{ BLUEWATER ADVENTURE }
Cruising Boat Construction
A veteran voyager and expedition leader explains the essential elements of blue water cruising boats By John Neal HULLS Fiberglass is the second least maintenance-intensive material (following unpainted aluminum) for cruising boats, but construction quality varies greatly from one builder to the next. The majority of fiberglass boats were never designed or built for extended ocean sailing and may eventually start falling apart if pressed into this type of service. The other extreme are designs that are so heavily built and overweight and do not have the sailing performance that makes for fast, comfortable and enjoyable passages.
SELECTING AND PURCASHING AN OCEAN CRUISING SAILBOAT
by John Neal 20
Pearson Vanguards, Tritons and Alberg 35’s are examples of very well built, reasonably priced earliest fiberglass boats. After 50 years, many of these boats are still going strong, although their short waterlines and modest volume make them less attractive than more modern designs. Hull thickness doesn’t necessarily translate into strength. A thick hull with a high resin to glass ratio may actually be more brittle than a thinner hull where the resin has been carefully squeegeed out. Blue Water Sailing
