Lady K Sailingvideo
Big Heavy Sailboats Are Bad - Ep 255 - Lady K Sailing
December 4, 2023 · 10 min · 295K views
What this video covers
Selecting a cruising sailboat requires balancing intended use against boat displacement and construction. Boats weighing approximately 15,000 pounds, such as the C&C 35, Catalina 36, or Hughes 35, are capable of Caribbean passages, though 20,000-pound vessels like the Catalina 42, Beneteau production models, and Hunter Legend 40.5 offer increased comfort and stability in varied sea states.2:27 Heavier "battle axe" cruisers exceeding 25,000 pounds, including Island Packet, Hans Christian, and Hallberg-Rassy models, provide superior structural robustness and weather capability for global circumnavigation.4:25 However, these heavy, full-keel designs often suffer from slower resale liquidity, increased difficulty in refloating after grounding, and higher purchase costs.6:58 While full-keel, encapsulated-keel construction offers durability, modern bolt-on keels remain reliable for most cruising applications.8:23 The primary justification for purchasing a heavy-displacement cruiser is either a genuine intent to undertake extreme offshore passages or a personal preference for the vessel's specific build quality and aesthetic.9:05
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