[tager]

I have decided that I want to sail my Islander Bahama 24 from Seattle to Hawaii. In 2 years. I plan to bring an old, blown out mainsail as a backup, and a newer main. As well as 3 headsails, Genoa and 2 jibs. What do you folks think should be on the list of improvements for the trip?

Currently the list is this:

Seal, reinforce, dog all hatches securely.

Design and install a better servo-pendulum vane.

New rudder bushings... (Currently I can simply lift my tiller, and my keel-hung rudder will lift out of the bushing at the bottom of the keel, any ideas on fixing this?)

Install, test, and stow an emergency rudder.

Spectra inner forestay and running backs so that if any one fitting fails, the stick stays up.

Extra stays and shrouds on hand.

Lots of trailing warps.

A sea Anchor.

Double up ports with clear exterior plastic.

EPIRB.

Spare Parts

Solar Panel

Extra Bulkheads???

Conversion of V-Berth to Storage? ?/

Anyway, if anyone who has done this before has any advice it would be greatly appreciated. I am not planning on buying a bigger boat in which to do this, either.

 

[WanderingStar]

I think there is a classic work on upgrading to cruise, maybe by Richard Henderson?

 

[mitiempo]

Read "Trekka Around the World" by John Guzzwell. His first leg was Victoria to Hawaii. Trekka is now at the Victoria Maritime Museum. When I moved to Victoria in 1987 it was my first stop. Also John Neal's first book about cruising the Pacific in his first boat, a 27' Vega. He also sailed from the Pacific Northwest, but to San Francisco. There is an appendix in this book about outfitting a small boat for offshore sailing. I think if the boat is in good shape it's do-able. A small boat is in some ways easier to make ready for offshore than a large one in my opinion. As far as an emergency rudder, you also need a vane so get one that incorporates an emergency rudder. Make sure the companionway only opens down to seat height, not all the way to the cockpit sole. Make the cockpit smaller if possible by installing a storage locker at the forward end maybe to reduce its size. Put hinges and catches on all locker lids so if (when) you get knocked down the contents don't go flying around. To save trips forward rig a solent stay, a forestay just inside the forestay and parallel to it. You won't need runners as it attaches close to the masthead. Keep a storm jib on this stay and rig to raise from the cockpit. Rig a downhaul on your jib and lead this and halyards aft.
Brian
Brian

 

[MoonSailer]

John Vigor has a book on seaworthy sailboats.
Amazon.com: Seaworthy Offshore Sailboat: A Guide to Essential Features, Handling, and Gear (0639785801757): John Vigor: Books

 

[tager]

Thanks mitiempo! That is some really good advice. I especially like the idea of storage lockers in the cockpit. Perhaps this would be a good place to keep sails. The cockpit on my boat is too large, and definitely needs another drain. I am sort of in limbo about outfitting this boat to go offshore, or selling it and buying something with standing headroom. I live aboard, so standing headroom would be a big plus.

 

[mitiempo]

tager
Here's a picture of a cockpit that was reduced in size for offshore use. And the website it came from. This guy has sailed to 70 north in a Coribee and to the Azores and back (from UK). Well worth a look. But you don't need an inch of insulation to the whole hull and cabin if you go south!
Brian
Introduction to the junk-rigged Corribee Mingming

 

[closehauled14]

Positive flotation foam everywhere you can get it will help, also, larger scuppers in the cockpit in case you do get swamped. A well thought out ditch bag could go a long way if things go bad. I hope you never need it, but the piece of mind is invaluable.

 

[mitiempo]

It's generally not practical to put enough foam on board for positive flotation.
Brian

 

[sailingfool]

You should read a copy of Dove, see:
Amazon.com: Dove (9780060920470): Robin L. Graham: Books

 

[tager]

Ballast is encased lead 1700lbs and design displacement is 4200.
Without bothering to do a whole lot of specific gravity calculations, I am going to assume that there will be 3000lbs of downforce if the boat sank as it is today.

3000/64= ~46.88

46.88 cubic feet of foam is quite a bit.
It would be roughly the equivalent of filling the interior with foam up to the waterline. I think that it would be better to use watertight bulkheads. A watertight door at the main bulkhead, another at the aft end of the cabin, and another at the motor well would split the boat into 4 watertight sections.
Along with top-opening lockers above the waterline, this would buy some time in the event of a holing.

However, I have decided that something with standing headroom would be superior, so I am looking to buy something like a Cheoy Lee offshore 27, or a Haida 26 with standing headroom, or anything else in the 25'-27' range with 5'11" headroom. Until then, it is sailing around Puget sound.

 

[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 script 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.