Smallest boat for coastal cruising

[langstonelayabout]

Whilst not as small as some around here... I always enjoyed going places (along the south coast of England) in my E-Boat.

22' of fun and performance. One to four up, but always enjoyed most one or two up. Plenty of space, a cartridge gas cooker, bucket & chuck it facilities and Delta anchor. And a big padlock to lock the outboard to the rear pushpit whilst ashore in the shower or pub.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Charles Stock sailed Shoal Waters which was based on the 16' Fairy Falcon. Later another one was built called Marsh Bird. Shoal Waters is still cruised on the east coast, based on the river Blackwater.

And is apparently sold from owner to owner with a contract guaranteeing coverage in the mags.

 

[richardbrennan]

Do have a look at a Westerly Cirrus, I seem to recall it won a YM one of a kind rally when they did such things many moons ago. I had a Tiger, which was it's slightly larger brother, and it was a great boat.

 

[johnalison]

Do have a look at a Westerly Cirrus, I seem to recall it won a YM one of a kind rally when they did such things many moons ago. I had a Tiger, which was it's slightly larger brother, and it was a great boat.

Like wot I said. It was a proper little yacht and very steady on the helm; not to be confused with its Westerly bilge-keel cousins. ours was No 300+ something. There was a solid door dividing the saloon and heads/forecabin, and a 10hp diesel.

The cockpit was comfortable and secure. Myself with hair and heir (clipped on!).

 

[Daydream believer]

Charles Stock sailed Shoal Waters which was based on the 16' Fairy Falcon. Later another one was built called Marsh Bird. Shoal Waters is still cruised on the east coast, based on the river Blackwater.

I assume Tony smith still owns her. He has been cruising the north coast of Brittainy with me in my 31 ft boat. I can assure you that if he could afford it (& had more time) Tony would up size to get away from the restrictions of such a small boat. As he has said, there are only so many creeks one can explore within a small area & going over the channel just opens up a new world.
He wrote about our trip in PBO some years ago.

 

[johnalison]

As he has said, there are only so many creeks one can explore within a small area & going over the channel just opens up a new world..

That is true for some of us but I think that we have to be careful not to patronise those with less ambition, time, or money. There is something of a rush to go abroad these days, fuelled by the widespread introduction of larger boats and the bragging-rights earned by yachting-cap-wearers on the South Coast who do the day trip to Cherbourg. I know many happy sailors who have never dug out their passports, such as my mate who sails a 19' varnished wooden boat with an o/b motor around our creeks for weeks or months quite happily. His passion for wildlife makes every day interesting for him.

 

[Daydream believer]

. His passion for wildlife makes every day interesting for him.

Personally, once i had been up one muddy creek, scraped mud off my foredeck all afternoon, been shat on by a load of squawking seagulls & seen one fat seal too many, I kind of lost interest in that sort of sailing.
But to each his own

 

[Kukri]

I like both types of sailing. But it is a mistake to think that you can do both in the same boat.

The little boat can cover long distances if her owner(s) have enough time to wait on weather, but what she is really good for is ditch crawling, a specialist and expert form of sailing in its own right. There is a great deal of satisfaction to be had by anchoring in a pool that you can just stay afloat in, cooking a meal and watching the birds.

 

[Kukri]

More generally, when I owned and cruised in an open boat a Kestrel was a big boat and a seven ton Hillyard was a very big big boat. They were still big boats when I owned the little gaff cutter at in the picture near the top of this thread. One looked up at the topsides of a Vertue and dreamed of perhaps owning one, one day.

 

[johnalison]

More generally, when I owned and cruised in an open boat a Kestrel was a big boat and a seven ton Hillyard was a very big big boat. They were still big boats when I owned the little gaff cutter at in the picture near the top of this thread. One looked up at the topsides of a Vertue and dreamed of perhaps owning one, one day.

Definitely. A Contessa 26 was a real Yacht, with a capital Y.

 

[dk]

Did thousands of miles in a 24-footer in my early 20s, no probs, although I did occasionally get fed up with disappearing between the waves in a blow! Worked my way up to a 42-footer, then gradually back down to a Hurley 22. The latter is a fine yacht, especially the fin keel version, but all small boats become harder to sail as you age. Now, at 64, I find a bigger boat easier to single hand as you can move about on deck more easily and she’s less affected by the weight of the crew.

 

[steve yates]

This little thing, which I owned from 1973 to 1983, and is now in Scotland (present owner’s picture, not mine) has been the length of the Channel and across the North Sea and most recently up and down the Hebrides. 18ft, built in Trincomalee in 1947.

I think I'm in love!

 

[Kukri]

I could put you in touch with the present custodians, but they are quite fond of her too!

She’s the only known example of Harrison Butler’s “Paida” design, and for many years she was only permitted an Associate Membership of the Harrison Butler Association because the royalties were not paid when she was built. She really is tiny - she makes a Blackwater Sloop look big - but beautifully built, very pretty, and all teak. She really has accumulated quite a mileage in coastal and Narrow Seas sailing, and is set to carry on doing so.

 

[Daydream believer]

deleted

 

[Daydream believer]

At least they have had the decency not to poke the bow sprit three quarters of the way across the main pontoon like many seem to consider it their right to do

 

[Ladybirdgaffcutter]

At least they have had the decency not to poke the bow sprit three quarters of the way across the main pontoon like many seem to consider it their right to do

That's to allow tupperware yoghurt-pot owners a chance to admire a real sailing vessel at close quarters, think yourself lucky

 

[Daydream believer]

That's to allow tupperware yoghurt-pot owners a chance to admire a real sailing vessel at close quarters, think yourself lucky

& I thought it was for dog owners to hook the dogs on to whilst they pooed on the pontoon & people would know to walk round it ( until the boat went )

 

[johnalison]

& I thought it was for dog owners to hook the dogs on to whilst they pooed on the pontoon & people would know to walk round it ( until the boat went )

Is that the owners or the dogs doing the pooing?

 

[PeteCooper]

That's to allow tupperware yoghurt-pot owners a chance to admire a real sailing vessel at close quarters, think yourself lucky

I find it sad that even with a smilie you feel that it is acceptable to make derogatory reference to a different type of boat to the ones that you like. I sail a small boat that will sail rings round the boat that you like so I guess that makes it qualify as a real sailing vessel but it is also made of plastic. Although I see nothing to admire in the tan sailed yacht pictured above I wouldn't put anything insulting about it because I accept that different people like different kinds of boats.

 

[Wansworth]

I find it sad that even with a smilie you feel that it is acceptable to make derogatory reference to a different type of boat to the ones that you like. I sail a small boat that will sail rings round the boat that you like so I guess that makes it qualify as a real sailing vessel but it is also made of plastic. Although I see nothing to admire in the tan sailed yacht pictured above I wouldn't put anything insulting about it because I accept that different people like different kinds of boats.

Certainly not in the spirit of the original post,there are many great little boats made of plastic!