BYYB Forums

Ok here's the quandry...

What boat or type of boat would you consider building, if you had the time and money, to sail from the west coast to Hawaii in? What would be the smallest you would feel safe or comfortable in? Which would be the easiest to sail solo? For example one boat I like is the Amigo. It's a Glen-L design.
https://www.boatdesigns.com/products.asp?dept=423

Yeah, I like that one too.

However, I would be concerned about water storage capacity and such.

Also,

Think of the this behind you, in a small boat. hock: on a good day.

I'd do it in this.... I'm not frightened too easy though.

http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/fafnir/index.htm

Now that is a samll boat! I was really looking more for a length range that would be more comfortable. Of course a boat that keeps you safe and has a dry spot migth be the best comfort so I won't knock your choice of boats

There's an old sailor's rule of thumb, 'never go to sea in a boat shorter then the seas you'll meet'. By this they mean if you're in a 20' boat and the wave train is 22' long, you'll be fighting a pitch pole event, which isn't particularly enjoyable, trust me. I've pitch poled quite a few boats, all fortunately were dinghies or multi hulls, but still not a pleasant experience. For those that don't know what this is, it's when the sea grasps your stern and flips you, end for end onto the deck. It often happens at sea when attempting to surf down the face of a wave and the bow digs into the back of the next wave, stopping the boat. The wave under the stern, then continues forward, carrying the boat with it in a spectacular stern over bow flight, until you crash down with the keel facing skyward. Needless to say it's hard of boats, equipment and ego's, not to mention your life.

Amigo is certainly capable of this trip, but it would be painfully slow and very uncomfortable. It surely would fit into the category of being too small for the seas, but sailed well, in fair weather you'd eventually make it. It would take over a month, assuming you don't encounter calms (very common on this trip if leaving from the west coast) and made hull speed the whole way (you'd be lucky to average 1/2 to 3/4's hull speed).

Pacific Seacraft's Flicka would also be a choice, a better one then Amigo, but again, not well suited for the same reasons, though you'd have standing headroom.

You'd want to take a boat as long as you can afford. The longer the better. Not for speed, but more importantly, comfort. I've lived aboard and been in open ocean many times and I can tell you a short boat is about the most uncomfortable thing to be in when in blue water. The motion can become unbearable.

If you had to do so, then choose a boat with a high D/L (displacement/length ratio) which will make the motion more comfortable. Also a design that has a long "roll moment". Gaffers are good about this, having less lofty rigs and lower ballast/displacement ratios, the roll moment is less "jerky", making for a more comfortable ride.

When at sea, the most important place is the galley. It has to function well or the crew has to eat "cold" out of cans. Being able to use the galley requires a "calm" boat. It's difficult to survive a passage and remain healthy if you're using "rations". It can be done, but it's hard on the body, mind and spirit. This is also part of the comfort while aboard. How many of use would be useless without the morning cup of coffee? I would and will experience caffeine withdrawal within hours if I don't have it. You can't make coffee in a pitching and rolling boat. Hot food is necessary for good health and body warmth after a spell at the cold, rain soaked helm.

I can't emphasize the comfort thing enough. We can "rough it" for a few days, a week, maybe two, but several weeks at sea, possibly constipated from the dozens of cold ham sandwiches and canned food, trying to use the head, that's bouncing all over the forepeak as the boat yaws and pitches is difficult to understand until you try it.

Don't get me wrong, several have made astounding voyages in absurdly small craft. The one that comes to mind is a fellow that crossed the Atlantic in boat that was shorter then he was tall. He couldn't even stretch out completely when he slept. He also had a support team following behind, just incase he wanted to give up, which is a wonderful bit of luxury, few of us can afford.

Me, I wouldn't consider it in anything less then a 30' boat, which would feel small to me, but at least the ride would be tolerable.

Ruba dub dub only in a 30' tub and that is really too small.  Besides, I've been there and it is highly overrated.  8) 8)

Well this was an exercise in thought provocation more then an actual planned trip.  I use to live in Hawaii, on Oahu, from 73-75.  My wife mentions traveling to Hawaii from time to time and I keep thinking how wonderful it would be to have a sail boat while over there.  So I hatched the idea of asking the BYYB brain trust for their opinions.  For those who were kind enough to respond I thank you.  The closest I will get to the water between the west coast and Hawaii is about 35000 feet was we fly over.  Still it was nice to fancy the trip and the information offered was great reading.

Terry there is always the option of getting certified and getting a charter boat while you are over there.  8) 8)

Try looking at it from a different perspective.

In 1975 I sailed from the west coast to Hawaii on a 327 foot Coast Guard ship.  We were escorting the Transpac race.  The first thing I realized was how tiny those sailboats looked out there all alone in the Pacific.  And speaking of swells, Pacific ocean waves are long between crests and often much taller than they appear from a distance. From several miles away, those very large ocean racing sailboats would completely disappear between the crests. Usually all you could see was the top of the mast and sails. So, do you really want to attempt that in a very small boat?  I know many people have done it and I'm sure many more will.  But I think I'd like something a little bigger, maybe no less than 35 feet on the waterline.