A Starting Point for Offshore Sailors

At last month’s St. Petersburg Boat Show, I had the opportunity to listen to delivery skipper and author John Kretschmer discuss what he described as sailboats built for serious ocean sailing. I’m somewhat skeptical of any list claiming to identify the ideal boats, but Kretschmer has considerable experience to draw upon. He reviews boats for Sail Magazine and wrote the book Sailing a Serious Ocean. His knowledge makes him well suited to compiling such a selection, and a list like this can be a useful starting point for aspiring cruisers beginning their search.

I wouldn’t restrict my own search to the boats included in a particular list. However, studying the advantages and disadvantages of each design can help prospective owners identify a vessel that matches their personal goals, sailing plans, and expectations.

John Kretschmer’s Recommended Offshore Sailboats

Kretschmer’s selection includes the Contessa 32, Pacific Seacraft 34, Pretorien 35, Cape Dory/Robinhood 36, Valiant/Esprit 37, Prout Snowgoose 37, Alajuela 38, Privilege 39, Freya 39, Passport 40, Caliber 40, Baba 40, Hallberg-Rassy 42, Taswell 43, Hylas 44, Norseman 447, Beneteau 456, Outbound 44, Hylas 46, Kaufman 47, Tayana 48, Hylas 49, Amel Maramu 53, and Sundeer 60/64.

Each model offers different characteristics, and looking at them individually can help sailors understand the range of vessels designed for extended voyages. The selection includes boats of various sizes and configurations, providing a broad overview of the possibilities available to offshore cruisers.

Why No List Can Include Every Good Boat

Kretschmer’s recommendations are certainly not the final word on offshore sailing boats. Many capable vessels are absent, while some of those included may not suit every sailor’s needs. He made this point clearly during his presentation.

One particularly useful aspect of the list is its variety. It covers a broad spectrum of designs, sizes, and sailing characteristics. For instance, Kretschmer includes the Prout Snowgoose and Steve Dashew’s Sundeer 60. Both have established records at sea, yet each occupies a distinctive niche within the cruising world.

This diversity is valuable because there is no single design that works equally well for everyone. A boat that performs admirably for one sailor may be unsuitable for another, depending on experience, intended routes, comfort requirements, and cruising ambitions.

Considering Smaller Offshore Cruisers

If I were to add more boats to the selection, I would consider some of the heavier-displacement microcruisers I have discussed previously. These compact vessels can be appealing to sailors who prefer a smaller boat but still want a capable platform for extended cruising.

Even so, I would hesitate to describe every boat in this category as suitable for serious ocean passages, regardless of its individual strengths. John Neale of Mahina Tiare Expeditions, however, includes the Dana 24 among his recommended cruising boats. His wider selection covers many more models and is supported by a useful explanation of the design characteristics sailors should evaluate when choosing a cruising vessel.

Construction Matters When Sailing Offshore

My interest in capable ocean-going boats grew from a series of reports examining sailboat construction, particularly the structural features that determine how well a vessel can withstand demanding conditions.

There are many excellent boats designed for coastal cruising, but the requirements become considerably more demanding when a vessel is expected to travel far offshore. In these circumstances, scantlings—the dimensions and specifications of structural components—deserve particular attention.

A boat’s appearance, accommodations, and sailing performance are important, but its underlying construction also plays a major role in its ability to handle heavy weather and prolonged exposure to challenging conditions. Sailors planning offshore passages should therefore look beyond a boat’s general reputation and carefully consider how it has been built.

Reader Suggestions for Tough Cruising Boats

Several years ago, we explored this subject in our Mailport section and invited readers to nominate boats they considered especially rugged. We referred to them as “tough boats”—vessels designed to withstand demanding use while requiring relatively little maintenance and ongoing attention.

These suggestions provide another perspective on what makes a cruising boat dependable. Owners and sailors often have valuable firsthand knowledge of a vessel’s durability, practical strengths, and behavior over many miles at sea.

There are undoubtedly other worthy candidates that could be added to the list. Recommendations from experienced sailors and reliable information about construction and offshore performance can help anyone narrow down the choices.

The Best Cruising Boat Is the One You Sail

Sailors can understandably feel disappointed when their preferred boat fails to appear on a published list of recommended offshore vessels. However, there is little reason to take such omissions too seriously. No selection can account for every boat, every sailor, or every kind of voyage.

One of the most memorable comments I have heard on this subject came from Steve Callahan, author of the survival classic Adrift. He shared his thoughts during a presentation at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Show. Having sailed extensively aboard both multihulls and monohulls, Callahan was well qualified to discuss different types of boats.

When I asked him which kind of boat he preferred, he answered with complete seriousness that, when everything was considered, the best cruising boat was the one you were actually aboard.

His response captures an important truth about choosing a vessel. Lists and expert opinions can offer useful guidance, but the right boat ultimately depends on the sailor, the journey, and the experience they hope to have at sea.