What Kind Of Boat Do You Need To Go Sailing? James of SV Triteia Talks About Things to Consider 

Just joined your channel and enjoying your videos. I have a different take on this one, I think it's more important to really learn how to sail first before buying a boat to cruise. One of two things comes to mind depending on your age. Learn to dinghy sail, that will teach you the rules of the road and how to really know the important parts of sailing. Another option is find a local club that races boats and join as crew, you will learn very fast how to sail, what stress the equipment can take, and if you can even stand being so close to other people even for short periods of time. You also learn about other boats in the area you live and hang out with other sailors who will provide so much more info than you can get from a 200 page book. Read the books too, but get your feet wet first. I've had three crewmen over the decades that spent a season or two racing and then went on to buy their own boat with some knowledge in the bank. Regards

Great to have you on here to help the one of us who want to sail but don’t have a great budget. I am prepared to do lots of work myself if needed.

James, you have one of the best RU-vid channels! Thank you so much.

i love when you said "creature comforts " you added a Light . LOL , before the other updates , I Love how you out fitted Triteia . and the updates keep coming , since this vid she has sailed the Pacific , so it worked .

Two years on and this video is a fantastic example of the uncertainty of life and life experiences. James’s rudder actually DID fall off (and the way James and his shore team handled it is an example all of us aspiring ocean voyagers have benefited greatly from!) and Camille did not make the journey… not trying to be negative at all because James has made amazing progress (I write this on 6/1/23…) and his personal growth along the way has been a real treat to see, but it just shows that the plan and the reality are sometimes a bit different.

Thank you for responding to me so quickly

My first boat was an IP24 motorsailor. Absolutely fell for her and loved the simplicity. When I decided to live onboard full time, it felt doable but really small. Now I live on my for-ever-boat, a 41ft steel ketch. Happy as can be, but I think it would have been possible on the IP24. Single handing was so much easier. Now I live at the dock 99% of the time, and only sail with crew. I would say "Go Simple, Go Small, Go Now"

“If you buy a boat , go sailing in it, before you get into any serious boat work” this is awesome and very good advice. It’s ez to become despondent but if you have seen the boat in it’s majesty , it will help you slog threw the trenches better

Followed ya for a few years now and your advice and knowledge is always, always super respected and valued! I've got a good, tough 28 foot boat, on a working budget, and bought her for a really modest sum - £8000. It's got me out on the sea, coastally and I love it! Wanting to go a bit further afield now ie regular trips to France with my family, I find that there are amazing boats just a bit longer that are exponentially roomier! Got to make it as comfy as possible for them! You cover so much ground in this video and it's really appreciated, as always! Fair winds always, bud.

So I read John Vigors book and then I decided not to take his advice and bought another boat. After a year I realized I had made a mistake and bought an Alberg 30.

Hi. Really appreciate you carry these topics on, the world totally has forgotten you actually can cruise, live and having joy in less than 40 feet and $50.000+ boats. I have met plenty of sailors having great fun in small and tiny vessels, and: not have major economical pressure, gives a mental freedom, to live and explore. It’s just important to share and support each other, keeping boats and spirits afloat. I had plenty of different boats, last one 36 feet, Currently I’m making my “retirement boat” ready for Blue water cruising based on a life’s sailing experience: an Albin Ballad 30 feet and a great all round (also harsh weather) sailer, with space enough for comfort. Greetings from Denmark

Unless you are one of the lucky few who can make a living sailing, you don't NEED a boat, you WANT a boat. However, time under sail is part of what makes life worth living. We all get 168 hours a week and less than 5,200 weeks to live. So whatever boat brings the most joy to you and your love ones in that time is the right boat. That, and whatever James says, because he is just cool.

Thank You... Very useful , Experienced, Advice. And I fall into this videos group.. Of need to know people. Have already decided on an older full keel. I searched daily and eventually the right one will fall into my lap. Thank You For sharing your wisdom.

I totally agree with the comment about; focus first only on boat essential integrity and personal security/comfort. Then sail and get sea practice, then reconsider the “priority-list”. I'm 100% sure it will look very different after one season. Cheers from Sweden.

such great advice - As Always appreciate the wisdom shared!

Love this, you both are fantastic in your points and delivery.

Thanks James and Camille. Very insightful.

I will need it for traveling around the world like you

Thanks James & Cammile.

Great tips James and thanks for the reference books - very helpful!

Thanks a lot. You have answered a bunch of my questions and brought up a lot of stuff I hadn't considered.

Really good points to consider- glad I invested the time to watch this. Thanks for posting.

This was great. When you got to the Mate part it made me realize how important your mates input is. Ty for that.

Thanks James for the great info.

Words of wisdom @15:25 - 15:48 that I think we as humans tend to forget. His words can be applied to all walks of life. Thank you. This really helped me.

Good insight and advice, thank you guys.

Thank you guys, it's all good advice! I'm shopping for a boat right now.

A real straight forward factual approach to owning a boat.

Thanks James excellent very informative video keep up the good work take care

Nice presentation. Seems like a good platform for relevant information.

Some great pointers, there. Many I would not have thought of. Also, like your presentation style.....Very easy to listen to...

Love your videos and just your overall outlook and sailing style. I recently have purchased a '68 Cheoy Lee Offshore 27 in Vancouver that I will be freshening up, new drivetrain and some exterior cosmetic work and getting down to the business of developing my sailing skills with the end goal of cruising 6 months of the year down the west coast and maybe to Hawaii and further. I was very much stoked to see your pals with the Black Lotus, good to know I got a great boat.

One of the best videos I've ever watched.

Always learn from ya James! Thanks brother!!!

James, this video offers excellent advice, and has ‘stood the test of time’

Thanks James!

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing. 🙏

Yup done my homework bought a 1969 Marcon Hull 3 years a go, and I am in love with the old lady, she is so classy and scared of nothing.

Good advice on Vigor's book. My prior boat was a Dana 24. It checked nearly all the boxes except we found it a little cramped for extended cruising. I really like James Baldwin's blue water refits and the work he's done on some classic plastics. Project boats get expensive quickly. Especially if you hire it out.

What a great video. Thanks!

Very informative video. Those 3 books are a great place for anyone wanting to go cruising on smaller boats. Most people today want "ALL" the creature comforts of home packed into a 30 footer. Deciding where and what you want to do is very important in selecting a boat. We are still looking for a boat that is right for us. Currently thinking about a Bayfield 32. Always come back to looking at Carl Alberg boats. Something about them.

Excellent topic thanks I'm rethinking my whole wanna boat purchase, hmmm encapsulated keel and solid glass hull makes a lot of sense

Thanks for your channel.

I love your videos and so admire you. Thank you.

Helpful video thx man

So true! Take head people. Great advice that would cost you $$$ to learn. I completely concur.

Such solid, sound, informed advice and observations. There's nothing more romantic than the sea, no object that comes close to a boat in inspiring dreams or representing true freedom. That said- sailing, boat life... it ain't for everyone and is far from glamorous. I lived on a boat in SoCal for 10 years-mostly cruised locally. but spent time in Mexico and sailed in the So Pacific. if I were to list the positives and negatives on paper- in number there would likely be more negatives. In overall impact on me, my world view, depth of experience and the things I value- it was soooo worth it. I've been on land for 10 years and am ready to return home again.

Very good video. Thank you

what i love about my 1986 Bruce roberts is it was hand made and even tho it was post 1970's it still has a full fiberglass hull and has NO delamination issues or bubbling at all. i ran into this video after buying my boat and honestly it made me confident that i made the right choice. love your videoes. I'm almost addicted to watching them and hope to someday soon be on the same adventure as you. fair wind and waters to you sir.

Excellent advice

Very good advice, your videos are very good and I love that you don't say "What is up guys" at the beginning of every video, thank you for that.

Thanks for this video, I am in the market for a Sailboat now. I ll be visiting a Pearson 33 10M that is for sale in the next few weeks. This video helps me a lot now.

Excellent video, thanks guys. Be safe!! I see you guys made a trip past Newport several times. Next time stop if you two have time, I'd love to chat over a beer or lunch, my treat!!

Great info for this newly smitten sailor; I'm going to slow down and sail on other people's boats! Love all your videos. Thanks

Great info.

Brilliant content. Thank you!

I just joined your following, I watched a few of your videos before. This was a very informative video. Thank you for the information.

For a least cost world cruiser I consider the Bristol 24 with a tilt-up outboard well. A very slow boat, but with ballast/displacement over 50%, she will stay upright.

Good advice 👍

James, so glad I found your channel. I have been a boat person all my life but have never sailed. My wife lived on a 36 ft Tayana for a couple of years in the early 80’s. We are signed up to take a four day sailing course the first of June so I hope we will come away with a pretty good idea of sailing from that. We probably would spend most of our time sailing in the San Juans but we would like a boat that we could also do the inside passage as well as feel comfortable in open water along the west coast. And this might sound crazy but we want a boat that is trailerable because we would like to be able to sail in some of the major lakes in the Northwest. (lake Chelan, Lake Pend Oreille etc) Also, I don’t want a boat to live in a slip where I won’t use it for 6 months out of the year. I’m not afraid to pull an 8000 lb boat as I regularly pull a 10,000 lb trailer loaded with a tractor and back hoe. I know the full keel boats are much more comfortable in open water but I’m told they don’t do well in light wind which could describe the puget sound area a lot of the time. I’m trying to find a boat that would meet these criteria. I really don’t want a bolt on fin keel boat. I’m ordering the books you suggested so I’m hoping that will push me in the right direction. I would like to stay under $30,000 if possible. Any suggestions?

Very helpful 👌

Good advice and I personally think the Alberg 30 is a good choice as i have one myself.

Love Camille's laugh in the background!

A very informative insight into being the visionry prior to buying. One 4 feet longer will cost more to refit. Am I content with mine, yes but it may have restrictions. I need to undertake some work inside but I have a lot of beech wood.It has a toilet but no shower. I would like solar pannels to supply that heat. I will need a pan below the toiet so one can shower. Again i want to carry alot of diesel and have considered extending the rear.but they are not big jobs.

Great video, you make some good points about the equipment that comes with the boat, and physical comforts . Too many times I hear go small go now, seems like a good way to get turned off on boating all together.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I'm searching for a boat but I live in UK, so there are different choices here. I would love an Alberg but I may get a Halmatic, a Rival or a Nicholson. I bet you've heard of the Nicholson. My friend got a Contessa 32 but he just a day sailor. I live on a canal boat so my next plunge will be to a sea going live aboard. Your advice is so valuable, and I notice you mention the Pardys, my Heroes, along with Fatty Good lander and many others. Fair winds and happy days to you and yours.

thanks for this vid

Always enjoy listening to experienced cruisers

Good information. Ive sailed many boats. Started out on a Catalina 25 at 15 years old. Im now 39 and just purchased a Tayana 52. We plan on cruising the Caribbean for the foreseeable future. Comfort is a must for our family of 5. We didnt always have comfort. We use to dream of having a nice big boat to go cruse on. We are soon to be setting sail for the islands. Fair winds

Great video! My son and I are considering getting into sailing. We found an Alberg 37 for sale this week. Now I have a better idea what to look for

Standing headroom is most 8mportant. A good test mock getting dressed in several areas of the boat. I lived for several years on an islander bahama 24 5 ft headroom sailed everywhere but my back still hurts just thinking about putting my pants on in the morning .

Hello🤚🤚..watching from the Philippines

Thanks!

Love my SC 28

Thanks for commenting on the last episode. When you take off to Hawaii just know that if Camille when she starts to travel if she needs a helping hand and anyway we'll be there peace out from New Mexico.

Awesome content in your videos, I especially found the information in this video spot on as I search for the perfect boat. Mahalo

20:24 good question. I’m 6’4” and I’m not sure how likely it is that I’ll find a tall enough interior.

Ahh, i am the lucky owner of a 1976 Comfort 30. No bullshit foam here thank god. A little delaminating is common on these boats because of the metod used in the 60 and up to early 80. Now she is 47 and still sailing:-)

My boat is 25 ft. It has a self launching trailer so i could drive to florida and tell people i came from cape cod down the coast to florida when drove there. I got an abandoned 86 MacGregor free and sound and rehab is doable

Thank you for sharing your reasons and goals. I'm a 4 season camper living in tents less that 3 feet tall. That is luxury. Will a 26 feet boat do or do I need one at 30 feet, the plywood rule! THANKS. Retiring, got a girlfriend in the USA I'm in the UK. I SAID LETS DO THE ATLANTIC OUT OF THE HURRICANE SEASON. SHE SAID ARE YOU BEING SERIOUS. I said ok we will start of with the med. The rule of thumb, carry a spare rudder. Thanks, Phil.

Your old school thinking will stand you in good stead. Blue water- long Keel- encapsulated solid build will see you safe when others flounder. The fashion for fins and production boats will last until the next shocker "perfect storm" which will sneak up out of nowhere and have weather forecasters shrugging and facepalming and trying to excuse themselves to emergency services and Lost crews families. Sadly it's likely to happen this decade in a popular cruising ground and change the way boats are constructed. The International Maritime Organisation are just waiting for the event, and older and experienced sailors mentally wince when inadequate sailboats pass by them. Great video. Keep the faith.

Fantastic video, lots of cool information. Cheers

Great advice, though at 6'6 standing headroom might be hard to find 🤣

May I Make a video request: what are your thoughts about Catamarans??? tks :)

Love your channel and perspectives! What’s your thoughts on the Rhodes Bounty II?

Already subscribe!

FYI James if you link to the books with your affiliate link, you get a small kickback on anyone purchasing them. A way for people to pay it forward to you for you imparting that knowledge!

6:50 “That could never happen to our rudder.” Spoiler alert.

Bro, you’re a funny dude. Talking about boat feet black magic cracked me up. It’s true though.

If money was no object = Bristol Channel Cutter 28 ft , hulls built by Sam L. Morse designed by Lyle Hess , what a beauty !

You make me feel better about my first purchase: a Columbia 28 fin keel. I want a full keel boat but have to be realistic-will only be doing bay/coastal cruising for at least the next 6 years.

The better people are at RU-vid and Patreon the more time and money they can throw at a refit ;)

Him: What do you want to use the boat for? Me: Liveaboard Bluewater cruiser go

What do you think about balsa sandwich hulls? Edit: Damn. You covered it.

I could sail anyone of them boats 30 to 50ft long solo to almost anywhere. I was thinking about taking a 45ft down around the tip of south America, and back up to Cabo San Lucas. I gotta have a pound of good marijuana to kill the monautany of the journey.

Wow, this was prescient. who would have guessed she would leave the way she acted on video.

12:00 Not black magic, it is math. In geometry, volume is three lengths multiplied together. So if a boat is 1.25 times the length of another smaller boat but has the same design, its volume is 1.25 x 1.25 x 1.25 the size of the smaller boat, or 1.95 times in volume though just 1.25 bigger in length.

To me a inboard diesel is a must for 2 reasons. 1 gasoline is extremely dangerous on a boat where the fumes can build up in an enclosed area. And 2 with a gasoline engine, a diesel of the same HP will use half the fuel per hour. And I have a thing about not liking boats that where built for an inboard that have an outboard hanging on the back. I wouldn't own one. I would consider a boat with an outboard well, because there's a lot to be said for being able to carry a spare outboard and do a repower in 5 minutes. Diesel outboard engines are super expensive and I don't think very well developed yet. Thats my 2 bits worth. I have 15 grand to work with and want a sailor i can take up the inside passage to Alaska.

I'll pass on any ketch with a triatic stay. Why? If you are demast (main mast)then the triatic stay from the main mast WILL pull it down also.

James you for got - Do you want to day sail drop the hook and drink beer....we bought our second boat because we were ready to do something different!!!