27-28FT

[lunapanama]

don't let the modern "gotta have all the gizmos and a 45 footer" crowd get you down. many, many sailors have had perfectly comfortable and drama free cicumnavs on what are by today's standards "small boats", using none of the modern day chips. i lived and cruised for 6 years on a vertue(25'6")....a laurent giles design with too many ocean passages over the last 50 years to list. i never felt the need for anything else, and during nasty conditions at sea," lying a tri", it was everyone else in lesser boats that caused me concern!
eric and susan hiscock set the standard for drama free, well planned passage making in a slightly larger giles design, the 30' wanderer 111.
the pardey's voyages in "small boats" speak for themselves.
more recently, turn your attention to the martin family(ice blink) if you still have any doubts about what can be done in well found, "small" boat.
and if you're still doubting, google "yrvind" to discover just what small means to this passionate mariner.
perhaps the main thing to consider is whether or not the boat is intended for offshore use: bristol channel cutters, falmouths, psc's, contessas, vancouver 27's, cape dory's---all are plenty strong and well made and up to the task. the rest, as always, will depend on your seamanship, which regardless of boat size, will be put to the test.
force 8 north pacific, single handing? vertue or any other electric gizmo 40 something? for me it isn't even close. give me the proven formula, lying hove to to a trysail, watching the waves crash around me, feeling safe and secure knowing that it's all been done before(no upside down rescues!) in the same way in the same boat and to the highest degree of success---- for 60 years and counting.