Kudos to both of you. I have read and written many marine technical documents during my 30+ year career as a Naval Architect. Your E-Book is very well done and a must-have for anyone planning to do blue water passages on a 40 to 46 foot Beneteau Oceanis of our vintage (2007 to 2012). These boats are very similar to each other in so many ways. It is now filed in my boat's e-library. Thanks for taking the time to publish it!
Thanks so much Randy we have spent quite some putting it all together so your feedback is much appreciated. Hope the book can provide you plenty of value for your journey on the Beneteau!
I still don't understand these stupid discussions going around the Web, who decides if a boat can be considered bluewater or not? Expensive or cheaper? Good or Bad? Typology and specifications? Why doesn't a specific body establish it according to strict criteria to which all manufacturers must adhere? Who controls who and how? According to what regulation? And recognised by whom? Do we still want to believe in the fairytale of the CE mark? Which, by the way, I see it written everywhere even on my underpants! So I don't think we need to be a naval architect to understand a very simple, if not obvious, concept that regardless of the builder, whether it is Beneteau or any other, there is a legislative and regulatory VOID in this sector that concerns not only the construction and design, choice of the materials and their origin, the absolute lack of supervision by any recognised third independent body from the design, the construction, up to the delivery of this type of boats, the lack of training and professional courses for the staff employed by these yards, which would make the most stubborn navigator pale. The truth is that these shipyards do what they want and their constructions have one and only one denominator the profit!
That last wave that appeared to be breaking just short of the stern is interesting. In similiar conditions (winds @ 40kn or so, big waves hard to tell how big) on other boats I've crewed, the skipper/owner usually furled the main and we sailed on trimmed jib alone, sometimes on a pole, sometimes a broad reach, and still kept our speed up with less strain on the rig. You all looked fairly comfortable here, was there at any time reason to think that a part of the rig or structure was under undue stress and liable to break (it's usually a shackle that holds the jib or genoa atvthe topnofthe mastvthat got torsion twisted and readtvto part when inspected later in port.)
People swim across the channel, row across the Atlantic and we applaud them. Do what you want. A 40ft Beneteau in comparison is a perfectly rational choice of boat, and I believe your upgrades are very well judged. A modern production boat has many advantages in design, equipment and cost. Ignore the naysayers - you're young and living the dream and your boat enables that, and I'm sure you love her for it. I say well done to both of you.
I fully agree with Philip. I am owner of a similar production boat. I made almost the same upgrades you did. I am sailing all the Med and willing to cross Atlanic and doing Carribean with her. At the same time personally I am also planning to change boat before engaging into the Pacific. But it is a choice. And I would not trust more a similar budget old blue water cruiser just becouse she « was » built as a blue water one. At the end it is a matter of redundacy. And the speed of the boat relative to the budget (and whether forecsts) provide a mitigation to the luck of redundancy. And as a matter of fact many construction boats including Dufour andf Bavaria circumnavigated the world already. It looks to me you know the long and short of what you are doing. Enjoy it. Massimo
I still don't understand these stupid discussions going around the Web, who decides if a boat can be considered bluewater or not? Expensive or cheaper? Good or Bad? Typology and specifications? Why doesn't a specific body establish it according to strict criteria to which all manufacturers must adhere? Who controls who and how? According to what regulation? And recognised by whom? Do we still want to believe in the fairytale of the CE mark? Which, by the way, I see it written everywhere even on my underpants! So I don't think we need to be a naval architect to understand a very simple, if not obvious, concept that regardless of the builder, whether it is Beneteau or any other, there is a legislative and regulatory VOID in this sector that concerns not only the construction and design, choice of the materials and their origin, the absolute lack of supervision by any recognised third independent body from the design, the construction, up to the delivery of this type of boats, the lack of training and professional courses for the staff employed by these yards, which would make the most stubborn navigator pale. The truth is that these shipyards do what they want and their constructions have one and only one denominator the profit!
Thoughtful and thorough preps, and I can't fault your basic premise: If you are thoughtful about the production boat you choose for trade wind ocean crossings, and then you strengthen its abilities to match the demands of long distance cruising, you should have no regrets. Excellent presentation - congratulations!
Great video, straight to the point, no BS. Really like the way you’ve set up the boat, especially the rig. Excellent organization of gear and equipment. 👍🏻
A) there are more beneteaus on the ocean than all other brands combined, and more crossing oceans than any other single brand. B) you can cross in anything if you watch the weather window properly.
Great vid, well put together and thought out. The main question ‘is this boat good enough for ocean crossings’ is fairly simple to answer. Every boat has somewhere a builder’s data plate, on this plate you’ll find reference to a ‘design category’ - A, B, C or D. Category A is ‘Ocean’ - designed to be capable and self sufficient in wind that may exceed force 8 and wave heights in excess of 4m. Obviously there are boats out there in category B (offshore), C (inshore) and D (sheltered waters) that are taken across oceans but consider the implications of your insurance not paying out should something happen and you have to bail into the life raft with your beacon. FYI Oceanis 40 is Class A, as are most boats above 30 ft.
Nice job of presenting the information. We have an Oceanis 50 and have put 45,000nm under our keel in the past five years. We can second the statement that with proper planning the Beneteau is an awesome offshore cruiser. In addition, even when you miss time a passage or you get smacked by a storm on a longer passage, the boat really is up for the challenge. We've experienced 6 to 8m seas and sustained 40 and 50 knot winds on a few memorable occasions and whilst we wouldn't wish to repeat, the boat handled it well. Do note that the one big difference in our view between the Beneteau, say and Oyster, Hylas or Southerly will be ride comfort. Oh, and price. Lastly, would agree that a protected rudder would be more desirable but that still doesn't stop the thousands of Beneteaus we see out here. You've done a nice job of minimizing the risk with your Hydrovane. Great comments on this one, fun to read!
I think a lot of people could use this video as an example of how to impart wisdom with just the right amount of detail in an articulate no nonsense but friendly way . Its sort of ok ploughing through the mumblings and meanderings of happy folk with the details of their passion project but this is so different and a joy to watch . Not to mention what an excellent job youve done with the boat ! I feel you two have rare skills. Thank you so much
Hi Sam & Nicole Just watched arguably one of the most informative videos for anyone with an interest in crossing an ocean in a production boat. Your openess with information is to be applauded. As you know we are in the process of planning our our journey and this video has given a lot of pointers and food for thought for us to ponder on. Thank you again. Keep safe.
Thanks for the kind comment and glad you got some good value from the vid. No worries at all and all the best with your planning to head offshore. Take care and fair winds 🤙
Your book is an absolutely fantastic resource. For only $10 it’s a steal and a no-brainer. Many thanks 🙏 to you for doing this work. Very very helpful.
The sheeting angles can make a huge difference with rolling. Use tweakers and adjust the raveller to make it as comfortable as possible. Then sometimes a slow roll in a swell can improve performance greatly. Its called ooching.
Sam Holmes sailing / wind hippie sailing both boats crossing oceans. 50 years ago there was no iridium go or windie apps, when you had to be be prepared for storms/waves. Pick your weather window and have your batteries ready.
The paddle speedsensor should be taken out after the trip and replaced with the dummy. Second I would place the wooden bungs next to the thruhulls so in case they are already there.
PS to my post below. Every Sailboat I have had has been a Conventional Rig with Classic Mast and Main Sail with Lazy Jacks and Stack Packs and Hank on Sails, apart from my last boat which had a Furling Genoa on a basic Sloop with no inner forestry (I don’t like them tbh) Maximum fun was bouncing around on the foredeck changing Sails, loved it. They all can be made to work but Disability forced on me learn what a total pain in the backside to work with a Classic Mast really is, hence my Conversion to - after a serious look into them in Mast Furling, and the UV protection they can offer. Battens in them cause serious wear and tear, and seriously shorten the Life of already short lived Crosscut Dacron Sails and seriously reduce furling and unfurling reliability. So as a Cruiser looking for Reliability and a long Service Life Shape maintaining Sail, I started looking for a Sailmaker that would make me a Triradial Furling Battenless Main. It turned out to be quite a long search. Usually only getting the response “We Only Make Batten Ones” Eventually, I got a Yes, we’ve made a number of them, and if you need heavy duty Offshore specification, just tick the box on the order form - this from Precision Sails, and much to my surprise, they added, that the Triradial Construction recovers most of the power lost by having No Battens ! Wow. Now they do cost from about double a Crosscut Dacron Sail, but instead of being Stretched and buggered inside three years, with occasional Valeting, and re stitching, they can maintain their shape well for over 20 years- So cost per year of Service Life Plummets. Same goes for a Furling Triradial Genoa too as Reinforced Reefing Points to retain shape can be added. Partially Furl a Crosscut Dacron one, and the Sail Shape can be buggered within a few hours. So I’m thinking of about around a 140% Triradial Genoa, to have enough Sail room to properly fit three Reefing points, or a self tacking Jib plus a Furling Reaching Code Zero to fill in the Wind angle gaps plus a Furling Gennaker depending on Sailmaker advice. Since, other Sailmakers, including Quantum, Ullman, and others have started offering Battenless Furling Triradial Mainsails as well, so things look up. Bob. 👍⛵️🌟🌟🌟
I love your videos, they have a great style and tone - please keep it up. Having discovered your channel this week I have just binge watched it all. We have an Oceanis 361 from 2003 which we purchased this year - our plan is to build experience and confidence sailing the West Coast of Scotland and North of Ireland for the next few years and then when we retire we hope to buy a slightly bigger boat - 40/45ft and see where life takes us ( somewhere warmer...). The Oceanis range of boats are certainly blue water capable with a few upgrades and careful planning. Fair winds and looking forward to seeing the rest of your adventure. 👍. Just downloaded your ebook too 👍
Thanks so much for your support! Much appreciated 🙏. I’m sure you’ll build experience pretty quick on the West coast of Scotland. Good luck on your journey and fair winds 🤙
There is nothing wrong with a Beneteau. I owned a 461 and it was a solid boat, quite fast and was well furnished. I had it modified from a four cabin to a three cabin to make it more livable to me. I agree with your sail modifications, it needs a self tacking jib and a third reef in the main. I had the teak decks refurbished and replaced the foredeck to give it a new life. The exhaust elbow replacement is a must. Mine was almost completely blocked. I replaced all the hoses, throttle cable, standing and running rigging, the guide wires and batteries to increase the storage to 560ah. You can never have enough! The fin keel needed some work due to corrosion. You can argue all day long about a blue water boat and I agree a steel or aluminum keel is safest, particularly with a full length keel but they are hard to maneuver backwards and slow. Amels have a fin keel and so do lots of other boats costing a lot more money and most boats today are made of fiberglass. I have heard you tubers sneer about “plastic fantastic” boats when that is exactly what their boat is. Ignore the detractors, you have a solid boat which will serve you well.
Great boat. Our friend Mark is 1.5 times around the planet on his Beneteau 393. Stay sail/cutter rig is probably the main 'bluewater' safety feature, as is your attention to detail and wear items.
The Quartermaster* Very impressive and well thought out! One thing that we carried on our Beneteau 40 c/c was a Luke 3pc. 80lb, fisherman storm anchor. This saved tons of space when broken down and could be put together with just 3 large locking pins. 100 ft of three eights triple strength chain and 300 ft, of three quarters triple braid nylon rode. When things looked hairy it was nice to know it was on board! Best wishes and safe travels!
I hope I'm correct with your names, Sam and Nicole! We do share the same boat manufacturer Beneteau. My wife and I purposely bought our 40 foot c/c for live aboard cruising. We never once felt that our boat was not a capable blue water cruising yacht! Your videos are professionally done with a great mix of actually sailing in a lot of different conditions and taking us along seeing the fantastic Islands and friendly inhabitants! Best wishes ❤️ to a beautiful couple! Steve and Paula S/V Adios
I met a guy in Fiji who hollowed out a tree built a mast in peru and sailed across the Pacific. And a guy who bought a boat for a dollar off Craigslist on a different trip to Fiji. you can do it in all almost anything. On a production boat I would modify the rudder tube and attachment etc.& probably not heading into high latitudes
Have a Dufour 470 and have been cataloging many of the same tasks to complete to go “blue water”. You two have lived it in a typical production boat and made it work. Thank you for putting all your experience into a e-book reference that is well worth the price of a couple beers.
I hope so because I’d better stop using it if it isn’t . The little plate inside the boat says it is too . Lucky for me it’s my first sailboat and I know no better. 38.1 Oceanis yr 2000 I’ve got about ten miles solo so far Maybe 200 taught . I’m a kitesurfer and this will be the biggest kiteboard I’ve ever been on 😂 Listen I been told it’s fine to use to cross Atlantic by totally qualified sailors. It’ll be rough I’m told In the plastic beneteau. But it will do it. Heck I’m already 67 so in a bit of a hurry with the learning . Thanks for sharing your experience and stats ! Inspiring 👍
Hello .... big congratulations !!!! It is one of the best videos I have seen, not only addressing the situation about production sailboats such as "blue waters", but also because of the order and logic posed in front of each fraction required to sail safely on the high seas or in a lagoon. . I am preparing a Jeanneau 469 with the same concepts and I felt very pleased and reflected with what they have done. Only that I will go against the traffic, from Chile to Europe, including Norway in some of my routes
Wow thanks so much for your words! 🙏 super glad you enjoyed the video and had some value to take away! Sounds like a great voyage you have planned in a nice big Jeanneau, best of luck and fair winds!
We crossed the atlantic 3 years ago on our B43 which is quite similar to your boat. We made this first crossing with the boat as we bought it. We are now preparing to leave next summer for a 5 year trip and replaced, modified, reinforced a lot of stuff. New sails, purpose made (reinforced). New sprayhood and bimini with 400 watt semi flexible pv panels on the bimini. Lithium batteries and modification of alternator charging to protect alternator. New motormounts, replaced all standing rigging with dieform. Installed watermaker, …. And the list goes on and on. With our experience i could maybe make some small additions to your ebook
Good job Francis, some great boat jobs ticked off the list especially the lithiums and watermaker. If your interested the ebook can be downloaded at www.sailingbeaver.com/shop/
Modern cruisers seem so much easier to live on, which unless you plan to spend all your time in the middle of an ocean is not a bad plan. I think the real issue is acknowledging and planning for the weaknesses of a modern cruiser.
I liked it! I am an experienced blue water sailor, and on my 3rd long term boat, and in this very position of converting or changing boats, and I want to convert :-) I do not plan to be in the narrow band of conditions/locations that would sink a plastic fantastic, but spare a blue water boat....it is not a very broad band.... A side note, you should mention that the Hydrovane is essentially a pre-rigged emergency rudder, which considerably offsets the risk associated with the spade. I consider this essential insurance and peace of mind in the blue water with my 'fin n spade', never mind the great crew member it is who sails better than anyone, eats nothing, never sleeps, and doesn't miss a windshift :-)
Thanks Paul. Yes certain conditions would warrant a BW boat but the majority of tropical cruising destinations would not. We are very happy with the Hydrovane and it has served us well on passage and provided good peace of mind in event of a rudder failure. Cheers
It doesn’t sound like you guys are new to this, it sounds like an extensive amount of research has been made here, Although many experts say these boats are not recommended for blue water, It’s awesome to see you guys getting it done, We’ll done,
Everyone has to feel comfortable with their decisions as they head out. For me, I'm thankful for my full-keel, heavy displacement double ender. Every bit of it is built like a tank. No keel bolts. No exposed rudder. It's been around the world once and we're taking it around again.
Just watched your video regarding your systems on your boat. I was very impressed with your thoroughness with each system, it is very apparent you worked through each system completely. Kudos, a lot of people think that you just get on a boat and go. Just take a look at sailing gbu
Excellent job setting up the boat for offshore. You might consider mounting the EPIRB on the cockpit rail. If you get rolled over at night, or have a fire which can fill the boat with smoke in a matter of seconds, you can't get to the EPIRB and it can't float free. Speaking of getting rolled, a bluewater boat will have a higher ballast to weight ratio and a narrower hull so that it comes back upright even in a severe knock down. Hull shape and weight also give a bluewater boat a slower, more comfortable motion. Crew skill and attitude are the most important factors for passage making, as well as having the right equipment on board. You can sail just about anywhere with your setup, but a "true bluewater boat" will still make a difference in the worst of conditions.
Some very good informative points here, thanks for that. A good idea with the float free beacon one worth considering. We would also have to agree with the kinder motion on heavier ballasted vessels. Cheers
There is a modified attachment plate available for the Vang boom attachment. It is much more substantial and has more attachment points and was only 250 sterling. A very good investment!
thnaks again for this video that I watched for the second time (at least). I bought your 2 e-book, to thank for those explaination. My goal is to cross the atlantic (East->West) the next year...
You did an awesome job with all of your additional equipment - like inner stay, great anchor, solid self steering in Hydrovane that can be used as an emergency rudder if needed, very detailed approach to lines and blocks and probably much more. But a solid captain and crew - are the most valuable part of your boat-home and you did spectacular from everything I've seen so far. To be fair, I need to share my experience and view on an issue. I've participated in delivering a couple of Beneteaus and was able to notice an uncomfortable design feature of the boat - it is pounding while going upwind in moderate winds. However, deliveries are done on a schedule and you often forced to sail a shortest route within a time frame and often not a better one. With that in mind, knowing limitations of the design, it is easily avoidable by being flexible - like falling off and sailing comfortably and faster on a reach. Besides, nobody in their right mind would cruise upwind in moderate winds and choppy waves for so many reasons. I'm sure, that you and your boat will have a ton of success and fun while taking each other to any and many places within your comfort zone, and that zone expands with every passage you make. Fair winds and stay flexible
I noticed the pounding also when motoring a Beneteau 45 upwind into 30 knot winds. Less noticeable when sailing instead of motoring. I think it has a flat bottom, but when heeled it presents a rounded section to the water so less pounding.
wow great work ! I have hardly seen an Oceanis 40 so well and thoughtfully equipped as you did (e.g. staysail). One thing is missing though....the answer of your question in the video title...I have just seen a video with the Kraken CEO and he defines the properties of a blue water sailboat as following: 1. integral keel 2. robust rudder system 3. no gas 4. thick hull 5. protected centre cockpit 6. sail handling from cockpit 7. foot braced somewhere when doing deck work 8. Keel stepped mast and heavy rig Probably your boat covers points 6 and 7. What are your thoughts on that ? Thanks for your answer and good luck for the upcoming passages !
Thankyou sir, glad you enjoyed. To answer above, firstly the Kraken boats look amazing and super tough, but unfortunately not in the budget range of anyone that sails a Beneteau. Although the ceo would be totally biased, I would totally agree with points 1, 2, 4 and 6 especially for a winter, go anywhere boat. Other points like gas and keel stepped mast seem a little off track to Bluewater relevance but interesting for thought. P.s although I love the thought of a strong skeg hung rudder, it’s not a very common on new builds anymore.. Thanks again
@@SailingBeaver well unfortunately the sea is not asking for the budget.... Maybe we can agree that you own a production boat very well equipped for bluewater cruising.... In any case all the best and enjoy your time at sea ....
Thanks for the video! It seems the answer is a definitely YES. As long as you invest on necessary upgrades. I specially like the changes to the rigging. Makes sailing life easier and definitely safer than the original set up.
I think it was the late Patrick Childress (RIP) who, many years ago, sailed a Catalina 27 around the world after beefing it up for sailing the oceans. Three years ago another guy I saw on You Tube sailed a Catalina 27 from California to Hawaii. Sam Holmes made a similar crossing to Hawaii on a 23 FT Ranger about a year earlier. More recently a young Polish guy built a 16 FT plywood sailboat, purpose-designed for the passage, and sailed it across the Atlantic Ocean. Webb Chiles, among his many voyages, made it 3/4 of the way around the planet in an open (no cabin) sailboat, I think it was 18 or 20 FT. Famously in 1965, 16 year-old Robin Lee Graham sailed his 24 FT sloop named Dove around the world solo. James Baldwin has circumnavigated twice in his very simply outfitted 28 FT Pearson Triton. The first time around with no engine. And of course probably the most famous sailing couple, Lin and Larry Pardey circumnavigated their 24 FT home-built wooden Seraffyn, the "wrong way" around the Southern Ocean, also without an engine. These and many other stories are proof that you don't need a Westsail, Island Packet or Pacific Seacraft to make a safe passage across an ocean. What you need is experience, good judgement, selection of proper season, route and a good weather window, and appropriate rigging and equipment. If anything, your Beneteau is probably overkill the way you've prepared it, for trade winds passages.
Bravo both. It's not the boat, it's how you sail her. The upgrades are well considered, I particularly like the gybe proof double foresail and double pole for trade wind sailing. The fact that you're doing it, rather than talking about it should piss off the armchair captains; keep going!
Well done guys. I had an Oceanis 40 such a great sailing boat but I only sailed up and down the Windward islands. The one thing I did not have was a water maker. Would not sail again without one. Enjoy and safe travels.
Thanks and good to hear. Great boat in the windwards, loves reaching in between the islands. True about the water maker we have learnt that the hard way for sure.
Great video I’m also a Kiwi and have the Oceanis 43, love the boat got caught in a southeast low off the Queensland East Coast and it preformed well but does need a 3rd reef.I have 20 sq meter Solent setup, great in heavy weather. I love the fact that they are a fast cruising boat couldn’t stand going slow cheers Jay.
Cheers for the feedback, much appreciated. That 3 extra feet would be very handy I’m sure but yeah we have had plenty of use on 3rd reef. Fair winds mate 🤙
It's about what one feels safety and comfort. Some may want the slow boat that has a higher comfort rating. Go for it be safe. Your yacht is beautiful and so livable
Thanks for this boat tour. Lots of things that you have upgrated are really pragmatic especially when you cross oceans. Many things that I will retain on my side, sure !
I went cruising on a 57 foot strip planked fin keel spade rudder ocean racer. Everyone in those days said that you can't cruise on a fin keel spade rudder ocean racer. We ignored this and went cruising. It was the best choice because it sailed so well. Also, because it was a narrow racer it went to windward very well and performed fine in light winds.
Very interesting and we like this idea. Usually the race built boats are always built super stiff and strong which has an advantage over the average cruiser. Speed definitely has its safety factors in strong weather, thanks for this information. 🤙
I much appreciate this video. I bought my Bavaria 40 / 200s2 in Slovenia, sailed through the Med to the Canaries, milk route into the Caribbean and from there to the Chesapeake where I live. I admit that the voyage was done somewhat blue-eyed and underequipped. As I now approach retirement age with the intent to go blue water again I am faced with the decision to keep and upgrade her or sell and get a "true" blue water yacht. My first question to you would be: How about keel and rudder. I assume your Beneteau has a spade and bolted on keel, same as my Bav. Do you have any concerns on either design and did you / do you consider upgrades / strengthening ? Secondly: With all the equipment you put on, what does your boat now weigh and does that effect performance? Lastly: How much money did you spend on all the upgrades? Handbreit.
Thanks for you comment and kind words. Sounds like a nice trip you made. It’s a tough decision and on round two we could face the same decision depending on our sailing climate. Some things are heavy such as jerry cans on deck and anchor chain and I’m sure it affects our performance but we do try to keep it light. The costs added up but over time we would have spent the same on a house. We have detailed every $ spent in the ebook that supplements this episode with a large section in the appendix www.sailingbeaver.com/product/bluewatercruiser
Guys, please look up the various rallies crossing the Atlantic or Pacific or Australia upto Indo....they list the vessels, make, size ect....there in lies your answer.
I would install backing plates on the keel bolts, I believe the Beneteau has only washers. The next time your on the hard drop your keel for inspection.
If we were removing the bolts for some reason or making repairs in that area then that would be a good idea but otherwise not (can of worms). Your right though, kinda small backing plates.
I bought the e-book and skimmed it. It looks to be a concise and useful collection of what's probably been many hours of research for you. I'm learning as much as I can about sailing because that will probably be the next adventure when we have had a few years traveling in the bus. It'll be awhile... Likely when the nest is empty.
Cheers mate and thanks for the support. Sure was some research and work to put together throughout our journey. Hope it provides some value, good luck with your adventure 🤙
This is the type of sailing channel that interests me, like Sailing Ran, this channel is about sailing and the boat first, the sociable aspect being a secondary consideration, People have crossed oceans in all manner of craft, from bathtubs to an 18ft Dory, the point being pretty much any boat will cross an ocean, is it being suitable for prolonged long distance voyaging year after year is a different question. Displacement, sound construction, sea kindliness, sailing performance with adequate capacity to carry essential equipment water and stores to service a crew for passage making that may take twice as long as originally planned for are IMHO essential. For a question like this you will get a myriad of answers, expect a lot of conflicting opinions. Thx for the opportunity to go sailing with you , if not in person but in this case via youtube. Having said that, While 40-45 ft is perfectly adequate for me I would not venture offshore in a boat with a bolt on keel.
Thank you sir for the very kind feedback. Totally agree with the desired qualities of an ideal offshore yacht, many of these we have slowly come to learn ourselves after owning the yacht and more so with each longer passage. Thanks for you well rounded input. 🤙
God how awful those "Internet forums" are!!!! They've never crossed a bathtub,let alone the oceans!!! Beneteau and Jeaneau are fantastic brands and they absolutely get the job done!!!! Piss on them and you two have done a fantastic job...keep it up!!!!
Hi guys, this is just the best video, lots of stuff that we are considering, was so interesting and learnt heaps. Really well done, stacks of relevant, initiative advise. Can’t thank you enough for the time you took and your generous in sharing it. So good to see and hear from thinking sailors. We watch so many RUclips sailors and love getting tips this way but this video is at another level and so professional, love it. Thank you so much.
Hi Jen, thanks so much for this super kind comment. Glad you enjoyed our work and got some tips for your own projects. Makes it all worth it to receive positive feedback like this. Enjoy the book and fair winds! 🙏
Great video(s) you are making. Love to follow them. We (family of four) crossed the Pacific in a similar boat in 2018. Looking forward to watch the rest of your journey. Hope to see you Raroia/Kontiki Motu some time❤️ fair winds and following seas.
You may like it better if your backstay chain plates were installed so they're aligned as to make the shear forces parallel instead of perpendicular. If the plate and the rigging wire tugging against it make a T then it's more likely to break than if they are closer to parallel. So basically if the plate were on the hull or transom it could be aligned closer to the rigging than on the underside of the deck as it is.
This system is a replacement of the small original padeyes with a large selden 2,000kg padeye and we installed additional backing plates as an extra layer to the double thickness deck/hull join. What your referring to we did consider but would be a whole new system to involve building and installing custom chain plates for the transom where the hull is thin and would be only the the deck section. We made the best of what we had to work with but in hindsight wish that we just installed dyneema on clutches as the forces a relatively minor on the fractional rig
The companionway is my preferred spot to keep watch while offshore in our Beneteau Sense 50. I have resisted mounting another full array of instruments as each of my helm stations has full instruments and large plotters. Instead I use Android tablet as a plotter with AIS on a RAM mount along with a handheld remote for my autopilot. I'm still looking for a solution that would permit visualizing the radar over wifi. Cruising is 10% sailing and 90% at anchor. Beneteau has the "at-anchor" part very well designed and implemented. With experience, each sailor can slowly customize the 10% to their individual tastes. In essence creating a custom solution paid by sweat equity. Well done!
Thankyou sir. Your right it is good and protected at the companionway under the spray hood but it also must be nice with plotters at each helm. There is times when hand steering at night the could have been handy for us too. Good idea with the Ais on the iPad. Cheers 🤙
Hy guys, from my heart you look like a really true couple, all the best to you, knock on wood! I was 10days in quarantene so i had time to watch all yr episodes. Great job, for sure not another usual sailing couple. Fair Winds⛵ and cheers to the Beaver! 🥂
I arrived in Opua 2 weeks ago now after a disastrous solo crossing from Fiji. I had done the trip 3 times before without major issues. My boat is a bullet proof Spray 42,ketch rigged, not the fastest tub out there but 18 days.for this journey is....just forever. Why? Rudder damage. The last 500 miles the conditions were quite challenging and it was during this part of the journey that the damage was done. What exactly happened i will never know but it is clear to me that it must have been a very heavy object to cause that amount of damage to a rudder that was very,very heavily build. As a consequence of losing the ability to control the boat adequately in the stormy conditions I spend 7 days hoved to. In moderate conditions I could still maintain a more or less steady heading however nearing North Cape I ran into a front that produced a prolonged period of 'fresh' SE winds. A couple of days earlier the main had ripped, just above the 3rd reefing point rendering it useless in the conditions I was experiencing. Eventually I got towed in by a cray boat that was sheltering at Three King Island. I remember thinking a few times how lucky I was being on a well build and strong boat with a long keel! You don't seem to be too concerned about your fin keel and spade rudder(s), as you don't give it any thought. I would!
Wow thanks so much for this information and account from what sounds like a super tough experience on this crossing. Shit happens and by the sounds of it, can happen to any boat there no matter what the build or reputation. Great job in making it to Opua safely in the end. As our videos are quite behind, we ourselves have just arrived yesterday in Opua from Fiji and although we had a good crossing the last 3 days were were beating our way through a large cold from 300miles out, was tough but we were lucky everything went well. Would love to grab a beer and hear more about your experience, we are in the marina in Opua 🤙
Great video. this the first time we have viewed your work thanks for the insight into your work on your boat. we are in the market now. our issue with this type of boat is keeping the keel on and attempting to save the boat and every aboard if this happen in the deep blue. bolt on keels are the issue for us. you guys have done a great job on every thing above the water are there things that can be done blow the water line? again great video.
Thanks and glad to have you watching. The keel type is something worth considering and it’s difficult to say just on opinion how strong it is. Although we haven’t had issues in this department, like we mentioned in the video there is boats around that are better suited to heavy usage and primarily BW sailing. Fair winds.
It’s all about the STIX number from my recollection that boat has a STIX a close to 40. The higher the number the better. For all the Cat 1 offshore racing I have done that’s more than enough I’d say it’s a perfect offshore boat very strong and good reaching speeds
They said the titanic was unsinkable…so in my humble opinion damage control on any boat would be my first question on any boat crossing a body of water… people row skiffs across an ocean.
I don’t believe you that you’re inexperienced: you shouldn’t know about all the upgrades you have, how to use them, and what the various benefits are. If you are in fact newbies, you’ve done an amazing job of educating yourselves and getting to an advanced level quickly.
Well we had not sailed at all before buying this boat… In saying that we spent some time in Norway before departing to get the boat setup and learn as much as possible. Also had lots of guidance from other sailors we have met along the way giving us little hints and suggestions so we are thankful for that.
So what has been the cost of all these upgrades? Surely you could have bought a higher quality yacht if you'd looked around better? All those upgrades took a lot of time and patience to install, congratulations.
Thanks it sure did. We have a very detailed summary of all the costs and upgrades in the ebook. It’s a tough question about a different yacht as our plans have evolved well after we purchased and the upgrades were over quite some time but we have sure learnt a lot along the way. 🤙
Available here on our website… www.sailingbeaver.com/product/bluewatercruiser/ Alternatively it’s a free download for our Patrons here.. www.patreon.com/sailingbeaver Thanks for your support 🙏
That's awesome, but my fundamental concern is the strength of the hull and its reinforcement. My basic understanding is that Beneteau saves money by using stringers to 'assist' in loadbearing for a thinner hull section. Hmmm, that may just be sour grapes, and- i've never compared sectioned hull for comparison. But, knowing that marine grade plywood is easy to 'cheap out' on: thinner sections, reduced glassing & cut sealing efforts along with 'over reliance' on stringers providing hull strength my coastal comfort zone is fine. But, for longer and more dangerous crossings, I'd rather have a little more tonnage reflecting more glass/epoxy, thicker & more reinforced stringers. Then what about the rudder mount? How solid are the joints connecting the actual rudder to the guide arm? How well designed/heavy are the steel lines connecting to the control arm? A rudder failure is a dangerous issue and one I would not take lightly when planning a crossing. However, your 'build up' is exceptional and I think I only would've added winches closer to the wheels for added safety! (Small niggle of a personal opinion expressed!) So, Good on ya! for a well considered, no cheaping out build out for a boat that may have started a little limited for your planned adventures!
Thanks so much, this is a very well rounded and informative comment! The hull thickness and grid system are valid points and are concerns we would share. The rudder, control arm and quadrant are all very solid and we have serviced and inspected these but the concern in that department would be the hull thickness and support framework when under heavy load in seas. Additional winches are also a great idea, thanks for all your feedback. 🤙
@@SailingBeaver Really- Thank You BOTH! You did all of the hard work: buying the vessel, considering the issues & addressing them WELL. Then, presenting the solutions orderly (snubber 'dildo' comment excluded! Hahaha) with GREAT visuals. I appreciate all of YOUR efforts & you deserve honest & well founded responses. I'm very glad that you shared my rudder assembly concerns & addressed them, and- I'm sure that you will also check hull strength as you move ahead. You've done an incredible job. Like I said, my concerns may be just decades of noisy floors & hull slaps from loose stringers in older boats. I applaude your efforts & will mo' definitely follow your adventures. My question for Jeanneau/Beneteau & other high volume manufacturers- what length forces "Blue Water" design? (safety, reinforcement, sizing considerations, etc...) Had you asked me in a bar, I might've guessed 50 feet being the limit. (Note how many 'fancy' coastal boats are 50' or less!) As a former Capt'n & delivery guy, I would definitely deliver your boat to almost any port (now that cash isn't as tight- my standards were MUCH lower in my youth! Hahaha) I wish there were more people like you, designing/building the right vessel for their needs. Ask any long time sailor if they ever got out to sea only to find that they were completely unprepared for what they were facing- to a man (woman) they will all say "Yes I have!" if they are honest. You are prepared for much more- again Good on Ya for all of the studious effort(s)!
@@SailingBeaver I was very troubled by the many repair episodes on the Expedition Evans channel on their salvage 2008 Beneteau 49 - ruclips.net/user/ExpeditionEvansfeatured The root cause of these problem was the previous owner hitting a submerged object at full speed and ultimately the insurer totaled the boat. The collision did not directly damage the hull, but the torque on the external keel caused many major problems that the Evans repaired over many episodes. I didn't think that hitting such an object should be a fatal event for a well designed hull.
Unfortunately that’s the basic physics of the Beneteau grid system and how it connects the keel. Any small keel collision could fracture the grid. Would be nice to have a vessel strong enough to run over anything but it doubt it would be nice to sail.
@@michaelmarcus2318 Well, Yes- that's true and NO, a little less today. The effects & interactions on the hull, stringers & grid tie system on EVERY boat (production & one off yacht designers) has improved dramatically within the last 10 to 15 years. And, the spread of load for impacts has become a safety feature that allows other areas to be less reinforced. The overall effect is lighter weight (faster boats) with good strength & rigidity over a very long service life (GRP). The original hull design may not have made the cut for consideration of the newer, improved software that is being used today- and certainly, it is not the only production boat that has experienced major damage after hitting something at full speed. I found a new Discovery 48 S with a tabbing issue (structural, completely unsafe to take to sea as is) and I would call any Disco a 'bluewater' boat by anyone's standard.
for me, its not about the brand, but the design. some designs are just better suited for bigger/longer/shorter waves & stronger/lighter winds. id argue its a huge difference between sailing the baltic sea with very short/choppy waves, the northern sea with relatively short but big waves or the pacific with big and long waves. however, usually it comes down to the comfort factor as you can cross the atlantic in a whiskey barrel.
Just about any boat 'can' cross an ocean, I do not think if a boat 'can' is the issue. Is it safe to do is the question. I personally would not do a circumnavigation in a boat that did not have a protected prop and rudder, nor would I trust a bolt on keel. Think of a cargo container 3 feet below the surface.
Thanks 🙏. Yeah we did a complete rudder overhaul and removed, inspected and replaced bearings in a previous episode. Also installed a Hydrovane self steering that can also act as an auxiliary rudder in case of failure to our main rudder.
The whole debate about whether a boat is "blue water" or not is ridiculous. The most common argument being: a blue water boat must have a skeged rudder and an integral keel. Yet no one would argue that Amel, Oyster or HR (to name a few) are blue water, yet they've all done away with skegs and all have bolt-on keels. As for Beneteau specifically, the Tiki Rafiki disaster forced Beneteau to change the way they build their boats and the result is that they now have very solidly built hulls. I mean seriously, do you know how many people charter these things? If they weren't safe, they wouldn't be the largest sailboat builder in the world. So I say if a production boat is what you can afford, buy it and get out their cruising. As for the nay sayers, they're either keyboard warriors, trying to justify their $million+ purchase or will spend the rest of their lives trying to save enough money for the perfect boat. And to that I say that the perfect boat is the one that gets you out on the water (warts and all) sooner rather than later. I wish the two of you the very best in your adventures and look forward to watching your channel grow! Cheers!
Yes it’s a never ending debate for sure and your correct that the BW examples usually given have all moved away from the features that apparently make them BW suitable. We also agree there is some arguments driven purely by purchase justification. In saying all that there has been times on a bumpy crossing we have yearned for a skeg rudder and integral keel but for now we’ll stick to the best boat is the one you have rule! Cheers and fair winds!
Look pretty ship shape to me. Maybe the hull is a little thin make it thicker where the stresses are. I seen a windmill that you can use in the water and tow or make it for wind . I thought it was cool. 250 amp hours every 24 hours towing it . So they say
Hi! This is the first video I've seen from your RUclips Channel. I'm very impress with all the details you have gone thru. Thank you for putting this out. Subscribing!
Kudos to both of you. I have read and written many marine technical documents during my 30+ year career as a Naval Architect. Your E-Book is very well done and a must-have for anyone planning to do blue water passages on a 40 to 46 foot Beneteau Oceanis of our vintage (2007 to 2012). These boats are very similar to each other in so many ways. It is now filed in my boat's e-library. Thanks for taking the time to publish it!
Thanks so much Randy we have spent quite some putting it all together so your feedback is much appreciated. Hope the book can provide you plenty of value for your journey on the Beneteau!
I still don't understand these stupid discussions going around the Web, who decides if a boat can be considered bluewater or not?
Expensive or cheaper?
Good or Bad?
Typology and specifications?
Why doesn't a specific body establish it according to strict criteria to which all manufacturers must adhere?
Who controls who and how?
According to what regulation?
And recognised by whom?
Do we still want to believe in the fairytale of the CE mark?
Which, by the way, I see it written everywhere even on my underpants!
So I don't think we need to be a naval architect to understand a very simple, if not obvious, concept that regardless of the builder, whether it is Beneteau or any other, there is a legislative and regulatory VOID in this sector that concerns not only the construction and design, choice of the materials and their origin, the absolute lack of supervision by any recognised third independent body from the design, the construction, up to the delivery of this type of boats, the lack of training and professional courses for the staff employed by these yards,
which would make the most stubborn navigator pale.
The truth is that these shipyards do what they want and their constructions have one and only one denominator the profit!
That last wave that appeared to be breaking just short of the stern is interesting. In similiar conditions (winds @ 40kn or so, big waves hard to tell how big) on other boats I've crewed, the skipper/owner usually furled the main and we sailed on trimmed jib alone, sometimes on a pole, sometimes a broad reach, and still kept our speed up with less strain on the rig. You all looked fairly comfortable here, was there at any time reason to think that a part of the rig or structure was under undue stress and liable to break (it's usually a shackle that holds the jib or genoa atvthe topnofthe mastvthat got torsion twisted and readtvto part when inspected later in port.)
Well you do have Germanischer Lloyd
People swim across the channel, row across the Atlantic and we applaud them. Do what you want. A 40ft Beneteau in comparison is a perfectly rational choice of boat, and I believe your upgrades are very well judged. A modern production boat has many advantages in design, equipment and cost. Ignore the naysayers - you're young and living the dream and your boat enables that, and I'm sure you love her for it. I say well done to both of you.
Thankyou Philip for the kind words. We do indeed love her and she’s looked after us rather well so far. 😃
People most certainly do not swim or row across oceans with their families! We applaud them for their daring and extreme behavior! Apples to oranges!
@@HuldraX. I think you're taking me slightly literally.....
I fully agree with Philip. I am owner of a similar production boat. I made almost the same upgrades you did. I am sailing all the Med and willing to cross Atlanic and doing Carribean with her. At the same time personally I am also planning to change boat before engaging into the Pacific. But it is a choice. And I would not trust more a similar budget old blue water cruiser just becouse she « was » built as a blue water one. At the end it is a matter of redundacy. And the speed of the boat relative to the budget (and whether forecsts) provide a mitigation to the luck of redundancy. And as a matter of fact many construction boats including Dufour andf Bavaria circumnavigated the world already. It looks to me you know the long and short of what you are doing. Enjoy it. Massimo
I still don't understand these stupid discussions going around the Web, who decides if a boat can be considered bluewater or not?
Expensive or cheaper?
Good or Bad?
Typology and specifications?
Why doesn't a specific body establish it according to strict criteria to which all manufacturers must adhere?
Who controls who and how?
According to what regulation?
And recognised by whom?
Do we still want to believe in the fairytale of the CE mark?
Which, by the way, I see it written everywhere even on my underpants!
So I don't think we need to be a naval architect to understand a very simple, if not obvious, concept that regardless of the builder, whether it is Beneteau or any other, there is a legislative and regulatory VOID in this sector that concerns not only the construction and design, choice of the materials and their origin, the absolute lack of supervision by any recognised third independent body from the design, the construction, up to the delivery of this type of boats, the lack of training and professional courses for the staff employed by these yards,
which would make the most stubborn navigator pale.
The truth is that these shipyards do what they want and their constructions have one and only one denominator the profit!
the most important piece of equipment is the brains aboard. you are top of the line in that department! safe travels!
Thoughtful and thorough preps, and I can't fault your basic premise: If you are thoughtful about the production boat you choose for trade wind ocean crossings, and then you strengthen its abilities to match the demands of long distance cruising, you should have no regrets. Excellent presentation - congratulations!
Great video, straight to the point, no BS. Really like the way you’ve set up the boat, especially the rig. Excellent organization of gear and equipment. 👍🏻
Thank you sir much appreciated. Fair winds.
A) there are more beneteaus on the ocean than all other brands combined, and more crossing oceans than any other single brand.
B) you can cross in anything if you watch the weather window properly.
pretty sure someone swam semi assisted across an ocean
Great vid, well put together and thought out. The main question ‘is this boat good enough for ocean crossings’ is fairly simple to answer. Every boat has somewhere a builder’s data plate, on this plate you’ll find reference to a ‘design category’ - A, B, C or D.
Category A is ‘Ocean’ - designed to be capable and self sufficient in wind that may exceed force 8 and wave heights in excess of 4m.
Obviously there are boats out there in category B (offshore), C (inshore) and D (sheltered waters) that are taken across oceans but consider the implications of your insurance not paying out should something happen and you have to bail into the life raft with your beacon.
FYI Oceanis 40 is Class A, as are most boats above 30 ft.
Thankyou sir, correct you are. Glad you enjoyed🤙
Nice job of presenting the information. We have an Oceanis 50 and have put 45,000nm under our keel in the past five years. We can second the statement that with proper planning the Beneteau is an awesome offshore cruiser. In addition, even when you miss time a passage or you get smacked by a storm on a longer passage, the boat really is up for the challenge. We've experienced 6 to 8m seas and sustained 40 and 50 knot winds on a few memorable occasions and whilst we wouldn't wish to repeat, the boat handled it well. Do note that the one big difference in our view between the Beneteau, say and Oyster, Hylas or Southerly will be ride comfort. Oh, and price. Lastly, would agree that a protected rudder would be more desirable but that still doesn't stop the thousands of Beneteaus we see out here. You've done a nice job of minimizing the risk with your Hydrovane. Great comments on this one, fun to read!
I think a lot of people could use this video as an example of how to impart wisdom with just the right amount of detail in an articulate no nonsense but friendly way .
Its sort of ok ploughing through the mumblings and meanderings of happy folk with the details of their passion project but this is so different and a joy to watch .
Not to mention what an excellent job youve done with the boat !
I feel you two have rare skills.
Thank you so much
Thank you kindly sir, glad you can appreciate the video.
Hi Sam & Nicole
Just watched arguably one of the most informative videos for anyone with an interest in crossing an ocean in a production boat. Your openess with information is to be applauded.
As you know we are in the process of planning our our journey and this
video has given a lot of pointers and food for thought for us to ponder on.
Thank you again.
Keep safe.
Thanks for the kind comment and glad you got some good value from the vid. No worries at all and all the best with your planning to head offshore. Take care and fair winds 🤙
Your book is an absolutely fantastic resource. For only $10 it’s a steal and a no-brainer. Many thanks 🙏 to you for doing this work. Very very helpful.
Thanks so much for the kind feedback and we’re super stoked it can provide you some good value! Tusen takk 🤙
The sheeting angles can make a huge difference with rolling. Use tweakers and adjust the raveller to make it as comfortable as possible. Then sometimes a slow roll in a swell can improve performance greatly. Its called ooching.
Jeez! I’m no expert but I’d go anywhere with you guys!
Sam Holmes sailing / wind hippie sailing both boats crossing oceans. 50 years ago there was no iridium go or windie apps, when you had to be be prepared for storms/waves. Pick your weather window and have your batteries ready.
The paddle speedsensor should be taken out after the trip and replaced with the dummy. Second I would place the wooden bungs next to the thruhulls so in case they are already there.
PS to my post below. Every Sailboat I have had has been a Conventional Rig with Classic Mast and Main Sail with Lazy Jacks and Stack Packs and Hank on Sails, apart from my last boat which had a Furling Genoa on a basic Sloop with no inner forestry (I don’t like them tbh) Maximum fun was bouncing around on the foredeck changing Sails, loved it. They all can be made to work but Disability forced on me learn what a total pain in the backside to work with a Classic Mast really is, hence my Conversion to - after a serious look into them in Mast Furling, and the UV protection they can offer. Battens in them cause serious wear and tear, and seriously shorten the Life of already short lived Crosscut Dacron Sails and seriously reduce furling and unfurling reliability. So as a Cruiser looking for Reliability and a long Service Life Shape maintaining Sail, I started looking for a Sailmaker that would make me a Triradial Furling Battenless Main. It turned out to be quite a long search. Usually only getting the response “We Only Make Batten Ones” Eventually, I got a Yes, we’ve made a number of them, and if you need heavy duty Offshore specification, just tick the box on the order form - this from Precision Sails, and much to my surprise, they added, that the Triradial Construction recovers most of the power lost by having No Battens ! Wow. Now they do cost from about double a Crosscut Dacron Sail, but instead of being Stretched and buggered inside three years, with occasional Valeting, and re stitching, they can maintain their shape well for over 20 years- So cost per year of Service Life Plummets. Same goes for a Furling Triradial Genoa too as Reinforced Reefing Points to retain shape can be added. Partially Furl a Crosscut Dacron one, and the Sail Shape can be buggered within a few hours. So I’m thinking of about around a 140% Triradial Genoa, to have enough Sail room to properly fit three Reefing points, or a self tacking Jib plus a Furling Reaching Code Zero to fill in the Wind angle gaps plus a Furling Gennaker depending on Sailmaker advice. Since, other Sailmakers, including Quantum, Ullman, and others have started offering Battenless Furling Triradial Mainsails as well, so things look up. Bob. 👍⛵️🌟🌟🌟
I love your videos, they have a great style and tone - please keep it up. Having discovered your channel this week I have just binge watched it all. We have an Oceanis 361 from 2003 which we purchased this year - our plan is to build experience and confidence sailing the West Coast of Scotland and North of Ireland for the next few years and then when we retire we hope to buy a slightly bigger boat - 40/45ft and see where life takes us ( somewhere warmer...).
The Oceanis range of boats are certainly blue water capable with a few upgrades and careful planning. Fair winds and looking forward to seeing the rest of your adventure. 👍. Just downloaded your ebook too 👍
Thanks so much for your support! Much appreciated 🙏. I’m sure you’ll build experience pretty quick on the West coast of Scotland. Good luck on your journey and fair winds 🤙
There is nothing wrong with a Beneteau. I owned a 461 and it was a solid boat, quite fast and was well furnished. I had it modified from a four cabin to a three cabin to make it more livable to me. I agree with your sail modifications, it needs a self tacking jib and a third reef in the main. I had the teak decks refurbished and replaced the foredeck to give it a new life. The exhaust elbow replacement is a must. Mine was almost completely blocked. I replaced all the hoses, throttle cable, standing and running rigging, the guide wires and batteries to increase the storage to 560ah. You can never have enough! The fin keel needed some work due to corrosion. You can argue all day long about a blue water boat and I agree a steel or aluminum keel is safest, particularly with a full length keel but they are hard to maneuver backwards and slow. Amels have a fin keel and so do lots of other boats costing a lot more money and most boats today are made of fiberglass. I have heard you tubers sneer about “plastic fantastic” boats when that is exactly what their boat is. Ignore the detractors, you have a solid boat which will serve you well.
Agreed and thanks for your insight mate. All good points here and the 461 sounds like a nice boat. Fair winds 🤙
Great boat. Our friend Mark is 1.5 times around the planet on his Beneteau 393. Stay sail/cutter rig is probably the main 'bluewater' safety feature, as is your attention to detail and wear items.
The Quartermaster*
Very impressive and well thought out! One thing that we carried on our Beneteau 40 c/c was a Luke 3pc. 80lb, fisherman storm anchor. This saved tons of space when broken down and could be put together with just
3 large locking pins. 100 ft of three eights triple strength chain and 300 ft, of three quarters triple braid nylon rode. When things looked hairy it was nice to know it was on board! Best wishes and safe travels!
I hope I'm correct with your names, Sam and Nicole! We do share the same boat manufacturer Beneteau. My wife and I purposely bought our 40 foot c/c for live aboard cruising. We never once felt that our boat was not a capable blue water cruising yacht! Your videos are professionally done with a great mix of actually sailing in a lot of different conditions and taking us along seeing the fantastic Islands and friendly inhabitants! Best wishes ❤️ to a beautiful couple!
Steve and Paula
S/V Adios
I met a guy in Fiji who hollowed out a tree built a mast in peru and sailed across the Pacific. And a guy who bought a boat for a dollar off Craigslist on a different trip to Fiji. you can do it in all almost anything. On a production boat I would modify the rudder tube and attachment etc.& probably not heading into high latitudes
Have a Dufour 470 and have been cataloging many of the same tasks to complete to go “blue water”. You two have lived it in a typical production boat and made it work. Thank you for putting all your experience into a e-book reference that is well worth the price of a couple beers.
Thanks for the kind words and good luck on your travels. ⛵️🤙
I hope so because I’d better stop using it if it isn’t .
The little plate inside the boat says it is too .
Lucky for me it’s my first sailboat and I know no better.
38.1 Oceanis yr 2000
I’ve got about ten miles solo so far
Maybe 200 taught .
I’m a kitesurfer and this will be the biggest kiteboard I’ve ever been on 😂
Listen I been told it’s fine to use to cross Atlantic by totally qualified sailors.
It’ll be rough I’m told
In the plastic beneteau. But it will do it. Heck I’m already 67 so in a bit of a hurry with the learning .
Thanks for sharing your experience and stats !
Inspiring 👍
Hello .... big congratulations !!!! It is one of the best videos I have seen, not only addressing the situation about production sailboats such as "blue waters", but also because of the order and logic posed in front of each fraction required to sail safely on the high seas or in a lagoon. .
I am preparing a Jeanneau 469 with the same concepts and I felt very pleased and reflected with what they have done.
Only that I will go against the traffic, from Chile to Europe, including Norway in some of my routes
Wow thanks so much for your words! 🙏 super glad you enjoyed the video and had some value to take away! Sounds like a great voyage you have planned in a nice big Jeanneau, best of luck and fair winds!
We crossed the atlantic 3 years ago on our B43 which is quite similar to your boat. We made this first crossing with the boat as we bought it. We are now preparing to leave next summer for a 5 year trip and replaced, modified, reinforced a lot of stuff. New sails, purpose made (reinforced). New sprayhood and bimini with 400 watt semi flexible pv panels on the bimini. Lithium batteries and modification of alternator charging to protect alternator. New motormounts, replaced all standing rigging with dieform. Installed watermaker, …. And the list goes on and on. With our experience i could maybe make some small additions to your ebook
Good job Francis, some great boat jobs ticked off the list especially the lithiums and watermaker. If your interested the ebook can be downloaded at www.sailingbeaver.com/shop/
Modern cruisers seem so much easier to live on, which unless you plan to spend all your time in the middle of an ocean is not a bad plan. I think the real issue is acknowledging and planning for the weaknesses of a modern cruiser.
Yeah fair call on that and totally agree. The livability is quite good for the size of the boat and very comfortable for a couple.
I liked it!
I am an experienced blue water sailor, and on my 3rd long term boat, and in this very position of converting or changing boats, and I want to convert :-)
I do not plan to be in the narrow band of conditions/locations that would sink a plastic fantastic, but spare a blue water boat....it is not a very broad band....
A side note, you should mention that the Hydrovane is essentially a pre-rigged emergency rudder, which considerably offsets the risk associated with the spade. I consider this essential insurance and peace of mind in the blue water with my 'fin n spade', never mind the great crew member it is who sails better than anyone, eats nothing, never sleeps, and doesn't miss a windshift :-)
Thanks Paul. Yes certain conditions would warrant a BW boat but the majority of tropical cruising destinations would not. We are very happy with the Hydrovane and it has served us well on passage and provided good peace of mind in event of a rudder failure. Cheers
It doesn’t sound like you guys are new to this, it sounds like an extensive amount of research has been made here, Although many experts say these boats are not recommended for blue water, It’s awesome to see you guys getting it done, We’ll done,
Everyone has to feel comfortable with their decisions as they head out. For me, I'm thankful for my full-keel, heavy displacement double ender. Every bit of it is built like a tank. No keel bolts. No exposed rudder. It's been around the world once and we're taking it around again.
Just watched your video regarding your systems on your boat. I was very impressed with your thoroughness with each system, it is very apparent you worked through each system completely. Kudos, a lot of people think that you just get on a boat and go. Just take a look at sailing gbu
Thank you sir appreciate the feedback! Take care and fair winds 🤙
Excellent job setting up the boat for offshore. You might consider mounting the EPIRB on the cockpit rail. If you get rolled over at night, or have a fire which can fill the boat with smoke in a matter of seconds, you can't get to the EPIRB and it can't float free. Speaking of getting rolled, a bluewater boat will have a higher ballast to weight ratio and a narrower hull so that it comes back upright even in a severe knock down. Hull shape and weight also give a bluewater boat a slower, more comfortable motion. Crew skill and attitude are the most important factors for passage making, as well as having the right equipment on board. You can sail just about anywhere with your setup, but a "true bluewater boat" will still make a difference in the worst of conditions.
Some very good informative points here, thanks for that. A good idea with the float free beacon one worth considering. We would also have to agree with the kinder motion on heavier ballasted vessels. Cheers
There is a modified attachment plate available for the Vang boom attachment. It is much more substantial and has more attachment points and was only 250 sterling. A very good investment!
For sure, the standard zspars vang is pretty shitty and we upgraded this to a solid custom plate. 🤙
That is the cleanest and most organized boat! Jeesh!!
Thankyou kind sir 👌
Great job! Added to my cruising guidelines, thank you for providing this kind of information.
thnaks again for this video that I watched for the second time (at least). I bought your 2 e-book, to thank for those explaination. My goal is to cross the atlantic (East->West) the next year...
You did an awesome job with all of your additional equipment - like inner stay, great anchor, solid self steering in Hydrovane that can be used as an emergency rudder if needed, very detailed approach to lines and blocks and probably much more. But a solid captain and crew - are the most valuable part of your boat-home and you did spectacular from everything I've seen so far. To be fair, I need to share my experience and view on an issue. I've participated in delivering a couple of Beneteaus and was able to notice an uncomfortable design feature of the boat - it is pounding while going upwind in moderate winds. However, deliveries are done on a schedule and you often forced to sail a shortest route within a time frame and often not a better one. With that in mind, knowing limitations of the design, it is easily avoidable by being flexible - like falling off and sailing comfortably and faster on a reach. Besides, nobody in their right mind would cruise upwind in moderate winds and choppy waves for so many reasons. I'm sure, that you and your boat will have a ton of success and fun while taking each other to any and many places within your comfort zone, and that zone expands with every passage you make. Fair winds and stay flexible
I noticed the pounding also when motoring a Beneteau 45 upwind into 30 knot winds. Less noticeable when sailing instead of motoring. I think it has a flat bottom, but when heeled it presents a rounded section to the water so less pounding.
wow great work ! I have hardly seen an Oceanis 40 so well and thoughtfully equipped as you did (e.g. staysail). One thing is missing though....the answer of your question in the video title...I have just seen a video with the Kraken CEO and he defines the properties of a blue water sailboat as following:
1. integral keel
2. robust rudder system
3. no gas
4. thick hull
5. protected centre cockpit
6. sail handling from cockpit
7. foot braced somewhere when doing deck work
8. Keel stepped mast and heavy rig
Probably your boat covers points 6 and 7. What are your thoughts on that ? Thanks for your answer and good luck for the upcoming passages !
Thankyou sir, glad you enjoyed.
To answer above, firstly the Kraken boats look amazing and super tough, but unfortunately not in the budget range of anyone that sails a Beneteau.
Although the ceo would be totally biased, I would totally agree with points 1, 2, 4 and 6 especially for a winter, go anywhere boat. Other points like gas and keel stepped mast seem a little off track to Bluewater relevance but interesting for thought.
P.s although I love the thought of a strong skeg hung rudder, it’s not a very common on new builds anymore..
Thanks again
@@SailingBeaver well unfortunately the sea is not asking for the budget.... Maybe we can agree that you own a production boat very well equipped for bluewater cruising.... In any case all the best and enjoy your time at sea ....
That’s a good point! Thankyou kindly, fair winds 🙏
Thanks for the video! It seems the answer is a definitely YES. As long as you invest on necessary upgrades. I specially like the changes to the rigging. Makes sailing life easier and definitely safer than the original set up.
No worries glad you enjoyed 🙏. The right upgrades make a big difference and thanks for your vote of confidence. Fair winds.
Well done Sam & Nicole, super informative video. I will need to go and buy a copy of your ebook too.
Cheers Michael, that’s great to hear! Enjoy the book🤙🏼
I think it was the late Patrick Childress (RIP) who, many years ago, sailed a Catalina 27 around the world after beefing it up for sailing the oceans. Three years ago another guy I saw on You Tube sailed a Catalina 27 from California to Hawaii. Sam Holmes made a similar crossing to Hawaii on a 23 FT Ranger about a year earlier. More recently a young Polish guy built a 16 FT plywood sailboat, purpose-designed for the passage, and sailed it across the Atlantic Ocean. Webb Chiles, among his many voyages, made it 3/4 of the way around the planet in an open (no cabin) sailboat, I think it was 18 or 20 FT. Famously in 1965, 16 year-old Robin Lee Graham sailed his 24 FT sloop named Dove around the world solo. James Baldwin has circumnavigated twice in his very simply outfitted 28 FT Pearson Triton. The first time around with no engine. And of course probably the most famous sailing couple, Lin and Larry Pardey circumnavigated their 24 FT home-built wooden Seraffyn, the "wrong way" around the Southern Ocean, also without an engine.
These and many other stories are proof that you don't need a Westsail, Island Packet or Pacific Seacraft to make a safe passage across an ocean. What you need is experience, good judgement, selection of proper season, route and a good weather window, and appropriate rigging and equipment. If anything, your Beneteau is probably overkill the way you've prepared it, for trade winds passages.
Robin acquired Dove 2... S. Africa? and it was a bit longer... to finish his 5 year journey
I saw one in 5-6 m seas and it did excellent! From Africa to the Caribbean.
Bravo both. It's not the boat, it's how you sail her. The upgrades are well considered, I particularly like the gybe proof double foresail and double pole for trade wind sailing. The fact that you're doing it, rather than talking about it should piss off the armchair captains; keep going!
True that! The upgrades has worked well for us and we are pretty happy with them! Cheers for tuning in mate
Well done guys. I had an Oceanis 40 such a great sailing boat but I only sailed up and down the Windward islands. The one thing I did not have was a water maker. Would not sail again without one. Enjoy and safe travels.
Thanks and good to hear. Great boat in the windwards, loves reaching in between the islands. True about the water maker we have learnt that the hard way for sure.
1.01 of big boy ocean boats is - Does it have a bolt-on keel???
Great video I’m also a Kiwi and have the Oceanis 43, love the boat got caught in a southeast low off the Queensland East Coast and it preformed well but does need a 3rd reef.I have 20 sq meter Solent setup, great in heavy weather. I love the fact that they are a fast cruising boat couldn’t stand going slow cheers Jay.
Cheers for the feedback, much appreciated. That 3 extra feet would be very handy I’m sure but yeah we have had plenty of use on 3rd reef. Fair winds mate 🤙
We sailed our 2017 Oceanis 35 from Florida to New Zealand
That sounds lovely, trust you had a good trip. 🤙
It's about what one feels safety and comfort. Some may want the slow boat that has a higher comfort rating. Go for it be safe. Your yacht is beautiful and so livable
Yeah good point, a little extra comfort goes along way for the longer crossing. Thanks, we love her!
Thanks for this boat tour. Lots of things that you have upgrated are really pragmatic especially when you cross oceans. Many things that I will retain on my side, sure !
Your welcome Christophe, glad you got some value from it! Cheers and fair winds
I went cruising on a 57 foot strip planked fin keel spade rudder ocean racer. Everyone in those days said that you can't cruise on a fin keel spade rudder ocean racer. We ignored this and went cruising. It was the best choice because it sailed so well. Also, because it was a narrow racer it went to windward very well and performed fine in light winds.
Very interesting and we like this idea. Usually the race built boats are always built super stiff and strong which has an advantage over the average cruiser. Speed definitely has its safety factors in strong weather, thanks for this information. 🤙
Good stuff again team, nice clean video with plenty of good content.
Cheers mate, glad you enjoyed 🙏
You need some overboard venting in your battery bay.
Your boat is DIALD. Well done. I love it and would cross oceans with you guys all day long 👍🏻.
Great information! Making a list of the modifications I need to do
I much appreciate this video. I bought my Bavaria 40 / 200s2 in Slovenia, sailed through the Med to the Canaries, milk route into the Caribbean and from there to the Chesapeake where I live. I admit that the voyage was done somewhat blue-eyed and underequipped. As I now approach retirement age with the intent to go blue water again I am faced with the decision to keep and upgrade her or sell and get a "true" blue water yacht.
My first question to you would be: How about keel and rudder. I assume your Beneteau has a spade and bolted on keel, same as my Bav. Do you have any concerns on either design and did you / do you consider upgrades / strengthening ?
Secondly: With all the equipment you put on, what does your boat now weigh and does that effect performance?
Lastly: How much money did you spend on all the upgrades?
Handbreit.
Thanks for you comment and kind words. Sounds like a nice trip you made. It’s a tough decision and on round two we could face the same decision depending on our sailing climate. Some things are heavy such as jerry cans on deck and anchor chain and I’m sure it affects our performance but we do try to keep it light. The costs added up but over time we would have spent the same on a house. We have detailed every $ spent in the ebook that supplements this episode with a large section in the appendix www.sailingbeaver.com/product/bluewatercruiser
Guys, please look up the various rallies crossing the Atlantic or Pacific or Australia upto Indo....they list the vessels, make, size
ect....there in lies your answer.
I would install backing plates on the keel bolts, I believe the Beneteau has only washers. The next time your on the hard drop your keel for inspection.
If we were removing the bolts for some reason or making repairs in that area then that would be a good idea but otherwise not (can of worms). Your right though, kinda small backing plates.
I bought the e-book and skimmed it. It looks to be a concise and useful collection of what's probably been many hours of research for you. I'm learning as much as I can about sailing because that will probably be the next adventure when we have had a few years traveling in the bus. It'll be awhile... Likely when the nest is empty.
Cheers mate and thanks for the support. Sure was some research and work to put together throughout our journey. Hope it provides some value, good luck with your adventure 🤙
Really liked this video .Full of knowledge built from experience.Saved it to my boat library for future reference 👍👍.
Subscribed as well
Thanks so much, appreciate the kind words and glad to make the library! Welcome aboard and take care.
This is the type of sailing channel that interests me, like Sailing Ran, this channel is about sailing and the boat first, the sociable aspect being a secondary consideration, People have crossed oceans in all manner of craft, from bathtubs to an 18ft Dory, the point being pretty much any boat will cross an ocean, is it being suitable for prolonged long distance voyaging year after year is a different question. Displacement, sound construction, sea kindliness, sailing performance with adequate capacity to carry essential equipment water and stores to service a crew for passage making that may take twice as long as originally planned for are IMHO essential. For a question like this you will get a myriad of answers, expect a lot of conflicting opinions. Thx for the opportunity to go sailing with you , if not in person but in this case via youtube. Having said that, While 40-45 ft is perfectly adequate for me I would not venture offshore in a boat with a bolt on keel.
Thank you sir for the very kind feedback. Totally agree with the desired qualities of an ideal offshore yacht, many of these we have slowly come to learn ourselves after owning the yacht and more so with each longer passage. Thanks for you well rounded input. 🤙
God how awful those "Internet forums" are!!!! They've never crossed a bathtub,let alone the oceans!!! Beneteau and Jeaneau are fantastic brands and they absolutely get the job done!!!! Piss on them and you two have done a fantastic job...keep it up!!!!
Hi guys, this is just the best video, lots of stuff that we are considering, was so interesting and learnt heaps. Really well done, stacks of relevant, initiative advise. Can’t thank you enough for the time you took and your generous in sharing it. So good to see and hear from thinking sailors. We watch so many RUclips sailors and love getting tips this way but this video is at another level and so professional, love it. Thank you so much.
Hi Jen, thanks so much for this super kind comment. Glad you enjoyed our work and got some tips for your own projects. Makes it all worth it to receive positive feedback like this. Enjoy the book and fair winds! 🙏
Great video(s) you are making. Love to follow them. We (family of four) crossed the Pacific in a similar boat in 2018. Looking forward to watch the rest of your journey. Hope to see you Raroia/Kontiki Motu some time❤️ fair winds and following seas.
Thanks for you kind words and all the best to you and the family! Can’t wait to share some more of our journey. 🤙
Absolutely 100% yes. Alright, now I'll watch the video! ;)
That’s the spirit. Yew 🤙
200w is pretty solid usually gets mine fully charged during a day
What’s 200W? The panels are 110w so with all 4 it’s 440w and usually charges everything by lunch.
Great video, very descriptive and informative. Thank you.
From another kiwi, an excellent video. I have had 4 Beneteau's and loved them all. Your boat is an excellent example. Congratulations.
You may like it better if your backstay chain plates were installed so they're aligned as to make the shear forces parallel instead of perpendicular. If the plate and the rigging wire tugging against it make a T then it's more likely to break than if they are closer to parallel. So basically if the plate were on the hull or transom it could be aligned closer to the rigging than on the underside of the deck as it is.
This system is a replacement of the small original padeyes with a large selden 2,000kg padeye and we installed additional backing plates as an extra layer to the double thickness deck/hull join. What your referring to we did consider but would be a whole new system to involve building and installing custom chain plates for the transom where the hull is thin and would be only the the deck section. We made the best of what we had to work with but in hindsight wish that we just installed dyneema on clutches as the forces a relatively minor on the fractional rig
@@SailingBeaver With relatively minor forces then the ideal way to handle shear doesn't matter so much.
The companionway is my preferred spot to keep watch while offshore in our Beneteau Sense 50. I have resisted mounting another full array of instruments as each of my helm stations has full instruments and large plotters. Instead I use Android tablet as a plotter with AIS on a RAM mount along with a handheld remote for my autopilot. I'm still looking for a solution that would permit visualizing the radar over wifi.
Cruising is 10% sailing and 90% at anchor. Beneteau has the "at-anchor" part very well designed and implemented. With experience, each sailor can slowly customize the 10% to their individual tastes. In essence creating a custom solution paid by sweat equity. Well done!
Thankyou sir. Your right it is good and protected at the companionway under the spray hood but it also must be nice with plotters at each helm. There is times when hand steering at night the could have been handy for us too. Good idea with the Ais on the iPad. Cheers 🤙
Hy guys, from my heart you look like a really true couple, all the best to you, knock on wood! I was 10days in quarantene so i had time to watch all yr episodes. Great job, for sure not another usual sailing couple. Fair Winds⛵ and cheers to the Beaver! 🥂
Thank you sir that’s very kind. Glad we could keep you occupied in your Qtime. Stay tuned for our pacific vids this week, take care. 🤙
I arrived in Opua 2 weeks ago now after a disastrous solo crossing from Fiji. I had done the trip 3 times before without major issues.
My boat is a bullet proof Spray 42,ketch rigged, not the fastest tub out there but 18 days.for this journey is....just forever. Why? Rudder damage.
The last 500 miles the conditions were quite challenging and it was during this part of the journey that the damage was done. What exactly happened i will never know but it is clear to me that it must have been a very heavy object to cause that amount of damage to a rudder that was very,very heavily build.
As a consequence of losing the ability to control the boat adequately in the stormy conditions I spend 7 days hoved to.
In moderate conditions I could still maintain a more or less steady heading however nearing North Cape I ran into a front that produced a prolonged period of 'fresh' SE winds. A couple of days earlier the main had ripped, just above the 3rd reefing point rendering it useless in the conditions I was experiencing.
Eventually I got towed in by a cray boat that was sheltering at Three King Island.
I remember thinking a few times how lucky I was being on a well build and strong boat with a long keel!
You don't seem to be too concerned about your fin keel and spade rudder(s), as you don't give it any thought.
I would!
Wow thanks so much for this information and account from what sounds like a super tough experience on this crossing. Shit happens and by the sounds of it, can happen to any boat there no matter what the build or reputation. Great job in making it to Opua safely in the end. As our videos are quite behind, we ourselves have just arrived yesterday in Opua from Fiji and although we had a good crossing the last 3 days were were beating our way through a large cold from 300miles out, was tough but we were lucky everything went well. Would love to grab a beer and hear more about your experience, we are in the marina in Opua 🤙
Still anchored off the breakwater on Heritage. Coffee is always ready.
Very well thought out improvements and attention to crucial components for Bluewater sailing and cruising. Thanks for the videos. Fair winds.
No worries. Glad you enjoyed. Fair winds 🤘
How much weight do you think your carrying when fully loaded, and thoughts of effecting the boats AVS.
Great to hear from you both. Great blog. Say safe and our prayers are with you crossing the pacific. Amazing experience, best of care.xx
Thanks so much guys! Take care and fair winds 🙏
Great video. this the first time we have viewed your work thanks for the insight into your work on your boat. we are in the market now. our issue with this type of boat is keeping the keel on and attempting to save the boat and every aboard if this happen in the deep blue. bolt on keels are the issue for us. you guys have done a great job on every thing above the water are there things that can be done blow the water line? again great video.
Thanks and glad to have you watching. The keel type is something worth considering and it’s difficult to say just on opinion how strong it is. Although we haven’t had issues in this department, like we mentioned in the video there is boats around that are better suited to heavy usage and primarily BW sailing. Fair winds.
Fabulous video and very informative . Living the dream.
Glad you enjoyed it
Excellent video and prep work. Time to go!!
It’s all about the STIX number from my recollection that boat has a STIX a close to 40. The higher the number the better. For all the Cat 1 offshore racing I have done that’s more than enough I’d say it’s a perfect offshore boat very strong and good reaching speeds
Thanks for the info, we have heard this a few times so we’ll have to look further into. Cheers for the feedback.
They said the titanic was unsinkable…so in my humble opinion damage control on any boat would be my first question on any boat crossing a body of water… people row skiffs across an ocean.
Outstanding and insightful job. Bought the book too! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for the support John and hope it provides you some value. Glad to have you onboard 🤙
I don’t believe you that you’re inexperienced: you shouldn’t know about all the upgrades you have, how to use them, and what the various benefits are. If you are in fact newbies, you’ve done an amazing job of educating yourselves and getting to an advanced level quickly.
Well we had not sailed at all before buying this boat… In saying that we spent some time in Norway before departing to get the boat setup and learn as much as possible. Also had lots of guidance from other sailors we have met along the way giving us little hints and suggestions so we are thankful for that.
A really great overview of all of the important systems. Thank you for putting this together.
Thanks and appreciate your kind words! 🤙
I just went to purchase the e-book, but I need to verify if I can read it on an Android tablet? thanks!
It’s downloaded in a pdf format so will display on all tablets and devices. Enjoy the book! 😊
That’s a nice boat almost sold mine for enough to buy someone else’s similar to that one
First time viewer and very pleased with your presentation and your provisions for safety. I'll like and subscribe, too. Safe travels.
Great taste in music in this video. Great content. Well done!
Thankyou kindly mate 🙏
So what has been the cost of all these upgrades? Surely you could have bought a higher quality yacht if you'd looked around better? All those upgrades took a lot of time and patience to install, congratulations.
Thanks it sure did. We have a very detailed summary of all the costs and upgrades in the ebook. It’s a tough question about a different yacht as our plans have evolved well after we purchased and the upgrades were over quite some time but we have sure learnt a lot along the way. 🤙
I couldn't find your ebook.......Please send the best form to buy this.
Thank´s
Available here on our website… www.sailingbeaver.com/product/bluewatercruiser/
Alternatively it’s a free download for our Patrons here.. www.patreon.com/sailingbeaver
Thanks for your support 🙏
@@SailingBeaver Easy..... living now in my computer. Best regards
great explanation easy well structured well done. thank you . Klaus
Thanks so much. Fair winds Klaus 🤙
Wonderful work. Looking forward to reading more in your ebook. Much of what you’ve shown seems transferable to my B411.
Salute!
Thanks 🙏. Yes correct, most of the specific upgrades would transfer to any similar production boat really. Enjoy the book and fair winds!
Awesome descriptions. Lovely life. Keep living it
Great thanks for watching 🤙 fair winds.
That's awesome, but my fundamental concern is the strength of the hull and its reinforcement. My basic understanding is that Beneteau saves money by using stringers to 'assist' in loadbearing for a thinner hull section. Hmmm, that may just be sour grapes, and- i've never compared sectioned hull for comparison. But, knowing that marine grade plywood is easy to 'cheap out' on: thinner sections, reduced glassing & cut sealing efforts along with 'over reliance' on stringers providing hull strength my coastal comfort zone is fine. But, for longer and more dangerous crossings, I'd rather have a little more tonnage reflecting more glass/epoxy, thicker & more reinforced stringers. Then what about the rudder mount? How solid are the joints connecting the actual rudder to the guide arm? How well designed/heavy are the steel lines connecting to the control arm? A rudder failure is a dangerous issue and one I would not take lightly when planning a crossing. However, your 'build up' is exceptional and I think I only would've added winches closer to the wheels for added safety! (Small niggle of a personal opinion expressed!) So, Good on ya! for a well considered, no cheaping out build out for a boat that may have started a little limited for your planned adventures!
Thanks so much, this is a very well rounded and informative comment! The hull thickness and grid system are valid points and are concerns we would share. The rudder, control arm and quadrant are all very solid and we have serviced and inspected these but the concern in that department would be the hull thickness and support framework when under heavy load in seas. Additional winches are also a great idea, thanks for all your feedback. 🤙
@@SailingBeaver Really- Thank You BOTH! You did all of the hard work: buying the vessel, considering the issues & addressing them WELL. Then, presenting the solutions orderly (snubber 'dildo' comment excluded! Hahaha) with GREAT visuals. I appreciate all of YOUR efforts & you deserve honest & well founded responses. I'm very glad that you shared my rudder assembly concerns & addressed them, and- I'm sure that you will also check hull strength as you move ahead. You've done an incredible job. Like I said, my concerns may be just decades of noisy floors & hull slaps from loose stringers in older boats. I applaude your efforts & will mo' definitely follow your adventures. My question for Jeanneau/Beneteau & other high volume manufacturers- what length forces "Blue Water" design? (safety, reinforcement, sizing considerations, etc...) Had you asked me in a bar, I might've guessed 50 feet being the limit. (Note how many 'fancy' coastal boats are 50' or less!) As a former Capt'n & delivery guy, I would definitely deliver your boat to almost any port (now that cash isn't as tight- my standards were MUCH lower in my youth! Hahaha) I wish there were more people like you, designing/building the right vessel for their needs. Ask any long time sailor if they ever got out to sea only to find that they were completely unprepared for what they were facing- to a man (woman) they will all say "Yes I have!" if they are honest. You are prepared for much more- again Good on Ya for all of the studious effort(s)!
@@SailingBeaver I was very troubled by the many repair episodes on the Expedition Evans channel on their salvage 2008 Beneteau 49 - ruclips.net/user/ExpeditionEvansfeatured The root cause of these problem was the previous owner hitting a submerged object at full speed and ultimately the insurer totaled the boat. The collision did not directly damage the hull, but the torque on the external keel caused many major problems that the Evans repaired over many episodes. I didn't think that hitting such an object should be a fatal event for a well designed hull.
Unfortunately that’s the basic physics of the Beneteau grid system and how it connects the keel. Any small keel collision could fracture the grid. Would be nice to have a vessel strong enough to run over anything but it doubt it would be nice to sail.
@@michaelmarcus2318 Well, Yes- that's true and NO, a little less today. The effects & interactions on the hull, stringers & grid tie system on EVERY boat (production & one off yacht designers) has improved dramatically within the last 10 to 15 years. And, the spread of load for impacts has become a safety feature that allows other areas to be less reinforced. The overall effect is lighter weight (faster boats) with good strength & rigidity over a very long service life (GRP). The original hull design may not have made the cut for consideration of the newer, improved software that is being used today- and certainly, it is not the only production boat that has experienced major damage after hitting something at full speed. I found a new Discovery 48 S with a tabbing issue (structural, completely unsafe to take to sea as is) and I would call any Disco a 'bluewater' boat by anyone's standard.
for me, its not about the brand, but the design. some designs are just better suited for bigger/longer/shorter waves & stronger/lighter winds. id argue its a huge difference between sailing the baltic sea with very short/choppy waves, the northern sea with relatively short but big waves or the pacific with big and long waves. however, usually it comes down to the comfort factor as you can cross the atlantic in a whiskey barrel.
Spot on mate, Cheers!
Just about any boat 'can' cross an ocean, I do not think if a boat 'can' is the issue. Is it safe to do is the question. I personally would not do a circumnavigation in a boat that did not have a protected prop and rudder, nor would I trust a bolt on keel. Think of a cargo container 3 feet below the surface.
Tidy and clean boat, nice video!
For me, the boat must be long-keeled. Deep-finned options are performance-orientated. On a long-distance run, you do not need performance.
RUDDER? HiGuys! Good work on the boat and on the video as well! What I am curious about is: Did you do anything with rudder? Some guard or backup?
Thanks 🙏. Yeah we did a complete rudder overhaul and removed, inspected and replaced bearings in a previous episode. Also installed a Hydrovane self steering that can also act as an auxiliary rudder in case of failure to our main rudder.
Great videos! Just curious, why Sailing Beaver?
It is named after a mate
ruclips.net/video/dSZYA9xuDhs/видео.html
The whole debate about whether a boat is "blue water" or not is ridiculous. The most common argument being: a blue water boat must have a skeged rudder and an integral keel. Yet no one would argue that Amel, Oyster or HR (to name a few) are blue water, yet they've all done away with skegs and all have bolt-on keels.
As for Beneteau specifically, the Tiki Rafiki disaster forced Beneteau to change the way they build their boats and the result is that they now have very solidly built hulls. I mean seriously, do you know how many people charter these things? If they weren't safe, they wouldn't be the largest sailboat builder in the world.
So I say if a production boat is what you can afford, buy it and get out their cruising. As for the nay sayers, they're either keyboard warriors, trying to justify their $million+ purchase or will spend the rest of their lives trying to save enough money for the perfect boat. And to that I say that the perfect boat is the one that gets you out on the water (warts and all) sooner rather than later.
I wish the two of you the very best in your adventures and look forward to watching your channel grow! Cheers!
Yes it’s a never ending debate for sure and your correct that the BW examples usually given have all moved away from the features that apparently make them BW suitable. We also agree there is some arguments driven purely by purchase justification. In saying all that there has been times on a bumpy crossing we have yearned for a skeg rudder and integral keel but for now we’ll stick to the best boat is the one you have rule! Cheers and fair winds!
Well said
Look pretty ship shape to me. Maybe the hull is a little thin make it thicker where the stresses are. I seen a windmill that you can use in the water and tow or make it for wind . I thought it was cool. 250 amp hours every 24 hours towing it . So they say
Thanks 🙏. That’s correct, a rather thin hull for sure at about 8mm we measured. A great idea for the towable wind generator. Cheers
Hi! This is the first video I've seen from your RUclips Channel. I'm very impress with all the details you have gone thru. Thank you for putting this out. Subscribing!
Thanks so much and welcome aboard sir! 🤙
And now you got Najad...tells heaps;)