Hello,
My wife and I are preparing to retire and travel. Have considered rv'ing, but wish to do more! Our sailing resume is short, but doing our work to prepare for this journey.
Desire is favoring coastal travel (home is the Seattle area), but would not like to be restricted to the point that we could not travel worldly (shipping vessel would be an option).
My list is as follows: KK, Nordhavn and Diesel Duck; Fleming, OR, Offshore, Horizon, Hampton; Shannon 52 RDP and N56.
I like the KK in particular for the hull shape;
I wonder if the hull shape contributed to this article? Or maybe another way to ask is would a different hull shape contributed to a different topic write-up?
Nordhavn 52, Dirona, is mostly having a very enjoyable time on their travels. James and Jennifer came from the PNW and have a very well written and photo-documented blog at MV Dirona Recent Locations Travel Log Map So, a few days ago with a 25-30 kn southerly blowing they were at the east end...
www.trawlerforum.com
As many times I go through my list and adjust for the given priorities, the Shannon 52 RDP remains;
As of today KK, Fleming, Shannon 52RDP and possibly the N62 are top of my list. This list is fluid depending on the depth of my search and priority order. The reason for KK is the hull shape, economy and living quarters, resale. Fleming is the engineering, redundancies, history, resale, living quarters are marginal when compared to a Nordhavn/KK, but acceptable, I also favor the low profile and lower cg. Shannon is having sails as an option and economy, also I find a sailboat attractive, dual engines, U.S. built, quality, but living arrangements above/below is very marginal. N63 whats not to like about this vessel other than it is dated and free space is marginal in the engine area, also I found the passage ways and staircase narrow.
If a comment/observation I have made does not seem reasonable, please bear with me as I go through this journey and any thoughts will be read repeatedly and appreciated!
~PD
So, back to OP (newest incarnation of OP). For serious coastal cruising, which I consider PNW to Maine to be, there are a wide array of options that get shut off of ocean crossing is included.
My criteria.
1. 1500 nm range. I pick this for no great reason other than it gets me from PNW to Socal, then to alcapulco, them to Panama, then to Florida. Not saying I wouldn't stop, but I wouldn't be sweating over fuel either. Downside is that's a lot of fuel to carry of you're not using it.
2. Stabilization. My Willard 36 has hydraulic fins, but I probably should have considered para vanes more closely.
3. Engine room with adequate size for stuff. Mine is super tight. A Willard 40 would have been better, but Ive owned my boat for 22 years and I decided the boat I have is the one I'll go with. Plus it's an iconic design and I'm sort of a retro guy.
4. Bridge clearance. I do not want to rule out the Loop. I think 16 feet shuts off part of the loop, 19 feet and there is no loop. Something like that. I will be at 14 feet.
5. Electronics. This is where many get wrapped around the axle. My philosophy is to keep the networks minimized, and reduce the number of IP Addresses on the boat. The appeal of wireless is seductive. I work in tech so I have a reverse reaction. I don't want it. But personal choice.
6. Size. Most folks want a large, house like feel. We don't. If we started from scratch, would have a second stateroom, but again, we will dance with who we have..
7. Sedan. I spent several years as a full time delivery captain. You'd think I'd love pilot houses. I do when I'm underway, but at anchor, not so much. I like sedans. PH are somewhat close. I guess when the boat gets over 60 feet, the PH has its own deck sometimes. But in the end, having a dedicated control house just isn't that important to me. Underway less than 5%of the time. Not worth the cost and east.
8. Flybridge. Really personal decision. We will spend a lot of time at anchor on warm, moist weather. Enclosed flybridge is awful for our tastes. Hard top vs Bimini is great.
9. Protected running gear. Especially because we will be in Florida and Bahamas.
10. Get home. Would be nice. No room so not an option. I guess some twins would be decent.
My dreamboat is probably a Willard 40. Because I like the engine room. The defever 44 +5 is also a nice boat. The DDs are okay but not enough outdoor space and the interior is a bit cave like for my tastes.
But honestly, there are a ton of boats I'd do the trip in. I recently saw a Defever 40 single engine trawler for in Florida. Couple had cruised her from San Diego over 2 years and were ready for an RV. Simple boat at $50k asking price. Several years ago when I did the Baja Ha Ha, I met a couple of ex Sailors on a Hershine 37 trunk cabin trawler. Another simple boat that easily made it to Cabo, over 1000 nms from LA where they started. They were on an open ended cruise, probably Similar to one well be doing.
Very long post to say the boat matters less than just going. I know, sounds opposite to my recent posts, but not really. Get a boat with decent accommodation and not too many baubles. And go. There are a million reasons not to go. There are many, many $100k boats capable of this trip. Invest in yourself, not the boat (says the guy who's doing a major refit on a 50 year old boat).