Which type of boat for ocean passage and canals?

We have been looking around for live aboard boats and have found a very nice Colvic Atlanta 32 with a band new 67hp engine. This has a draft of 1.2m (4ft) so would go through the European cannals. Does anybody have experience of these boats in open water or as a live aboard? Would it cross the altantic with out too much stress? Thanks for your thoughts!
For a canmal trip the Atlanta would be a very good choice. Colin Jones has written extensively in PBO of his similar 29 footer cruising the canals and western Med. However, don't think it would be on a list for a long distance ocean cruiser. Slow under sail, needs its engine, lots of windage and large windows.
 
I have just listed an Atlantic 40 that has done the canals, toured the Med and the Baltic, a genuine been there and done it boat that may suit you.
Have a look at it on my web site.
 
Thanks everybody for your replies. We have decided that prehaps the ARC is not the way to go and that we should set our own itinery and see how we get on. This would mean we could get a smaller boat and have a bigger cruising pot.

Our house is for sale so just one buyer is all we need!!
 
House is still for sale - that buyer must be out there somewhere!!

We have now sold the Galion and after lots of blog reading and forum scanning have decided that 40' is probably too big and expensive! Now looking at around 33'ish and have cut the budget to £25k ish to have a pot to cruise with and do all those jobs everybody talks about! Really, really want to go now especially as its getting dark and cold and wet here in Scotland!!

Thanks for all advise and opinions!
 
I'd better agree

...Voyager/Warrior 35 would do the job...

as we've just bought one for exactly the same reasons - draws 1.52m, so easily capable of both European & US canals, yet well proven offshore abilities too.

If you're patient/in the right place at the right time, one could be had for well inside the OPs budget; ours was and has already had all the big-ticket items replaced during the last few years.
 
> This dictates a minimum 40' (12.19m) boat.

The ARC will take boats less than 40 feet provided the boat is fitted out with the safety kit they require plus all the other requirements, including taking the boat to the Canaries with the crew (2 minimum). A Folkboat did it once, 32 footers have often done it, just ask them.
 
Like a lot of others we are planning the great escape. Remember that the upgrade from a standard production yacht to a blue water live aboard costs! We have added more batteries, solar charging, new sails, re-rigged, new running rigging, self steering, upgraded the fridge, bimini and holding tank, SSB, sat phone plus numerous other bits and pieces. Remember it is your home as well so don't forget the domestic side as well, cooker TV/DVD and radio/CD player etc, comfortable bed! good ventilation the list goes on and on!

Roll on next spring!
 
The trouble with smaller boats and rallies is that most of the fleet will arrive long before you do. The parties may be over thus loosing much of the supposed appeal of the rally. On the World event the fleet would probably be moving on before you even arrived if you had a 30 ft boat.
 
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