

Frankly, I'm amazed at the faith many of today's sailors appear to have in "modern" forecasting... People look at a site such as Sailflow, or Passageweather, and seem to perceive those outlooks as something akin to a guarantee... Remember, the incident I cited earlier, the abandonment of the Beneteau ELLE last fall - they left Sandy Hook with a good forecast from a professional router, and before they were halfway through a 650 mile passage, they were getting clobbered, the hull was suffering "structural failure/delamination", and dozens of passengers on the NORWEGIAN GEM were recording their rescue...

I think it pretty well has been shown that there was no delamination (boat was spotted weeks afterwards), and primary reason GEM had to come was passengers were afraid.

[aeventyr60]

[QUOTE=SloopJonB;822902]Actually, these days I'm thinking more staysail schooner. I don't really want an electronic "interface vehicle" although a big GPS plotter is sure nice to have. [/QUOTE

Yes. Peace and quiet and no screens to look at. I'm not out here to be looking and depending on multiple interfaces to tell me all's well. The old MKII eyball tells me me most. Joyce talked about the "scrotum tightening sea", that's all the warning I need....

[JonEisberg]

Originally Posted by cupper3

I think it pretty well has been shown that there was no delamination (boat was spotted weeks afterwards), and primary reason GEM had to come was passengers were afraid.

I don't know, delamination or similar structural failure wouldn't have necessarily been a death knell, she still may have floated for weeks after suffering such damage...

Or, has the skipper changed his mind in the aftermath? (grin)

The shock of the sea waves caused structural damage to the hull and possibly delaminating the fiberglass.

...

The boat was taking on water and we had to pump it manually. The origin of the leak was not precisely determined and I suspected stuctural fiberglass delamination. With this type of delamination you never knows how it will evolve.

Captain Thierry Simon

BTW, sorry for mistaking the name of the vessel... SANCTUARY was the name of the boat that the NORWEGIAN GEM assisted, ELLE was a different Beneteau abandoned last fall... Getting tough to keep the names of all these boats floating around out there straight, these days... (grin)

[NCC320]

[QUOTE=killarney_sailor;822831]I think you started this thread to support your belief in #3 and heard a lot of pretty experienced people say that it is not so. You are most welcome to have this belief and to act on it - after all it is your hide and cruising experience.

Actually, I don't care where the discussion comes out and what is the prevailing view. It seemed like a good discussion question and that's why I raised it.

I'm 72 now, would be 85 then, so I'll not be going in any event. I have no doubt that your Bristol is a very nice, well maintained boat...they were always high end boats. My boat, much smaller and certainly not as nice is a Catalina 320...big cockpit, wide beam, lots of creature comforts, etc....all those things some people seem to hate. I have never had any pretentions of using this boat offshore, although I have been told they have made a number of Atlantic and Pacific crossings. I bought my boat as a coastal boat (and really as a big daysailer if the truth is told). I have been completely happy with the boat and hate to see the general production boats get so much trashing. Using the criteria for selecting a "bluewater" boat as a basis for selection, I immediately passed over this boat because of the large cockpit, and lots of the wives tales about quality when I first looked at it in 1993. I took, what I believe for me was a more realistic look later, comparied it with other boats out then and bought a new 2000 model. In 12 years, I have replaced the batteries once, one small sail repair, one halyard, one furling line, and one raw water pump. And that large cockpit, after I bought the boat, that is one of the nicest features of this coastal boat. You happen to mention the Niagra 35...a used one was in the mix of boats that I looked at...nice boat, but I opted for new (which a lot of people also thing is nuts).

Before retirement, I was a mechanical engineer, so I have some appreciation for some of the factors involved. As to sea experience, I'm sure that many of you will turn your noses up at it, but I spent 3 yrs. at sea, curtessy of the US Navy, in which time, made 4 Atlantic Crossings as a bridge watch officer. I've seen the storms, some at near hurricane conditions, so I have an appreciation that it is a treachous place and on had better be prepared. Just say that in those storms, I was greatful to be on a 500 ft. ship instead of a 30-40 sailboat.

I believe that a line too long is less a problem than a line a little too short...similar with boat construction, overbuild and robustness will not hurt you, but be insuffient here and there will be major problems.

As to the old bluewater boats being around, some will be, but a walk around any boatyard or marina will show that unless major effort is spent on them, they do age to the point of generally being unusable.

And if I were to go offshore cruising: I'd pick a 40ft. upscale boat, either new or like new. But not everyone wanting to experience the dream can afford that. So the question still remains, what will the man with a limited budget and income select and use.