Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere (Paperback)

by John Vigor (Author) "Not many 30-footers, old or new, seem as basically seaworthy and rugged as the Alberg 30..." (more)
Key Phrases: masthead sloop rig, aft lower shrouds, settee berths, Cape Dory, Pacific Seacraft, Southern Cross (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Laced with anecdote and opinion..Very readable, and most useful for anyone looking at small boats for extended cruising. -- Cruising World Magazine, May 2000

Through boat reviews and advertisements, sailors are bombarded with product information about new boats in sailing magazines. They can tour new boats to their hearts content at boat shows. And they can compare these vessels in annual directories of sailing manufacturers and distributors. Eager vendors will readily send sales literature on request.

But what of those of us who have elected to sail those boats euphemistically referred to as gently used or previously sailed? These boats, of course, are affordable, often well-equipped, and typically in sailaway condition without extensive commissioning. So how do you make comparisons and determine which of these boats is right for you?

John Vigor has selected 20 from a vast field of older sailboats and offers comprehensive reviews and rating scales for comparison. His criteria for selection were that the boat must be seaworthy enough to go offshore and small enough to be easily handled by two. The boats he selected range from 20 to 32 feet.

Lin and Larry Pardey, who have circumnavigated twice in sailboats less than 30 feet in length, argue that small and simple boats are better for voyaging couples. They have noted that large vessels are often the cause of abandoned cruising dreams. Theyre too expensive and thus steal too much from the cruising couple without the assistance of additional crewmembers or power devices that can fail at the most critical moment. Larger, more complicated, sailboats have more systems that break, testing the skills of even the handiest. Their advice in sum is to go small, go simple, and go with the confidence that comes of handling it yourself.

In this book, John Vigor offers sailors a collection of 20 boats capable of taking you anywhere perhaps not in the comfort and style touted by new boat product literature but safely and with dignity. John has raced, crossed oceans, and cruised coasts. His views are fresh and insightful. He has the credentials to know a boat for what it is. Readers will be rewarded with valuable information that is more timeless than trendy. Lurking behind it all is Johns wry humor that steps in at just the right moment to remind us that logic has its limits and owning and sailing these vessels is meant to be fun. If we are patient, todays new boats will become older boats. When the best small ones have proved themselves by crossing oceans safely and in style, John may select from among these and write another book. -- Karen Larson and Jerry Powlas,Publishers of Good Old Boat magazine

Product Description
Anyone who has sailed small boats has surely experienced the romantic dream of crossing an ocean or even sailing around the world. But what was once fantasy is now reality. With a growing glut of good used boats on the market, its possible to sail around the world in a boat that costs less than a car.

In this fascinating book, well-known boating author John Vigor turns the spotlight on 20 seaworthy sailboats that are at home on the ocean. These are old fiberglass boats, mostly of traditional design and strong construction. All are small their sizes range from 20 feet to 32 feet overall but all have crossed oceans. Many have circumnavigated the world. And all are inexpensive.

There are many hundreds of small cruising boats sailing the seven seas at this moment. They explore everywhere, from the ice-bound shores of Antarctica to the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. Most, however, ply the tradewind routes where flying fish play. The water is warm, and coconut trees line calm lagoons bounded by beaches of pure white sand.

But choosing the right boat to cross an ocean or go around the world can be a confusing and exasperating experience, particularly if your budget is tight. Its well-nigh impossible to find objective comparisons.

Vigor sets out to remedy that in this book. He compares the designs and handling characteristics of 20 different boats whose prices on the secondhand market start at about $3,000. Interviews with experienced owners (featuring valuable tips about handling each boat in heavy weather) are interspersed with line drawings of hulls, sailplans, and accommodations. Vigor has unearthed the known weaknesses of each boat and explains how to deal with them. He rates their comparative seaworthiness, their speed, and the number of people they can carry in comfort.

If you have ever dreamed the dream, this is the book that will turn it into reality.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Paradise Cay Publications; 1st edition (December 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0939837323
• ISBN-13: 978-0939837328
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #100,812 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good starting point, April 3, 2000

By A Customer

This book is an excellent starting point for those trying to wade through the ocean of sailboats available on the used market, who want to get "the most bang for their buck." The reader should come away with at least several favories, allowing him/her to narrow the search for the "perfect" boat. At the same time, other boats will be stricken from the list of possibilites because of information contained in this book. It is aimed at the person who wants to get out there and sail on the best boat possible, but must shop carefully due to budget considerations. The short descriptions and comparisons of the boats are helpful, as are the details of the "known weaknesses," and interviews with owners. I just wish the book could have profiled more than 20 sailboats, I hated to reach the end. As a companion to this book, I would recommend "Inspecting The Aging Sailboat" by Don Casey. I would buy this book again.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great place to start a boat search, November 2, 2001

By	Paul Brook (In the Heartland of the USA looking for a boat.) - See all my reviews

I liked this book and I probably would like John Vigor if I ever meet him. He has an easy-to-read conversational style. The best aspect of each of these boat reviews is seeing how an experienced sailor looks at and evaluates a boat's design and how it is constructed. J.V.'s approach is a valuable tool to apply to any boat you may be considering for offshore work.

For those of you who haven't seen the book yet a word of caution - there are no photographs of any boats in the book. All the visuals are line drawings and sail and 'floor' plans. In addition, I found one glaring error in the chapter on the Cape Dory 25D. The line profile drawing is for (I believe) the Cape Dory 25 - a distinctly different boat. The other drawings for this boat are definitly not of a Cape Dory 25D either.

These are all interesting boats - several have been single handed around the world, - one set a speed record for crossing the Atlantic. Of course they aren't the only boats capable of crossing oceans. You can expand your search by looking for boats by the same designer and / or the same builder. Sometimes it might pay to look to larger or smaller boats in a particular line. Find owners on the web and shoot them an email. Many people are glad to share sailing experiences. That reminds me that one of the best parts of this book is the Owner's Experiences section.

Enjoy!

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars not fast but good, March 5, 2001

By A Customer

a review by Matt W. as published by American Sailing Association

lets face it folks, when you sail skiffs at twenty mph it makes these things look huge and slow BUT if you want to call them "small" its up to you. Be that as it may "twenty small boats to take you anywhere" is the best put together book of its kind that I have ever read bar none. John Vigor has put a lot of research and general "checking out" of all twenty boats in this book and has presented this information in a clear and concise manner.

Starting at the intro I started to think "O.K. ..another dull book about boats". I was surprised by an easy reading style that felt as if J.V. were standing there at the boatyard with me. Each boat in this collection gets a good complete, and fair review on basic design, accommodations and lay out of cabins, rig, performance and most important KNOWN WEAKNESSES. There are also quick reference summarizations on each boat via an "in short" and "in comparison" boxes.

Another thing I found enjoyable is the "owners comments". They are entertaining and valuable experiential knowledge of how the boat actually handles under sail. The drawings of each boat with top side and beam views with the rig is also very helpful.

Twenty Small Boats to take you Anywhere" is an excellent reference book for those looking for a great sea worthy craft or even for those that are just curious. In any case I will be adding this one to my personal library. Now could some one please put out a book like this for fast racing skiffs? ;)>