smallest possible cruiser?

[theblackspot]

frank,
ive cruised from florida to baltimore, to puerto rico, and most of the gulf coast  in a 1970 pearson 26. after a few weeks i feel cramped, and i usualy sail alone {actually removed the head to deter the ladies from wanting to come along}. i cant imagine anything smaller would be much fun when the weather drives you inside for a couple of days. wet, humid, bugs.....

Bill Diller
the Black Spot
pearson 26 #73

[Godot]

i cant imagine anything smaller would be much fun when the weather drives you inside for a couple of days. wet, humid, bugs.....

I remember being stuck in my studio apartment for a couple of weeks when sick a few years ago.  450 sq feet (small for an apartment; but huge for a boat) was not enough to break cabin fever.  I don't know if a few more feet of waterline is going to help.  (That being said, bigger is more comfortable, or at least, less uncomfortable).

[Lynx]

I have found that I have as much room in the cockpit as the bigger boats. Just look around. I spend most of the time inside either sleeping or cooking or on the computer. Not much space needed.

It really depends on how bad you want to be on a boat where you are vrs someplace else.

[newt]

That little 14 footer certainly fired the imagination. Lets see- one side berth, one side for a stove, fridge, sink, chart table, radar? Hmmm.... And where would I put my bike? How do you expect me to go the Orient without a bike?  And a dingy- I certainly do not want to pay slip fees all the way around the world...
Oh well- lets see what yachtworld has in the way of 30 footers. :P

[Frank]

Who needs a dingy with a 14fter?? (it is a dingy) And cabin fever in 26ft? I spent 10weeks in 07 on 20ft...rainy days are for reading and sleep ;) If things go as hoped..my dream boat will be 16.5ft....but then..I am odd :o

[Norm]

on the averisera blog, I put up some pictures of the little boats I saw in the Caribbean.  Note the little boat with the dinghy hoisted out for the night!

[okawbow]

I recently finished a 1000 mile trip in my Bristol 24. My boat has a head with a holding tank, and an inboard diesel. I never felt cramped, even when anchored on stormy days. One of the best features of the Bristol, is standing headroom. My wife and I are not small people. We need enough room to stretch out and stay out of one anothers' way. I can't see any smaller boat providing that kind of room for 2 people.

[CapnK]

A good friend of mine just sold his Morgan OI 41, and has "moved up" to a Bristol 24. ;D He'll be signing up here pretty soon, I'll tell him about y'all... :)

[okawbow]

That's good to hear, Capnk. I love my Bristol. I've only had her for 2 years, but I haven't been dissappointed yet. When the wind's up; we have even won a few 'hare and hound" races because of the generous PHRF rating against newer, "faster" boats. I even daydream about crossing the Atlantic in her someday.

[Oldrig]

I even daydream about crossing the Atlantic in her someday.

FYI, there's a fellow who just checked in on the Cape Dory board from Kinsale, Ireland. He sailed there from the U.S. East Coast, via the Azores, in a Cape Dory 25D (my boat, too). Like the Bristol, she has standing headroom, a holding tank and a teeny-weeny inboard diesel.

So, Okawbow, keep dreamin'.

--Joe

[Joe Pyrat]

I've thought about running across the pond a time or two.  Once you reach the eastern Caribbean you are almost halfway there.   ;)

As to being cramped on my Triton, spent a week inside due to a cold foggy spell in Rockland, ME.  It never seems cramped to me I read and toyed with the computers, did a bit of cooking and watched the fog come and go.  It was quit enjoyable actually.

[CapnK]

Okawbow - I'll definitely tell him about your thoughts and experiences! :) Grog!

[CaptainGraham]

I Know this is an old thread but I just wanted to add.

At 62 Years Old I would want a sailboat there the berths are high enough.
I have owned 5 small sailboats, 4 with cabins.

My current sailboat is an Alacrity19 twin keel.
It has 3 berths , 2 are quarter berths.
The 2 quarter berths are great for sleeping but they are low.
When sitting my hips are below my knees and it is hard to get up.

I still like the Alacrity19 and other then that one problem she would be cruiser on for two.

[Godot]

I Know this is an old thread but I just wanted to add.

At 62 Years Old I would want a sailboat there the berths are high enough.
I have owned 5 small sailboats, 4 with cabins.

My current sailboat is an Alacrity19 twin keel.
It has 3 berths , 2 are quarter berths.
The 2 quarter berths are great for sleeping but they are low.
When sitting my hips are below my knees and it is hard to get up.

I still like the Alacrity19 and other then that one problem she would be cruiser on for two.

Welcome to SailFar CaptainGraham!!

Reviving old threads is A-OK here. No worries.

Yeah, I've heard it said that good Sitting Headroom is important. But I think you are right on the money. Good sitting leg room counts a whole bunch, too.