Looking for Advice on First Large Ship

[scoobert]

i have the cash for the fuel, but when everything is weighted, i need to look into cats.
after some long reading, i have found sailing to be not as hard as it looks.
if i can fly a plane, and i can, i can sail a boat. not sure why i had a mental block on it.
Bermuda rig sounds pretty straight forward. and there is really not much to the basics.
i am sure it takes a while to master, but i think a coastal passage could be done shortly after learning how.
what kind of diesel usage should i expect on a cat under sail?
what size boat will i need to do an Atlantic crossing?
two things i cannot find online. i did find some moron did it in a row boat.....
thats not what i was looking for.

[Event_Horizon]

Originally Posted by scoobert

what kind of diesel usage should i expect on a cat under sail?
what size boat will i need to do an Atlantic crossing?
two things i cannot find online.

Under sail a catamaran will burn roughly zero gallons of diesel (assuming your tank is closed and evaporation is not an issue). While under sail the fuel is only needed to recharge the batteries and make water. Depending on your usage, equipment, and 'green' additions (solar panels, wind-gen) this can be highly variable.

As far as fuel consumption when you are motor sailing or just motoring, they vary greatly by make and model of boat as well as conditions of operation.

Note: Under sail means the boat is being powered by the sails...not by the engines (and most cats have two of these so +1 for redundancy).

[scoobert]

i should have specified. for a/c and for refrigeration, and also 12V for electronics.

i have been told you cannot run A/C off of solar.

[Event_Horizon]

Well, there isn't a single answer to your question. The best I can offer you is that "it depends on a lot of things." The only thing I can say for sure is that you aren't appreciating the complexity of the questions you're asking.

During passages you probably won't be running your A/C. As long as your dogs don't mind you can strip naked and enjoy the breeze. Also A/C power consumption varies greatly with different units as will as different boats with different thermodynamic properties in waters of various temperatures.

What electronics do you plan to be running? Voltage is only part of the power equation so don't treat all 12V electronics equally.

You may need to do some math. I'll provide a link to an excel spreadsheet--when I get off my phone and to a computer--made by a member of this forum breaking down the power consumption on his leopard 46 (catamaran) to decide what additional power generation to add.

[scoobert]

i would be running the large chart plotter, depth finder, autopilot, i am guessing several winches for the sails? (dont know) lights, computer, phone booster, ais, radio, freezer, refrigerator, ice maker, TV, or radio, stereo. i would guess under 2,000 watts.
i know a small diesel generator burns .10 GPH under 1/4 load, and that was a 5000 watt unit. 2-4 gallons a day. minus the solar power. i would like nothing more then to add 10 220W panels, but i do not believe 220W panels produce 220W in the real world.
must i run radar 24/7 when moving?

[Event_Horizon]

Power accounting on a Leopard 46...

http://www.tulliana.adaero.co.uk/res...ower+Usage.xls

Hope this helps.

[scoobert]

i have answered many questions i have had, and have even found out about wind vane steering.
there are three questions i have not answered.
1 why is the fuel capacity typically under 50 gallons?
is that safe if the wind stops in a long range crossing?
can i just add tankage in equal amounts on both sides?
it would make me feel good if i had 1000 mile range.

2 whats the deal with the 105?
i see them everywhere, right in my price range.
is that big enough for a world tour? drake passage? rounding the horn?

3rd question is a hard one.
will my dogs jump off the boat?
they are smart, i give them that, but if i was doing a crossing, and they jumped over i know they would die before i got back to them. its a major concern for me.

[rowingdude]

I can't comment on questions one or two, but you can get "Doggie Preservers", they're PFDs made for your pets. They even have a handle on the back that you can fish your dog out of the ocean with. If nothing else, it makes the animal a lot easier to see as neon yellow typically contrasts well against the ocean.

[scoobert]

do you think i could hook a tether to it?

[rowingdude]

Originally Posted by scoobert

do you think i could hook a tether to it?

Definitely, but do so with the understanding that you could drown the animal in the wake.

[scoobert]

i was thinking short enough to limit range to the deck of the boat.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by scoobert

i have answered many questions i have had, and have even found out about wind vane steering.
there are three questions i have not answered.
1 why is the fuel capacity typically under 50 gallons?
Because its a sailboat.... the engine is primarily for 'restricted waters' or the odd day or two of calms...
is that safe if the wind stops in a long range crossing?
Perfectly safe... actually thats one of the safest times out there....
the wind rarely stops for long except in certain zones but you plan for that with extra fuel in containers if your voyaging...
can i just add tankage in equal amounts on both sides?
it would make me feel good if i had 1000 mile range.
That is feasable... it just reduces the amount of other stuff you can carry... life on the ocean is a constant cycle of compromises

2 whats the deal with the 105?
i see them everywhere, right in my price range.
is that big enough for a world tour? drake passage? rounding the horn?
There's no big deal... its just they don't look as sexy as the others but by all accounts they're good boats... and yes thay can round the 'Horn'... 70's Bobcats have done it... but here's the rub... its more to do with YOUR strengths... not the boats....
3rd question is a hard one.
will my dogs jump off the boat?
they are smart, i give them that, but if i was doing a crossing, and they jumped over i know they would die before i got back to them. its a major concern for me.
There's always that possibility... shoot even we've been known to do that... if its a worry then rig netting round the guardwires/pullpit/pushpit areas... many cruising boats with kids and pets do this.....

As for the windvane steering.... its out there but not an essential...
I've done thousands of miles and never used one...
with a bit of thought and planning its easy to create a cheap emergency backup should your expensive wheel pilot die

[boatman61]

RE- Gemini 105's

Could you be happy with this.... I could...
but then I'm not that fussy...

[scoobert]

the 105 is very inexpensive, i have seen some at below the 100,000 mark.
very tempting, and way under budget. i could add all the wind and solar and gadgets i want. including the big screen TV i MUST HAVE. sorry, i am addicted to movies.
do they have a website for the company that builds them?

[kenny chaos]

Originally Posted by scoobert

the 105 is very inexpensive, i have seen some at below the 100,000 mark.
very tempting, and way under budget. i could add all the wind and solar and gadgets i want. including the big screen TV i MUST HAVE. sorry, i am addicted to movies.
do they have a website for the company that builds them?

Eleven of them selling on yachtworld and "sale pending" on four
of them? Hmmm....