Offshore cruiser?

[ParaHandy]

There’s a boat test in this month’s YM of a Sun Odyssey 32 wherein it is claimed by the reviewer that she will make a “superb offshore cruiser”. This is a boat with sufficient accommodation for 4 people in comfort and with an 18 gallon fuel tank, 44 gallon water tank and one 70 amphr battery. I think it outrageous to describe a boat with such meagre reserves as being fit for offshore cruising.

 

[rogerroger]

depends upon your definition of "offshore" I suppose !

A Channel crossing is "Offshore" and she'd be fine for that - don't think I'd sail one to the Canaries...

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[bedouin]

I can't comment on whether or not the SO 32 is a "Superb Offshore Cruiser", but I don't think the facts you give necessarily rule it out.

To me "offshore" implies passages of up to about 48 hours, and the tankage seems more than adequate for that. 'Bedouin' carries only half as much water and fuel as that and I consider her an excellent offshore yacht.

 

[ParaHandy]

Assume you've got radar, night passage, four people and one 70 amphr battery? It is not wise to so describe such a boat.

 

[ParaHandy]

9 gallons of fuel with a 19hp engine won't get you far and it'd be running on air at the end of 48 hours? Modern boats with electric pumps will use prodigious quantities of water and this boat can take, comfortably, 4 people.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Seem to recall that it also said that stowage was fairly minimal

 

[Mirelle]

Umm, 20 gallons of diesel, 70 gallons of water, 2 x 110 a/h?

But we don't have pressure water, or a radar.

 

[Guest]

Didn't realise all contessas and tradewinds came with radar as standard?
or maybe the reviewer was refering to the boat with the benefit of all the goodies needed for offfshore

 

[ParaHandy]

One slip, one error of judgement and with one battery, you're stuffed.

 

[bedouin]

Yes - cruising range on a full tank of fuel is about 120 miles, but that is more than enough to emergency use in the 'offshore' range. I also carry 20l in spares cans, but I don't rely on being able to use that at sea.

However I can't imagine where within the 'offshore' range I would be more than about 50 miles from the nearest port of refuge, and anyway Bedouin is a sailing boat, so the sails are the primary form of propulsion.

As to water, the 25 gallons or so we carry lasts the two of us about 5 days for normal usage - and we could easily double that if we conserved it.

People have sailed round the world in boats carrying less than I carry to cross the channel!

 

[bedouin]

With respect, I must disagree again (even though I do have two batteries).

(a) A sailing boat doesn't need batteries and with a bit of care can be got safely to port without any electrics.

(b) I (at least) carry dry cells to maintain some essential services in the event of main battery failure (radio, gps and nav lights).

(c) Even with a flat battery, I can still start the engine, hence recharge the batteries.

 

[ParaHandy]

With the greatest of respect, what you do, or have to do, is another matter entirely. The boat, in this review, is being touted as an offshore cruiser. That is misleading.

Read the review about engine access and you might think again about point c)

 

[rogerroger]

But don't you think had they billed her as a "Coastal / Inshore Cruiser" this would not be doing her justice ?



Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[bedouin]

You may well be correct - all I was saying is that the examples you quoted were not in themselves sufficient grounds for making the statement. I have very little personal experience on an SO32, so I am not qualified to judge, however I wouldn't be unduly concerned about taking one across the channel in fair weather - which could be one definition of 'offshore'.

 

[Guest]

The boat may not be suitable for offshore, i dont know BUT the criteria you have chosen to dispute the claim are ill founded and show your own predudice as to what you believe to be requirements.
Each to his own surely?

 

[ParaHandy]

Probably.......she looks a fine enough boat but the manufacturer is trying to sell her on the next higher rung of the ladder and I would expect the reviewer to be more discerning. The reviewer, to give him his due, does qualify his statements in the small print but the perception (from the article) is indisputable that she's an offshore cruiser and, in my opinion, that is misleading.

 

[bedouin]

..but that surely is one of the curses of the RCD. Under the RCD definitions the SO 32 without doubt falls into the Category B "Offshore" designation, and it probably doesn't stretch that definition as much as most boats in that category.

Whether or not you place any faith in the RCD definitions is a different matter all together

 

[ParaHandy]

You might not believe this but it's actually Category A. I do wonder if this is a wind-up by Jermain - calling it an offshore cruiser.

 

[Mirelle]

Yes, I think so. He is on record as liking the style of review where one reads between the lines.....

 

[claymore]

Agree entirely with your comments. I wonder if the 'offshore' bit was to do with the boat probably being quite a good sea boat - in terms of its handling and performance in a variety of wind ranges and stea states?

Perhaps again the cruising culture has undergone a shift in emphasis from independance / self reliance towards more of a day trip experience with the odd night passage and so brought about less emphasis on range - as long as it covers the distance from one Marina to another?

regards
Claymore