My short long list of boat choices

Our approach to sailing is minimalist. We will follow the advice of Don Casey and Lew Hackler in the book Sensible Cruising: The Thoreau Approach : A Philosophic and Practical Approach to Cruising. Basically in the Thoreau approach one has enough to cruise safely but with out extravagances which, while handy at times, also have the potential to, as Casey and Hackler put it, “insulate” one from the experience of sailing. Also, the extras cost money. In other words:

-no engine over gas engine (or any engine requiring rebuild)

-No boat over 30’

- Oil lamps over electricity (or LED headlamps).

- A good set of working sails but nothing fancy.

- Bucket over a head.

- Alcohol over propane, cooler over fridge.

-Sextant, and compass over fancy navigation equipment.

-Sheet to tiller over electronic self-steering.

And so on…

My top boat choices:

Buehler Hagar 28’: this boat tops my list. Salty, sea worthy, wood. These are home-built boats for the most part though and rarely if ever come up for sale. I did hear of one in serious disrepair being offered in the fine state of Washington, but shipping it here would be cost prohibitive. Maybe one will turn up. If anyone has one, I'd love to hear from them. Capsize ratio: 1.6, motion comfort 30.56

Aleutka: Actually this and Buehler Hagar top my list. Unfortunately these boats rarely come up for sale. There is one currently listed but it is out of my price range for now. On a side note, I actually met Letcher in person and asked for plans, but he said he couldn’t find them (I think he decided not to part with them)… He did give me the original article published on the boat. If anyone knows where plans might be located, drop a line… Capsize ratio: 1.63

Alberg 30’: Obviously, size-wise this is the biggest of my boat choices. But I think perhaps it is too big for my purposes, which means more expensive, harder to maintain, more challenging to sail. Thought these numbers don’t mean much I’ll include them: capsize ratio: 1.68; motion comfort: 31.67

Rhodes Seafarer Meridian 25’: Very similar to the Pearson Ariel, but lower capsize ratio: 1.63 and greater motion comfort: 29.66. Build in Holland and there is a boat for sail in my area for pretty cheap—everything leaks and so it needs a deck re-core and maybe a new main bulkhead. The hull is sound, but due to the leaks the interior also needs work. At the right price this might be the project I am looking for, but it might be a little bit too much of a project… Not much is available on these boats, but all the owners I have spoken with are impressed.

Bristol 27’: Nice boat. A lot of them around. Capsize ratio: 1.71; motion comfort: 28.87

Cheoy Lee Cadet (offshore 27’): Really pretty boat with tons of teak. Cement and iron pig ballast though which has a tendency to turn crumbly pieces of dust from what I’ve read. Capsize ratio: 1.62; motion comfort: 32.83

Cheoy Lee Frisco Flyer: Another nice boat. Capsize ratio: 1.77; motion comfort: 22.37

Pearson Triton: Proven voyager. A lot of them around. Seems to be just like the meridian with a few extra feet. Again, a little bit bigger than I’d like for a first boat. Capsize ratio: 1.73; motion comfort: 27.97

Pearson Ariel: Closer to my size. Almost identical to the Meridian but with less impressive number. On is for sale in my area with a trailer, but the asking price is high for a fixer. Capsize ratio: 1.86; motion comfort: 23.86

Bristol Corinthian: too small, but pretty. Maybe if we are feeling really adventuresome or if Meg decides she hates sailing and so my cruising endeavors become shorthanded. Capsize ratio: 1.86; motion comfort: 21.58

I am also considering the following tiny boats for two. Either of these would require a revision of the overall sailing plans but nonetheless, they interest me:

Bolger Long Micro

Matt Layden’s paradox

Dream boats that are always too expensive to afford at present:

Laurent Giles Vertue: Of My Old Man and the Sea fame. This is a great book about a father and a son who set off from Long Island, through the Panama Canal, and then south and around Cape Horn in 25' boat.

Falmouth Channel Cutter

Bristol Channel Cutter

Flicka

I'd also consider a Westerly Centaur or Pageant but I don't really like the looks of these. Golden Hinds seem like nice boats but they rarely come up for sale in the States and are generally pricey.

Unless something happens, I will probably put a really low offer in on the Meridian that is for sale, toward the end of the sailing season. For fun I’ve included a poll below to get people’s opinions on this boat.

Off the top of my head the boat I am interested needs:

deck recored and refinished.

Interior sanded and repainted

Gasoline engine removed, replaced with outboard (or no engine)

Mast sanded, painted and inspected.

New cockpit locker hatches

Everything rebedded

Jib sheet tracks installed (alternately toe rails with blocks attached will suffice)

New running rigging.

Head removed

Rewiring

Main Bulkhead replaced

I realize that this is a lot to accomplish. On the other hand I think I can get the boat for a song, and actually I am into the idea of a serious clean-up and upgrade. It seems like a great way to really know a boat without actually building it from scratch…