Sensible Small Boat Cruising

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Comment by seafarer 26 on June 23, 2008 at 10:59pm

smaller boats do keep costs down. they also make refit posable for the average surf bum. lol life on the hook

Comment by seafarer 26 on June 23, 2008 at 10:58pm

more pics added almost time for glass work

Comment by Richard on June 21, 2008 at 11:42am

Mark: I've been meaning to respond to your post earlier, but you addressed so many issues of why I think small boats make excellent cruising choices.

Smaller boats require less of a cruising kitty for annual maintenance than do the larger ones. Maintenance costs are geometric rather than mathematical as length increases. And of course the dockage aspect makes the smaller boat more inviting. On the other hand, when I was on my nine month cruise down to the Rio Dulce and back I only paid dockage twice in the States in Key West (going and coming back) one day at Marina Paraiso in Isla Mujeres, one night in Caye Chappel, Belize, and three nights at Mario's Marina on the Rio when I went up to Guate City to get a part for my outboard, a part which, by the way, I was unable to get in the States at the time. The rest of the time I lived on the hook and loved it. In the six years I lived aboard my lovely Nancy Dawson I did so pretty much for free. I spent a year and 10 month in a famous boat yard in Ft. LaDeeDah at the work bloat dock and it cost me a total of $500 and I painted 19 signs for the yard. (Of course over the years as a boat captain I'd dropped off close to a million bucks at the yard) From there I moved to Marina Bay where I lived for three years absolutely free. A friend of mine and I did work for a large repo company who rented several complete docks there. We also bought, repaired and sold boats there and had worked out a deal whereby we got three slips for our own use and I lived at one of them.

There are two schools of thought concerning headroom...Nathanial Herrschoff designed most of his boats with only sitting headroom. He said if you want to stand up, go outside. I belong to the conviction that women don't lay down in boats they can't stand up in.

I also don't find it a big hassle not having an inboard engine, either. I loved having all the extra space and the 8 hp Suzuki would push me along just fine at hull speed in calm waters.

Comment by Richard on June 18, 2008 at 8:05pm

Mark: and a very pretty craft it is, too.

Comment by Mark (Voodoo Acrobat) on June 18, 2008 at 1:24pm

I have a smaller "pocket cruiser", a 1970 Westerly Cirrus 22'. For me and my current needs, she's the perfect boat. When I was shopping for her I knew I wanted to keep costs down. There is a price jump for docks over 25', plus the costs of shore storage, overnights at marinas that charge by the foot, etc. I also knew from experience that I'd end up singlehanding a lot, and I wanted something I could easily manage in all conditions.

I wanted something sturdy and seaworthy (Lake ErieWorthy?) and the hull is certified by Lloyd's of London to be ocean capable. Comfort was important, and I looked a much larger boats with headroom for a dog. My interior is cavernous for a boat of her size and I have 5'10" headroom in the saloon. Sleeps four close friends, has a nice galley/setee, and an enclosed head with holding tank. The cockpit is very deep and secure from wind and waves, with plenty of room for company. The Westerly had an option for a 7hp diesel, but mine came with a 6hp outboard. That gives me a huge amount of storage behind the companonway ladder. It's a right proper little yacht!

I'm also of the KISS school of sailing. I have hank-on headsails, a simple motor, and very few gadgets. I did buy an Autohelm for safety and comfort reasons while singlehanding, but I can live without most of the extra goodies.

Comment by Aria on June 18, 2008 at 11:55am

Offshore, it is much easier to go with the wind, than if you have to be on something like the ICW. Or, someplace where anchorages can be few and far between.

Though I normally do offshore overnight hops between Carolina and the Keys, there are times when weather dictates using the ICW. Most of the time, that means motoring, or at best, motor-sailing. To me, that's where the cruiser vs sailor aspect comes in.

Some might simply wait for a weather window, but with the increase in anchoring restrictions, particularly in Florida, that isn't always possible. Or the anchorage you're at, may not be suitable for a longer stay.

Comment by ___/)ances With Sails on June 18, 2008 at 2:24am

Im with ye Rich', Take the long way home!

Actually Im commenting cause ye got me craving tea! LOL

Comment by Richard on June 16, 2008 at 11:17pm

Aria: I agree "you have to set your boat up for what makes you comfortable, and safe." I also believe that's pretty subjective to most people.

The cruiser vs sailor thing is interesting. I've fired up the iron monster a time or two myself, but that's generally because there wasn't any wind. I like the experience of sailing and since I'm cruising I don't have a time schedule and don't really care when I arrive somewhere.

I remember one brilliant afternoon down in Belize. I had left Placencia and was headed out to Ranguana Caye. The destination was dead to windward and I spent several hours tacking north and south to make my easting. The sun was shining, the wind was steady, the sky was blue, I had ice in the cooler and a cold iced tea while I sat in the shade of the dodger. I could have doused the sails and been at the anchorage in a third of the time it actually took, but you know, it never ocurred to me to do such a thing on a beautiful day like that.

Comment by CommodoreSwab on June 16, 2008 at 9:43pm

Ive found that the new GPS's have very good charts in them but if you are cruising large distances constantly having to update your charts.

Comment by Aria on June 16, 2008 at 9:18pm

Living in northern Indiana prior to retiring, I spent 3 winters living on yatchworld and reading. I had determined that 32 feet was the right size boat for me, and of all of them I looked at, the Ontario 32 was my favorite. Fortunately, I was able to find one I could afford.

One point I should make, I'm a cruiser who sails, not a sailor who cruises. That might not seem like much of a difference, but it has to do with attitude. I enjoy sailing, and prefer to sail, but if I have to fire up my puny 13hp Yani to get where I'm going, then I will.

I like having roller furling on the jib, self-tailing winches and an electric windlass. I like having an auto-pilot, and chart software on my laptop. As a singlehander, I find all of these things contribute to my enjoyment of cruising. So far, I've gone from Tampa to Annapolis and back down to Marathon and now in Carolina. And my gadgets have served me well.

I feel you have to set your boat up for what makes you comfortable, and safe.

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