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Well, at 30,000# I guess I'm on the heavy side. With a crew of two, this gives us lots of storage and tankage volume.
We are typically off the dock for months at a time, but we could stock the boat for a year. Our main limiting factor is water and fuel. As a sailboat I can manage fuel by being a sailboat. But water is limited to three months with our tank. Its why I'm considering a watermaker.
I'm guessing a majority (like 60%) of small boat cruisers/liveaboards would get bigger boat if they could afford to do so. I will fall into that category (when I move aboard). I want to have a smaller carbon footprint on the planet... just not THAT small.
I'm guessing a majority (like 60%) of small boat cruisers/liveaboards would get bigger boat if they could afford to do so. I will fall into that category (when I move aboard). I want to have a smaller carbon footprint on the planet... just not THAT small.
I find the Contest 36s big enough for all my purposes. Sure I would like more locker storage... or larger tanks... or a CL bed stand up aft cabin.... But no boat will be perfect.. so I am content. More boat... more more..... work.
I'm guessing a majority (like 60%) of small boat cruisers/liveaboards would get bigger boat if they could afford to do so. I will fall into that category (when I move aboard). I want to have a smaller carbon footprint on the planet... just not THAT small.
I honestly don't know if I'd get a bigger boat than the one I currently have. I'm pretty settled on the 36 to 42 foot range as the ideal boat size for me and my spouse.
The question is meaningless. Two boats over are a happy couple who have been living on an Alberg 27 for 30 yrs. That would be like living in a toothpaste tube to me. We went from 37' to 45' and found it way too big ( it locked us out of our favourite anchorages and free docks, also made getting a transient slip much more difficult ). We are now happily ensconced in 38'. ... whatever floats your boat.
I have been solo on a 39 footer. But would gladly go for a much bigger boat. 46 ft there are some great boats. Now with a GF and cruising full time I would love a 46 to 54 footer. The amount of space to be a home with associated junk is not so easy on a small boat.
One I have always loved is a Beneteau 473 2 cabin version has a huge walk in Lazarette from aft the galley. Thats the space I would love.
The question is meaningless. Two boats over are a happy couple who have been living on an Alberg 27 for 30 yrs. That would be like living in a toothpaste tube to me. We went from 37' to 45' and found it way too big ( it locked us out of our favourite anchorages and free docks, also made getting a transient slip much more difficult ). We are now happily ensconced in 38'. ... whatever floats your boat.
I think this is a good point for those who prefer to stay in slips. Underway or at anchor larger size is like not a concern... maintenance and cleaning, for example increase dramatically as you go up in size. My sense is that where size is important is... the galley, the cockpit, engine access and head.... and of course storage... lockers and liquids. If you are cruising locally storage is less of a concern. Our tanks are not terribly large but fuel and water are readily available,
So if you are living aboard and cooking... you'll want a decent size galley and counter space and one that works well in a seaway. Which shape do you prefer... linear, L or U? I prefer U adjacent to the companionway... between the two eating areas... salon and cockpit. L's seem to lack counter space. How important are 2 galley sinks? I don't think they are. I use the small sink to hold cleaning stuff
So how much square footage per person is optimal in a house? That figure has been rising for decades along with price and the perceived need for creature comforts. I suspect that there may be a correlation there for boat owners as well! I certainly don't have any answers for either boats or homes but do know that we have tried (not always successfully!) to live by the less is more approach to life. Lin and Larry Pardy seem to have done well on pretty small boats. Then again they had extra storage space in the engine compartment, oh that's right they didn't have an engine!
"alone at sea I learned how little I needed not how much" Robin Lee Graham-'The Voyage of Dove'
Boat size seems to have risen along with average house size*. People aren't any bigger. Our biology's haven't changed, so what has changed is our desire for more.
Back in the 1970s a BIG boat was in the low 30s. In the 80s and 90s the BIG boat became upper 30s to low 40s. Then it shifted to upper 40s in the 00's. Today a BIG boat is 55'+, with everything less than that being commensurable smaller. People haven't changed in that time, but wants (not needs) certainly have.
So, are you asking what do people need, or what do they want? Two very different questions.
*Interestingly, I've studied boat size for long-distance, round-the-world type of cruisers. This measure has remained stubbornly stable from the 1970s on. Here the median size is about 42 feet.
Boat size seems to have risen along with average house size*. People aren't any bigger. Our biology's haven't changed, so what has changed is our desire for more.
Back in the 1970s a BIG boat was in the low 30s. In the 80s and 90s the BIG boat became upper 30s to low 40s. Then it shifted to upper 40s in the 00's. Today a BIG boat is 55'+, with everything less than that being commensurable smaller. People haven't changed in that time, but wants (not needs) certainly have.
So, are you asking what do people need, or what do they want? Two very different questions.
*Interestingly, I've studied boat size for long-distance, round-the-world type of cruisers. This measure has remained stubbornly stable from the 1970s on. Here the median size is about 42 feet.
I am guessing here....the increase in OAL is related to the "fact" that cruising was less common back then... People did more day saying, club racing and did not do much over nighting. Local cruising drove the upgrading of the interiors to be more amenable to cruising and along came the creature comforts and things like refrigeration.. and shower stalls. Gone were the spartan "stripped down" interiors.
I am guessing here....the increase in OAL is related to the "fact" that cruising was less common back then... People did more day saying, club racing and did not do much over nighting. Local cruising drove the upgrading of the interiors to be more amenable to cruising and along came the creature comforts and things like refrigeration.. and shower stalls. Gone were the spartan "stripped down" interiors.
Maybe... I don't have any data on how boats were used in the past 5 decades. I could easily see a narrative that suggests boats from the early days spent more time overnighting since there were fewer recreational docks and marinas services available.
But I do think you're right about the drive for more creature comforts and things like refrigeration, showers, etc. I think that is why average boat size has increased. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Maybe... I don't have any data on how boats were used in the past 5 decades. I could easily see a narrative that suggests boats from the early days spent more time overnighting since there were fewer recreational docks and marinas services available.
But I do think you're right about the drive for more creature comforts and things like refrigeration, showers, etc. I think that is why average boat size has increased. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Interior space on a boat can't really be large because it's not sea worthy. The larger volume needs to be filled up with "built-ins" leaving narrow pathways offering means to brace yourself. This would apply to a head or a shower stall.. or any cabin. If a settee doubles as a berth... as is often the case... it need not be longer than 80" (length of typical mattress)... what you do see is a divided settee (pair of lounge chairs).... with a table between. How large should a table be? Or the cockpit? If the design is intended to sleep 8, it should permit 8 to dine and 8 to be in the cockpit without making it impossible to move about. 8 on a boat.. YIKES... not for me...
Interior space on a boat can't really be large because it's not sea worthy. The larger volume needs to be filled up with "built-ins" leaving narrow pathways offering means to brace yourself. This would apply to a head or a shower stall.. or any cabin. If a settee doubles as a berth... as is often the case... it need not be longer than 80" (length of typical mattress)... what you do see is a divided settee (pair of lounge chairs).... with a table between. How large should a table be? Or the cockpit? If the design is intended to sleep 8, it should permit 8 to dine and 8 to be in the cockpit without making it impossible to move about. 8 on a boat.. YIKES... not for me...
I dunno... have you been on modern boats lately? Most have what I consider HUGE internal spaces. I was on a friend's Catalina 40, so not much bigger LOA than mine. But man... you could hold a dance party down below. Huge dinette and lovely galley. Three enclosed berths, including a matter that was HUGE. But the handholds were few and far between. And their storage space was tiny compared to ours. But man! What a lot of living space.
Yes, exactly.... À 42 foot Catamaran. In the Caribbean, anyway.
I can't see why people want to live in a shoebox. If it's budget then I certainly agree. My 39 was the most I could afford - the absolute limit. Buying now would be larger.
Yes, exactly.... À 42 foot Catamaran. In the Caribbean, anyway.
I can't see why people want to live in a shoebox. If it's budget then I certainly agree. My 39 was the most I could afford - the absolute limit. Buying now would be larger.
In the Caribe... the "fleet" is largely charter boats and charters are typically for more than a couple... so larger boats and cats make perfect sense. Long term/distance cruisers will go for a boat between 40 and 50+ ...manageable on all levels... and usually ample space for a couple or small family. My 36' shoebox is larger inside than many 40 footers and perfect size for single handing or a cruising couple... such as sv Oyster cruising the tropics now.
The data I've looked at is for distance cruisers and round-the-worlders. In fact, your boat fits nicely in the range. Like I said, the median has remained pretty much at 42 feet from the 1970 (and even earlier) to today.
Contrast this with the size creep for most "cruising" boats. But as we know, most of these boats don't go far, or go for long.
I can't see why people want to live in a shoebox. If it's budget then I certainly agree. My 39 was the most I could afford - the absolute limit. Buying now would be larger.
Why? Because there's the concept of enough. What do you really need? Something big enough. Not the biggest thing you can afford, the biggest thing you need.
Besides, what's a shoebox? And why was BIG in 1970 now small? It's all in your mind.
My boat is pretty small compared to the median rtw cruiser. I'd suggest 42ft mono and 41ft cat (there's lots of 38 and 40ft cats.).
When I sail into ports in the USA (Not Florida), UK and France the median boat is smaller, about my size.
Yes, there's lots of smaller boats doing long range cruising, but there's more bigger.
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