Hello, I find Myself in a position to go exploring. I'm looking for a craft, a solid one to explore the East coast. I've always dreamed of this, just so happens now I can. I'm not a survivalist, but am capable of it if required, fix just about anything, not a novice in that aspect. A good solid boat is required. Up to 39, I'm thinking 36. Is it harder to sail or manage a few extra feet? I want to make a move, but safety is a consideration. Any advice on a good solid boat? 36 min.

This topic seems to come up regularly. See prior post here which is for a bit smaller size range but hopefully there are useful comments and tips.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Sailing/General/Hello-and-a-lot-of-advice-please

Not trying to pry but are you after a yacht to refurbish or a turn-key situation to set sail tomorrow? Budget? Sailing experience? There was a Swanson 36 for free listed recently - obviously needed a lot of work but seemed solid in the photos - obviously a survey is needed to indicate structural integrity and inherently they don't always pick up everything.

See here yachts in the 35-40ft range. Yachts in this range of around the same displacement would be similar difficulty to sail single handed. A Duncanson 37 could suit.

yachthub.com/catlist/used/yachts-for-sale/sail-monohulls/36-40ft/17

If you don't know that much about yachts, how do you know you need a minimum of 36ft? Our 36'er is quite light and small for a 36' LOA boat but still dramatically heavier and (in some ways) harder to handle than our 2t 28'er. The 36's extra draft is also a bit of an issue at times, and many NSW areas are fairly shallow.

If short on experience, I'd feel far happier on a 28-30 footer than a 36 footer or bigger. I'm not sure why you mentioned "solid" three times. Obviously one wants a reasonably tough craft for cruising and offshore sailing, but there seems to be little if any actual proof that very heavy boats are safer for coastal cruising; look at the fact that the latest Golden Globe fleet (which is restricted to "solid" boats) has just had another boat sink.

R13, thanks for your tips, and Chris. I need a bigger boat simply because I want to be off grid for a little while. I need the water. The fuel is for safety. I also need space for My little mate. Just basic sailing is enough at this point. It may sound dumb, but it's what Im going to do. In fact, its the dumbest thing ever. So, all lines running to cab, any harder?

Ok thanks. Obviously I don't know what your circumstances are but it seems like a caravan could suit far better, driving up the glorious east coast. Apologies if I have misjudged your plans or intentions.

Sorry, I'm not speaking the Speak, phonetics it is. Look ok, its a jet fighter, it aint.

You know I'm into archery, well I was, and still hold an Australian title, thanks to Covid do to this day. When I started the sport My mate sold Me a compound bow, with 30 arrows. I destroyed 28 of those arrows strait up... Thing is, I now know how to shoot. I'm not about destroying boats, maybe a few sails, no problems.

If you want 36 foot and you want solid find yourself a W.A. built S&S 36. It will break you before you break it.
There are a few 34s for sale but no 36s that I can find.
Here are a few alternatives.
yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/swarbrick-s111/286373
yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/duncanson-35/286561
yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/duncanson-37-centre-cockpit/285989
yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/adams-40cc-round-bilge/284628
yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/northshore-38/284311
yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/sayer-37/283695
Weight for weight there is nothing stronger than aluminium.
yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/custom/283675
yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/van-de-stadt-seal-36/280789
yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/lotus-11-0-alan-wright-11m-sloop/278602

There is a whole world of choice out there. It just comes down to your budget and commitment.

S&S, thanks, I'll look into it. Cheers. I intend to hire a skipper, or a competent person for a period of about three weeks to show Me the ropes and what is required, regards updates to the rig to single hand if required. I don't realy want to single hand at all in the learning curve. I will pay generously for the training. I'm competent in a lot of ways, however? I require the confidence, the knowledge to comprehend. Once This is achieved, set. Any other solid boats? Full keel preferable. I need a 36ft, for a number of reasons. Thanks for you help and advice.

Thanks Cisco for the massive list of boats. In fact it's started Me thinking about a 34, but no less. In fact, anything under can be had for a song, I've got plenty of coin, but not stupid. I'm somewhat techinical and enjoy what it offers, I need something technical, something to work with, and the power to run it. A good hull would do, with a cracker mast. Id prefer to work on it Myself, and kit it out to Myself, I have the time. So great Power is a must to run electronics. A mast to Keel, and a full keel for confidence. A large water supply for independence, and a reasonable amount of diesel to run a strong motor for safety. Like I said, I can fix just about anything. I'm not in a hurry, in fact Im chill. No problem spending the year fixing anything.

The length of a vessel is not a relevant comparison of size, ie a 30' job with a displacement of say 4.5 t is not going to be as roomy as a 30' with 10t displacement. Then you have the world of multi hulls cats are stable, roomy, shoal draft,have lots of realestate for solar and go good. As to single handing a good auto helm and electric/ hydraulic winches will take care of the really heavy stuff on say a 50 footer plus, but the tricky bit is berthing / mooring. You sound like a capable person get around see what's what, grab a sailing dinghy & while learning to sail, cruise the mooring fields & anchorages, sailing folk are always happy to chat with a cruisie dingy sailor

Yes, you nailed it. Stopping is the problem, not sailing, anyone can sail bad and get away with it. I suspect you could advise of an arrival to a berth and recieve help to berth. I will be enlisting the help of a good skipper. This is to come. Mooring is a major problem. You can go electric ankor release and return, sounds so dodgy. Thanks for your positive post. I'm simply the type who has to know, once I have it, I'll build apon it pronto. Thanks for your post.

You can pick up an old heron or mirror type dingy there's others of course, with a trailer for not much money, they row good and make a stable fishing platform & the sail operation is the same as bigger vessels. See what's out there an literal learn the ropes

Cannot do that. I'll travel interstate for the right boat. Sure, I'll visit the club, and get advice. You must understand I'm selling up. If I cannot find what I require, well, I will go interstate once more. However, that will be one of the first things that I will do, got plenty if time, I must live on Her. . And then, I'll find a good skipper for a two week learning curve, crash course and be on My way. Lifes short, ay?

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Tikker said..
Hello, I find Myself in a position to go exploring. I'm looking for a craft, a solid one to explore the East coast. I've always dreamed of this, just so happens now I can. I'm not a survivalist, but am capable of it if required, fix just about anything, not a novice in that aspect. A good solid boat is required. Up to 39, I'm thinking 36. Is it harder to sail or manage a few extra feet? I want to make a move, but safety is a consideration. Any advice on a good solid boat? 36 min.

Hi Tikker,
Regards cost, a good rule of thumb is it kinda doubles every 8 feet or so.
A new mainsail for a 40'er is about 10K.
A new mainsail for a 34'er is about 5K.
A new mainsail for a 26'er is about 2.5K.

Safety...man, that's a relative term. I know a chap that broke a few ribs and a few things on the boat and did 600nm without a hint of outside assistance. Others will have the kitchen sink and fall apart when the seas get a little ugly. For mine, the biggest safety aspect on any boat by a wide margin is the human. For the boat itself, most get into real trouble from losing steerage, so Id be going for boats with an emergency tiller system or the capacity for it. Look for a watertight bulkhead between the rudder post and the main cabin. Look for robust keels that can survive groundings or collisions with UFO's.

Fluids...A 40'er might have 400 litres of water in tanks, but you don't tend to drink from most tanks, it tastes like crap. You carry potable water for drinking. A good sized fuel tank for coastal work is a few hundred litres, An economical and reliable engine that doesnt need to be wrung out doing 4 knots.

Electrical.. A fridge that doesn't eat batteries. A battery bank with a few hundred amp hours. Charging systems to suit. AIS is a godsend for coastal work. A good vhf and antenna with decent range. A masthead mobile phone antenna and booster if you like internet access.
Nice to haves......A liferaft or tender and somewhere to stow it. An anchor with a windlass. A spare anchor and somewhere to stow it .

Oh, and don't forget sail area. If you're carrying 100m2 of rag going upwind make sure you can change down gears easily enough short handed.
Boat size? That'll tend to sort itself out in the wash .

Spend a few $$ and do a Competent Crew course and then an Inshore Skipper course or whatever they call it nowadays.
You will pick up a great deal on not just sailing but how big a boat should be, sails and rigging, navigation, charts etc.

With your intended plan, you are an accident waiting to happen.

"Such is life" It's a little over the top morningbird. Sailing is a learning curve. It's like riding a bike, for Myself it was natural, for other's it ain't. I'm not unrealistic. I intend to hire a skipper, a competent person, that thinking is no accident, that's realistic for Me. but to do it well is another matter. I intend to do it well. How many passages have you made?

And thax baxter, great info, and sugestions. I'm a solid guy that learns fast. Paramout to Myself is saftey, to Myself and Others.I'm not a person who just does stupid things. I'll swing on an rope for quite some time before being foolish.

Glory Tikker. Everyone here wishes you well but in the greatest of good faith suggest don't dig a huge hole for yourself by slagging back at those who are trying to help you. MorningBird has done many passages as per his excellent instructive prior posts.

I'm not slagging, well. Thing is I learn quick. I understand what is being said, I also know that you can row to New Zealand. Or sail a rickety craft from one continent to the next. Is that talent or stupidity? Or knowing patterns. Sorry Morningbird, I did not mean offence. I do know what I'm capable of. My considerations are for Myself, and others, plus My company. I love this advice. Like I said, I will not pull a chain until I know I can manage it. Thanks guys.

As an offsider. I grew up in Sydney, and have sailed before, a bit. I was also into Kayak, and have been fully instructed. It was my hobby to hit the heads, and paddle around fort Dennison dodging the traffic on the way in and out, with tourist waving..32km in and out. Down lane Cove river, from the wier, and have seen platapus in its backwaters, real.Stopped a few times at the spot of the last shark fatality where the Ambo blew a clutch getting back up the hill. I've fished Coffs, and Royal National park, beach and Rock. like 4 years there, fantasic fishing beach, river, eastery, plus surfed. I love the ocean, I'm Scottish, from Kismal. Plus, I want to expore, bored to death in the present situation. I find myself in the strangest locations. Now, I want to explore, and the challenge to Myself would be live giving, I require this at this stage of My life. Best wishes, see you all soon.

Yes Tikker those are all admirable achievements, but are pretty much irrelevant to the challenges of offshore sailing.
As per previous posts, no-one here wishes you anything but the best, and there are some very deeply experienced people here who you really should listen to for your own safety.

Cheers, Graeme

Tinker I may have the right boat for you it's a Jarken 10 Europa and my wife and I have just spent the last 8 months exploring Queensland in her from Brisbane to Cairns and back. I know it's only 33ft but it's quite beamy and a great boat to learn to sail in. I've still got to move all our stuff off her then will be taking photos and advertising her.

Cheers. I simply want to sail the East Coast. And thank you all for the advise and offers. I should be right to go in about 8 weeks all being fine. Right now I'm reginal, with a lake accoss the road, amazing. Please forgive My grammer, no checks this end, I'm doing a John Lennon, one take. I remember one time comming back from the heads, just past Luna Park and getting hit, half way across the bay by at least 50knts, gusting, in a kayak. In fact it may have been this site I posted on with pictures, I took pictures while getting hammered. I'll be right, just require a refresher. So, I'm on this site, and will stay here..Any advice, and good boats keep Me informed. I must live aboard, thats that. See you on the water soon.

I've done a few things in my now longish life. One of them was fixed wing and helicopter search and rescue on the NSW south coast.
I've picked up people who shouldn't have been out there when they got into trouble. A couple were bodies.
A couple of weeks with someone going sailing won't prepare you to sail the coast at all safely.
Do the courses, go sailing on other peoples boats and then consider what you really want to do and how it is best done.
Yes I have done a few passages as crew and skipper between Cairns and Jervis Bay and out to Lord Howe island. When you're ready go out there, but only when you're ready.

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MorningBird said..
I've done a few things in my now longish life. One of them was fixed wing and helicopter search and rescue on the NSW south coast.
I've picked up people who shouldn't have been out there when they got into trouble. A couple were bodies.
A couple of weeks with someone going sailing won't prepare you to sail the coast at all safely.
Do the courses, go sailing on other peoples boats and then consider what you really want to do and how it is best done.
Yes I have done a few passages as crew and skipper between Cairns and Jervis Bay and out to Lord Howe island. When you're ready go out there, but only when you're ready.

I can only thank MorningBird for his generous posts on this forum, for his supportive comment when I finally chose a boat, and for his willingness to pass on the wisdom of his years.

Tikker, the ocean will sing to your dreams but it does not care for your intentions or knowledge. The people here care only for your safety. Listen to both.

Cheers,
Kinora

MB said it well, Kayaking around Sydney Harbour (been there, done that) is not valid preparation for safe offshore sailing.

The vast majority of people who sail around the coast will never get into trouble, but each year some of them do get into serious trouble and far more probably give up sailing because they think they have got into serious trouble.

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shaggybaxter said..

Tikker said..
Hello, I find Myself in a position to go exploring. I'm looking for a craft, a solid one to explore the East coast. I've always dreamed of this, just so happens now I can. I'm not a survivalist, but am capable of it if required, fix just about anything, not a novice in that aspect. A good solid boat is required. Up to 39, I'm thinking 36. Is it harder to sail or manage a few extra feet? I want to make a move, but safety is a consideration. Any advice on a good solid boat? 36 min.

Hi Tikker,
Regards cost, a good rule of thumb is it kinda doubles every 8 feet or so.
A new mainsail for a 40'er is about 10K.
A new mainsail for a 34'er is about 5K.
A new mainsail for a 26'er is about 2.5K.

Safety...man, that's a relative term. I know a chap that broke a few ribs and a few things on the boat and did 600nm without a hint of outside assistance. Others will have the kitchen sink and fall apart when the seas get a little ugly. For mine, the biggest safety aspect on any boat by a wide margin is the human. For the boat itself, most get into real trouble from losing steerage, so Id be going for boats with an emergency tiller system or the capacity for it. Look for a watertight bulkhead between the rudder post and the main cabin. Look for robust keels that can survive groundings or collisions with UFO's.

Fluids...A 40'er might have 400 litres of water in tanks, but you don't tend to drink from most tanks, it tastes like crap. You carry potable water for drinking. A good sized fuel tank for coastal work is a few hundred litres, An economical and reliable engine that doesnt need to be wrung out doing 4 knots.

Electrical.. A fridge that doesn't eat batteries. A battery bank with a few hundred amp hours. Charging systems to suit. AIS is a godsend for coastal work. A good vhf and antenna with decent range. A masthead mobile phone antenna and booster if you like internet access.
Nice to haves......A liferaft or tender and somewhere to stow it. An anchor with a windlass. A spare anchor and somewhere to stow it .

Oh, and don't forget sail area. If you're carrying 100m2 of rag going upwind make sure you can change down gears easily enough short handed.
Boat size? That'll tend to sort itself out in the wash .

Read that. And remember it.
I would agree with your idea of paying someone/ skipper. I would spend money on this before courses. Finding the right person will be the thing.
If they jump onboard and go "Right let's go" find someone else. If they ask a lot of the questions mentioned in above post before even seeing the boat it's a better start.
So much to think about before buying a boat and just living "off the grid". It just didn't exist anymore. Or you really have to go out of your way.
One thing I would say is look into a water maker. Small 12v very efficient ones exist. They are expensive but worth it. Life is so much more enjoyable when you are not stressing about water. If you really want to do some longer passages and sit at anchor for weeks you can.
I know a French couple( actually I never met her) that cruised the world on a 32ft race boat many years ago. They had a hand pump fertiliser sprayer. They would shower and do all dishes in salt water then rinse with a mist of fresh water. No fridge and camping gas stove. I asked him what the best and worse things were. Days at sea with the A sail up surfing down waves not really giving a **** which island we would end up at was the best thing. Realising we had to choose one eventually because we were running out of water was the worst.
Or have the money to go into port or marinas or all the time. At which point a caravan is much cheaper and charter a boat occasionally.
Someone once said to me" I've just bought a boat, what's the best advice you can give". If you have already bought it it's too late for the best advice.
" It's going to be an expensive and long journey. You will occasionally get the most amazing experiences of your life though. You have to be ready to spend lots of money or time, probably both for those rare moments though".

I've got it. I don't have a death wish, I wanted to do this My entire life. I truly do understand the risks, that is why I will do everythig possible to be safe. I'm not about to up and go. I want to talk to others, and I will do the courses and offer to crew for others. Perhaps loan a dingy, and enjoy that for a while. I don't have to do much for some time, thank god. I'd like to swing about in My own boat and build up My convidence and abilities before venturing out, cheers. The water maker sounds interesting.

The great thing about getting down to the local yacht club and racing with people is that you will make new friends, get the inside gossip on different boats AND learn to sail much better than on your own. Learning on youre own is slow and is like teaching yourself guitar - you get stuff wrong. What's not to like about being better and quicker by learning from others?
So get on down the the Amateurs, or MHYC, or RPAYC or up here at Croudace Bay and get on board, learn a ton and get some serious inside knowledge about different designs. Be a hussy and crew on all the different boats you can. These guys are sailing tonight, get on down there and learn. www.balmainsailingclub.com/ Be a good crew, do what you are told, shut up, ask questions later and buy someone a drink. Then you will make an informed decision about what you want.

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Tikker said..
As an offsider. I grew up in Sydney, and have sailed before, a bit. I was also into Kayak, and have been fully instructed. It was my hobby to hit the heads, and paddle around fort Dennison dodging the traffic on the way in and out, with tourist waving..32km in and out. Down lane Cove river, from the wier, and have seen platapus in its backwaters, real.Stopped a few times at the spot of the last shark fatality where the Ambo blew a clutch getting back up the hill. I've fished Coffs, and Royal National park, beach and Rock. like 4 years there, fantasic fishing beach, river, eastery, plus surfed. I love the ocean, I'm Scottish, from Kismal. Plus, I want to expore, bored to death in the present situation. I find myself in the strangest locations. Now, I want to explore, and the challenge to Myself would be live giving, I require this at this stage of My life. Best wishes, see you all soon.

I'm in Sydney, not far from the harbour. Are you in Sydney now? I'd be happy to have a look at a boat or two with you.