Is a BENETEAU suited to Bluewater Sailing? (BOAT TOUR & REVIEW) ⛵️ | Ep 24
Vložit
- čas přidán 1. 06. 2024
- #sailingbeaver #beneteauoceanis #boattour
JOIN OUR PATREON TEAM - For extra content, our eBooks, real-time updates, sea stories & more.
/ sailingbeaver
Production boats vs Bluewater boats is quite the debated subject amongst the sailing community and each side often with its own merit. In this episode we share some of our thoughts and experiences on the matter and show you how we set our Beneteau Oceanis 40 up as a Bluewater Cruiser that is prepared to undertake some long distance tradewind passages. We give you a tour of the boat and run through all the upgrades and modifications we have completed so far. Some of the subjects covered in this episode are: Rigging, Sails, Navigation, Power, Storage and Anchoring.
GET OUR EBOOK HERE!
www.sailingbeaver.com/product...
Alongside this episode we have published our very first eBook where we share more in-depth information and details about the various boat jobs and modifications discussed in this video. In the eBook we also share some of the biggest lessons learned so far as well as costs, contact details and links to various products and services we have used.
Ebook also available for FREE download to our supporting Patrons:
/ sailingbeaver
Please Subscribe to help support the channel.
Sam & Nicole
X
JOIN OUR SUPPORT TEAM
If you would like to help crowdfund our small production, head over to our Patreon page where you can contribute a few dollars each month to keep the videos coming and gain access all our additional content.
/ sailingbeaver
Or
www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...
CONNECT WITH US ON INSTAGRAM:
@sam_hawk
@nicolecarlsen
/ sam_hawk
/ nicolecarlsen
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK:
/ sailingbeaver
VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
sailingbeaver.com
00:00 - Intro
04:00 - Rigging & Sails
09:45 - Navigation
12:48 - Power
17:43 - Storage
22:15 - Safety
25:00 - Anchoring
27:00 - E-Book
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.)
Jeez! I’m no expert but I’d go anywhere with you guys!
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!
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.
the most important piece of equipment is the brains aboard. you are top of the line in that department! safe travels!
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.
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!
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. 👍⛵️🌟🌟🌟
Great job! Added to my cruising guidelines, thank you for providing this kind of information.
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 🤙
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 🤙
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 🤙
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 CZcams 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 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 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.
Great video, very descriptive and informative. Thank you.
Good stuff again team, nice clean video with plenty of good content.
Cheers mate, glad you enjoyed 🙏
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🤙
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!
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.
Great information! Making a list of the modifications I need to do
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. ⛵️🤙
A really great overview of all of the important systems. Thank you for putting this together.
Thanks and appreciate your kind words! 🤙
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🤙🏼
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.
Excellent video and prep work. Time to go!!
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 🤘
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 🤙
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.
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
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!!!!
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.
That is the cleanest and most organized boat! Jeesh!!
Thankyou kind sir 👌
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
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!
Your boat is DIALD. Well done. I love it and would cross oceans with you guys all day long 👍🏻.
You guys inspire me to get going on my journeys! We’ll be checking out that ebook soon.. Cheers 😊⛵️😊
Glad to hear it. Thanks so much guys, 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. 🤙
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 🤙
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.
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 🤙
From another kiwi, an excellent video. I have had 4 Beneteau's and loved them all. Your boat is an excellent example. Congratulations.
Tidy and clean boat, nice video!
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
First time viewer and very pleased with your presentation and your provisions for safety. I'll like and subscribe, too. Safe travels.
Great information, cheers
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 🤙
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 explanation easy well structured well done. thank you . Klaus
Thanks so much. Fair winds Klaus 🤙
I saw one in 5-6 m seas and it did excellent! From Africa to the Caribbean.
Hi! This is the first video I've seen from your CZcams 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! 🤙
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.
Great stuff very valuable info👍👍
Thanks mate enjoy 🤙
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.
Looks like a great setup! Thanks
Cheers 🙏
Fabulous video and very informative . Living the dream.
Glad you enjoyed it
Great taste in music in this video. Great content. Well done!
Thankyou kindly mate 🙏
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,
Awesome descriptions. Lovely life. Keep living it
Great thanks for watching 🤙 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/
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. 🤙
Absolutely 100% yes. Alright, now I'll watch the video! ;)
That’s the spirit. Yew 🤙
Nice video, great with the spray bottle tip 👌 keep up the good work 👍
Thanks guys!😍 Hahah we learnt that tip grom the expert water hoarders🤙🏼😅
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
Really good video guys, lots to consider👍🏻X
Thankyou sir! 🤙
Beautiful, enjoy.
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.
excellent video, well done!
Thanks 🙏
You all good to go.
Love your video's!
Cheers and glad you enjoy 🤙
great video keep it up!
Cheers, will do!
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
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. 🤙
Great video!
Cheers mate 🤙
Thx... subbed... binging!
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 🤙
1.01 of big boy ocean boats is - Does it have a bolt-on keel???
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!
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.
And now you got Najad...tells heaps;)
Very informative.
Thanks 🙏
HI! Thanx for posting!
Cheers 🤙
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. 🤙
very nice guys
I wish you all the best of luck
Thanks so much 🙏
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
Very interesting, cheers
Cheers 🤙
Just found your channel. Great video!
Glad you found us, enjoy 🤙
New subscriber. Thank you great show.
Cheers man, welcome🙏🏻
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
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 🙏
Awesome video. First time viewer as well. Well done presentation and well addressed subject. You guys have done a marvelous job in preparing your boat. Bear in mind that so called "production" boats are sailed all the time between continents, so at some point they have cross an ocean. The biggest benefits to true bluewater sailboats are standing rigging, tankage and storage. However because their designs, they are not well suited for island hoping, as they are primarily designed to go the distance. I'll be looking for that Ebook. There's always room for more learning. Fair winds.
Thanks and welcome aboard, glad you enjoyed. Your spot on, after sitting in an arrival port of the Caribbean there are large amounts of light productions arriving everyday. Thanks for your input, some good points there. Fair winds. 🤙
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 🤙
You guys have done an awesome job getting your boat ready to carry you safely to your next anchorage. Even if someone is not a sailor they can learn a lot about
planning. We look forward to your next post!
Thanks so much glad you got some value. Fair winds 🤙
Up Nz !
Wonderfull chanel, congratulations
More beneteau's cross oceans than any other manufacturer 😁 I argue the capabilities of beneteau daily, people who say they can't cross oceans have never crossed a bathtub and have no idea what they are talking about
How much weight do you think your carrying when fully loaded, and thoughts of effecting the boats AVS.
great video! even if it was horrible I would still watch just to here you talk ;)
Huh, who? What?
@@SailingBeaver haha sorry! Was just implying you have a very cute accent.
But love your guys videos.
Can’t wait to watch the pacific videos.
Be safe!
Hahah cheers mate!
Really impressive
Cheers 🙏
Great job setting up your boat for cruising. I’m very interested in the solar arch mounted on the push pit.. is that a custom build or is it something available for purchase. If so, could you let me know where I can find? Cheers!
Thanks 🙏 it’s custom solar arch but very basic and just designed to fit our pushpit. We have all the photos, details, specs, costs and builder in our ebook that supplements this episode if your interested www.sailingbeaver.com/product/bluewatercruiser