bluewater pocket cruiser sailboat

Best Bluewater Pocket Sailboats

Last Updated by

Jacob Collier

December 28, 2023

Looking for a pocket sailboat that can also give you the experience of liveaboard sailing? The best bluewater pocket sailboat is what you need.

Bluewater Pocket sailboats are affordable small yachts that are trailerable to your choice of destination but have the amenities of a full-size sailboat, all without breaking your bank. Unlike other small boats, they are capable of offshore voyages.

The best bluewater pocket sailboats include the Andrews 28, Ranger 26, Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20, Pacific Seacraft Allegra 24, Pearson 35, and the Catalina 275 Sport. There are several others you can find on the market. But these are the top bluewater pocket sailboats.

Many sailing enthusiasts prefer pocket sailboats instead of larger ones. One of the reasons for this is that you can enjoy the experience of sailing offshore while not breaking the bank and spending less on maintenance as well. Pocket sailboats are generally heavy to maintain stability in rough waters but roomy enough that you can spend a few days along with your friends and family.

We are a bunch of sailing enthusiasts spending most of our weekends trailing our pocket sailboats traveling to various offshore destinations. With this knowledge and experience, we have drafted a list of the best bluewater pocket sailboats and discussed them in detail, so you can make an informed decision before buying your pocket sailboat.

Table of contents

‍ Our Top Picks

If you want a complete package of a sailboat, you should look no further than the Andrews 28. It is the one-stop solution for a comfortable, fast, roomy, easy to sail, and easy to trail pocket sailboat.

This sailboat is designed by renowned designer Alan Andrews, famous for designing speedy sailboats without compromising comfort and reliability.

Despite being only 28 feet long, the below-deck space is open and airy and has six berths. A galley, head, and navigation area with super spacious built will make you feel like on a full-sized sailboat.

The hull and deck construction is a robust yet luxurious one with fiberglass, closed-cell PVC core, and high-density foam. These materials ensure there is no chance of water absorption, and your ride remains reliable. The keel is made from stainless steel and fiberglass shell to keep it from rusting for a long period.

Moreover, the keel is retractable, so it is quite easy to haul the sailboat for trailering. Thanks to the carbon pole, Andrews 28 gives a breezy and light air performance that makes the boat's handling easy.

Maneuvering Andrews 28 is enjoyable and requires less work when faced with eight knots of winds.

The best thing about Andrews 28 is that it is one of the newer generations of sailboats, so the accommodations are more comfortable than most older ones.

A 5' 10" headroom in the cabin, leather-padded seats, stove, a counter and sink in the galley, and more features ensure a comfortable sailing experience.

You can get the Andrews 28 from Sylvana Yachts .

Specifications

Hull Type: Lifting keel
LOA: 28 ft.
LWL: 25.75 ft.
Beam: 9.82 ft.
Displacement: 3,750 lbs.
Ballast: 1,290 lbs.
Sail Area: 412.31 sq. ft.
Fuel: 18 gallons
Fresh Water 20 gallons
Engine: Yanmar
First built: 2007
Last built: 2010
Developer: Sylvana Yachts (CAN)
Designer: Alan Andrews

Regarded well for safety and comfortable sailing experience, Ranger 26 is the perfect design satisfying the expectations from the short-lived yet highly prosperous designer, Gary Mull. Ranger 26 is a sporty boat that won the 1970 IOR North American Half-Ton Cup .

Overall, Ranger 26 has a fine profile with all the aspects you can expect from a pocket sailboat and then some.

Ranger 26's comfort level is unmatched. Although designed in 1969, it depicts the modern design of sailboats. A hand-laid hull and a balsa-cored deck add a touch of luxury to the boat. However, good looks and speed are not the only attributes this sailboat offers.

A seven-foot long deck offers ample space for a couple of companions. A sufficient cabin height and freeboard give a good under-deck experience.

Storage space is another benefit of the 26-footer sailboat. The lack of quarter births provides extra storage space under the cabin seats. However, the well-balanced construction between the above and under the deck has left little standing headroom of about five feet.

Going forward, the side decks narrow to only 12-inch wide, so it's important to keep wary of your footing. If you go for this fast and comfortable boat, ensure to check the iron keel and its bolts, which are prone to rust.

You can buy the Ranger 26 from Ranger26.com .

Hull Type: Fin w/spade rudder
LOA: 26.25 ft.
LWL: 21.75 ft.
Beam: 8.67 ft.
Displacement: 5.860 lbs.
Ballast: 2,050 lbs.
Sail Area: 321.75 sq. ft.
First built: 1969
Last built: 1975
Developer: Ranger Yachts
Designer: Gary Mull

Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20

Pacific Seacraft Flicka is the most convenient and trailerable sailboat on our list, with an overall length of 20 feet. If you like a minimalist lifestyle and want the same in your bluewater pocket sailboat, this one's for you.

A functional galley with a sink and a counter and a small sink, toilet, and shower provides you with the basic amenities you and a couple of your friends and family need for a few days offshore.

There's more to the accommodation you can expect from this 20-footer sailboat. This boat has four berths, including a v-berth so sleeping comfortably or stretching your legs occasionally is not an issue. A pop-up dining table and a chart table within the cabin make eating and other activities doable.

Nevertheless, most people underestimate the Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20's ability to handle offshore rigidity, and they are often surprised at what this boat has to offer. A full-ballast keel, hull shape, manageable rig, and a self-draining cockpit ensure a fine offshore performance by the littlest contender.

Moreover, we find its outstanding standing headspace as one of the boat's best features. Unlike other pocket sailboats, the Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 has a six ft. headspace. You don't have to duck every time to save your head banging against the roof.

The Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20's size and its minimalistic yet fulfilling features are why this boat's demand remains high. With only 400 of them ever made, you will have to dig deeper and longer to find one worth buying. Due to this, the price of this boat is also slightly higher.

You can buy the Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 from Yacht world for $29,900.

Hull Type: Long keel
LOA: 24 ft.
LWL: 18.75 ft.
Beam: 8 ft.
Displacement: 6,000 lbs.
Ballast: 1,750 lbs.
Sail Area: 261.89 sq. ft.
Fuel: 12 gallons
Fresh Water: 20 gallons
First built: 1974
Last built: 1994
Developer: Pacific Seacraft
Designer: Bruce Bingham

Pacific Seacraft Dana 24

Despite the minimalistic functionality, you might want a sailboat a notch larger than the Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20. If so, check out the Pacific Seacraft Dana 24. You can expect a similar design and capabilities from the same developers, with an additional four feet of space.

While such a small amount of extra space might feel very little, even an extra foot is a lot for a sailboat.

The extra four feet space allows more room on the cockpit, including an additional settee on the deck. It also adds to the galley space, making it more comfortable and easy to utilize. While the 24-footer adds space to the boat to make it roomy, it still boasts the qualities of one of the smaller sailboats we have on this list.

It is ideal for a pair, especially couples who do not look for much except spending quality days offshore with the basic amenities on hand.

Technically, the Pacific Seacraft Dana 24 leaves behind its close nemesis Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20. Despite being the larger one, Dana 24 is faster, catches up its hull speed quickly, and gives a fine performance in light winds.

A high bow flare and freeboard ensure the deck remains dry unless high tides take charge. Like all best bluewater pocket sailboats, this one also has a sufficient standing headroom of six feet one inch.

However, no one knows how many boats remain in existence because many of the Dana 24 were sold as kits and bare hulls. Due to this, you might also find slight differences in the build from boat to boat.

You can get the Pacific Seacraft Dana 24 from Yacht World for $49,000.

LOA: 27.25 ft.
LWL: 21.42 ft.
Beam: 8.85 ft.
Displacement: 8,000 lbs.
Ballast: 3,200 lbs.
Sail Area: 361.22 sq. ft.
Fresh Water 40 gallons
First built: 1948
Last built: 2007
Designer: W.I.B Crealock

O'Day 28

The O'Day 28 is a popular sailboat, and you can find one easily as there are over 500 vessels of this super comfortable sailboat. Although produced for a short time between 1978 and 1986, O'Day 28 made its mark quite well as one of the best bluewater pocket sailboats.

Fortunately, O'Day is one of the larger sailboats on this list. So you are in luck if you want to buy a sailboat with ample room and amenities for less money.

Performance-wise, the O'Day 28 is as smooth as they come. It gives a smooth offshore sailing experience among the pocket sailboats thanks to its huge displacement of 7,300 lbs.

However, the larger displacement means you will need to slow down slightly to maneuver the ship comfortably. It could also use a heavier ballast since the factory-installed capacity is limited to 2,550. Although it is enough for a boat this size, there is little room for improvement.

On the bright side, smaller ballast means more room for the cabin and water and fuel capacities. Compared to boats of similar sizes, O'Day can hold 25 gallons of water and 18 gallons of fuel, aiding longer offshore voyages.

You can also install more tanks for extra water capacity in the storage spaces.

O'Day 28's cabin is as roomy as they come. Once you are in the cabin of this sailboat, it won't appear to you that you are inside of a pocket sailboat. This is mainly due to the wide beam of O'Day 28.

Besides that, the cabin is loaded with the basic needs to spend a few refreshing days off the shore. It has multiple berths, a large center table, padded settees, and an icebox — O'Day 28 has all.

Moving upwards, you will find a handful of similarities in the features of this boat and one of a larger boat. A few of them are a raked stern, helm, and a hidden rudder that keeps up the stands. However, O'Day 28 is a lot more than comfort and features.

A large modern-type fin keel keeps the boat stable around the anchor, and the firm beam keeps the boat cruising like the wind against 15 knots.

It will give you decent performance for up to 18-20 knots. Overall, the O'Day 28 is one of the finest pieces of craftsmanship you can find for a bluewater pocket sailboat.

You can get the O'Day 28 from Yacht world for $12,500.

LOA: 28.25 ft.
LWL: 22.92 ft.
Beam: 10.25 ft.
Displacement: 7,300 lbs.
Ballast: 2,550 lbs.
Sail Area: 370 sq. ft.
Fresh Water: 25 gallons
Engine: Universal
First built: 1978
Last built: 1986
Developer: Bangor Punta Marine (USA)
Designer: C. Raymond Hunt Associates

Easy handling, low cost of maintenance, minimalistic designs, basic amenities, all while going offshore — these are the main selling points of the pocket sailboats. All the boats mentioned above will serve you well if you are looking for the best bluewater pocket sailboats. Choose wisely!

Born into a family of sailing enthusiasts, words like “ballast” and “jibing” were often a part of dinner conversations. These days Jacob sails a Hallberg-Rassy 44, having covered almost 6000 NM. While he’s made several voyages, his favorite one is the trip from California to Hawaii as it was his first fully independent voyage.

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5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: April 19, 2023

A small sailboat can take you big places

Small sailboats are the ticket to going cruising NOW — not when you retire, save up enough money, or find the “perfect” bluewater cruising boat. In fact, it’s the first principle in Lin and Larry Pardey’s cruising philosophy: “Go small, go simple, go now.”

Small yachts can be affordable, simple, and seaworthy . However, you won’t see many of them in today’s cruising grounds. In three years and 13,000 nautical miles of bluewater cruising, I could count the number of under 30-foot sailboats I’ve seen on one hand (all of them were skippered by people in their 20s and 30s).

Today’s anchorages are full of 40, 50, and 60-foot-plus ocean sailboats, but that’s not to say you can’t sail the world in a small sailboat. Just look at Alessandro di Benedetto who in 2010 broke the record for the smallest boat to sail around the world non-stop in his 21-foot Mini 6.5 .

So long as you don’t mind forgoing a few comforts, you can sail around the world on a small budget .

What makes a good blue water sailboat

While you might not think a small sailboat is up to the task of going long distances, some of the best bluewater sailboats are under 40 feet.

However, if you’re thinking about buying a boat for offshore cruising, there are a few things to know about what makes a small boat offshore capable .

Smaller equals slower

Don’t expect to be sailing at high speeds in a pocket cruiser. Smaller displacement monohulls are always going to be slower than larger displacement monohulls (see the video below to learn why smaller boats are slower). Therefore a smaller cruiser is going to take longer on a given passage, making them more vulnerable to changes in weather.

A few feet can make a big difference over a week-long passage. On the last leg of our Pacific Ocean crossing, our 35-foot sailboat narrowly avoid a storm that our buddy boat, a 28-foot sailboat, couldn’t. Our friend was only a knot slower but it meant he had to heave to for a miserable three days.

Small but sturdy

If a pocket cruiser encounters bad weather, they will be less able to outrun or avoid it. For this reason, many of the blue water sailboats in this list are heavily built and designed to take a beating.

Yacht design has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. Today, new boats are designed to be light and fast. The small sailboats in our list are 30-plus year-old designs and were built in a time when weather forecasts were less accurate and harder to come by.

Back in the day, boat were constructed with thicker fiberglass hulls than you see in modern builds. Rigs, keels, rudders, hulls and decks – everything about these small cruising sailboats was designed to stand up to strong winds and big waves. Some of the boats in this post have skeg-hung rudders and most of them are full keel boats.

The pros and cons of pocket cruiser sailboats

Pocket cruiser sailboats present certain advantages and disadvantages.

More affordable

Their smaller size makes them affordable bluewater sailboats. You can often find great deals on pocket cruisers and sometimes you can even get them for free.

You’ll also save money on retrofits and repairs because small cruising sailboats need smaller boat parts (which cost a lot less) . For example, you can get away with smaller sails, ground tackle, winches, and lighter lines than on a bigger boat.

Moorage, haul-outs, and marine services are often billed by foot of boat length . A small sailboat makes traveling the world , far more affordable!

When something major breaks (like an engine) it will be less costly to repair or replace than it would be on a bigger boat.

Less time consuming

Smaller boats tend to have simpler systems which means you’ll spend less time fixing and paying to maintain those systems. For example, most small yachts don’t have showers, watermakers , hot water, and electric anchor windlasses.

On the flip side, you’ll spend more time collecting water (the low-tech way) . On a small sailboat, this means bucket baths, catching fresh water in your sails, and hand-bombing your anchor. Though less convenient, this simplicity can save you years of preparation and saving to go sailing.

Oh, and did I mention that you’ll become a complete water meiser? Conserving water aboard becomes pretty important when you have to blue-jug every drop of it from town back to your boat.

Easier to sail

Lastly, smaller boats can be physically easier to sail , just think of the difference between raising a sail on a 25-foot boat versus a 50-foot boat! You can more easily single-hand or short-hand a small sailboat. For that reason, some of the best solo blue water sailboats are quite petite.

As mentioned above small boats are slow boats and will arrive in port, sometimes days (and even weeks) behind their faster counterparts on long offshore crossings.

Consider this scenario: two boats crossed the Atlantic on a 4,000 nautical mile route. The small boat averaged four miles an hour, while the big boat averaged seven miles an hour. If both started at the same time, the small boat will have completed the crossing two weeks after the larger sailboat!

Less spacious

Living on a boat can be challenging — living on a small sailboat, even more so! Small cruising boats don’t provide much in the way of living space and creature comforts.

Not only will you have to downsize when you move onto a boat you’ll also have to get pretty creative when it comes to boat storage.

It also makes it more difficult to accommodate crew for long periods which means there are fewer people to share work and night shifts.

If you plan on sailing with your dog , it might put a small boat right out of the question (depending on the size of your four-legged crew member).

Less comfortable

It’s not just the living situation that is less comfortable, the sailing can be pretty uncomfortable too! Pocket cruisers tend to be a far less comfortable ride than larger boats as they are more easily tossed about in big ocean swell.

Here are our 5 favorite small blue water sailboats for sailing around the world

When we sailed across the Pacific these were some of the best small sailboats that we saw. Their owners loved them and we hope you will too!

The boats in this list are under 30 feet. If you’re looking for something slightly larger, you might want to check out our post on the best bluewater sailboats under 40 feet .

Note: Price ranges are based on SailboatListings.com and YachtWorld.com listings for Aug. 2018

Albin Vega 27($7-22K USD)

The Albin Vega has earned a reputation as a bluewater cruiser through adventurous sailors like Matt Rutherford, who in 2012 completed a 309-day solo nonstop circumnavigation of the Americas via Cape Horn and the Northwest Passage (see his story in the documentary Red Dot on the Ocean ).

Hull Type: Long fin keel
Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
Length Overall:27′ 1″ / 8.25m
Waterline Length:23′ 0″ / 7.01m
Beam:8′ 1″ / 2.46m
Draft:3′ 8″ / 1.12m
Rig Type: Masthead sloop rig
Displacement:5,070lb / 2,300kg
Designer:Per Brohall
Builder:Albin Marine AB (Swed.)
Year First Built:1965
Year Last Built:1979
Number Built:3,450

Cape Dory 28 ($10-32K USD)

This small cruising sailboat is cute and classic as she is rugged and roomy. With at least one known circumnavigation and plenty of shorter bluewater voyages, the Cape Dory 28 has proven herself offshore capable.

Hull Type: Full Keel
Length Overall:28′ 09″ / 8.56m
Waterline Length:22′ 50″ / 6.86m
Beam:8’ 11” / 2.72m
Draft:4’ 3” / 1.32m
Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
Displacement:9,300lb / 4,218kg
Sail Area/Displacement Ratio:52
Displacement/Length Ratio:49
Designer: Carl Alberg
Builder: Cape Dory Yachts (USA)
Year First Built:1974
Year Last Built:1988
Number Built: 388

Dufour 29 ($7-23K)

As small bluewater sailboats go, the Dufour 29 is a lot of boat for your buck. We know of at least one that sailed across the Pacific last year. Designed as a cruiser racer she’s both fun to sail and adventure-ready. Like many Dufour sailboats from this era, she comes equipped with fiberglass molded wine bottle holders. Leave it to the French to think of everything!

Hull Type: Fin with skeg-hung rudder
Length Overall:29′ 4″ / 8.94m
Waterline Length:25′ 1″ / 7.64m
Beam:9′ 8″ / 2.95m
Draft:5′ 3″ / 1.60m
Displacement:7,250lb / 3,289kg
Designer:Michael Dufour
Builder:Dufour (France)
Year First Built:1975
Year Last Built:1984

Vancouver 28 ($15-34K)

A sensible small boat with a “go-anywhere” attitude, this pocket cruiser was designed with ocean sailors in mind. One of the best cruising sailboats under 40 feet, the Vancouver 28 is great sailing in a small package.

Hull Type:Full keel with transom hung rudder
Length Overall: 28′ 0″ / 8.53m
Waterline Length:22’ 11” / 6.99m
Beam:8’ 8” / 2.64m
Draft:4’ 4” / 1.32m
Rig Type: Cutter rig
Displacement:8,960lb / 4,064 kg
Designer: Robert B Harris
Builder: Pheon Yachts Ltd. /Northshore Yachts Ltd.
Year First Built:1986
Last Year Built: 2007
Number Built: 67

Westsail 28 ($30-35K)

Described in the 1975 marketing as “a hearty little cruiser”, the Westsail 28 was designed for those who were ready to embrace the cruising life. Perfect for a solo sailor or a cozy cruising couple!

Hull Type: Full keel with transom hung rudder
Hull Material:GRP (fibreglass)
Length Overall:28′ 3” / 8.61m
Waterline Length:23’ 6” / 7.16m
Beam:9’ 7” / 2.92m
Displacement:13,500lb / 6,124kg
Designer: Herb David
Builder: Westsail Corp. (USA)
Number Built:78

Feeling inspired? Check out the “go small” philosophy of this 21-year-old who set sail in a CS 27.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

Saturday 1st of September 2018

Very useful list, but incomplete - as it would necessarily be, considering the number of seaworthy smaller boats that are around.

In particular, you missed/omitted the Westerly "Centaur" and its follow-on model, the "Griffon". 26 feet LOA, bilge-keelers, weighing something over 6000 pounds, usually fitted with a diesel inboard.

OK, these are British designs, and not that common in the US, but still they do exist, they're built like tanks, and it's rumored that at least one Centaur has circumnavigated.

Friday 31st of August 2018

This is a helpful list, thank you. I don't think most people would consider a 28' boat a pocket cruiser, though!

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11 Best Pocket Cruiser Sailboats to Fit a Budget

By Cruising World Staff
Updated: May 24, 2024

Looking for a trailerable pocket cruiser that offers that liveaboard feeling? This list features 11 small sailboats with cabins that have the amenities often found on larger vessels. They may not be ocean crossing vessels, but they’re certainly capable of handling big bays and open waters.

What is a pocket cruiser? It’s a small trailerable sailboat, typically under 30 feet in length, that’s ideal for cruising big lakes, bays, coastal ocean waters, and occasionally bluewater cruising. Pocket cruisers are usually more affordable, compact, and offer a level of comfort that’s comparable to bigger liveaboards.

Small cruising sailboats are appealing for many reasons, but if you’re like most of us, you want to maintain a certain level of comfort while on the water. We took a poll and these are what we found to be the best cruising sailboats under 30 feet.

– DON’T LET CARBON MONOXIDE SNEAK UP ON YOU – Install detectors on your boat to sniff out any buildup of carbon monoxide gas. Avoid running engines or generators while anchored or stopped for extended periods. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

Open and airy below deck, the Andrews 28 doesn’t sacrifice comfort for speed. Designed by Alan Andrews, the Southern California naval architect renowned for his light, fast raceboats, this 28-footer will certainly appeal to the cruiser who also enjoys a little club racing. Sporting a total of 6 berths, a galley, head and nav area, you might forget you are on a boat small enough to be easily trailered. The retractable keel allows the Andrews 28 to be easily launched and hauled and ensures it’s as comfortable as a daysailer as it is a racer. Click here to read more about the Andrews28.

Beneteau First 20

Small sailboat with a cabin? Check! Fun to sail? Modern design? Capable of flying a spinnaker? Check! Check! Check! The Finot-Conq-designed Beneteau First 20, which replaced the popular Beneteau first 211 nearly a decade ago now, is a sporty-but-stable pocket cruiser suitable for newcomers to the sport who are eager to learn their chops before moving up to a bigger boat or for old salts looking to downsize to a trailerable design. The boat features twin rudders, a lifting keel, and a surprisingly roomy interior with bunks for four. Click here to read more about the Beneteau First 20 .

Conceived as a way to bridge the gap between a safe, comfortable, family cruiser and a competitive racer, Gary Mull’s Ranger 26 does exactly as it was designed to. Undeniably fast, (one won the 1970 IOR North American Half-Ton Cup) the boat sails as well as it looks. However speed isn’t the Ranger’s only strong-suit, with over 7 feet of cockpit there’s plenty of room for socializing after an evening of racing. The Ranger 26 sports a nice balance of freeboard and cabin height ensuring that a handsome profile wasn’t sacrificed for standing headroom. Click here to read more about the Ranger 26.

Catboats were once a common site in coastal waters, where they sailed the shallow bays as fishing or work boats. Their large single and often gaff-rigged sail provided plenty of power, and a centerboard made them well-suited for the thin waters they frequently encountered. In the late 1970s, Canadian builder Hinterhoeller introduced the Nonsuch 30, a fiberglass variation of the catboat design, with a modern Marconi sail flown on a stayless mast, and a keel instead of a centerboard. The boat’s wide beam made room below for a spacious interior, and the design caught on quickly with cruising sailors looking for a small bluewater sailboat. Click here to read more about the Nonsuch 30 .

– SHOW THEM HOW MUCH YOU CARE – Nothing says ‘I love you’ like making sure the kids’ life jackets are snugged up and properly buckled. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

Debuted in 1971 in California, the Newport 27 was an instant success on the local racing scene. For a modest 27-footer, the Newport 27 has an unusually spacious interrior with over 6 feet of standing headroom. With 4 berths, a table, nav station, head and galley the Newport 27 has all the amenities you might find in a much bigger boat, all in a compact package. While quick in light air, the drawback of the tiller steering becomes apparent with increasing breeze and weather helm often leading to shortening sail early. Click here to read more about the Newport 27.

First splashed in 1969, the Balboa 26 continues to enjoy a strong following among budget-minded cruisers. Built sturdy and heavy, all of the boat’s stress points are reinforced. The spacious cockpit comfortably seats 4 and is self bailing, ensuring that sailors stay dry. While only 26 feet, the Balboa still has room for a double berth, galley with stove and freshwater pump, and an optional marine head or V-berth. The Balboa has the ability to sleep five, though the most comfortable number is two or three. Under sail, the Balboa is fast and maneuverable, but may prove a handful in heavy breeze as weather helm increases. Click here to read more about the Balboa 26.

Cape Dory 28

While the sleek lines and the teak accents of the Cape Dory 28 may grab the eye, it is the performance of the boat that make it unique. The Cape Dory comes with all amenities that you might need available, including a V-berth, 2 settees, and a head. Safe, sound and comfortable as a cruiser it is still capable of speed. Quick in light wind and sturdy and capable in heavy air, it is off the wind where the Cape Dory 28 shines with a balanced helm and the ability to cut through chop and still tack perfectly. Click here to read more about the Cape Dory 28.

Islander Bahama 28

On top of being a real eye-catcher, the Islander Bahama 28, with its 5-foot-6-inch draft and 3,300 pounds of ballast, sails beautifully, tracks well, and responds quickly to the helm. Inspired by the International Offshore Rule, it is unusually wide, offering stability in breeze without sacrificing the sheer and lines that make it so attractive. Below deck, the Islander Bahama 28 comes standard with plenty of berths and storage space and a galley complete with stove, icebox and sink. Click here to read more about the Islander Bahama 28.

– CHECK THE WEATHER – The weather changes all the time. Always check the forecast and prepare for the worst case. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

Much like its older sibling, the S2 8.6 still holds its contemporary style, despite its 1983 introduction. Like all other S2 Yachts, the 8.6 is recognized for the quality craftsmanship that allows the boat to hold up today.The S2 8.6 is a very comfortable and easily managed coastal cruiser and club racer. It’s relatively stiff, its helm feels balanced, and it tracks well. On most points of sail, it compares favorably with other boats of similar size and type. Click here to read more about the S2 8.6.

Contessa 26

When the Contessa 26 was released in 1965, it immediately proved itself to be a strong, seaworthy vessel. The Contessa has continued to prove itself throughout its lifetime, being the boat of choice for two solo circumnavigations under the age of 21. While upwind performance leaves some wanting, the boat is sturdy and can carry full sail in up to 20 knots of breeze. Suited more for single-handing, the Contessa lacks standing headroom and the accommodations are sparse. Nonetheless, the Contessa 26 performs well as a daysailer with guests aboard. Click here to read more about the Contessa 26.

The Hunter 27 perfectly encompasses the pocket cruiser ideal. Even if you don’t want a big boat, you can still have big boat amenities. With the generously spacious layout, wheel steering and a walkthrough transom the Hunter feels much larger than 27 feet. Step below deck and any doubts you had that the Hunter was secretly a big boat will be gone. The amenities below are endless; a full galley including stove, microwave and cooler, head with full shower, several berths and not to mention a saloon with seating for 6. The Hunter 27 has reset the benchmark for 27-footers. Click here to read more about the Hunter 27.

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Small enough to fit in your pocket…and easy on it too

They say that BOAT stands for ‘bust out another thousand’ – or in the case of our government, potentially £200m – but it doesn’t have to cost the earth to get on the water, especially if you build it yourself.

Here are 10 pocket cruisers under 25’ (7.6m) to get you afloat without breaking the bank.

Fr ançois Vivier Méaban

If you’re after traditional looks, François Vivier doesn’t disappoint. The 22’4’’ (6.82m) Méaban brings the understated Breton working boat aesthetic to pocket cruising, with modern construction allowing for a light boat suitable for trailer-sailing.

Designed to be either cold-moulded or strip-planked, with a clever pivoting centreboard to allow for maximum cockpit space, the Méaban’s shallow draught and legs allow for exploring the upper reaches of rivers and small drying harbours.

Back in W60 (November/December 2006), François Vivier talks through his design in our regular ‘Grand Designs’ feature.

Contact: www.vivierboats.com

Iain Oughtred Kotik

When Iain Oughtred was commissioned to design a stretched version of his popular 18’6’’ (5.6m) Wee Seal, he came up with the Kotik. At 21’ (6.4m), it is designed to fit up to four berths, with either a sloop or yawl rig. The glued clinker construction and canoe stern make for a real headturner.

See W146 (March/April 2021) for Ewan Kennedy’s account of building a Kotik for cruising the at times challenging waters among the islands of Scotland’s west coast. “Final touches were a nice Harris tweed cushion for my bunk and a clock and barometer from Wempe of Hamburg; in a self-build you can spend the money you save on nice things.”

Contact: Iain Oughtred +44 (0)1470 532732

James Wharram Mana 24

At 23’6’’ (7.15m), the Mana 24 is the same length as TANGAROA, James Wharram’s first catamaran design and build, in which he successfully completed his ground-breaking transatlantic voyage back in 1956.

Only available as a CNC-cut plywood kit, the Mana 24 was conceived as a trailable family camping boat, with provision for extra accommodation to be offered by a low-cost dome tent on deck. The kit is designed to be assembled like flat-pack furniture, although with the help of James’s partner Hanneke Boon’s meticulous sketches and notes rather than a series of bewildering diagrams.

In W115 (January/February 2016) James Wharram explains his vision behind the design.

Contact: www.wharram.com

Stevenson Projects Weekender

Loosely based on the Friendship Sloops of New England, this 19’6’’ (5.9m) plywood gaff sloop (see W81 May/June 2010) has proved hugely popular with first-time home builders, thanks in part to the accompanying video series from Stevenson Projects which details the entire build process and techniques required.

In our current issue, W148 (July/August 2021) Penny Morton begins building a Weekender; the latest boat in a long and impressive amateur boatbuilding career.

Contact: www.stevproj.com

B&B Yacht Designs Princess Sharpie 22

As her designer Graham Byrnes explains in our W126 (November/December 2017) Grand Designs feature, the Princess Sharpie 22 was designed to be sailed, launched and rigged with ease single-handedly by the original client. “He wished the boat to be as economical as reasonable to build; a simple to build project that he could complete fairly quickly in his spare time.”

At 22’ (6.7m) with a distinctive cat ketch rig, the V-bottom sharpie hull is built using stitch-and-glue construction.

Contact: www.bandbyachtdesigns.com

Selway Fisher Morning Tide 14

Formerly the Tideway 14 (not to be confused with the open sailing dinghy of the same name), at 14’6’’ (4.42m) long and 6’1’’ wide (1.85m), the Morning Tide 14 is “about as small as you can go for a ballasted cruising yacht which still has pretensions towards some comfort”, as her designer Paul Fisher of Selway Fisher Design explains in W92 (March/April 2012).

In W91 (January/February 2012) & W92, Graham Young brings us his build of PICKLE, built to this design, using a plywood cut kit supplied by Jordan Boats .

Contact: www.selway-fisher.com

Paul Gartside Design #225

“A miniature ship for miniature voyaging”, writes Paul Gartside in W123 (May/June 2017) about this pretty little 18’6’’ (5.6m) gaff-rigged centreboard sloop. “Or maybe not so miniature; it’s surprising how far a little boat can wander given time and persistence.”

Designed to be strip-planked with glass sheathing inside and out, or alternatively built using wide plywood strakes before sheathing and epoxy coating, it has a “snug little cabin to warm up some soup and lay out a sleeping bag.” What more could you want?

Contact: www.gartsideboats.com

Glen-L Amigo

If you’re looking for bluer waters than those within the average pocket cruiser’s range, the Glen-L Amigo at 22’ (6.7m) is intended as a trailable offshore cruiser. Designed for one-off fibreglass or strip-planked construction, amazingly it has standing headroom throughout the cabin, without compromising traditional aesthetics.

Contact: www.glen-l.com

Dudley Dix Cape Cutter 19

The Cape Cutter 19 is one of the most popular GRP ‘pocket gaffers’ around, but as her designer Dudley Dix explains in W131 (September/October 2018), these days there is also a CNC-cut plywood kit available for home builders.

Its high-peaked gaff main and flush deck favours performance, while the raised sheer allows for comfort below and ample sitting headroom.

Contact: www.dixdesign.com

Chesapeake Light Craft PocketShip

CLC designer John C Harris drew up this popular 14’ 10’’ (4.5m) pocket cruiser – over 60 have been built or are in construction worldwide – to be quick to sail and build, for a tricky customer; himself.

With a cockpit large enough to enjoy daysailing with friends or to provide extra berths at night, the PocketShip’s stitch-and-glue construction is expected to take the amateur builder around 30 weekends and occasional evenings to complete. Plans include full-size patterns for nearly every part in the boat.

Contact: www.clcboats.com or www.fyneboatkits.co.uk (European manufacturers for CLC)

Back issues of WaterCraft £7 a copy including postage to anywhere in the world: https://www.watercraft-magazine.com/back-issues/

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DIY bluewater pocket cruiser for four

Discussion in ' Projects & Proposals ' started by Travkin , Apr 20, 2018 .

Travkin Junior Member

So my designing skillset is horrible, but my building skillset is decent. I am a disabled vet, and my family and i want to live aboard a tiny bluewater cruiser, that we build ourselves. I would prefer it to be designed for Cedar strip, that way i can get a nice varnish job on the hull. I think that natural wood finish would be beautiful. too few people leave above their waterline natural wood... but i digress. I have talked to numerous designers, and one even quoted me over $4,000 just to modify one of their designs to better suit my needs. The designer sells the design prior to modification at under $500. To me it is outrageous. if i was a designer, id want to see my designs floating, rather than charging outrageous sums. Honestly i like the classic lines of old woodies, but i also like the utilitarian approach of Bolger, and Welsford (Fafnir and Swaggie). I am a fan of bilge keels, as i require a shallow draft for going up rivers, and in general, i just like their utility. I also think that the mast, or masts need to be counterbalanced on a tabernacle to make it as easy as possible to drop the mast(s) for low bridges. I would like it to be powered by an outboard in a well. I like having the ability to carry an entire spare engine, and be able to swap them out in minutes. anyone have any design ideas? hull shape, interior ideas, im really looking for some out of the box thinking. I want a boat that is definitely one of a kind. Maximum Length 30' Maximum Width 9.5' max draft 4'

PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

Lets see if I have this right; you want a full up custom design, maybe a modification to an existing design, of which you're not sure of, ballasted masts in tabernacles (sounds like a divided rig too), outboard in a well, with a spare in a drawer nearby, bilge keels (because why build one when you can spend twice the effort and money on two), odd possibly innovative engineering approaches, no idea of hull form type or accommodations you might desire, all for fairly cheap? Is this about the way you see it? How many hours do you think, pulling teeth on the design parameters this might take, between you and the designer? How much do you make per hour and do you think this is enough for the designer? How many hours would you guess drawing this puppy up may take (it'll be more than you think) and should they get the same fee per hour as the teeth pulling sessions? Given the countless 30' yacht designs available, you should find one that rings many of your bells and whistles and have it changed (if necessary) for the features and aesthetics you want.

rwatson Senior Member

How about also 1) Fit in a container on its trailer 2) Water ballasted 3) Stern and Internal Navigation Station (Wheel Steering) 4) Water Ballasted 5) Fully retracting Daggerboards 6) 2o Knots with 70 HP Outboard 7) Self Tacking Jib

Rwatson, thank you for your input. I like alot of your design points, but I really want her to be optimized for performance under sail. When I saw the MacGregor 26 on the water for the first time, planing, I thought it was a very cool design, but alas, I enjoy the wind in my sails rather than paying for fuel . She will live most of her life in the water. The only time she will need to be on a trailer in the forseeable future would be the trip from here in high springs, to Green cove springs Florida, to be splashed. Because of this beam can be between 8'6" and 12' so that even with a wide load permit, I only need one escort. This means that daggerboards and water ballast are not necessary. I prefer bilge keels because although you experience a drop in windward performance, when done properly they decrease yard fees and allow me to inspect my hull regularly without pulling her out. Unfortunately PAR seems to think that I am a ***** for giving a designer creative license. I want a pocket cruiser. Usually PAR, that is under 30'. Also, like I already said, I want a comfortable blue water hull. None of this wide transom, twin helm, planning hull crap that is so common with mainstream designs lately. Just because you like to think of yourself as superior doesn't mean you are, especially if you think of yourself a professional designer, yet are not even intelligent enough to extrapolate basic data from my post. At least Rwatson threw in some ideas. All you seem to do is troll. Yes, I only make 5k a month. I am not overly wealthy, but $4000 for a minor revision to already well established plans is absurd. I could understand a few thousand for a full custom plan, but an alteration is just rediculous. Tell me PAR, do you have a website where I can view the beautiful designs your massively superior intellect has created? Thank you Rwatson for your input. That is an awesome design, and for coastal cruising, island hopping and fast travel, I'm sure it is perfect. Unfortunately I want a short, fat shallow draft bilge keeler that will be at home cruising the Florida coast, but can handle truly nasty weather if required.

Ultimately the dimensions I have specified are not written in stone, however I'm trying to get the most interior volume in a compact hull as possible, without loosing too much performance and aesthetics. As for my family, it is me, my wife, and two kids. I would want a forward v berth or double, and my thought is two quarter berths that can be separated from the main accomodations with enough room to stand up and pull on your pants. I also want a small head compartment with enough space for a shower and composting head. There is a tiny house designer that has managed to compact the bathroom size in his tiny house down to 2'x 3.5'. I want port and starboard seating that is big enough to seat 4 comfortably, and a small galley big enough for an ice box, two burner, and a single bowl sink. I want it under 35', but ideally as small as possible. Look to Welsfords swaggie design for inspiration, as I like it's rugged design, just not it's lack of a head.

Travkin said: ↑ ..... Unfortunately PAR seems to think that I am a ***** for giving a designer creative license. I want a pocket cruiser. Usually PAR, that is under 30'. Also, like I already said, I want a comfortable blue water hull. None of this wide transom, twin helm, planning hull crap that is so common with mainstream designs lately. Just because you like to think of yourself as superior doesn't mean you are, especially if you think of yourself a professional designer, yet are not even intelligent enough to extrapolate basic data from my post. .... Click to expand...

Steve W Senior Member

Why do you want to build? As usual the cheapest and quickest way into boating is to buy something as close as possible to what you think you want and then modify it. If you truly must have a twin keel one of the Westerly line may suit, The centaur at 26ft or Renown closer to 30ft I think. If you must build, and there are good reasons to do so such as the pleasure of the process itself or pride of having built it yourself, then a nice option that could give you many of the advantages of the twin keel with better sailing performance could be a wide stub keel with centerboard with a set of beaching legs. Bateaux sells plans for a very nice boat called the Vagabond 26 which would be good candidate. No you won't be finishing it bright but that just guarentees more maintainance anyway and you can varnish the whole interior if you want. Its plywood construction so will go together fairly quickly and is offered as a CNC cut kit for about 8k or plans only for $350. All very reasonable. Stick a 9.9 high thrust Yamaha on it and a set of legs and you will have a very versatile good looking boat as long as you have reasonable build skills. Steve.

Jerms New Member

rwatson said: ↑ How about also 1) Fit in a container on its trailer 2) Water ballasted 3) Stern and Internal Navigation Station (Wheel Steering) 4) Water Ballasted 5) Fully retracting Daggerboards 6) 2o Knots with 70 HP Outboard 7) Self Tacking Jib View attachment 139764 View attachment 139765 Click to expand...

Jerms said: ↑ Hi @rwatson . what is this design? I'm looking for something to potter around Port Phillip Bay and perhaps a little beyond trailering it across to Westernport. This looks fascinating. Click to expand...

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10 best pocket cruisers.

A pocket cruiser is a sailboat nearing 30 feet length or under which would be excellent for offshore use for a single hander. Listed below are ten of the best for this type of lone bluewater sailing. Many little boats in this size range are unfit for serious work where the sea constantly batters you. The stout little sailboats below would be secure enough to double the horn or sail round the world. I listed them in alphabetical order. Please comment on any additions.

Allied Seawind II 32 : Sistership to the famous Seawind 30 one of which was the first fiberglass sailboat to circumnavigate the world.
Baba 30 : Smallest of Robert Perry and Ta Shing’s Baba serious of offshore double enders.
Contessa 32 : Famed sailboat in book Cape Horn to Starboard. Designed by David Salder.
Hallberg Rassy 31 : The Scandinavian yard makes some nice little cruisers.
Morris 28 : High quality, northeast style little cruiser. Beautiful woodwork down below and sweet style with her subtle sheer and overhangs.
Nicholson 31 : Camper and Nicholson made a variety from this 31 to their 35 foot pocket cruiser.
Pacific Seacraft 31 : William Crealock designed offshore, full keeled tank.
Shannon 28 : Well built Walter Schultz design with a full keel.
Vancouver 32 : Robert Harris designed double ender which has smaller 27 and larger 36 foot sisterships.
Westsail 32 : Original pocket cruiser. Her performance gives her the nickname “wet snail,” but she is proven.

3 Replies to “10 Best Pocket Cruisers”

Useful list. I myself have nver quite been able to find my sea legs. There is something about bobbing up and down i cant seem to get used to. I think i spend to much time on inland waterways free of waves!

The first sentence says “sailboats nearing 30 feet”, but yet your selected boats are over 30 feet in length. You forgot to mention the Dana 24, the Contessa 26, the Westsail 28 and others that escape me at the moment

Nickeche, Thanks for thr Dana, Contessa, snd Westsail suggestions, I am not sure how else to word that, but I meant nearing 30-foot from my perspective of larger yachts? Agree this list is one of my worst articles. Do you own one of the listed designs? Regards, Richard Jordan Sent from my iPad

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Sail Far Live Free

Blue water on a budget: 5 budget cruisers for crossing oceans.

Contessa 26

Albin Vega 27

Pearson Triton (from Bluewaterboats.org)

The SC 28

Alberg 30 (from Bluewaterboats.org)

Can you tell which sailboat has this view
while anchored in Moorea? All of 'em!

Excellent post, I agree! I could never afford these boats listed in SAIL mag and truthfully wouldn't buy one if I could afford one. The 5 boats you have listed can take you anywhere with some minor "blue water" upgrades.

Also looked at 1966 Pearson Wanderer, They've got the right hull and start at around $6,500 up to 10k for a really clean one. I've been talking about doing this far to long. I currently reside in China and would love to take myself and my filipino future wife over to the states and sail down the coast all around the Gulf of Mexico and then head to the bahamas. Damn.. stop talking.!!!

Classic sailboats are like classic cars in that they look really cool.....but they have obsolete technology, simple, systems and obsolete technology means spending more than it's worth and you still will have maintenance issues...........I've owned a PEARSON ARIEL 26 ....1966 model year (small version of the Triton) It had on outboard in a well behind the tiller. super cool idea......pushed her along at 5 knots. I bought her in 1988 for $5000. I sailed her from Maine to New Jersey. I've also owned a Cal 28 inboard diesel, 1986 model. Sailed her back and forth from Chesapeake Bay to Florida. Paid $ 23,000 in 2001. Do you want a project boat? or a boat to sail & relax? I've done both, but the less maintenance the better.... ..Best of luck....keep in touch tonysmith101.com

Outstanding... Don't forget a liferaft & GPIRB will add around $6-8K to all of these. There are passel more in the <$50K range including some Cal 40s. Cheers - Tim

Good reminders, Tim. As many experienced folks say, your bluewater outfitting budget should realistically be about half of the purchase price for the boat. This varies, obviously, but the point is it's expensive to add all the offshore goodies like a liferaft, etc.

Thank you for this post and insight into the cheaper option of blue-water cruising. I am in the market for a boat and read avidly all comments, posts and mentions of possible boats that are out there. My budget is realistically around the £30,000 mark, though that is to have it ready to sail with all bells, flutes and whistles in place ;-) Keep up the good work. Loving this blog.

Darren - Thanks for compliment and being a reader here at SFLF. I'm always inspired by people who can look past the big fancy and expensive sailboats to still make their bluewater cruising dreams come true. Best of luck with your search for cruiser!

Please stop it! These budget cruisers are a well-fed thread of myth. They have been sailed by sailors up to the challenge of navigating the oceans with minimal gear, extreme discomfort and hopeful optimism. An average used production cruiser of 36 to 40 feet would be a more sensible bet. This choice of boat would require the same upgrades and attention as those old tiny classics like a Contessa. If you have ever been aboard a Contessa you will come around. If you want to cross oceans you will need $35,000 for the boat, another $12,000 in upgrades, boatyard expenses and new gear (like a windvane) and another $10,000 in cash reserve as you sail the world. Sell everything. You can do it!

Thank you for the experienced perspective, O Trader! I agree to some extent, but boat choices aren't also practical decisions. Emotion, history, "myth" and more all play a role. In any case, I think you raise some good points and I appreciated you sharing them here.

Doesn't cost of upkeep for a boat increase with the size of the boat? And not linearly?

Sorry, that is not true. 24 foot boats have sailed the world safely and comfortably, and are still doing it. EPIRB's are ok, but not mandatory. Argh!

Sorry O Trader but I cannot agree. My wide and I sailed a Pearson Triton from Texas to Australia. It was great fun. We took 8 years doing it and met many boats under 30ft on our way. There is great beauty in keeping life simple.

I get sea sick. Would a submarine be a better bet for me? Or would I still get sea sick? As for crossing the ocean in a say 36 footer, once I get my sea legs would I still get sea sick? I was in Typhoon Karen back in the early 60's and was so sick I wanted to die.

Hi Joe. The sub will help with seasickness, but what about claustrophobia? At least that would be my concern!

LOL I wunder how fast your pet whale could drag it. ;)

every one can get seasick, there is a wave length for everyone.

Best cure for seasickness.: Stand under a tree

There are so many good old boats that have or can cross oceans, some needing extensive mods, some not that many, that it really pays to do your homework. My old "sailing instructor", the late Jean LaCombe, had crossed the Atlantic no less than 5 times singlehanded in boats from 18' ( Hippocamp. a wooden double ender he designed and built) to the Lapworth 23 I was on. He also sailed a 21' Golif in an early OSTAR (singlehanded transatlantic race). He later designed and built a 25'er (Yang) that he cruised to Europe and back. Most people today think a larger boat is the way to go, but so do the costs. For a couple, boats from around 24' - 25' and up seem to have done the job. There are so many old fiberglass boats around I think a little work would make a lot of them suitable for long distance cruising. For those who get seasick, try sailing on a trimaran or catamaran, although they'll be perhaps more expensive. The old British Heavenly Twins 26 / 27 has circumnavigated for example, and has twin aft double cabins. Searunner trimarans, or Tri-Stars (31' and up) make excellent long distance cruisers too, even though most are made of wood. They have excellent safety records too. Know that the movement on a multihull can be somewhat different from a monohull... they tend to move more at the ends, but you'll never have a long roll as with some monohulls, or much of a hobby horse motion. You'll also have access to some very shallow areas that monohulls may not be able to get into.

I bought a southern cross 31 in Carolina Beach NC, for 8500 dollars, sailed it to Bermuda Antigua, Montserrat, Guada loop, back to Bermuda, and then on to Scotland, Ok the boat is now pretty trashed, and out of the water, but it was pretty trashed when I got it, its now just more trashed.

i love reading these comments. one day i will have 30ft cruiser

Damn. I lost my Catalina 27 in Hurricanne Katrina and have now just decided to replace it. Thanks for this post, it has me thinking.

Thinking is good! Hope you get to replace your C27 soon.

As a x commercial fisherman who used to curse at the sailboats and there dainty fenders i now love sailing and am planning a transatlantic crossing back to Scotland from Virginia hence looking at affordable boats to do the job. Thanks for the information.

Skote - Thanks! Best wish for finding just the right boat that checks the boxes and stirs your soul.

I am currently in the market for a Whitby Alberg 37 which I plan to sail with y wife and 3 year old around the world. These boats are the perfect blend of affordability and seaworthiness. They are beautiful and can be had well equipped for off shore cruising at under $55k (USD). Actually almost any Carl Alberg design will get you there beautifully.

Hello to all, a great sailing boat for me is the one that is all paid for, ocean going and that i can do 45 mph on the road with it. I sail a Albin Vega 27, there will be no other boat. David

How is trailering your Vega 27? It must sit really high on trailer. Do you lift it on? I have a 23 foot swing keel Venture of Newport 23 cutter that keel tucks up to 18 inches, I just nudge it up a ramp with trailer winch and a bit of engine thrust. Your fixed keel would raise trailer center of gravity a lot. I'd like to trailer to inland lakes like Thousand Islands NY yet also sail down US East Coast. Thanks, Bud R, Virginia March 19, 2021

I understand cats when they flip over can't be righted again very easily? But mono sailboats do right themselves again? I would think the mono sailboat would be safer. Especially with the world wide weather patterns changing so drastically now days. Do they make a blue water sailboat that if knocked down doesn't get any water inside the boat? And if the mono sailboat can float again after a knock down can one get away with no life raft? I hear there is an unsinkable sailboat made that the name starts with a B but it is very expensive? The danger of running into a cargo container or floating tree would be less if the hull was steel too, are they more prone to upkeep and maintenance or other trouble? Finally Sterling Hayden use to come back to the USA when he ran out of money and star in another movie. This way he could continue sailing. He had no money problems then. He was quite a guy and one of my hero's and his book is a good read.

a good unsinkable proper cruiser is the Sadler 32/34, the 34 is one that i am very keen on

It's virtually impossible to "flip" a catamaran in winds under 100 knots. There are hundreds of articles out there clearing the air about this myth. People like to equate fast racing cats that are racing way over powered in massive seas and winds. These boats will flip very easily. Production cats made for the public are very underpowered and by most counts far safer than monohulls in equally bad weather given the fact they are positively buoyant and will not sink. PLEASE do more research before spreading the ignorant myth that catamarans aren't safe and will flip easily. With radar and better charts and the ability for most catamarans to reach twice the speed as mono's it's plausible to never be in bad weather and deadly seas at all. The only, although slightly, negative point about a catamaran is they can tend to be a bit rough going into the wind. However with the introduction of daggerboards this "problem" is all but eliminated and the cat will reach just as high into the wind at equal or higher speeds as a mono.

You are quite wrong. Most capsizing, mono or multihull, is due to wave action and not wind speed. It is very possible to "flip" a catamaran in winds under 100 knots if the waves are big enough.

I strongly suggest that anyone seriously contemplating buying a bargain boat and living aboard or cruising should read this book! https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwiw7O7dxvnzAhUFobMKHRAUBTgYABADGgJxbg&ae=2&sig=AOD64_1ULeKMesmAbLC0XtFFeXRcueri8A&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwix_-DdxvnzAhVYoXIEHbIpBmMQwg96BAgBEBM&adurl=

Paid for is a really good characteristic. Buy cheap. Outfitted - sails, rigging, engine, rudder, all the practical hardware, not new, just working. PFDs, flares, paper charts, VHF, lights, battery, oar. Food, water, release docklines, go locally even if its just on engine Mine is 23 feet, not ocean going but its sailing, coastal, solo. An ocean trip i would need a companion. Yes i love looking at the photos and specs and look at under 28 feet, e.g. Nor'Sea 27, Flicka. Im not in a hurry but do like rugged, solid and rugged salty look Hans Christian ($!) You have great boats here. Sail it, dont paint it. Sail it, dont install new cushions. Sail it, dont work on anything not absolutely needed to sail locally. No sails? Motor it. No motor? Sail it away from dock shakedown ancome back to a mooring easily under sail. Your shakedowns may show you there are lots of things you do Not need. Fair winds, Kahuna

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16-09-2008, 09:11
	pocket cruisers that have ample , if such things exist at all. I am 6'4" and not having to hunch over constantly is a criteria i wont budge on. Is there a that has 6'4" or am i out of luck? mainly I am looking at that are on this list but realize it is not the be all end all list. I have tried in vain to find headroom on a lot of these but the search has not produced much. in a dream world, i would like the bristol channel with 6'6" headroom but dont have a couple hundred K in my (realistically 30-40k). The must be capable of ocean crossings. to clarify: i have read more than one discussion on this board regarding the definition of a so let me clarify that i mean about 33 feet or less, preferably in the high 20's though. Yes, i know that a lot of these boats will not be easily trailerable, may not fit your definition of 'pocket cruiser', ect but so be it. thanks folks, interested to hear your thoughts if such a exists at all.

16-09-2008, 12:33
Boat: 15 foot Canoe	. They are good sailers if you don't overload them with unnecessary . Start looking on the for boat descriptions under the sections and you'll find a few others. yachtworld.com, sailboatlistings.com, eBay Motors are three sites that I can name just now. Good luck in your search. JohnL

16-09-2008, 13:00
	or .Typical high Japanese quality from what I've seen. I think they gave up trying to compete with during that time period. Another budget option is the Bill Garden design 30. These were built up here in the NW by Ron who built a lot of boats. I sailed one down the to for 1.5 years. Great dry boat, circles around a Westsail, albeit less room. Finished more like a boat inside. The Fuji is nicer inside though. I like the typical Rawson layout : Raised dinette to port and stbd. You can sit and have your coffee and watch the harbor. Not as heavy as the specs say, not over built, but strong enough. Available in standard trunk or pilot house. The trunk cabins are inexpensive. a couple of pics I found A lot of options in that size range...

16-09-2008, 15:41
	vs cutter. again- not enough headroom. the rawson pilothouse looks like a nice boat and the pilothouse is something i would like living in the .never even heard of rawson before, thanks. the 30 looks nice... headroom looks managable too, 6'-6'4". Hmmmm. any disadvantages to the pilot house? any other boat suggestions? thanks folks keep em coming.

16-09-2008, 15:49
	is this thing worthy?

16-09-2008, 15:56
Boat: De Kleer Fraser 30	Might suit? Love the boat although I am around a foot shorter than you are!

16-09-2008, 17:01
Boat: 1976 Sabre 28-2	with lots of headroom would be a visual nightmare. If you are willing to go larger, might check out the Pearsons. Seem to remember the P365 had 6'5" headroom but I could be wrong. Have seen a number of them advertised under $50,000.

16-09-2008, 18:25
Boat: 15 foot Canoe	and many have sailed over here from the mainland. I don't know why I didn't see the ad earlier. That is a good for a boat in good condition but since the economy is going south in that area I'd offer less. Kind regards, JohnL

16-09-2008, 19:25
Boat: Easterly 36 Aft Cabin

16-09-2008, 23:47
Boat: none	type depending on one's prejudices. One additional potential advantage to a pilot house is you can put a gallows over the cabin and just drop the boom onto the gallows for a no hassle reef. For most boat models there were fewer pilot house versions made so they may be harder to find.

17-09-2008, 08:43

17-09-2008, 09:13
	ends up pretty chopped up. I guess it depends on the particular boat layout. Another similar one is the Gulf (?) 32 Pilothouse. Also, a wonderful boat is the 36. They hold their value pretty good though last I checked. Really nice design (Bob Perry I believe)

17-09-2008, 10:00
	, but I have not read anything that backs that up although it seems somewhat logical. Are they not as efficient beating into the ? would following seas be more likely to swamp because of so much access?

17-09-2008, 10:06
Boat: Hirsch Gulfstar 45 Magic Genie	makes a sound little ketch, and they are very inexpensive. I believe the Sea was the first production boat to do a .

17-09-2008, 10:08
Boat: none

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Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

Moscow Excursion

By HistoricRoswell , June 1, 2019 in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

HistoricRoswell

Has anyone ever purchased the Moscow excursion on the 2 day Saint Petersburg port of call. Would love to see if anyone thought it was worth it. I would really like to do it.

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17 minutes ago, HistoricRoswell said: Has anyone ever purchased the Moscow excursion on the 2 day Saint Petersburg port of call. Would love to see if anyone thought it was worth it. I would really like to do it.

There is another thread on the topic you might want to check out.

Aus Traveller

I suggest you spend the two days in St Petersburg rather than taking the tour to Moscow. There is so much to see in St Petersburg that two days are hardly enough. It is a very long drive to Moscow and you would not have much time in the city - not enough to see even the highlights.

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bluewater pocket cruiser

SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more!

Cruiser2B said: thank you for clarifying. but a bluewater trailerable boat is definitely not laughable...many have done it and all it takes is a bit of thinking outside the box and a desire to go places Click to expand...

Don0190 said: I'm pretty sure I'm allowed to find anything I what funny. Just because it's been done in no way changes it. Click to expand...

Nobody has mentioned the Catalina 27's. Big for their time, now ubiquitous they are trailed by a large pickup. I would ramp launch it every spring and get it out of the water every fall with my pickup. At 4 foot draft, I didn't know I couldn't do that, I just did! Early Catalina's have circumnavigated, they are a seaworthy design. My biggest problem with them are the light rigging and cheap production. I personally would not circumnavigate with one. But going to the Bahamas should not be a problem, and they are big enough to stow a little scuba gear, just make sure you completely unload the boat before you try and drag her up the ramp! Hey- not ideal, but can be done.

newt said: Nobody has mentioned the Catalina 27's. Big for their time, now ubiquitous they are trailed by a large pickup. I would ramp launch it every spring and get it out of the water every fall with my pickup. At 4 foot draft, I didn't know I couldn't do that, I just did! Early Catalina's have circumnavigated, they are a seaworthy design. My biggest problem with them are the light rigging and cheap production. I personally would not circumnavigate with one. But going to the Bahamas should not be a problem, and they are big enough to stow a little scuba gear, just make sure you completely unload the boat before you try and drag her up the ramp! Hey- not ideal, but can be done. Click to expand...

There is a nice Cape Dory 26 on a trailer in Charleston SC for under 10 grand. Very sturdy little cruiser. Cape Dory 26' Sailboat with Trailer | eBay

Are the ramps in south Fl steep enough for 4' draft?

sharkbait said: Are the ramps in south Fl steep enough for 4' draft? Click to expand...

I was just curious. I've never ramp launched a boat.

Pauly Dangerous

How about the West Wight Potter 19 blue water?

I have been considering down sizing to a trailerable sailboat myself, with the idea of sailing Cape Breton, Newfoundland, Labrador and maybe even the Bahamas. I am a little surprised to see the mention of the Alberg 30 as trailerable due to its 8'8" beam, which would require an over width permit where I am from. Another boat that might be considered trailerable but not ramp launchable is a Contessa 26. An 18 year old girl did a solo circumnavigation on one of them. I have a couple of Canadian made boats on my list too, I would probably beef them up a bit, but I think there are quite a few boats that are up to the task if you drop the ramp launchable requirement, provided the skipper is competent. Edit: it just occured to me the Canadian made comment didn't make any sense, since both Albergs and Contessa 26's were made in Canada. I have no intention of any kind of trans oceanic sailing, if that is what is meant by blue water, but if it can safely make the 100 or so miles from Cape Breton to Newfoundland, that's all I need.

Pauly Dangerous said: I'd like to buy a sailboat that I can tow with my Suburban 2500 and launch from the trailer in Ft. Lauderdale and sail to the Bahamas safely. I'd be going SCUBA diving so easy access to the water would be ideal. Any suggestions? Click to expand...

?
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5. Falmouth Cutter 22: I find it fitting that a bluewater pocket cruiser takes its' name from one of the deepest natural harbors in the world, a harbor that is also famous for being the starting point of Francis Chichester's epic circumnavigation and the homeport of Charles Darwin's HMS Beagle.
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IMO, the best small, trailerable, bluewater sailboat is the Flicka, a 20 footer designed to accommodate two adults. You can probably get good information from other small boat sailors who have made the trip on the trailer sailor forum at this link. The Trailer Sailor. Like.
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The 22'4'' (6.82m) Méaban brings the understated Breton working boat aesthetic to pocket cruising, with modern construction allowing for a light boat suitable for trailer-sailing. Designed to be either cold-moulded or strip-planked, with a clever pivoting centreboard to allow for maximum cockpit space, the Méaban's shallow draught and ...
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The Catalina 22, 25, 250, the Hunter 25, the Compac line of sailboats, the Marshall Cats, are all "pocket cruisers" but none are what I'd call bluewater capable.
questions re: blue water pocket cruiser with standing headroom
Posts: 7,505. Pocket cruiser and 6' plus headroom are countermanding. A small boat with lots of headroom would be a visual nightmare. If you are willing to go larger, might check out the Pearsons. Seem to remember the P365 had 6'5" headroom but I could be wrong. Have seen a number of them advertised under $50,000.
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This boat has two doubles and two queens, with an interior that feels like a small apartment. Neat boats, but "pocket cruiser"??? I'd suggest opening another thread to discuss specifically the suitability of certain modest-sized cruising catamarans for ocean crossing, maybe in the new Sailboat Design and Construction forum.
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