Which boats can do both inland waterway and offshore cruising?

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I was reading the test of the Elling E4 in this month's MBY and thinking that there can't be many boats that have a low enough air draft to do inland waterway cruising and yet be certified Cat A for offshore cruising and also have the speed and range to make use of it. I don't put command bridge type boats like Brooms and Atlantics in this category because they don't have the range or the Cat A certification. Neither do I think that all those Dutch steel cruisers qualify either; they may have the range but their hulls don't seem to me to be designed for offshore cruising and, of course, they're displacement speed only
I'm interested in this because if and when I get to retirement, I'll be looking for a 50-60ft boat or thereabouts which is capable of extended offshore passages at both displacement and semi displacement speeds but can also be used for exploring inland waterways. So, apart from the Elling are there any other boats with low air draft, SD speed and Cat A certification?
 
Hi Mike. Is Cat A a tall ask (ie ocean cruising)? Most offshore boats are only Cat B (eg Princess, Fairline, Sealine, Atlantic, Broom). I too am looking on my long term "radar". At the mo something like the Nordhavn ticks many of the boxes, hopefully once I'm fully retired displacement speed won't be a time issue. A Nordhavn won't fit on Lough Derg though, that's for sure. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif So a B450 is a possibility for us, but I think when retired I'd prefer the space of a trawler yacht. Interested to see the responses you get.
 
I think the stumbling block you will find is the Cat A certification - it simply costs way to much for most small niche builders (and it is likely to be those builders that will produce such a boat).

By the way, you do realise that all boats are not tested to the same standard. It's not like ENCAP for cars. The builder tests up to a level to comply with the law, but just because a boat is tested to cat C it doesnt mean it wont conform to cat B, or a Cat B boat to A - often for low volume builders is it the restictive cost of the testing.
 
Dare I say it

Trader 42

A bit shorter than you want but Cat A and built for Offshore and Inland (so I am advised)

Running for cover as I type
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
May
xx
 
[ QUOTE ]
capable of extended offshore passages at both displacement and semi displacement speeds

[/ QUOTE ]Do you really mean it? If so, I'm afraid you'll be hard pressed to find your boat. There are boats capable of both D and SD speed of course, but their range is always significantly reduced by the latter.
Anyway. By heart I'd say that the Mulder 59 is what gets closer to your requirements at the moment.
See www.muldershipyard.com
 
Yup, I know that CE certification is mainly a self certification process and obviously depends on the competence of the manufacturer but, in the case of the Elling, which is built by the well known Neptunus yard, I would be prepared to believe them. I also agree that some manufacturers may opt for a lower category because of the cost of certification. I also think that some manufacturers opt for a lower category for fear of future litigation eg if somebody like gludy takes his Cat A boat out in a gale and it capsizes, the manufacturer might end up in court
However, in general, if a manufacturer does go to the expense and effort of getting Cat A, I'm inclined to believe that his boats are designed for offshore rather than coastal cruising
 
I agree 100% that if a boat is marked Cat A I have absolutley no doubt that the manufacturer has done all the tests and the vessel meets the requirements 100% - especially from a dutch yard like Neptunus.

My point was there may well be equally capable boats that aren't marked as Cat A that might be over looked, which I think we agree on /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Yes you can and it's a good suggestion, despite the general disapproval of Trader on this forum. The T42 is along the right lines but it would need to be bigger and I'd have to be convinced about the hull in really bad conditions
 
If you've been out in the Solent recently and see this beasty working on the water pipes to the Isle of Wight (off Gurnard point) - it was built in the same yard as the Elling /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

2418547990_6974774da5.jpg


Rick
 
The Mulder is absolutely gorgeous but I dare not ask the price!
 
Well, you didn't mention 'reasonably priced' in your wish list...
But she fits nicely the bill for all the rest, doesn't she? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
... Cat A, I'm inclined to believe that his boats are designed for offshore rather than coastal cruising

[/ QUOTE ]I thought the RCD boat categories were:
<ul type="square">[*]Cat A - Ocean Passages > F8
[*]Cat B - Offshore <=F8
[*]Cat C - Inshore <=F6
[*]Cat D - Sheltered <= F4
[/list]Are you mixing up Cat B and C rather than A and B? Sure for long range and transat Cat A, but around the UK offshore scene Cat B seems enough. Are you anticipating ever getting caught out in F8 or higher? Anyway anything more than F6 is quite uncomfy in a rolling mobo of any size.
 
Sure Jez, appreciate that. My question was would a Cat A vessel (ie certified F8-F10) not be rather overkill, even for challenging offshore passages which Cat B vessels are certified and designed for, and as you state may actually be built to handle same but not certifed? It just seems to limit Mike's options somewhat, unless he's planning long ocean passages such as transat, etc.

PS: I was at a slide show talk last Saturday given by a young couple who had sailed around the world over three years in their 33ft sail yacht. Amazing stories and photo's.
 
I have pursuaded myself that displacement speed is fine, post retirement.
I have looked at the Sturier range of boats www.volharding-staveren.nl. They are beuatifully made, both steel work and interior cabinetry. They keep a low profile quite well up the size range and are all built to Category A.
An interesting report on the 400OC on a trip from Holland to SIBS in some very inclement weather.
Sheer quality.
 
No, I'm not mixing them up but SWMBO and I have talked about our long term cruising plans and we want to do things like circumnavigating the UK and Ireland, crossing the North Sea and doing the Baltic and then down to the Med via Biscay. But we would also like to do a bit of inland cruising. Maybe the Thames or the Dutch waterways
Yup, I know that Cat B boats would be suitable for that but I want something that's as seaworthy as it can be, hence Cat A. In any case, Cat A is not that uncommon. My Ferretti is certified Cat A and that's just a normal planing boat
 
[ QUOTE ]
Its a bit more complicated than that, and as I have said previuosly, just because a boat is Cat C doesnt mean it cant be used over F6, it just means it has been tested to F6

[/ QUOTE ]

I bet your insurance company would ask some searching questions if you took a Cat C boat out in conditions over F6 and sunk it. In fact that would be another reason for going for a Cat A boat in that your insurance co would not be able to refuse a claim on the basis of you taking the boat out in conditions beyond what it was certified for
 
Please define that 'inland waterways' slot: do you mean European so an air draft of 3.5m? Surely not UK canals - I had to take a hacksaw to the radar mount to achieve 2.2m AD! But you wouldn't want to be seen dead in my Sea Angler I'm sure, even tho' crossing Chi Bar with 8 hours to spend I have a choice of Weymouth, Cherbourg or Pulboro', whatever the weather.
(Thinks: really must get a grip of Photobucket and post pics of the River Arun . . .)
 
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