Ocean Crossing
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Choosing a boat
Forum Discription: Ask any questions about the sport!
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3014
Printed Date: 05 Aug 25 at 7:05am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Ocean Crossing
Posted By: Hounddog007
Subject: Ocean Crossing
Date Posted: 26 May 07 at 3:32am
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I am thinking about building a 22' Chesapeake Bay Sharpie Cruser, Ketch rigged. Before I start anything, I need to know if she will be able to make an Ocean Crossing? I want to leave from Key Largo, Florida and sail the Bahamas & the Caribbean. Should this boat be too small please let me know and please tell me what the smallest Boat I can use for an Ocean Crossing. Thank You, Jeff |
Replies:
Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 26 May 07 at 5:54pm
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ive heard several people talking about a "sharpie" doing ocean crossings (not sure if it was a 22 foot chesapeak bay jobbie) and how 30 foot used to be a plenty big enough boat to do ocean crossings in and they dont see why its all now 60 foot things. hope that made sense ------------- 600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318 |
Posted By: chrisjc123
Date Posted: 26 May 07 at 8:17pm
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i personally dont believe that its the length of the boat that actually matters, its the amount of gear you need to carry that matters eg spares food etc. also the seaworthyness (probally not a word), i ve heard stories of people crossing oceans in 8ft long boats not sure if its true or not but i cant see why it cant be done. hope that answers some questions |
Posted By: HannahJ
Date Posted: 26 May 07 at 8:37pm
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Not sure about the length, but the ketch rig should be good, the pointed transom is good in large waves (small amount of knowledge gleaned from Robin Knox-Johnston's book). His was a little larger i think, nearer to 30 foot off the top of my head? ------------- MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail |
Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 26 May 07 at 8:58pm
yes it is a word
no it isnt true. the guy gave up when he realised the boat wouldnt float (he put it on a boat pond to test it) there was a thread titled sea biscuit or something about this. ------------- 600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318 |
Posted By: chrisjc123
Date Posted: 26 May 07 at 9:14pm
| o yes that was the story i cant believe he would be able to do it in a 8ft boat though just crazy. |
Posted By: SetSail
Date Posted: 27 May 07 at 3:51am
its been done in a drascombe lugger.......i think. (he says rather intoxicvated after a night on the beeeeeeeer) thats 18ft all in. 
------------- RS821 - Now for sale, PM for details |
Posted By: Hounddog007
Date Posted: 27 May 07 at 6:02pm
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Dear Mike;
Thank You very much for your reply. I asked this
because a guy told me not less than 36' which is alot for 1 person to operate
plus, when I was a kid I used to Take an 18 footer over to the Bahamas all the
time.
Thank You God Bless
Jeff
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Posted By: Hounddog007
Date Posted: 27 May 07 at 6:11pm
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I am new to this so I want to really Thank everyone for their input. Your help has been invaulable and I feel much more confident about thew boat I am going to build,Thank You very Much and God Bless, Jeff |
Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 27 May 07 at 7:13pm
thankfully there is no law saying what you can and cant sail where (unless you sail on certain puddles) so i would say as long as you feel comfortable in your sailing go for it. ------------- 600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318 |
Posted By: Stefan Lloyd
Date Posted: 28 May 07 at 5:44am
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I'm afraid that's incorrect. The stability screening system number (SSSN) is used in the UK both to screen race entries and legally to determine what charter boats may be used for. Other things being equal, bigger boats will have a higher SSSN. One reason is that in the very large breaking seas associated with storm conditions and worse, bigger boats are less likely to be knocked down than smaller ones. The other is that because of scale effects, smaller boats are more tender than larger ones. |
Posted By: Stefan Lloyd
Date Posted: 28 May 07 at 5:51am
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Actually there are a number of such laws. For example in the UK there are strict laws limiting the range over which charter boats can be operated, related to both the safety equipment carried and the stability screening system number (SSSN), which is roughly speaking a measure of the vulnerability of the boat to knock-down in large breaking waves. The EU Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) is a mandatory scheme which classifies boats according to stability and other criteria to determine "suitable" use. While this isn't enforced in the UK, it is actively enforced in some other EU countries and people taking small boats out to sea can and have attracted police attention. |
Posted By: Hounddog007
Date Posted: 28 May 07 at 6:19am
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Dear Mike Ellis; I believe your right. Funny as it sounds I really am a son of a son of a son of a sailor. The biggest hop I will make is 48miles to Bimini from Miami and as another friend said it's more important what you bring with you than the length of the vessel. God Bless, Jeff |
Posted By: Hounddog007
Date Posted: 28 May 07 at 6:26am
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Dear Chrisjc123; My God Man! Thank You ! You see I had no clue about all these laws. My thinking was that with only a 5 hour crossing as long as I was sure of my weather I would be OK. Thank You So Much. God Bless, Jeff |
Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 28 May 07 at 8:36am
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i think a 48 mile crossing might take you more in the region of 8-10 hours than 5 hours in a 22 foot boat. thanks stefan, ill get back in my box. ------------- 600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318 |
Posted By: Hounddog007
Date Posted: 28 May 07 at 4:01pm
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Dear Mike; If you start out low on the state of Florida, Like Miami, or Key Largo you get the advantage of a 6knott current to help push you :) but yes I agree 100% the math says 10/11 hrs. Thanks. Jeff |