Best offshore yacht 20 feet & under

[Bosun Higgs]

If you were suitably adventurous, had 4,000 in the Bank and wanted to buy a good seaworthy 2nd hand small yacht 20 feet and under to sail to either Med or W/Indies, which would it be?
Anyone from the toffee nosed "you can't go that small offshore" club - please do not reply.

I can see that you are open minded and wish to listen to all sides of the debate.

Size does matter - its basic physics. So you are kidding yourself if you think that a 20 ft boat will ever be as safe as the same design in a 40 ft boat. It wont. That doesnt mean people have never taken the risk and crossed the pond it in a 20 footer - they have even done it in 8 footers. But mostly these havent been standard boats and the skippers have ridden their luck.

 

[finbarr]

But mostly these havent been standard boats and the skippers have ridden their luck.

I wonder about the luck side of that? Roger Taylors 19' ROC survived a storm which took larger boats. John Guzzwell rode out a hurricane (I think it was a hurricane, I can go look in the book if nobody else knows for sure) in 20'6" Trekka..... etc. I think having a well found boat and competent crew reduces the required "luck" to the same level as a 40'er.

Both Shrimpy and Trekka round the world are notable, I think, for the lack of "exciting" big storms or other sailing worries.

I doubt it would be as comfortable on a small boat though.

 

[DownWest]

There is a website list of Atlantic crossings in small boats, noticable number didn't make it after the first time.

 

[finbarr]

Do you have a link (curious to have a look, not doubting you) Not made it as in wrecked?

 

[BlueSkyNick]

It's so irritating when somebody starts a thread seeking advice, then doesn't come back to even acknowledge it, let alone say thank you. He's had a whole 9 years !

 

[evantica]

I don't think it's "safer" to travel in a 30 footer than a 20 footer. The atlantic is huge. If you're big as a coin or an apple = a drop in the ocean. preparation and skill is the main factor I think. You could never compensite this with a bigger boat for sure! As some one sead: "Make it unsikable, and be well prepared". beside this -I think-The journy is the goal. not the landfall. Tommorow I will go and check out my new Hurley 18 = hold your fingers crossed...

 

[Red Admiral]

best 20 ft yacht

Undoubtedly, a Corribee (only a couple of inches over 20'). Allen Toone crossed the atlantic and Ellen MacArthur sailed around Britain in these most seaworthy of small boats. Having sailed one for a few years around the scottish Western Isles I know that they are small and wet but cope wonderfully well in difficult conditions. A Corribee is a proper yacht

 

[finbarr]

Based on what Roger Taylor has done aboard his Corribee I don't think anyone can argue with you Red Admiral

 

[Bajansailor]

A Mirror OFFSHORE seems an obvious one Henry Piggot crossed the Atlantic in one

Henry actually crossed the Atlantic twice in his Mirror, completing an Atlantic circuit in his usual fashion, ie quietly without fanfare or incident.

He then bought a standard 19'6" motor sailer hull from Colvic and fitted it out to create a vessel which could quite arguably be one of the best offshore yachts around under 20'.
And he then went off around the world in her.
After returning home again, I think he got itchy feet after a year or two back on terra firma, so he went off on another little cruise to a friend's birthday party.
However the friends were in San Francisco....... no worries, Glory crossed the Atlantic again, pootled through the Panama canal, and then pretty much motored against head winds the whole way up the west coast of Central America to San Francisco.
Henry got there in time for the birthday party, stayed a bit longer afterwards to have a look around, and then headed home again, following the same route as his outbound voyage.

Below is a copy of an article from PBO about Henry and Glory, kindly sent to me last year by DownWest Andrew (belated thanks Andrew for this).

The text is easier to read if you save these scans to your computer first, as they are about 600 kbs each in size.

 

[DownWest]

Hey! Glad I could help. We should share a brew sometime.
Best
A

 

[mdonnelly]

Can anyone confirm that a Leisure 17 crossed the Atlantic? My first boat was a fin keel Leisure 17 and absolutely loved it!

 

[evantica]

Yes the Leisure has cross the Atlantic! To Cuba and got arrested or something like that?! Yhink you may find it on.. "Windpilots" windvane site germany.
And thank "you" for putting in the 19,6 footer reading...great!
About the Corribee... great boat but no one in Sweden for sale, haven't seen any at all?!

 

[finbarr]

small sailboat club on yahoo groups has an article about the leisure 17 crossing the atlantic in the files section.

 

[DownWest]

Fin,
I had a look for the list, but no luck. It was linked off the WBF a couple of years ago and covered all recorded crossings. Several of the names disappeared on later voyages.
A

Slocum being one, of course. Reputedly run down by a steam packet.

 

[finbarr]

No worries Down west,

I can't imagine being so far out in the ocean in such a little boat. It is something I would like to experience though. I have great respect for anyone who can make the sacrifice of time. money and safety of land for something like the Jester Challenge etc.

 

[evantica]

Didn't buy the H18...No good! HAve my eyes open for more interesting obj. any other mod. "You" recommend? If there was any here in SWE the Kingfisher 20 would be a good candidate!

 

[ProDave]

Anyone fancy a cheap Mirror Offshore. Will need "some" work, probably quite a lot of work http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120693854722&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123

 

[finbarr]

A mk2 as well, so it may sail a bit better. Nasty place to park though

 

[evantica]

Prodave. I don't think it's a "Mirror offshore"?! maybe I'm wrong but. I actully almost bought one a long time ago. Didn't look anything like that, also a twinikeeler.
Let me in on some other possible, capable boat models! 21-23 footer?

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

Anyone fancy a cheap Mirror Offshore. Will need "some" work, probably quite a lot of work http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120693854722&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123

There you are Dylan, a roller reefing system for next to nothing, just bid on her, buy her take r/r system and leave rest there!
C_W