Choosing a boat for cruising

I bought an old wooden boat in the seventies ( Hillyard 3ton - pitch pine planks on oak frames, beautiful and sea kindly boat, name of Teal ) and spent a few years doing it up. I worked really hard putting in all the effort and enthusiasm that a young man has his disposal at that age. I made a lot of mistakes. I mean a LOT of mistakes. I am pretty sure that had I been doing the work at the present time I would have made no mistakes and done a far better job. Why? Because of the Internet, and people such as yourselves, and the ability to research and order almost anything from anywhere. The Internet has been a real game changer for the sailing world I think. The younger set who have grown up with the internet can have no idea what it was like to be working, on your own, in a yard near Sandwich with one small chandler an hours drive away! I have subscribed and thank you.

terrifically informative... I just stumbled across your channel and suspect a binge watch is in order ;)

I have seen wind generators placed foreword on the bow, but clearly you need a set up you can take down or keep clear when the sails are up.

You have a gift for explanation: that was a really clear video packed with experience and mature reasoning. I'm enjoying a virtual sailing experience from the comfort of my sofa. If I ever get off it I will follow your advice.

I agree 100%. Extremely well though out video subject matter. I truly appreciate you both offering suggestions on choosing the best boat for one in search of a sailboat based of all aspects so very important to consider.

Really liked the previous videos, but Loved this one a lot! It was so helpful because of the different planning considerations for a wannabe boat owner. This one earned my subscription. Thank you!

Judy and Steve, thank you for the brilliant videos and especially the more techy ones like this. We're looking at a converted wooden fishing vessel as our live aboard and just wanted to ask about maintenance of wooden builds in your experience? She's just had a lot of replacement work done so we're referring to the regular stuff you do to maintain her. Thanks again Sarah and Craig

This was a very good video but after living on a boat for eight years, I thought you missed one important point. Maintenance and your boat has a a lot of maintenance. with so much teak and varnish to keep up with. This not only takes time but $ as well.

Noisy drone at the start!, Sometimes a 'dub' track is not just for the intro lol

exc presentation. ty

...or a ketch that is cutter rigged. Follow the Boat makes some pretty compelling arguments for a ketch (and their boat is cutter rigged.) I thought about it for awhile but came back to your thinking - it's just a lot of extra rigging. Jaime and Liz sail as a couple and manage it fine. If nothing else, though, there is a significant increase in the costs of keeping the standing and running rigging in a reliable state. The argument they make is that more often than not, they are running with one of the headsails and the mizzen, apparently achieving a really nice balance in the boat (and saving wear on the main and its rig.) So many choices and tradeoffs. Nice video.

Oh, and I occasionally look at Contessa 32's. Unfortunately (for me and my needs) they are almost always located in the UK. I don't run across too many in the States. I suppose, though, that if I have a narrow geographic preference, I probably shouldn't be looking at the Contessa in the first place. :) I once did a passage with John Kretschmer and he was trying to talk me into a Contessa 32 the entire time.

I'm partial to ketches, but the key is flexibility. A cutter has that as well.

The sloops I've looked at that were for serious blue water all had an extra stay for the heavy weather rig.

Thanks for the concise video! I just subscribed!

Wow , bloody great video,

Wow, such a pile of information.

Excellent topic and very well presented. Your HC would be a dream boat for me having admired many from afar. Just one point I question the use of photos of yachts that weren’t even built when the ‘79 Fastnet was staged as they are not representative of the yachts of that time. eg. Firat 31.7 first built 1998. Also, the comment about a number of yachts capsizing being caused by losing their keels. Many did capsize but not as a result of keel loss as far as I know. Many rudders were lost resulting in water ingress and many boats abandoned that were later found still floating. Capsize was mostly due to the horrendous conditions and whilst some boats stayed inverted 180 dogs for a time most righted themselves but may have sunk due to water ingress. Amazingly many yachts did not secure their washboards or Don life jackets and harnesses. I have read many books on this disaster and also many articles on the lessons learned and I have competed in a number of Fastnet races. The comment prompted me to look back at the various failures of the yachts but I could not find any reference to keel loss so I would be interested to know where you got this detail from. I’m not trying to criticise but I have just never heard this before. Keel loss has certainly been a problem in more modern yachts and I for one love my encapsulated keel! Andy U.K.

great tips ...still you are promoting your own vessel to buy cause i do not hear anything on Second mast advantages

yes love your blog

Well done

Very good video. 10/10

Super clear explanation - thank you!

Would you consider a HC48T to be a fast cruiser?

Twice the length does not give you “16x the stability”. The two main factors for monohull stability are: initial form stability, and, as the boat heels further the lever force of the keel and/or bilge ballast becomes more important. A small boat can have both excellent form stability and ballast stability, and a large boat, such as a high sided flat bottomed ferry, can in extremis have very poor stability characteristics. If a GZ curve is available for the boat you’re interested in buying, then look for something with around 125º of positive righting moment - a little more for smaller boats is desirable and a little less is allowable for larger boats that are less affected by wave motion. Otherwise an excellent blog.

I greatly appreciate you incites and factual information!

Have you looked into hydro generators?

God, what a beautiful boat 😮😍

An awful lot of good sense in that one

Great video. But…. Knifes stored on a magnet at head level?!?

I hear you say briefly that you had a Yankee? Was it the 38?

I've watched this so many times to write info down ,I've developed British accent and a craving for afternoon tea 🍵, great video guys !!!

Great vid and a gorgeous boat, thanx.

I’m new to your channel and We’ve been looking for a live on boat and I have never seen one as beautiful as Fair Isle, it’s magnificent in every way and I think you have me sold. I’ll be watching all your videos for more advice and help. One question, can you sail her from continent to continent?

You two are fantastic!

Excellent review. Thank you! Two suggestions for easy cruising...a Wind Vane to augment the auto-pilot. Mine is a Hydrovane with a separate rudder as back-up for the venerable spade rudder on my Cal 39. To assist hauling halyards and sheets, I use a Milwaukee "Hawg", a right-angle, 18 volt drill with a "Winch Bit". Don't need the bigger Super Hawg, just a couple of heavy duty batteries (at least 6.0 Ah) with charger. Can use on all winches and around the boat as a powerful drill. Other name-brands offer a similar tool.

Thank you so much for this very clear explanation! Really helpful!

Really lovely and informative docies..
Keep it up

This is a very informative video - many thanks. I have to admit that I love the more traditional lines of sailing yachts with long, deep keels. As for planing, IMO that should be confined to dinghies

Lead acid = Hydrogen?

Soooo if you had to purchase a new sailboat ⛵️ which brand ?

The one you've got.

Superb video!! A question if I may please. What do you mean when you say that you will "coke up the back end" while running your engine at anchor to charge the battery bank?

black water? wait. do we no longer pee off the starboard side and toss a chamber pot's contents overboard? I would think when you flushed a modern toilet it was a vacuumed chute the spit it all out a one way on.. kind of like the backside of an elephant or horse if you've ever seen that -just kinda shoots out.

sleep in a hammock just below.. when shorthanded rotations. it's great sleep once you learn how to lay in it proper. and can save quite a bit of space

Do you make the brand of your boat impossible to find intentionally? Nothing on your website either…

Fantastic content! I've been watching you're older episodes and catching up and you're quickly becoming one of my favorite sailing channels! Very informative content presented in a very likable and interesting way. You also have great taste in yachts! I own a Hans Christian 33, so perhaps I'm just biased. Fair winds! ⛵️

A couple of times, I thought you said feral instead of Fair Isle.

Hi, really enjoy your videos. You have a lovely boat and up until a few years ago I thought the Hans Christians were my dream boat. So here is the rub and my question. I have been sailing since college when I raced dinghies at school and my own Hobie 18. I have sailed as far South as St. Lucia but spent most of my life sailing on Lake Michigan either on racing boats or my own 1967 Alberg 37. I sold her about 6 years ago and now find myself researching and looking at new to me used boats. About three years before I sold my Amazing Grace I had a mishap, probably the only really dangerous one. I have been very lucky. Anyway, sailing downwind in about 35 mph winds I lost my back stay. I handed my crew the helm and brought the topping lift down to the deck and then brought the main halyard back for good measure. We had been sailing only on a headsail. I really believe that if not for the keel stepped mast we would have lost our mast. So the question is, what are your feelings on this subject? As I said above I coveted a HC up until I had this failure. I know that if this would have happened to me with a deck stepped mast it would have been catastrophic. What are your thoughts?

I appreciate the advice.

Lovely and true comments, thank you ever so much , loooove the boat ,what a pleasure that must have to sail it through the oceans

Solid information. Thank you.