Fit to Cruise?

[Brian_B]

I'll be interested in comments from experienced cruisers about the suitability of our boat to go long term cruising to the Med and Caribbean.
She's a Starlight 35 for the early 90s and we've owned her for about 4 years so we're getting to know her quite well.
My main concern is for the lack of stowage due the the foam construction and tankage of 136 litres diesel and 227 litres water.
There would normally be just two people and one small dog aboard.
I do adhere to the KISS principle but also believe in Keep it Comfortable!

 

[affinite]

Fraid I dont know your boat but for what its worth, I have a Feeling 34 in Greece. She has 100l fuel and 200l water tanks.
I carry a couple of jerry cans of fuel just in case and similar with the water but weve found both capacities to be OK for 2 of us. We dont liveaboard but do spend up to a month at a time on her. having said that, if I was going to do extended cruising in the med I probably would put in additional tanks just in case.
As for space, we have 2 spare cabins, one of which is used as a store room when we dont have a full boat of familly/guests. Then it does creak a little (particularly when the kids get hold of the transom shower !!)

 

[jerryat]

We spent the best part of ten years in the Med and Caribbean on our 32' Fulmar and wouldn't hesitate to go off again.

We have a 20 gall fuel tank and 30 gall water tank, but supplemented them with extra 5 gall plastic containers for both. Never got anywhere near running out of either.

Mind you, the Fulmar has a staggering amount of stowage for her size, so we didn't need to carry anything on deck or lashed to the rails.

Not been aboard a Starlight so don't know how the stowage compares, but I wolld have thought a little planning and prioritising would make the boat perfectly ok.

 

[capnsensible]

Go for it! We live on our 33 foot Moody in comfort. 9 years so far and no regrets. We have been lucky enough to travel quite extensively in that time including 2 trips to the Caribbean, so it can be done. Hope this helps.

 

[FAITIRA]

Ours is 33ft, about the same tankage, we live aboard full time, same crew inc dog. You have a nice boat. Our last one was 44ft, we decided we didn,t need it, expence etc, we,ve had no regrets going smaller. Bill.

 

[samwise]

It's amazing what you can pack away when you try! The problem is keeping track of where you have put things. It all comes down to organisation and experence. We have lived ( 2 adults plus one and often two teenagers) aboard our 10.1 metre Westerly perfectly well, so two plus a dog should be ok. You will find that as the voyage progresses, you will get better at the stowage game and new areas of space will open up. I don't know your boat, but our old Sadler 29 was double skinned and we had no problems.

 

[Lizzie_B]

We have 40 US gal freshwater plus 8 in the water heater and 25 US gal diesel for 29hp engine.

We do have some 5 gallon folding plastic containers for both but have only had to use one of the diesel cans once.

Usually two of us on board, but occasionally 4 for up to two weeks!
Ours is a 38 foot late 70's IOR style design so would imagine you certainly have as much if not more stowage than us.

Our 'limiting' factor is holding tank capacity rather than fuel or water!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
What about you other folk?

 

[vyv_cox]

A brilliant boat - one I would definitely like to own, if I didn't have its predecessor, a Sadler 34. We live aboard in the Med for six months of the year. Our stowage is considerably less than yours but we cope perfectly well. Our diesel tankage is also less than yours, water about the same. We carry a few 10 litre water containers for showers and a 10 litre spare diesel.

We haven't crossed the Atlantic and probably never will, but plenty of other Sadler 34s have, some with bigger crews than yours. Provided you don't want to carry large, unusual items (piano, drum kit, leather armchairs, etc) I don't think you will have any stowage problems.

 

[TigaWave]

A very nice boat for ocean crossings and live aboard, assuming the rig is sound along with sails, through hull fittings and steering gear.

Tankage isn't a problem, I always carry fresh water in plastic bottles and at least 45 ltrs of diesel in cans.

 

[Brian_B]

Thanks everyone, I feel relieved and inspired to make the most of what we have. It will keep costs down and bring the adventue within reach.