| Living aboard: It really depends on you. The weight and volume of
necessary food, water, fuel, clothing, books, and much boat equipment
are relatively independent of boat size. I am becoming quite creative
finding space on a 32 foot boat for all the equipment and supplies we'd
like to have along for extended cruising. I'd find a 27 foot boat too
small for living aboard for more than, say, a month. Moreover, the
smaller the boat the less space there is separating you from an angry
mate.
Offshore cruising: Extended passages in small boats are possible (eg,
the Pardeys, John Guzzwell's circumnavigation in a 20 foot boat, alone,
etc), but the risk and discomfort are greater than on a somewhat larger
boat. Some surveys of long term cruising folk indicate that 35 to 40
feet is the optimum size for a crew of two. Surveys also indicate that
the most successful crew is a crew of two -- one of each gender. What
you think is large enough is really your decision. For me, 27 feet is
too small. I'd be willing to sail my 32 foot boat around the world. I'd
much rather circumnavigate a 40 foot boat, but cost then becomes a major
issue.
Alan
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| I think you may have misunderstood what I meant by surveys. I was not
referring to the construction, per se, of boats. Rather, I was referring
to questioning experienced sailors about what they like and dislike
about their boats and equipment.
Jimmy Cornell in Modern Ocean Sailing (I think the title is) asked a
large number of sailors who have been cruising longer than a year to
rate various things on a scale of 1 to 10. For example, on a scale of 1
to 10, how do your rate your
cutter rig
diesel engine
propane stove
windvane
autopilot
etc
There were also, as I recall, some wishful thinking questions. What size
boat would you like to have? what rig? what keel shape? etc. A 2nd
edition of Cornell's book was published recently. There have also been
articles published in Cruising World and Sail along the same lines.
I don't think that PS has specifically evaluated the Vancouver 27. PS
tends to look at boats which have been built in large numbers. I think
that PS's position would be that there are boats, large and small, that
are safe offshore and boats, large and small, that aren't. The
difference tends to be in basic design and quality of construction. Some
deficiencies are correctable, some aren't.
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| Correction: The title is Modern Ocean Cruising, published by Adlard
Coles.
Some results:
Rig Average Percent Average LOD
Rating of Total (feet)
Sloop 8.58 31 33
Cutter 9.25 19 39
Ketch 8.10 44 42
Yawl 5.00 2 42
Schooner 7.33 5 67
Keel
long 8.96 68
medium 9.12 14
fin 8.93 14
bilge 6.50 4
Length Average crew size
<35 ft 7.75 2
35-40 ft 9.27 2.5
40-45 ft 8.83 2.4
>45 ft 9.25 3.5
The book has lots of other useful information. 79% preferred CQR anchors
(9.1 rating), the rest Danforths (8.8 rating) in sizes larger than
recommended by the manufacturer.
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| I was off kicking hulls yesterday morning and had the opportunity
to look at a Vancouver 27 in some detail. This boat can be purchased
as a hull and deck or factory finished. I looked at a factory
finished boat, built in '82. The factory is in England, I believe.
This particular boat had made her way to Seattle on her own bottom
over the years. In superb shape considering that usage. The broker
said the design had been commissioned by a couple in Vancouver,
B.C. They sailed hull #1 to the western Pacific and sold the rights
to the design, according to broker. The boat is featured in the
"other boats" section of "Best Boats to Build or Buy".
With few exceptions, the boat was sturdily constructed, surprisingly
roomy, and had ample storage. If anyone has an interest in a sister
ship, I'll provide a copy of my survey checklist.
Here are a few points which held my attention:
1) The interior layout differed significantly from the one drawn
in "Best Boats". There is no hull liner so setting up a custom
interior may be the rule. This boat had a chain and line locker
forward. Next, a shortish (6'1") V berth with volumninus sail locker
beneath. Then a full-width head with pull-out sink and W.C. starboard
and hanging locker and shelving to port. 3/4" bulkhead on each
side of the head. Salon had wider (~25") settee berths port and
starboard with storage beneatch. Center drop-leaf table. Chart
table and seat to starboard of companionway with foul-weather gear
aft of the seat back and open. Galley to port with one sink, lng
stove, lots and lots of storage. The small (4 ft�) cooler is under
the navigation seat! Engine access beneath the ladder.
2) This boat seemed ill-suited to warm weather cruising. Lots of
heavy ports but all are fixed. Opening hatch in head. Three dorades,
one in V-berth and two in salon. The boat was "insulated" with
light carpet-like material and had a drip-rail along the cabin trunk.
...on the other hand, there was no provision for heat or hot water
in this particular boat...
3) I was disappointed in the thru-hulls. Not a sea-cock to be found.
All were ball-values...with grounds. Also disappointed at the
chainplate attachments. The main upper shroud went to a knee and
that looked great. But the running shroud only went to the deck with
a 5" backing plate. And, worst of all IMHO, the lower forward shroud
looked to be simply thru-bolted to the deck...I couldn't feel any
backing plate or extra glass under the insulation. I'm not sure
how critical this is in a 27' cutter rig, but I was not impressed!
4) The cockpit is very nice, small leg well, high combing (sp?),
and a comforatable bridge deck. The companionway opening is aat
bridge deck height. The winches seemed undersized on this boat
for its intended use (Gibb 28RAs).
So, there seemed to be lapses in equipment and a definite orientation
to cooler climes. On the whole, I liked what I saw. If I owned
her, there would be new winches, more opening ports / hatches
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