Hobie 33 for offshore?

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by basssears

I saved this picture from the first year of the R2AK, Hobie 33 either in Johnstone Strait or upper end of Strait of Georgia:


As far as cruising goes, I believe you have now spilled your rum drink.

-- Bass

Yeah, Hobies are pretty tender. I usually think about taking in first reef at about 12 knots TWS.

Any idea what the conditions were in the foto?

[basssears]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Yeah, Hobies are pretty tender. I usually think about taking in first reef at about 12 knots TWS.

Any idea what the conditions were in the foto?

Good point, to be fair these were I believe pretty wicked conditions... gusting high 30s, in the northern end of Strait of Georgia where it starts to shoal so the waves were getting short and choppy (and I'm guessing with a H33's weight they don't drive steep swells that well, not that most boats do).

Here is the Race to Alaska daily update for that day, including a few abandon ships and a need for the Coast Guard:
https://r2ak.com/2015-daily-updates/...pect-surprises

-- Bass

[john61ct]

Wow, ask and ye shall receive! Thanks so much to all for such fast and detailed answers.

And yes, she sounds like tons of fun, speed is certainly a "would be nice" when crossing oceans, **but**

I am giving "reasonable camping" liveaboard comfort a higher priority than either of those two factors. And safety / stability / seakindly handling are also even higher. . .

Thanks also for the Contessa mention, their 26 used to be fairly high up the list, now moved down a bit, google says maybe 5'4" headroom?

[john61ct]

While I've got y'all, any comments comparing these under 8'6" beam candidates

Westerly Centaur 26
Columbia 29
Tartan 27
Albin Vega
Bristol 26 or 27
Cape Dory 27
Pearson Triton 28

with Nor'sea 27 as apparently the ultimate benchmark

would be most welcome. Greedy I know 8-)

I already know from newhaul that his Defender (variant of Columbia) has 6'3" headroom in the salon, but I'm not sure where to get that kind of info on the others.

Bristol 27 maybe 5'10"?

Many say the Tartan's designed much better than the Triton for my purpose?

[john61ct]

Also, the eBay listing that piqued my interest

https://m.ebay.com/itm/sailboats-used/323247021688

[Tornadosailing]

From what I understand the H33 was built for the Newport - Ensenada race. Basically a down wind drag racer. I'm still not very good at racing mine, and I'm at a disadvantage racing PHRF around the cans on a short course against a bunch of new sport boats like J70s. There's a lot more boat handling skill involved with the H33 vs a J70, then I have to give them time.

You can get it to point very well, assuming you tweak the rigging for the exact conditions you'll be in. And get the backstay tension right. And have the right sail combo up. And trim it just so. I'm working on that. But when it's right it's right. I can climb right over most boats I race against.

All that said, it's a fun boat and I recommend it to anyone, except someone looking for a boat to go cruising on. There's no way in hell. Not in a million years, on a bet, and for all the tea in china.

[basssears]

Just curious why the trailerability factor is such a focus for you if you're talking about crossing oceans and serious cruising? To me, trailer sailors (even burly ones) are for more occasional use and therefore the savings of not having in a marina (store on trailer instead).

Are you looking to "trailer cruise" (tow a boat to Baja for six months, then load it and up and drive to San Juan's for six months etc)?

-- Bass

[basssears]

Oh, and no Hobie 33 thread would be complete without the requisite drop test video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdVHhg5600Y

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by john61ct

While I've got y'all, any comments comparing these under 8'6" beam candidates

Westerly Centaur 26
Columbia 29
Tartan 27
Albin Vega
Bristol 26 or 27
Cape Dory 27
Pearson Triton 28

with Nor'sea 27 as apparently the ultimate benchmark

would be most welcome. Greedy I know 8-)

I already know from newhaul that his Defender (variant of Columbia) has 6'3" headroom in the salon, but I'm not sure where to get that kind of info on the others.

Bristol 27 maybe 5'10"?

Many say the Tartan's designed much better than the Triton for my purpose?

I'm about 6' (or used to be) and can stand up in my Bristol 27 all the way to the mast beam.

If you can find a good one, they are well built boats and recommended on several Bluewater Boat Sites.

Check out these Bristol 27's. And btw, the guy that runs the site below has been "refitting" his Bristol 27 for as long as I've owned mine (2011), and mine was on the hard unattended for 5 years yet I was sailing it about a month after I bought it

Bristol27.com » Bristol Specific

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Also, the eBay listing that piqued my interest

https://m.ebay.com/itm/sailboats-used/323247021688

At $12K looks like a potential good buy for someone.

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by basssears

Just curious why the trailerability factor is such a focus for you if you're talking about crossing oceans and serious cruising?

Yes, not at all trailer sailor-ing, just flexibility and saving ongoing costs.

I have access to a few different places to store and/or fit out the boat without charge, just cover any costs to the owner(s), but these are inland, not ocean marinas.

I have circumstances, family/health etc, that could interrupt my plans, prevent continuing sailing for perhaps years at a time, and don't want to be forced to pay ongoing slip or yard fees for the duration of such a hiatus.

If I am very far from home when duty calls, increased flexibility, more choices on less expensive options than having to pay a crew to bring her home, maybe find cheap storage inland and then pick up where I left off instead when the chance arises.

And I won't be able to afford much trading up/down for these different scenarios, likely starting with somewhat a project boat, once I've made her mine want a keeper, pass on to the kids if they want her.

[Scout 30]

I found this on Craigslist last week. An actual blue water capable cruiser in what appears to be very good condition at less than 20K.

https://treasure.craigslist.org/boa/...561780598.html

[FutureStories]

If you’re only planning to trailer it very sporadically getting permits to tow up to a 10’ bean boat is easy. I’d go with something more comfortable for the cruising part. And focus less on the trailer trip every several years

[john61ct]

Liberty 28 is over a foot too wide.

I've gone over my requirements in the previous thread, 8'6" is a non-negotiable hard limit deal breaker.

Alberg 30
Seafarer 31
Sea Sprite 27
Vancouver 27

Have all been eliminated, there's another I forget just an inch or two over.

Having fewer boats to consider is actually a good thing, ideally I'll narrow* things down to Nor'sea and maybe 2-3 others.

*hee hee

[Wayfarer1008]

A good friend had a great name for this type of cruising, She called it "Sailing with Green Luggage" With a boat like this your goal is to sail from destination to destination, leaving the sailboat at a marina and staying in a nice hotel or apartment on land. This is really a great way to go in that you can take a smaller sailboat, use the money you saved to stay at a nice place and still do your trip. As for your pick of a Norsea 27 you have to remember these boats are dog slow and cramped. Look around and see what you can find.