New Member from Gloucester, MA

[ddsailor25]

Just wanted to say a friendly hello. I have been looking over the forum and it looks GREAT! I'm looking forward to posting and reading through all different post. Currently we're owners of a 1968 bristol 29, but I would love to upgrade to a blue water cruiser, but the wife has fallen in love with our boat and she can't part with it. There are many questions that I have about blue water cruising and I'll post those in the appropiate locations.

Dave

[James S]

Hey Dave...welcome to the forum....I'd sure like to see some pictures of your boat.

[ddsailor25]

James,
Ya, I'll have to put some pictures on here. I looked at a few of yours and you have a beautiful yacht there. We do have some video on youtube if you wanted to go there. Just do search for 1968 bristol gloucester ma. There are several video of whales, dolphins, and basking sharks long with just sailing around.

Dave

[James S]

Cool.....thanks Dave...I'll have a look for your vids.

[DennisM]

Welcome, Dave.

I, too, am a new member of this forum. This place and its folks are great. I'll be headed to your town the last week in June, on my way to Maine... and perhaps Nova Scotia.

- Dennis

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Dave.

CCA rated boats with low aspect masts and long booms , like the 60's era Bristol 29, tend to have a lot of weather helm.

Otherwise, for a 40 year old 29 Ft. boat, what’s you’re complaint?

[ddsailor25]

No complaints about the boat. I guess the grass always looks greener on the other side. She has been a very good boat and still going strong being over 40 years old.

Dave

[boatman61]

Welcome to CF.... good to have you aboard...
I'd say if your boats sound and suitably kitted out you already have a blue water boat.... just don't carry so much "personal gear".
You can always buy anything you may need to replace as you go along.....
Check out the 'Living on Small Boats' and 'How Small is to Small' Threads
What ever.... good sailing....

[ddsailor25]

I will check out that threads as well. Bring too much gear is always an issue, but I don't have any control over that where the wife likes to be well over prepaired. Which isn't a bad thing, but things tend to get a little moldy over the summer. As for the boat she only carried 26 gallons of water and I would like to add in some bladder tanks. If I really wanted to I could put in a very large water tank under the forward v berth and move the holding tank, but for our current cruising needs it's working out fine.

Dave

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by ddsailor25

I will check out that threads as well. Bring too much gear is always an issue, but I don't have any control over that where the wife likes to be well over prepaired. Which isn't a bad thing, but things tend to get a little moldy over the summer. As for the boat she only carried 26 gallons of water and I would like to add in some bladder tanks. If I really wanted to I could put in a very large water tank under the forward v berth and move the holding tank, but for our current cruising needs it's working out fine.

Dave

Water is the biggest area in which peoples behavior needs changing when voyaging in smaller boats, as increasing tankage reduces storage for other things ... minimism is the key, wash plates etc in salt water and rinse in a little fresh, reduce showers to 1 a week(amazing how clean and odour free you stay once away from land) and use Baby Wipes for the rest of the time when at sea... just need 1 cup of water to clean your teeth.. electric for shaving or just a mug full is enough... I've crossed the Atlantic a coupla times with just 100 litres and had some left over at the other side... I supplement with fruit juices, coke, etc, canned fruit is also a good source of fluid as well as nourishment. Also, I suggest you estimate the costs involved in fitting new tanks and put that towards a basic small water maker instead, could be a life saver should the worst happen and your forced to take to the life raft far from land...
Not trying to be pompous, just passing on some things I had to learn the hard way to get round the many so called limitations on living my dreams, did not have the tool called Internet blogs that exist today, and this lifestyle was considered weird and eccentric...

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you posting here. I think you can do some bluewater cruising in your current boat. Just have to pick your weather. I like Bristols although someone here is a having a bit of a hard time with a project Bristol. You might find his posts. I think he is from Texas.
regards,