brewer 44 sailboat review

Jordan Yacht Brokerage

We Never Underestimate Your Dreams

Brewer 44 review: second generation whitby.

This article was re-posted with significant updates on February 29, 2012. A big thanks goes to Captain Finney for historical and technical corrections. Additional thanks goes to some Aussie and Canadian friends.

I seem to see Whitby and Brewers everywhere these days and have been fine tuning my identification skills to pick between the three versions: 42’s, 12.8’s, and 44’s. I was kayaking the Fruit Isles in Fort Lauderdale the other day and passed by the nice 12.8 in the featured photo below. I like her dark green hull color. The easiest one to differentiate is the Brewer 44 ostensibly the subject of this review. But you cannot talk about one without touching on the others, so if you are in the market for a 42 or 12.8, this article should include useful information too. Kurt and Doris Hansen of Whitby Boatworks in Ontario, Canada were the first to build these sailboats. They commissioned Edward S. Brewer & Associates to design her in 1972. The first Whitby 42 splashed out of their yard in 1973. The Hansens went on to build over 200 hulls from 1973 to somewhere around 1990. Previous to this, Whitby Boat Works had built the Alberg 30 and Alberg 37. In around 1980, the Hansens commissioned Fort Myers Yacht and Shipbuilding Inc on the west coast of Florida to build Whibys because they could not meet the exceptional demand. They trucked an old mold from Canada. The Fort Myers Whitbys were casually called Florida Whibys.

In 1983 a consortium of sailors led by Harold Oldak from the Manhasset Bay area of Long Island, New York decided they wanted their ultimate cruising boat. They settled on a Whitby 42 with 100 changes (Yachting, 1983). The most important change to the new mold was the “Brewer bite” keel with a skeg mounted rudder to improve her light air performance. The changes were approved by Ted Brewer. The consortium asked Kurt Hansen if he would build the boat to their revised design. Kurt Hansen said no, that would make the boat too expensive. The Long Island group went to Fort Myers to see if they would build the boat. The partners at Fort Myers were delighted to build the new design since that would give them design authority, something they did not have while building Whitbys. The Brewer 12.8 was born in 1983 and the first eight hulls were identical.

Whitby hull numbers 1 to 199 were reserved for Canada while 200 and up were assigned to Fort Myers. When the Brewer 12.8 was built, they simply continued with the same hull numbers. Fort Myers Whitbys were hull numbers 200 to approximately 233. Then the 12.8’s were approximately 234 up to approximately 280ish. In 1987 the company introduced a swim platform extended Brewer 44 which they produced until 1990. During the time that 12.8’s were built, some buyers wanted the Whitby design or parts of both. Since Fort Myers and Canada were no longer on good terms, these boats built in Fort Myers were called Brewer 42s.

To summarize, the Whitbys were ketch rigs with a full keel. The Brewer 12.8s were cutter rigs with double spreaders, a cutaway fore keeel with skeg mounted rudder. Some had tall rigs with the mast coming right through the center of the main salon and an anchor platform forward while others had standard rigs with the mast against the forward bulkhead and a bowsprit. The Brewer 44 is the same as the 12.8 except they moulded on a swim platform and enlarged the aft cabin slightly. Some Brewers and Whitbys are double head stay ketches. This rig is the term Ted Brewer likes to call what some would call a cutter ketch.

First Impressions Brewer’s Pacific Northwest inspired designs many times have a more rugged look than the typical Northeast yachtsmen lines. Her bow is rather blunt, freeboard is above average. She has a raked bow, Ted’s trademark springy sheer, and a flat transom on all except the 44 which features a swim platform. The 44’s swim platform is glassed onto the same hull mold with the “Brewer bite” as the 12.8’s and is simply a small ledge. The teak lined combings and toerail put her squarely in the 1980’s and give her classic charm. The cockpit combings curve outward and integrate nicely into the cabintrunk. Underneath the underbody varies from the full keel of the Whitby’s to the long keel and skeg hung rudder on the Brewers. The Whitby’s came with fixed keels of 5′ 2″ draft while Myers boats are mostly centerboards with 4′ 6″ up and 9′ 3″ down draft. Aloft the Whitby’s were ketches and so are some 12.8’s while the 44’s are cutters. For locals of Lauderdale if you ever have had lunch at “Le Tub” in Aventura, you might be interested to know that the manager owns a Whitby 42 and not just any 42. “Spectacular” as she is called has bright yellow canvas and a lime green cove stripe!

Construction The Fort Myers versions are reportedly better constructed than the sometimes questionable build techniques of Whitby. The most annoying Whitby build issue was their early use of pop rivets to fasten the internal flange of the hull to deck joint though later stainless steel bolts became standard. The topsides are balsa cored between alternating layers of mat and woven roving glassed together with polyester resin. The deck is also balsa cored with a keel stepped main and deck stepped mizzen. The ballast is internal lead. For the Myers versions, Ted Brewer added 500 additional pounds of lead ballast for 9,000 pounds with the same 23,500 pound displacement. They re-engineered her with lighter and stronger construction techniques and switched to a double spreader main on most 12.8’s. Original specifications list Gibbs & Cox as the engineering standards. Brewer 12.8’s were made in different configurations, and while you can try it is hard and a bit unfair to pigeon hole some “real” 12.8. A ketch rig is posible. Keels can be centerboards or fixed at 5′ . Hardware varied from plastic to stainless portholes, etcetera. Like many manufacturers it seems that build quality improved from 1983 to 1990 as the Fort Myers yard became more experienced.

What To Look For Problems are well documented online on the chatboards and in print. Problem areas include bilge tanks, joint leaks, and weakness around the mizzen compression post.

On Deck The deck hardware noticeably varies between Whitby 42’s, Brewer 12.8’s, and Brewer 44’s. The Whitby’s are less expensively built such as with the plastic portholes while the 12.8’s are a mix of high and low. The 44’s have higher quality hardware. The cockpit is safe with the classic offshore arrangement of a bridgedeck (on Whitby’s), deep well, and stout scuppers. The 12.8’s have a companionway board that serves as a suitable replacement for a bridgedeck. Access is available from the center cockpit to the aft stateroom with fore and aft companionways. Whitby 42’s have a wicked weather helm, so an item to look for on them is a bowsprit which moves the sailplan and thereby center of effort forward. Some Brewer 12.8’s also have a bowsprit paired with a mast set inline with the forward bulkhead while the rest have a tall rig and keel stepped mast through the saloon along with a bow platform with keeps your anchors from chaffing the bow.

Down Below Interiors sell boats, and by whatever name this sailboat has a high demand layout. Paired with their spectacular performance, this is a killer combination. Starting forward is a v-berth with separate wet head. Aft is the main saloon with nice teak woodwork. The galley is port of the companionway while the navigation is starboard. The passageway aft has engine access alongside and lower headroom as you walk through. The aft stateroom is large with a full width king size berth and master head. The biggest difference between the 12.8 and 44 is the enlarged aft stateroom because of the swim platform. While both were popped from the same mold, the glassed on stern allows for extra storage aft. Some 12.8’s and 44’s have a separate stall shower in the master head, a nice feature when living aboard.

Engine and Underway The Whitby and Brewer 12.8 were commissioned with 67 HP Ford Lehman diesels. Brewer 44’s seems to have 85HP Perkins 4.236’s. Many have been repowered these days with Westerbekes and Yanmars. There is excellent access through the aft passageway and plenty of room for a generator. With the heavy displacement ratio of 300, the Whitby’s were great heavy air boats and not too bad in light air. The 12.8 and 44 are better sailing yachts, amazingly faster with for instance the 12.8 having a PHRF of 126 versus the Whitby’s 174 or 168 with bowsprit. The centerboard versions track well and have a balanced helm. Their comfortable motion in a seaway is an owner highlight. I shortly seatrialed a Brewer 12.8 in January of 2012 and was impressed with her steady helm, the ease of deploying the centerboard, and soft motion.

Conclusion The Brewer 44 and her sisters the 12.8 and Whitby 42 are solid, classic cruising sailboats from the 70’s and 80’s. These days they are reasonably priced and worth a look if you are in the market for a center cockpit yacht in the $100,000 range. Comparables include the Bristol 41/43, Bristol 45 , Gulfstar 44 , and Hylas 44 . Please see my popular list of 10 Best Center Cockpits for more. A better comparable to the Whitby 42 is the Morgan 41 Out Islander. If you own or sail aboard one of these Brewer yachts, please feel free to comment below; I would love to hear your experiences and feedback.

References http://www.sailnet.com/forums/boat-review-purchase-forum/22883-whitby-42-brewer-42-brewer-12-8-a.html http://bluewaterboats.org/whitby-42/ Used Boat Notebook

2 Replies to “Brewer 44 Review: Second Generation Whitby”

Fantastic post!! Thanks for sharing it here. I enjoyed reading the details. http://www.bdeltd.co.uk/

Your article is right on the mark. After purchasing and refitting our 1981 Whitby, we concur that it was a remarkable boat that especially loved heavy weather. The combination of the ketch rig made her sea worthy and in most cases faster than our cruising friends with sloop rigs. The hull deck connection proved to be our biggest complaint with leaks along with the the inferior plastic ports. We replaced The ports with newfound metals and greatly improved the looks and performance of the opening ports.

Whitby also failed to understand that using pegboard (cardboard sponge as I called it) to line the lockers was a disaster especially with a leaking deck joint. Another detail we had to correct. The keel tank was a failure by design, aluminum and saltwater do not mix in the bilge. We decommissioned the keel tank due to leaks that developed. While friend had the tank removed by cutting open the keel we felt that too extreme. After pumping ours out and cleaning it I poured epoxy into the bottom of the tank with the hope of sealing any pinholes. We reserved making it our grey water tank should We ever need to use if that way.

While most owners like their Lehman engine, ours was the larger version and pushed the boat nicely. It was prone to oil leaks and costly to maintain. Had We kept the boat and had my choice it would have been swapped for a Yanmar engine. Overall having sold our Whitby due to a growing family and dome more modern amenities, we look enjoyed our time aboard.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Our new boat: a brewer 44.

22 comments:

Congratulations! Can't wait to hear what you name it! She's beautiful. The fact that Rasmus was hard to give up means you loved her because she was home, and this one will become home too! (Our family just moved out of my first home that I bought when I was 20 and it was so hard for me, but so good for our family!) Can't wait to hear more and see more pics!

Would you share the names of your surveyors? I am purchasing a Nauticat 44 on the east coast and would appreciate any recommendations. Thanks in advance

@ Jeanine - thanks for the nice comment! :) I think so too...we are very, very excited @Seadyce - we used Guy Clifford over at Patton Marine Inc. out of Miami for our pre-purchase survey. We used Nance & Underwood for our rig survey and we used Malcom Parton of Maritime Marine Inc. for our engine survey. All were very thorough and came highly recommended to us from people in the biz for over 30 years.

SHE IS BEAUTIFUL ... Congratulations! It's always hard to make a change, but this is going to be great! We're going through a similar (yet so different) experience. We're about to list our house which we've grown to love. But, gotta let go of the past to really experience the future! Looking forward to seeing the inside and wondering what her name is ... or will be.

Like most big decisions you do the best you can to get the right info and then you decide and are over the hump. I sure sounds like you did a great job going up the hump and have now got a great solution. Keep us all posted and share some photos.

Congratulations, she's beautiful. Here's to new memory-making aboard your gorgeous home!

Congrats on the new boat! Happy Sails to you! Josh & Jennifer

Great,Super,Smashing. Look forward to more adventures with you on this new wonderful yacht. Regards John.

Congratulations Britney & Scott! What a beautiful boat. I actually remember eyeing that boat on yachtworld a week or so ago. Question for you though, two years ago (?) when you bought Rasmus your budget was $60K and this boat likely cost more than double that (guessing from the asking price). Are you guys going into debt for this one? And due to the high cost will you have to change your minds about the self-insurance thing you had spoken about elsewhere?

@Dracy - yes, our budget was less then...things have changed for us. 1) We now are making a living while cruising, whereas before we were planning on going off of savings and 2) We know we want to live on a boat for the foreseeable future so don't mind putting more of our money (savings) into a boat (money that might have gone into a home). We are not going into debt. I should also note that we paid nowhere near the listing price. As for insurance, yes, we will be getting some boat insurance moving forward. Not sure what though.

Congratulations. I remember the angst and second guessing well, but once you settle down and move in the worry and pain will be forgotten. She is a beautiful boat and you must share her name. Any fear of bad karma if you change her name?

All I can say is A/C!!! fridge and freezer are great too! Congrats again Kristi in LV

Hello Windtraveler Lovely boat and a great decision! Glad you appreciated my previous thoughts. I'm sure this boat will be great for you and the growing family. Ian

Wow. Thanks for replying so quickly, and answering my questions. Your lives are just so interesting and adventure filled--I look forward to loading your webpage everyday looking for updates! Can't wait to read more! :)

Congratulations! She looks like a beauty. Ted has designed some great cruising boats. If you haven't already, you may find this write up from Ted about the 44's earlier siblings an interesting read: http://www.sailfarlivefree.com/2012/06/question-of-month-with-designer-ted_07.html

CONGRATS!!! once again you made my monday morning at work. thank you so much for sharing so much with us.

Brittany and Scott, Congratulations on your new home! Isla will love growing up on her! I couldn't be happier for you guys!

Great boat! I looked it up on yachtworld and scrolled through the photos. You will have plenty of room for your family, and although I love our 32' Westsail, I'm somewhat envious of your 8.5 knot capability. We'll get a fleeting glimpse of your boat while you pass us. Congrats! How exciting.

Great boat and great buy. Exactly the boat I would pick for my wife and I in a few years. Look at that Boom! Why so long? The others of the same model are much shorter. Scott Hobie Fleet 259 Knotty Passion

Sweet guys -- glad it worked out!

Congrats guys! she looks amazing! Our boat is a central cockpit and we love it, I am sure you will enjoy it.

Post a Comment

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

• Top 10 Tuesdays: Top Ten Items That Do NOT Need Refrigeration
• "Wearing" Twins: My Favorite Methods of Tandem Babywearing
• Making a Boat a Home: The Art of Decorating A Boat
• And just like that, we got married!!
• Awesome Sailing People: The Delos Crew
• Asante is FOR SALE: Blue Water Brewer 44 READY TO GO in Tortola, BVI!
• Notes from the Twin Trenches: Three Weeks In
• Our Boat Interior: A Photo Tour
• We Bought a New Boat: But Why? The Method Behind our Madness (and a photo tour!)
• Indecision and The Question that Drove it Away: How I Made up my Mind to Sail South

• Compare Sailboats
• Sailboat Calculators
• Bluewater Sailboats
• Catamarans and Multihulls
• Sailing Liveaboard
• Sailboats Galley
• How Much it Costs
• Sailing Destinations
• Meteorology Terms
• Sailing and Nautical Terms
• Parts of a Sailboat
• Great Explorers
• People of the Seas

Bluewater Sailboat – Brewer 44

The Brewer 44 is a beautiful, capable, and seakindly center cockpit Bluewater sailboat that is well outfitted for cruising with a watermaker and extensive solar power.

This sailboat features a reverse transom (swim platform) and a separate shower in the aft head. This is a lethal combo, especially considering their outstanding performance. A v-berth with a separate wet head is located in the front. 

• Displ. 19.300 lbs
• Ballast 7,500 lbs.
• Sail area 763 sq. ft.
• Fuel 55 gals
• Water 100 gals.
• Holding 30 gals.
• Displ/Length 276
• Ball./Displ. 39%

In 1983, a group of sailors from the Manhasset Bay area of Long Island, New York, led by Harold Oldak, aimed to create their ultimate bluewater cruising sailboat. They chose a Whitby 42 design and made 100 changes to the original design, which included the “Brewer bite” keel with a skeg-mounted rudder to improve light air performance, and these changes were approved by Ted Brewer. They approached Kurt Hansen to build the boat to their revised design, but he declined due to the cost. The group then went to Fort Myers to see if they would build the boat. The partners at Fort Myers were eager to build the new design as it would give them design authority, something they did not have while building Whitbys. The Brewer 12.8 was born in 1983 and the first eight hulls were identical.

Hull numbers 1 to 199 were reserved for Canadian-built Whitbys, while numbers 200 and above were assigned to those built in Fort Myers. When the Bluewater Brewer 12.8 was built, the same hull numbers were continued. Fort Myers-built Whitbys were assigned hull numbers 200 to approximately 233, while the Brewer 12.8’s were numbered approximately 234 to 280. In 1987, the company introduced the swim platform-extended Brewer 44, which was produced until 1990. During the time that the Brewer 12.8’s were built, some buyers wanted the Whitby design or a combination of both designs. Since Fort Myers and Canada were no longer on good terms, these boats built in Fort Myers were referred to as Brewer 42s.

In summary, Whitbys are ketch-rigged boats with a full keel while Brewer 12.8s are cutter-rigged boats with double spreaders, a cutaway fore keel and skeg-mounted rudder. Some Brewer 12.8s have tall rigs with the mast passing through the center of the main salon and an anchor platform forward, while others have standard rigs with the mast against the forward bulkhead and a bowsprit. The Brewer 44 is similar to the 12.8, but with a molded swim platform and slightly enlarged aft cabin. Some Brewers and Whitbys are double head stay ketches, a rig that Ted Brewer referred to as a cutter ketch.

In contrast to the conventional Northeast yachtsmen lines, Brewer’s designs often have a more rough appearance. Her freeboard is above average, but her bow is rather blunt. Except for the 44, which incorporates a swim platform, she has a raked bow, Ted’s signature springy sheer, and a flat transom on all models. The swim platform of the 44 is only a little ledge that is glassed onto the same “Brewer bite” hull mould as the 12.8’s. Her iconic attractiveness comes from the teak-lined combings and toerail, which place her firmly in the 1980s. The cabintrunk and the cockpit combings flow together harmoniously. The Whitby’s have a complete keel, while the Brewers have a long keel and a rudder that is hung from the skeg. In contrast to Myers sailboats, which are generally centerboards with a 4′ 6′′ up and 9′ 3′′ down draught, Whitby boats had fixed keels with a 5′ 2′′ down draught. The Whitbys and some 12.8s were ketches while the 44s were cutters above. For residents of Lauderdale, you might be interested to hear that the manager owns a Whitby 42 and not just any 42 if you’ve ever eaten lunch at “Le Tub” in Aventura. “Spectacular,” as she is known, features a lime green cove stripe and a bright yellow canvas!

According to reports, the Fort Myers models are more solidly built than Whitby’s somewhat dubious construction methods. The most annoying Whitby construction flaw was their initial preference for pop rivets over stainless steel bolts for fastening the internal flange of the hull to deck junction. Balsa cores are sandwiched between alternate layers of woven roving and mat, which are then glassed together with polyester resin. Along with having a keel-stepped main and a deck-stepped mizzen, the deck is balsa cored. Internal lead serves as the ballast. Ted Brewer increased the lead ballast for the Myers variants by 500 pounds, bringing the total weight to 9,000 pounds with the same 23,500-pound displacement. They redesigned her using stronger, lighter manufacturing methods, and most 12.8s now have a double spreader main. Gibbs & Cox are listed as the engineering standards in the original specs. Brewer 12.8s were produced in a variety of forms, thus it might be challenging and unfair to categorise them as “genuine” 12.8s. Ketch rigs are possible. Keels can be fixed at 5′ or can be centerboards. Hardware was a mix of plastic, stainless steel, and other materials. Like many manufacturers, it appears that the Fort Myers yard’s build quality increased from 1983 to 1990 as it gained experience.

The deck gear on Brewer 12.8s, Brewer 44s, and Whitby 42s all differs substantially. The 12.8s are a combination of high and low quality, but the Whitbys are less expensively constructed, as seen by the plastic portholes. The hardware on the 44s is of higher calibre. With the traditional offshore configuration of a bridgedeck (on Whitby’s), a deep well, and strong scuppers, the cockpit is secure. The companionway board on the 12.8’s can be used in place of a bridgedeck. The fore and aft companionways in the back cabin are accessible from the centre cockpit. Whitby 42s have awful weather helm, so a bowsprit that shifts the sailplan and, thus, centre of effort forward, is something to look for on them. While the majority of Brewer 12.8s feature a tall rig and keel-stepped mast across the saloon as well as a bow platform that prevents your anchors from chafing the bow, certain models also have a bowsprit and a mast situated in line with the forward bulkhead.

Now you can also precisely calculate the expenses related to boat ownership to make smart choices based on your budget and sailing needs. Use this bluewater Sailboat Calculator to explore different options and make the best decision.

This bluewater sailboat has a layout that is in high demand since interiors sell boats. This is a lethal combo, especially considering their outstanding performance. A v-berth with a separate wet head is located in the front. The main saloon is aft and features lovely teak woodwork. The navigation is on the starboard side of the companionway, and the galley is on the port. Engine access is adjacent to and there is less headroom when you move down the corridor to the rear. The master bathroom and full width king size bed are located in the spacious aft cabin. The larger aft stateroom caused by the swim platform is the main distinction between the 12.8 and 44. The glassed-on stern allows for additional storage aft even though both were popped from the same mould. A separate stall shower in the master head is a convenient feature for those who live aboard some 12.8s and 44s.

Performance

Bluewater Sailboat Brewer 44’s appear to be powered by 85HP Perkins 4.236 engines. Nowadays, Westerbekes and Yanmars have been used to repower many vehicles. The aft corridor provides excellent access and has enough space for a generator. The Whitby boats performed admirably in heavy air and weren’t too shabby in light air because to their heavy displacement ratio of 300. With features like the Whitby’s 174 or 168 with bowsprit, the 44 is a superior sailing yacht and remarkably faster. The centerboard models have balanced helms and good tracking. Their smooth motion on a seaway is a feature for the owner. She has an impressive stable helm, simple centerboard deployment, and smooth motion.

Accommodations include an aft stateroom with a queen-size bed, ample storage, and an enclosed head with a separate shower and its own companionway to the cockpit. The V-Berth has an extender to maximize sleeping space. The salon is spacious and bright with two settees and a built-in bar. There is also a head in the main salon with a second shower.

Quick Notes

Brewer 44, 12.8 and Whitby 42 are reliable, traditional sailing sailboats from the 1970s and 1980s. They are now affordable and worth a look if you’re looking for a centre cockpit yacht. The Bristol 41/43, Bristol 45, Gulfstar 44, and Hylas 44 are comparable aircraft. Bilge tanks, joint leaks, and weakness around the mizzen compression post are also areas of concern.

Looking for a used sailboat for sale? Check out the Bluewater sailboat data and specs to make an informed decision. Ocean Wave Sail has data for over 10000+ boats that can help you select one to meet your sailing needs.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Don’t miss new updates on your email.

© OceanWave Sail. All Rights Reserved 2022

Terms & Conditions – Privacy Policy – Cookie Policy

About Us – Privacy Policy

• New account

Forgot your password?

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive mail with link to set new password.

Back to login

Privacy Overview

The Brewer 44 is a 44.0ft cutter designed by Ted Brewer and built in fiberglass by Ft. Myers Yacht & Shipbuilding (USA) since 1984.

The Brewer 44 is a heavy sailboat which is a reasonably good performer. It is very stable / stiff and has an excellent righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a bluewater cruising boat. The fuel capacity is good. There is an excellent water supply range.

Brewer 44 for sale elsewhere on the web:

Main features

Login or register to personnalize this screen.

You will be able to pin external links of your choice.

See how Sailboatlab works in video

We help you build your own hydraulic steering system - Lecomble & Schmitt

Accommodations

Builder data, other photos.

Modal Title

The content of your modal.

Personalize your sailboat data sheet

Registration is required to post to the Forum, Photo Gallery, and create articles on the site.

• Forgot Login?

Subscribe to the Forum

In the Forum, choose the Index tab.

For each Category, there is an envelope icon to subscribe.

Click each Category  of interest to you  (using the drop down box on the top of the Index page speeds up the process a bit)  and click the  envelope icon.

You should receive email when that Category has a new post.

Looking to get into a Brewer 44

• Brad Luellen

• Junior Member
• Thank you received: 0

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

• Edward Schwiebert

• Senior Member
• Thank you received: 9

• Gino & Carolyn Del Guercio

• Thank you received: 7

• New Sailboats
• Sailboats 21-30ft
• Sailboats 31-35ft
• Sailboats 36-40ft
• Sailboats Over 40ft
• Sailboats Under 21feet
• used_sailboats
• Apps and Computer Programs
• Communications
• Fishfinders
• Handheld Electronics
• Plotters MFDS Rradar
• Wind, Speed & Depth Instruments
• Anchoring Mooring
• Running Rigging
• Sails Canvas
• Standing Rigging
• Diesel Engines
• Off Grid Energy
• Cleaning Waxing
• DIY Projects
• Repair, Tools & Materials
• Spare Parts
• Tools & Gadgets
• Cabin Comfort
• Ventilation
• Footwear Apparel
• Foul Weather Gear
• Mailport & PS Advisor
• Inside Practical Sailor Blog
• Activate My Web Access
• Reset Password
• Pay My Bill
• Customer Service

• Free Newsletter
• Give a Gift

Ericson 34-2 Finds Sweet Spot

How to Sell Your Boat

Cal 2-46: A Venerable Lapworth Design Brought Up to Date

Rhumb Lines: Show Highlights from Annapolis

Leaping Into Lithium

The Importance of Sea State in Weather Planning

Do-it-yourself Electrical System Survey and Inspection

Install a Standalone Sounder Without Drilling

When Should We Retire Dyneema Stays and Running Rigging?

Rethinking MOB Prevention

Top-notch Wind Indicators

The Everlasting Multihull Trampoline

Check Your Shorepower System for Hidden Dangers

DIY survey of boat solar and wind turbine systems

What’s Involved in Setting Up a Lithium Battery System?

The Scraper-only Approach to Bottom Paint Removal

Can You Recoat Dyneema?

Gonytia Hot Knife Proves its Mettle

How to Handle the Head

The Day Sailor’s First-Aid Kit

Choosing and Securing Seat Cushions

Cockpit Drains on Race Boats

Re-sealing the Seams on Waterproof Fabrics

Safer Sailing: Add Leg Loops to Your Harness

Waxing and Polishing Your Boat

Reducing Engine Room Noise

Tricks and Tips to Forming Do-it-yourself Rigging Terminals

Marine Toilet Maintenance Tips

Learning to Live with Plastic Boat Bits

• Inside Practical Sailor

The Best Sailboats for the High Seas?

At the St. Petersburg Boat Show month last month, I had the pleasure of seeing delivery skipper and author John Kretschmers presentation on what he called sailboats for a serious ocean. I have reservations about any ideal boat list, but Kretschmer, who reviews boats for Sail Magazine and whose most recent book Sailing a Serious Ocean is available in our online bookstore , has the ideal background for this sort of work, and a list like this is undeniably helpful for wannabe cruisers who need a place to start their search.

I certainly wouldnt limit my search to boats on such a list, but by paying careful attention to the pros and cons of each, you can find something that suits your own aspirations.

Here are the boats Kretschmer suggests: Contessa 32, Pacific Seacraft 34, Pretorien 35, Cape Dory/Robinhood 36, Valiant/Esprit 37, Prout Snowgoose 37, Alajuela 38, Privelege 39, Freya 39, Passport 40, Caliber 40, Baba 40, Hallberg Rassy 42, Taswell 43, Hylas 44, Norseman 447, Beneteau 456, Outbound 44, Hylas 46, Kaufman 47, Tayana 48, Hylas 49, Amel Maramu 53, and the Sundeer 60/64. For a brief capsule summary of each, be sure to check out his website.

The list is hardly definitive. There are plenty of good boats that arent featured, and some of these would be ill-matched for the wrong sailor-Kretschmer clearly pointed this out during his talk. I like how the list presents a good cross-section of the various shapes and sizes for a boat in this category. For example, Kretschmer includes the Prout Snowgoose and Steve Dashews Sundeer 60, boats that, notwithstanding their successful record at sea, fill an outlying niche.

If I were going to expand the list, one of the heavier-displacement microcruisers like those I blogged about would be a nice addition. Although I would be wary of promoting even the most formidable of this breed as well-suited for a serious ocean, John Neale of Mahina Tiare Expeditions includes one of them, the Dana 24, on his own list of recommend cruising boats . Neales much broader list of boats is accompanied by a very helpful discussion of design elements to consider.

What got me thinking about formidable cruising boats was our series of reports o n sailboat construction , focusing specifically on structural details. Although there are plenty of excellent coastal cruisers on the market, once you start talking about offshore duty, scan’tlings (the dimensions for structural components) take on far more importance.

A few years ago we touched on this subject in our Mailport section, encouraging readers to suggest their own nominees for a list of what we called at the time, tough boats, vessels that were built to take a beating, requiring minimal care and upkeep.

Here are some of the boats that were suggested from our readers: Mariner 36, Cal 34, Morgan 43, Swan 43, Bermuda 40, Island Packet 26, Mariner 47, LeComte Northeast 38, Westsail 32, Dana 24, J/35, and the CSY 44.

Id be interested in hearing of other nominees for this list, or other good resources for sailors looking for a short list of good offshore boats.

For those who are frustrated to find that their own ideal boat isn’t on anybodys list, I wouldnt be too miffed. The best line Ive heard in a while on this topic came from Steve Callahan, the author of the survival classic Adrift , who gave a presentation at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Show . When I asked Steve, who has sailed extensively on both multihulls and monohulls, what type of boat he preferred, he said, quite seriously. Well, at the end of the day, the best cruising boat is the one that you are on.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Interesting list. I am fond of Hylas of which you chose three models. However, I am suspect of their yard and construction techniques and do not have confidence that they are as strong as they are beautiful. Only one Hallberg-Rassy was selected, which is a far more robust and dry sailing boat than the Hylas. Passports make a good boat as does Cape Dory and several others on your list. Didn’t four sailors die on a Beneteau in 2018? Over all it is a decent list.

https://metro.co.uk/2018/04/25/last-pictures-doomed-yacht-cheeki-rafiki-sank-killing-four-british-sailors-7497805/

I believe this is the accident you’re talking about in which a Beneteau and it’s bolted on keel parted company.

Almost all of the sailing clubs in San Diego rent Beneteaus out. They are a decent coastal sailboat. I have a couple friends who have even made the crossing to Maui in them..not me, not ever. I consider them a living room boat. Having said that, I am certainly no expert so its just my opinion. If I am crossing an ocean I want a capable kindly strong boat with redundancy built into critical systems.

Curious to think what people think about the early 70s Swan 43 as a cruising boat for a couple with occasional guests for a round the world trip? I have an S&S 30 which is too small but I do have some bias towards their designs. Add a watermaker and some power generation and off you go… Any thoughts?

Are Motor Sailors like the Nauticats or Fishers ocean worthy ( if their pilot house windows and sliding doors are lifeboatified ? )

Walt Schulz’s Shannon 43 is a beautiful, sea kindly, comfortable and sturdy bluewater boat. Walt had not only the ICW and Bahamas in mind when he designed and built 52 of them. He designed for ocean cruising. He believes his boats should outlive him and still sailing for generations. We sailed the Chesapeake, Bahamas, Caribbean and Pacific to Australia on a Shannon 43 ketch. She took great care of us and is still turning heads.

Great article! John Kretchmer is one of my fave modern day sailors. While there is only one Crealock design on John’s list, and the Dana is added on John Neale’s list, I was surprised not to see a Crealock/ Pacific Seacraft 37 mentioned. But there are so many great serious off shore boats, it’s hard to narrow it down to 10. Here’s a few to think about. Cape George Cutter 36. Biscay 36, tradewind 35, Rustler 36, Nicholson 31 (never talked about) and 32. Seldom seen on top 10 lists, but great boats. Thanks for the article.

Great comment and interesting to note that the first four of your additions are those currently entered in the 2022 Golden Globe Race – kind of the definition of a blue water boat.

Hey! I know this is somewhat off-topic however I needed to ask. Does operating a well-established blog like yours take a massive amount work? I am completely new to writing a blog but I do write in my journal everyday. I’d like to start a blog so I will be able to share my experience and feelings online. Please let me know if you have any kind of recommendations or tips for new aspiring blog owners. Thankyou!|

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Log in to leave a comment

Latest Videos

40-Footer Boat Tours – With Some Big Surprises! | Boat Tour

Electrical Do’s and Don’ts

Bahamas Travel Advisory: Cause for Concern?

Island Packet 370: What You Should Know | Boat Review

• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell My Personal Information
• Online Account Activation
• Privacy Manager