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A guide to choosing a Blue Water Yacht

Posted Friday 12th June 2015

Over the coming weeks, Grabau International will take you through a variety of subjects which encompass choosing the right yacht for blue water adventures. The following guide is not written to dictate what to choose, or to supply a comprehensive encyclopedia of every option and variable, but simply a basic explanation of the main options and some guidance on what to look out for. Finding a yacht will always be a battle of your head over your heart, so the purpose of this guide is to give your head some questions to ask in the hope that an amicable compromise can be made with your heart.

Part 1 – Introduction

If it feels right, it is right ; a very simple statement to make, but one which holds true. The beauty of sailing is that almost any type of yacht can be used to do almost any type of sailing. The key is what works for you and your crew. Tradewind sailing is generally relatively easy on a yacht, although particular consideration must be given to the steering and rig, both areas which can suffer accelerated wear through the continual rolling motion of an ocean swell. Everything from a stripped-out racing yacht to a long-keeled steel-hulled motorsailor will get you across the Atlantic, albeit with differing levels of excitement, speed and sense of security.

So what is a ‘blue water’ yacht?

There is no agreed definition of a bluewater yacht as the term means different things to different people. To some, it means a yacht of a sturdy build which can safely navigate any sea condition with the minimum of fuss. To others it means a yacht capable of travelling at speed over great distances, whilst yet another opinion is that it means a yacht fitted out with equipment suited to long passages and warm-climate cruising. Calculations such as STIX (stability index), AVS (angle of vanishing stability) and the EU’s Recreational Craft Directive CE certification level can help to define those yachts suited to serious offshore adventures, but the reality is that most modern yachts over 32 feet are now categorised A – Ocean (“capable of “extended voyages where condition may exceed wind force 8 (Beaufort scale) and wave height of 4 metres (13.0 feet)”).

Returning to our original statement of ‘If it feels right, it is right’, this highlights a trend amongst the bluewater fraternity to choose a yacht which fits in with what the you actually want (with modifications then made to make her suitable for long passages at sea or anchoring away from the luxuries of shore power) rather than what the established ‘old guard’ might advise as suitable. Circumnavigating aboard a shiny new production yacht is no longer a silly idea and heaven forbid, some people have even crossed oceans with lifting keel yachts which appear to completely fall out of favour when the STIX and AVS calculations are introduced.

Picking a yacht capable of taking you through a ‘perfect storm’ is of course a great option for the totally risk-adverse, but thanks to massively improved weather-routing software, faster hull shapes, easily-handled sail plans and good old fashioned common-sense; safe bluewater passages can be made aboard pretty much anything that floats.

Stay tuned for Part 2 which will cover Hull Shape.

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How is the quality of Bluewater boats?

• Thread starter wink21
• Start date Sep 11, 2009
• Sep 11, 2009

So far, I've walked away from a couple of boats based on input from the forum and lost out on a couple of good ones that were snapped up quick. I just came across this one http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/boa/1369163351.html In all of my boat reading in past couple of months, I have not come across Bluewater. Does anyone know about these boats? It has one of the motors that has been highly recommended on the form - the 3L/130HP Mercruiser Any input or advice on this would be appreciated. I simply don't want to buy a boat with a bad trackrecord or that has a hard time with finding parts. Thanks Scott  

Supreme Mariner

Re: How is the quality of Bluewater boats? Haven't heard anything particular bad about them. I don't believe they are in business any longer. That one has a reliable powerplant which should be good power in that sized boat and the price is certainly right. Check carefully for rot in the deck and transom. Could be a real nice find.  

Chief Petty Officer

Re: How is the quality of Bluewater boats? My grandfather still to this day cruises his 1967 Blue Water all over the place, it is in great condition and has had no major problem with more that 3000 hours on it. They are like any other boat, if you take care of it it will last a lifetime.  

• Sep 12, 2009

Re: How is the quality of Bluewater boats? Blue Water is now owned by Kal Kustom boats, same folks that own Reinell. The two come off their plant in Oregon, and are still in business. The current boats usually share the same hulls at the Reinell boats, or use older molds. I see a number of Blue Water boats here in the NW. I'm not sure when they were bought by Kal Kustom.  

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