Nica Waters has cruised extensively aboard her 28’ boat, sometimes just with her husband, Jeremy, and sometimes with her 2 kids. Her perspective urging you to consider all the comforts of life aboard is based on solid experience, and it might make you rethink your answer to the question, “How big a boat do I need to go cruising?”
Amazon links to book mentioned:
Lin and Larry Pardey: Cruising In Serrafyn
Prefer to read? Check out How Big a Boat Do You Need on Nica’s blog
Anonymous says
At what point (length) do boats require a beam over 102″?
The Boat Galley says
That’s a question for a naval architect. I take it that you’re limited by slip size?
Anonymous says
No, wondering how big (long) a trailered boat could be be before it legally becomes a “wide load?”
Nica Waters says
there are boats designed to all specs – take a look at a Macgregor, where the design was made to fit in a container – it’s a long, skinny boat. As far as I know, the only restriction on “double-wide” is the actual width. I think Hess designed the NorSea 27 to be road-legal.
Kris Fisher says
I have bought boats in Mayland and trucked them all over the east to Canada, taking in six states and while the boats were 27-29 feet long, the beams were in the 9’6″ range but that wide load was up upwards of 9-10 feet in the air, away from obsticals,most traffic, and measuring tapes. No dmv’s were interested in me, I drove beside one in pennsylvania for miles. I will be pulling my 29 to florida from Ontario if all goes well, no wide load flags, or ‘advertisements’.
cheers!
Anonymous says
It would become an over-length load before you had a really compelling reason to increase the beam except that performance would gradually suffer due to an inability to carry enough sail for the amount of wetted surface.
Anonymous says
Quality of boat build deserves far more consideration than length !
Nica Waters says
It does, I agree, but a lot of people get stuck on having a boat of a certain length. I’d love to have people look at the question differently. Good luck, right?
Anonymous says
A Hess-designed 22-foot Falmouth Cutter would do nicely.
Anonymous says
Would be luxurious as a single hander but probably start to feel crowded with two, based on how often one person would be asking the other to move so they could get something they wanted.
Anonymous says
Tod Mills Compared to my 15-foot CLC Pocketship it would be palatial and my wife does not sail.
Anonymous says
My current boat is a Montgomery 17. I could easily spend the summer aboard, providing the weather were pretty pleasant. With my project boat, I’ll have a heater aboard for cool and wet weather.
I know a lady who has spent summers aboard a variety of small boats, mostly a West Wight Potter 14 and a Slipper 17, cruising the North Channel of Lake Huron.
Nica Waters says
We met a park ranger in the Dry Tortugas who had sailed his Montgomery 17 there from Key West – when we sailed in on Calypso, we were greeted warmly and shown areas of the park others don’t get to see. They are fun boats!
Anonymous says
Tod Mills Nice boat the Monty. Read an article about a guy who cruised the Sea of Cortez in one. Said little boat skippers were popular with the locals. I will forever be a small boat sailor although every few years I get my jollies signing on as crew on tall-ships
Nica Waters says
We know people who cruised extensively on their Falmouth Cutter (the 22′ version; I think someone has a much larger Hess-designed boat they also call a Falmouth, which can be confusing.) I love how it’s all relative, right? Yes, compared to a 15′ boat the 22 would scratch the “6-foot-itis” itch nicely.
Anonymous says
“If it doesn’t have a buffet and a Casino it’s not Sea Worthy!! ”
John Pinette
Nica Waters says
Thank goodness we all have different takes and tastes!
Robin Scurr says
Hmmmm … no audio here? Check your post, something seems to be wrong? Other podcast pages play fine?
Carolyn Shearlock says
Fixed — I’m not sure what happened but I reloaded it and now it’s showing up.
Anonymous says
I’m rebuilding a Tartan 26 to be my singlehanding cruiser. Originally it was built with 4 berths but I’m changing to two.
Nica Waters says
Makes me think of Don Casey and “This Old Boat” where he pokes fun (sort of ) at boat ads that mention how many people the boat sleeps – because yes, true, you COULD sleep all those people in the boat, but how would you change into your pajamas and with one head, what happens if dinner disagrees with anyone? I think making the boat work for you and your plans is awesome. Good luck!
Anonymous says
I once cruised for ages on a Columbia 27, looked like a caravan externally but was great below the waterline, we once left Sydney Harbour and headed to a port forty miles north, we arrived first and left forty foot yachts in our wake, the boat was well set up, didn’t have to adjust anything
Nica Waters says
I think people underestimate how well a small boat can often sail – I remember reading one of the Pardey books where they suggested that small boats can sometimes sail longer and “harder” because the sails are small enough to be handled easily. I know for us, we’ve held our own against larger boats often, which irritates them no end. Still, any boat can be set up well for sailing!
Anonymous says
So much to consider! So fun to consider it!
Nica Waters says
even more fun to get out there and get cruising! 🙂
Anonymous says
Approaching 5 months on our 27 ft Albin…currently in the Keys, but here is our little Mary Jo hangin’ with the big boys!
Anonymous says
Looking good, what marina are you at!
Anonymous says
Evelyn H. Pica this was at the Marriott in Stuart. We definitely want to visit HC on our way North so hopefully we’ll see you guys if you are still there in April!
Nica Waters says
Nice!
Diane Sanderbeck says
Amen, Nica! When I first started thinking about a boat, it was 40-42 feet. Now it’s how small can I get away with and be comfortable just like you. I don’t have mine yet, but it will find me. I look forward to meeting you, Carolyn and other WWS someday. Fair winds and following seas~
Diane
Nica Waters says
Yahoo! In any case, however you get out there, it’ll be awesome. Look forward to meeting you as well!
wil bailey says
Although a ‘furriner’ living in England – the original one – I’m well pleased to see articles and comments such as these here. In considering ‘how small’, one should remember the tension between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’… and that the young French race hard across the Atlantic from Europe to Guadeloupe in 21′ boats, solo. Also, that the English ( mostly ) sail across the Atlantic from Plymouth – the original one – to Newport RI every few years in a regeneration of the original OSTAR…. in under 30′ boats. And then back again. Of course they’re seaworthy!
“It’s not the ships, but the men ( er, women ) in ’em!” to borrow a famous phrase.
Clare says
Hi Nica, great podcast, thanks We sail a 27ft Albin Vega in Scandinavia and we’re grappling with the same questions: kids grown / we’re getting older / maybe a bit more comfort needed? On the other hand, we know every inch of our boat, we trust her and we love her. So, she’s a keeper! Best wishes, Clare.
Carl says
Thank you I enjoyed listening to you. Especially the comment about seeing the same sunset.