Worst Conditions Blue Water Boat

[Steve Olson]

I know that there are many definitions of "blue water" and I also know that the sailor is the weakest link (and I'm guessing this has likely been discussed), but what single sailing vessel (make/size) would you personally want to be in under the worst conditions? (And no saying aircraft carrier).

[jgbrown]

Nuclear submarine.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by jgbrown

Nuclear submarine.

Yes, has one sail, but to call it a sailing vessel... .??

I'm open to suggestions but can't come up with anything I'd trade for Jedi at same or less length.

[Kettlewell]

I won't say a particular vessel, but based on my experience offshore in various craft I have owned here is what I would want: monohull, 37 feet, fairly heavy, long fin keel with skeg-hung rudder on stern, moderate beam, hatches only on centerline, no opening ports, watertight bulkheads forward and aft, cockpit lockers that drain into cockpit--not into hull, tiller steering, windvane steering, fairly short cutter rig with small staysail and triple-reefed main, completely flush-decked (no raised cabin top) with hard dinghy stored amidships aft of the mast, hard dodger protecting forward end of cockpit and helmsman, foredeck well with anchor windlass and anchor handling gear in it and big enough for a person to get down and brace themselves in, centrally mounted huge three-speed self-tailing winch to handle either jib sheet and/or act as an aft winch for a kedge anchor or drogue, either a parachute sea anchor or a Jordan Series drogue, solid lifelines all around instead of wire rope. One thing I might possibly try to rig up if it was a custom boat, keeping in mind it is flush deck, is a set of tubular hand rails running from aft forward that would do triple duty: lashing points when inshore for junk, safety harness attachment track when offshore, and handholds for crawling forward.

As much as possible I would reduce or eliminate through hulls: transom hung rudder, composting toilet, shared drain for galley and head, transom scuppers for cockpit, etc. All systems would be simple and robust, with weights centralized and low down whenever possible.

[Triton318]

28' Pearson Triton

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Yes, has one sail, but to call it a sailing vessel... .??

I'm open to suggestions but can't come up with anything I'd trade for Jedi at same or less length.

I agree. For the OP, if the **** really hits the fan, a Sundeer is the kind of boat that could save your bacon.

[barnakiel]

A boat similar to a Bougainvillea or a Bestevaer (50+).

- big enough, so the 'worst conditions' start later,
- well designed,
- well built,
- easily driven, well laid out for heavy weather control,
- good protection to the driver in bad conditions, (proper pilot house).

What I would avoid:
- small boats,
- heavy boats,
- boats offering no protection from wind/spray,
- boats will layout asking for too many hands.

b.

[Azul]

Another reason the Sundeer would be a great choice is that it can lope along below its maximum hull speed and still make 200 miles per day to avoid the "worst conditions zone" which is typically only 30 miles wide in a given storm or even avoid the storm altogether. Too bad there weren't many of these made, they seem incredibly well thought out. For example, a Hinckley 60 traveling north just spent a week at my locale waiting for weather because at 84 feet his air draft prevents him from going up the ICW, whereas the Sundeer can travel the ICW it with one foot to spare at 64 feet. Of course, the trade off is the there is a LOT more room in the wider Hinckley meaning more draft and therefore taller rig to power the whole deal...

[Kettlewell]

You have to be really careful doing the ICW with an air draft of 64 feet. I have seen less than that at many of the 65-foot bridges during times of high water, and there are a few, like the Wilkerson Bridge at Mile 125.9, that are charted at less than 65 feet.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Kettlewell

I won't say a particular vessel, but based on my experience offshore in various craft I have owned here is what I would want: monohull, 37 feet, fairly heavy, long fin keel with skeg-hung rudder on stern, moderate beam, hatches only on centerline, no opening ports, watertight bulkheads forward and aft, cockpit lockers that drain into cockpit--not into hull, tiller steering, windvane steering, fairly short cutter rig with small staysail and triple-reefed main, completely flush-decked (no raised cabin top) with hard dinghy stored amidships aft of the mast, hard dodger protecting forward end of cockpit and helmsman, foredeck well with anchor windlass and anchor handling gear in it and big enough for a person to get down and brace themselves in, centrally mounted huge three-speed self-tailing winch to handle either jib sheet and/or act as an aft winch for a kedge anchor or drogue, either a parachute sea anchor or a Jordan Series drogue, solid lifelines all around instead of wire rope. One thing I might possibly try to rig up if it was a custom boat, keeping in mind it is flush deck, is a set of tubular hand rails running from aft forward that would do triple duty: lashing points when inshore for junk, safety harness attachment track when offshore, and handholds for crawling forward.

As much as possible I would reduce or eliminate through hulls: transom hung rudder, composting toilet, shared drain for galley and head, transom scuppers for cockpit, etc. All systems would be simple and robust, with weights centralized and low down whenever possible.

I agree with much of you say but I don't like the idea of using the rail to attach your safety harness. I want that as close to the center of the boat as possible.

[Kettlewell]

I agree with much of you say but I don't like the idea of using the rail to attach your safety harness. I want that as close to the center of the boat as possible.

I agree--what I meant were tubular hand rails mounted on deck, inboard, to run your safety harness on and to use as handholds.

[zeehag]

i would keep the boat i have....is good boat.

i just need a dredge for parts of the icw...mast height is perfect....

[Cruiser2B]

Westsail 32 "Satori" sailed through the "Perfect" storm with no crew............

I would like to think I'd make through a similar storm in my Alberg 30 if I ever got caught in such conditions. No way to really know unless I am faced with it....nor would anyone else

[Kenomac]

Oysters are built to take the worst weather.

[steamgoat]

A Joshua.from Chantiers Meta.