Seafarer Forum

Some ideas for considering going off shore.

Posted By: Joe McCary Aeolus II, West River, MD
Date: 10/11/07 4:02p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: off the cuff .. (V. Cleary)

Thanks Charlie, this is a great thread. It should be helpful to all boats, not just specific models. And not just ones about to step off shore.
Seafarer hulls are as strong as tanks and the rigging (original) was also very strong. But there are some other areas that could benefit from from some beefing up.
The port lights were very poor. They are large and not well supported if a wave were to crash into them I suspect they would break allowing water to swamp the cabin. At the minimum boards bolted over the window would prevent breaking.
The rigging would be the next area I would check, rigging takes much more abuse in an off shore passage, so I would replace with new at least the size of original, maybe up size.
The cockpit scuppers (drains) are small and could be redone to both corners of the cockpit and then not be thru hull drains.
The companionway is too large and way too low, a wave breaking over the stern could swamp the boat.
Bilge pumps are another area to examine for upgrade. At the very least one auto bilge pump and a big manual hand pump would be the minimum.
Sails could be stronger than factory originals. Most sail lofts sell off shore grade sails.
Navigation is another area for concern. I use a chart plotter while sailing. I don't plot dead reckoning positions on a chart although I would if off shore. I would also learn celestial navigation because I subscribe to the theory if it can break it will and at the worst possible time.
Some self steering, probably a wind vane but maybe a tiller pilot, maybe both.
That leaves THE most important area for upgrade: the Skipper and crew. Most of us are inland or maybe coastal sailors. We sail for a few hours a week and only in good weather. But when sailing off shore we have no control over what conditions arise.

Messages In This Thread

What's YOUR thoughts on what makes a boat "blue water" ready? -- Charlie Jones, Meridian 25 Tehani, Magnolia Beach, Texas -- 10/10/07 6:06p.m.

off the cuff .. -- V. Cleary -- 10/11/07 1:25p.m.

Some ideas for considering going off shore. -- Joe McCary Aeolus II, West River, MD -- 10/11/07 4:02p.m.

OK- SOME of the things we did to Tehani -- Charlie Jones, Meridian 25 Tehani, Magnolia Beach, Texas -- 10/11/07 6:39p.m.

.. in a similiar situation -- v. cleary -- 10/12/07 6:18a.m.

NOt a problem- shoot me an email direct, with your address -- Charlie Jones, Meridian 25 Tehani, Magnolia Beach, Texas -- 10/12/07 6:53a.m.

it would be great if you could send me ... -- V. Cleary -- 10/12/07 2:54p.m.

I havew a better idea. why don't you email me your snail mail addy -- Charlie Jones, Meridian 25 Tehani, Magnolia Beach, Texas -- 10/12/07 3:52p.m.

I have the CD burned for you, just haven't had time to MAIL it. -- Charlie Jones, Meridian 25 Tehani, Magnolia Beach, Texas -- 10/18/07 4:51p.m.

If you're burning CDs . . . -- Greg -- 10/20/07 6:32a.m.

Safety is my major concern -- James Newsome -- 10/13/07 2:16a.m.

a knock down? Certainly. A rollover- I'm fairly certain -- Charlie Jones, Meridian 25 Tehani, Magnolia Beach, Texas -- 10/13/07 6:06a.m.

Knockdowns -- Joe McCary Aeolus II, West River, MD -- 10/13/07 12:41p.m.

OK I'm gonna jump in.... -- Tim "Morning Dove" WWP19 #457 Potter Valley CA -- 10/12/07 2:39p.m.

Hi Tim - welcome to the board -- Charlie Jones, Meridian 25 Tehani, Magnolia Beach, Texas -- 10/12/07 5:05p.m.

Since I'm one of those people... -- Adam Plourde - Seafarer 24 "Godot" - Chesepeake Bay -- 10/13/07 9:29p.m.

Sounds like a decent list. Here's what we did -- Charlie Jones, Meridian 25 Tehani, Magnolia Beach, Texas -- 10/13/07 10:00p.m.

Beautiful Charlie . . . -- Greg -- 10/15/07 4:43p.m.

lol- gotta keep stringing ya along don't I? -- Charlie Jones, Meridian 25 Tehani, Magnolia Beach, Texas -- 10/15/07 8:41p.m.

More, more, more . . . -- Greg -- 10/17/07 3:54p.m.

Well, yeah- we have TONS of pics of the inside. And it's way away from the stock -- Charlie Jones, Meridian 25 Tehani, Magnolia Beach, Texas -- 10/17/07 7:18p.m.

Ya know -- Skipper Adams -- 10/18/07 12:06p.m.

Wow, Thanks Charlie what a treat! -- Tim "Morning Dove" WWP19 #457 Potter Valley CA -- 10/18/07 7:12p.m.

Only just . . . -- Greg -- 10/20/07 5:53a.m.

What a beautiful job Charlie and Laura -- Skipper Adams -- 10/15/07 9:10a.m.

Thank you- we are pretty proud of her. The 11 days was -- Charlie Jones, Meridian 25 Tehani, Magnolia Beach, Texas -- 10/15/07 4:27p.m.

Right on Charlie -- Skipper Adams -- 10/18/07 11:55a.m.

Hey- I have your deck plates. I've just been spending time -- Charlie Jones, Meridian 25 Tehani, Magnolia Beach, Texas -- 10/18/07 3:00p.m.

She make her -- Skipper Adams -- 10/20/07 8:00a.m.

Here's a link to a video of Tehani sailing offshore -- Charlie Jones, Meridian 25 Tehani, Magnolia Beach, Texas -- 10/21/07 10:10a.m.

Is that Jimmy Buffet on board? -- Joe McCary Aeolus II, West River, MD -- 10/26/07 8:56p.m.

Rock HEAD would be more apropos -- Charlie Jones, Meridian 25 "Tehani" Magnolia Beach, Tex -- 10/27/07 5:57a.m.

Hey thanks Charlie, what great clip to... -- Tim "Morning Dove" WWP19 #457 Potter Valley CA -- 10/27/07 8:49p.m.

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