More info:http://frances26.org/reviews.htmlhttp://www.janice142.com/BoatInfo/Frances26/. Sail area: 382 sq. [12] Several transoceanic voyages have been completed, including two circumnavigations: by Tania Aebi in Varuna, as described in her book Maiden Voyage,[13] and by Brian Caldwell who in 1995 aged 19, began a journey of 27,000 miles (43,000km) in Mai Miti Vavau to become, at the time, the youngest person to sail around the world alone. Aebi had a passenger for a short stretch (80 nmi). Check that mast support beam has proper support at base. 18HP Yanmar diesel standard. Ballast: 2,650 lbs. LOA: 3110 LOD: 306 LWL: 242 Beam: 910 Draft: 4/411 shoal option/standard full keel. LOA: 317 LWL: 242 Beam: 103 Draft: 5 Displacement: 14,750 lbs. Minuses:Expensive and hard to find since not many were produced. More info:http://www.capedory.org/specs/cd28.htm. internal lead. Ballast: 3,800 lbs. Enclosed head and shower! Also called the Wayfarer 29. LOD: 256 LWL: 21 Beam: 76 Draft: 4 Displacement: 5,400 lbs. ft. (28.2 sq. On some boats its possible to lower the cabin sole a few inches, if needed. Ballast: 2,700 lbs. About 830 W32s were built between 1971-80 of which about half were owner finished kits. LOA: 379 LOD: 281 LWL: 263 Beam: 101 Draft: 410 Displacement: 14,000 lbs. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. If you find a boat with the criteria set out above (or your own criteria) and happens to be custom built or a short-run production boat, then its also worth consideration. Diesel inboard standard. If you have kids and a dog, and cant find a way to leave them ashore, youll want a boat at the larger end of the list. Sail area: 304 sq. More info:https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/seawind-allied. Another compromise area is standing headroom. Listed below are 73 monohull fiberglass sailboats up to 32 feet in length that, with minor modifications in some cases, I believe could be suitable for making offshore voyages. More info:http://www.capedory.org/specs/cd25d.htm. The 25D version listed below is a different design with diesel inboard. Ballast:4,000 lbs. After sailing the boat upwind for 300 miles through the Bahamas, Ill admit that its upwind performance isnt impressive, but it makes up for it with its ability to survive almost any storm. Also, when things go wrong on a big boat they go wrong in a big way you cant manhandle a jammed furling genoa on a 45-foot boat in a gale like you can on a 28-footer. A singlehanded voyagers dream. Her long overhangs reduce wetted surface drag in light airs and she picks up waterline length quickly when heeled. Cruising World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. 40 Best Sailboats, Types of Sailboats & Manufacturers - Cruising World Ballast: 2,400 lbs. Minuses: A bit slow to windward in light airs and the hull/deck joint is reported prone to leaking. Minuses: Not many of these boats are available on the market. Built by various manufacturers of similar design mostly from Sweden and Denmark between 1967-84. Blue Heron is a good example of this rugged yet comfortable pocket blue water racer/cruiser. Full keel with bilge plates. More info:http://www.capedory.org/specs/cd26.htm, LOD: 257 LWL: 2011 Beam: 810 Draft: 39 Displacement: 6,100 lbs. LOD: 251 LWL: 198 Beam: 75 Draft:311 Displacement: approx. General Comments: Designed by Bill Tripp. Pluses: Her proportions are well designed even if her overall appearance is unremarkable. Minuses: If only the builder could put twin keels on a more attractive design. If you want a diesel or electric inboard engine or plan to sail engineless, then these designs may suit your needs. General Comments: Another classic Alberg design. Ballast: 3,450 lbs. I might further subdivide them as follows:26-30-foot pocket cruiser21-25-foot mini-cruiser20-foot and under micro-cruiserA category not on this list are trailer-sailers that are generally under 5,000 lbs. Minuses: Limited numbers were built and not many are on the market. Those that do, use a closed cell urethane type core which when properly installed has proved not to be a problem and is actually aplus because it is lighter for the same strength (or stronger for the same weight) and adds insulation. Minuses: Teak decks and lots of exterior wood trim to maintain. Keel depth in Contessa 26 - WoodenBoat Minuses: Relatively poor light air and windward performance of twin keels. More info:http://www.cheoyleeassociation.com/N_CadetMain.html, LOD: 27 LWL: 21 Beam: 8 Draft: 3 Displacement: 7,000 lbs. Minuses: Lots of exterior wood to maintain even on the fiberglass version. The Contessa 26 is a 7.77 meter (25.6 ft) fiberglass monohull sailboat, brought about when Jeremy Rogers, with a background in traditional wooden boatbuilding along with one of his Folkboat customers, David Sadler, created a modified version of the same boat in glass reinforced plastic (GRP). ft. General Comments: Alberg design. A final word of advice to the novice sailor resist the temptation to undertake a major refit and extensive modifications on your new old boat right at the start. A downwind flyer, some 160 boats were built in a 16-year production run that began in 1972. Minuses: Expensive. Beam 7 6 (2.29m.) Water 10 gal. More info:http://www.columbia-yachts.com/c-26.html. Old teak toe rails prone to leaking and may need replacement. Airex cored hulls. ft 100% foretriangle masthead sloop. Cutter rig with bowsprit. Not to be confused with the fin keel spade rudder Cal 2-30. A K in the first four digits of the hull number means it was a owner completed kit boat which will have varying construction quality. An older family man whose wife suggested he needed a project, she was thinking a kayak , he had a budget of $10,000 US That included the boat , a real down to earth gentleman I would suggest his channel is worth going through and watching as he progresses on his journey. wow. Minuses: Expensive. Sail area: 294 sq. Tania Aebi memorialized her solo Contessa 26 circumnavigation in her book "Maiden Voyage". About 389 built between 1975-84. Minuses: A very expensive 24-footer. Designed by the legendary California sailor and surfer George Olson, the Moore 24 was one of the first ultra-light displacement sailboats, or ULDBs, and launched a whole movement of fast, fun speedsters based loosely out of Santa Cruz. The previous owner of that finely fitted out classic boat has poured far more money into upgrades and equipment than he will get out of it when he sells and you as buyer are in a good position to save substantial time and money. The 8 HP inboard Yanmar is hard to access unless you remove the cockpit footwell floor which is difficult to seal. LOA: 303 LOD: 303 LWL: Beam: 89 Draft: 43 Displacement: 9,000 lbs. General Comments: About 60 were built at a small yard in Hong Kong. General Comments: Designed by Carl Alberg in 1959 with over 700 built until 1967. LOA: Just under 32 including pulpit and outboard hung rudder. Outboard well and inboard engine options. When sailing, the Contessa heels over quickly, but it soon steadies up and can carry full sail in up to 20 knots of wind. Some of the boats listed here I have sailed and know well, others I know from working on them, or by research and reputation. For example, it has no sliding hatch over the main companionway, a feature which makes the cabin roof much stronger and better able to withstand a pounding in an offshore storm. LOA: 296 LWL: 23 Beam: 810 Draft: 311 Displacement: 7,300 lbs. Pluses: Moderate draft. Ballast: 2,300 lbs. Above average construction features. General Comments: Thomas Gillmer design. Albin Vega 27 Pearson Triton 28: Alberg design that's legendary among budget cruisers. J.J. Taylors built another 400 or so boats, originally being sold as Contessa 26s, but after 1984 being called J J Taylor 26s - some of these later boats had a slightly modified deck moulding with an enlarged 'hump' by the hatchway to give greater headroom, and a slightly revised interior layout, although the hull always remained the same. Therefore, the strict route requirements of the WSSRC are not being followed for this list, and it is deemed sufficient for the sailors to cross all longitudes and the equator, before crossing their own path again. Unusually wide (33) companionway entrance makes for good ventilation and the high bridgedeck makes it very seaworthy. More info:http://www.cheoyleeassociation.com/offshore28.htm. Pluses:Not burdened with excessive freeboard, beam or displacement for a 32-footer. Pluses: Plentiful and affordable on the US East coast. See Cruising Lealea for a blog about bluewater voyaging aboard a Vega. Ballast: 1,900 lbs. Also the dodger obstructs the jib sheet winches. General Comments:William Garden design. The list, though incomplete, is aimed at helping those who have asked me for recommendations on buying a small boat for cruising and potential offshore voyaging. [1] General Comments: Philip Rhodes design built by Seafarer in Holland in the 1960s. Our English friend, Tony Curphey, completed a circumnavigation in his folkboat in the 1990s. Ballast: 3,600 lbs. Some boats need scuppers relocated."[11]. Of the fiberglass versions, some 300 were built by Compass Yachts of New Zealand from early 1970s until 1984. LOA: 30 LOD: 27 LWL: 222 Beam: 93 Draft: 4 Displacement: 10,000 lbs. A Bonnier LLC Company. Pluses:Good boat if you need shoal draft and ability to stand the boat upright on its bilge keel plates. ballast aft of the water tank. More info:http://www.cheoyleeassociation.com/bermudas.htm. More info: Dana 24 Video Tourhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubcqjUby8Ywhttp://www.janice142.com/BoatInfo/Dana24. As I was prepping a Contessa for an offshore delivery from Brunswick, GA to Maine I noticed the side decks are so narrow its a tight squeeze to get by between the dodger and lifelines. Ballast: 3,900 lbs. Ballast: 4,600 lbs. Many of the boats on this list were built over forty years ago, so virtually all their systems rigging, engine, rudder, deck core, electrics will require repair or replacement. Pluses:High quality design and construction typical of Pacific Seacraft. Headroom of nearly 6. ft. General Comments: Alberg design that closely resembles the slightly larger Pearson Triton. A larger though similar Gilmer design is theAries 32, but only about 20 of those were built. General Comments:Alberg design. Also some raised deck models were built as the Defender 29. Pluses: 61 headroom for those who need it. Pluses:Full keel with shoal draft. Contessa 26 was brought into life by boat builder, Jeremy Rogers and his Folkboat customer, David Sadler. LOD: 292 LWL: 228 Beam: 92 Draft: 46 (fixed keel) Displacement: 8,400 lbs. Draft 4 0 (1.22m.) Although apparently tiller steering was standard from the factory, most boats on the market today have wheel steering. Thanks for all this information. In 1942 the Folkboat was as much a creation of the century of the common man as the bicycle. Ballast: 3,950 lbs. The following boats are listed here with the idea that they will be modified as needed for the type of voyages expected of them. Its just the right size: small enough to single hand, but big enough to take 4 or 5 people for a weekend or weeks cruise. Sail area: 629 sq. Pluses: Proven circumnavigator. General Comments:C.W. Does anyone know her name and the book title, please? Ballast: 4,200 lbs. LOA:297 LWL:24 Beam:89 Draft:38 Displacement:10,100 lbs. Ballast:5,100 lbs. Ballast:4,200 lbs. Not a great choice for long or high latitude passages where extreme weather may be encountered but probably suitable for most cruising if passage planning is done carefully. LOA:319 LWL:221 Beam:89 Draft:49 Displacement:? Right away, the Contessa 26 proved itself a strong, seaworthy vessel. The list, though incomplete, is aimed at helping those who have asked me for recommendations on buying a small boat for cruising and potential offshore voyaging. in the 1960s. Built first by Nor-star with some available as owner-finished kits. early models and 8,400 late and MKII models. Ballast: 3,200 lbs. Aside from a few exceptions, boats on my list meet the following criteria of proven seaworthiness, moderate draft under 5-foot, tiller steering, keels that are not merely bolted on that are either traditional full keel or, more commonly, relatively longthree-quarter keels (full keel with cutaway forefoot) with keel attached rudder, room for one, or at the larger end of the size range, two people to live-aboard in reasonable comfort, fiberglass construction for ease of maintenance and availability, and this sailors idea of functional and attractive design. Built first from 1973-88 in British Columbia on semi-production basis. More info:http://features.boats.com/boat-content/2000/08/cruising-expert/, LOA: 36 LOD: 31 LWL: 25 Beam: 109 Draft: 46 Displacement: 16,000 lb. Roomy for its size which is closer to 24 on deck not counting the molded in bowsprit. Once youve narrowed it down, try to arrange a test sail if youre serious about the boat. The Contessa 26 is a 7.77 meter (25.6ft) fiberglass monohull sailboat, brought about when Jeremy Rogers, with a background in traditional wooden boatbuilding along with one of his Folkboat customers, David Sadler, created a modified version of the same boat in glass reinforced plastic (GRP). This list mostly contains older boats with rudders hung on moderately full keels, which compared to more modern designs, are generally slower boats because of more wetted surface and drag. LOA:2910 LWL:22 Beam:91 Draft:49 Displacement: 9,900 lbs. Price range: from average $12K up to $25K. 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