Who's made it to Hawaii from the West Coast USA - and on what boat!?

[NOMN]

Hi guys, I'm about to buy a boat and DO this. Can anyone offer advice who has done it?

I know thus far there's Contessa 26 Nick Jaffe: http://vimeo.com/5999952

The Albin Vega 27 couple: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEac3ADo5tc

I'm on an EXTREME budget here, like >10k, so I'm worried I can't find a rock-solid boat in my price range and my dreams are 10 years away.. or if I pull the trigger on some pos, I might sink, lol.

I love you guys!!!!

Please help!!

~                       :)

[matt195583]

G'day mate I know of a few 25 odd footers that have gone all the way around one being SV Caprice a TopHat 25 they went all the way in thr seventies and had 2 children while they were at it. In the nineties their son ( Jamie I think ) circumnavigated also.

Don't forget to check out Atomvoyages.com James has some awesome information on his site.

While I can't offer much first hand advice I am on the same track as you, although I decided on a 34 footer and trust me everything gets a heck of a lot more expensive.

[CharlieJ]

and lets not forget Dave and Jaja Martin, circumnavigated on Direction, a 25 footer, and had two kids while aboard.

Just finished building a catamaran to sail

[Capt. Tony]

I decided on a 34 footer and trust me everything gets a heck of a lot more expensive.

Boy oh boy isn't that the truth!  There have been a number of ocean voyages made in Pearson Ariels, and, those can be found quite reasonably priced.  There is a capable boat out there for your goals and bank account.  Keep looking.

[rorik]

Norwegian couple on a Contessa 26 with no engine:
http://bikasailing.blogspot.com/

Homebuilt plywood 21" circumnavigation:
http://www.zenboat.jp/histry/47/

Tania Abe solo circumnavigation on a Contessa 26
Lin and Larry Pardey several trips round the globe on a 24' engineless cutter
Robin Graham on Dove
John Guzzwell on Trekka

The are many, many more......

John Vigor has a book called "20 Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere"
http://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Small-Sailboats-Take-Anywhere/dp/0939837323

Annie Hill has a good book called "Voyaging On A Small Income". Not about the boat or systems, but how to live cheaply while you're out there.

For me, the common theme in all this is a solid boat, with simple systems, and common sense mixed with experience and caution.

[NOMN]

G'day mate I know of a few 25 odd footers that have gone all the way around one being SV Caprice a TopHat 25 they went all the way in thr seventies and had 2 children while they were at it. In the nineties their son ( Jamie I think ) circumnavigated also.

Don't forget to check out Atomvoyages.com James has some awesome information on his site.

While I can't offer much first hand advice I am on the same track as you, although I decided on a 34 footer and trust me everything gets a heck of a lot more expensive.

EXACTLY. It's like finding a boat for $8500 and $25,000 difference. I can't believe 7-10 feet really makes that much of a difference in price!

John Vigor has a book called "20 Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere"
http://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Small-Sailboats-Take-Anywhere/dp/0939837323

Just finished reading it. It seems like his boats are almost all 25k on yachtworld.com =[ or TOO small, like 20' is a wee bit uncomfortable for my tastes. I was hoping for a 25~', and the cheapest contessa 26 I could find is $10,000 + shipping from Canada.

Can anyone recommend some successful blue water boats?!!

[rorik]

http://www.cruisinglealea.com/

http://www.sbastro.com/FeNIX/mainFrameSet.htm

http://www.solotheamericas.org/

http://karenandjimsexcellentadventure.blogspot.com/

http://www.svguenevere.com/

http://capedory.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=30857


If you can't find one of these (or something similar) that fit your budget, and there are lots of places to find boats like this - not just yachtworld, then maybe you can make a list of all the things you like in these boats and look for other boats that come close to what you want at the price you want.

If standing headroom isn't a requirement, maybe a Folkboat or `Frisco Flyer will work...

http://www.smh.com.au/news/obituaries/this-sailing-granny-went-solo/2006/06/19/1150701488486.html

[jotruk]

a good place to look for sail boats is sailing Texas they normally have a very large selection of boats from all over the country not just Texas.

[NOMN]

If you can't find one of these (or something similar) that fit your budget, and there are lots of places to find boats like this - not just yachtworld, then maybe you can make a list of all the things you like in these boats and look for other boats that come close to what you want at the price you want.

Do you think you could post a small list here?

Thus far:

Sailing Texas
Yachtworld
boats.com
sailboatlistings.com
craigslist

That's all I have, thus far!!

[Captain Smollett]

Sometimes, getting on the docks will provide more valuable 'leads.'  To this end (and to save being the dreaded "dock walker"), see if you can arrange to go sailing with someone.  You'll make a contact who knows people, some of whom may be interested in selling a boat but not have it listed anywhere.

Lots of good "insider" deals can be had this way.

In a similar way, check out the boat yards.

You don't have ebay on your list.

Not all the boats in Vigor's boat are "25K."  Lots of Alberg 30's can be had for about half that.  Pearson Triton's (A-30's little sis) often go for less than $10,000.

How much boat do you want?  Pearson Ariel's, A-30/Triton's even littler sis, can go for $5000 or less.  Do a search here on sailfar for starcrest.  Eric has passed away, but he wrote on here a good bit about his multiple crossings to HI on his Ariel.

There are LOTS of options - good, solid boats - for reasonable budgets.

My observations:  Craig's List and Ebay boats that are good "bargains" tend to need a bit of work.  If you don't want a project boat, be very careful about these sources.  Lots of other listing services list "I want" prices...may or may not be realistic asking prices.

Here's an Alberg 30 for 'make an offer;' don't know what he'd take, but it seems like $8-10,000 ish would be a good guess.

For that matter, have you looked at the sellfar board here on this site?  There are LOTS of good deals on GOOD boats listed there...some are ebay, craigslist or other offerings, but still...

[rorik]

www.48north.com
www.latitude38.com
www.cruisersforum.com
www.capedory.org
www.albergsailboats.org

Check the brokers and marinas in your area. My CD28 wasn't listed anywhere (except the brokers bulletin board in the window) when I walked into the brokers office on a completely random whim one day. I asked if they had anything in the 26' - 32' range that cost less than a house. He sent me to the marina next door and there she was. Neglected but sturdy at a price I could manage.
There was a another CD28 in the next slip over that was even more neglected. There were no signs that it t was for sale. But I believe it did sell just a few months later.
Last summer I walked into the marina office and overheard the staff talking about a Santana 22 that someone wanted to give away because they couldn't make the slip payment anymore.
A friend of mine has that boat now. Granted it did need a complete refit.
The boats and deals are there if you look hard enough.

[rorik]

This one is from "Porters Boat Search" on this forum. It might not be what you are looking for, but it does illustrate that deals can be had. FInal eBay bid on a 25' boat........... *drum roll*......... $860.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/65-25-Seafarer-Sailboat-Honda-10HP-4-Stroke-Outboard-Complete-Ready-Sail-/140948790879?pt=Sailboats&hash=item20d133de5f#v4-42

[rorik]

Wrong end of the country, but......


http://capedory.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=30857

[Captain Smollett]

Last summer I walked into the marina office and overheard the staff talking about a Santana 22 that someone wanted to give away because they couldn't make the slip payment anymore.
A friend of mine has that boat now. Granted it did need a complete refit.
The boats and deals are there if you look hard enough.

Indeed, those deals are there.  Another example:

A friend moved up from a 26 footer to a Hunter 32 he got...for $500.  He was not in the market for a larger boat, but the price was right and he figured...why not?

The boat was in remarkable shape for that price.

[rorik]

Read through this.... there's some good stuff in here.....
http://www.cruisinglealea.com/cruisingphilosophy.html

[Captain Smollett]

Read through this.... there's some good stuff in here.....
http://www.cruisinglealea.com/cruisingphilosophy.html

Excellent link.

I wonder if they are members here.  The name(s) seem familiar.

Good stuff regardless.

[Godot]

Read through this.... there's some good stuff in here.....
http://www.cruisinglealea.com/cruisingphilosophy.html

Excellent link.

I wonder if they are members here.  The name(s) seem familiar.

Good stuff regardless.

They are members here, Chuck and Laura Rose, Vega1860, although they don't post often. I guess they are too busy out sailing (currently in Alaska).

We talked about them a bit in the thread Vega. Their Youtube videos are interesting to watch.

[Frank]

Great videos!! Thanks for the link Godot. It's now on my "favorites" list. Beautiful!!

[NOMN]

You guys freaking rock.

[CapnK]

Love the Lea vids. Just re-watched the whole string again a month or so ago. :)