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The book below makes specific suggestions on bluewater capable used boats. The list is far from comprehensive but it does give as good overview of pricing and history of the boats. With a few exceptions, the boats are affordable (I know that's a relative term when it comes to sailboats). Here's the book (clean link)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1574092340/

Your budget will limit your choices, but there are "crazy" deals made every day in the sailboat market. I too am looking at sailing away in the next 12-18 months. I met a guy recently with a beautiful Hans Christian 38. He bought it, put a ton of money into it, but turns out his wife doesn't like overnight sailing, never mind bluewater sailing. So he'll be selling. This scenario plays out every day. Get the word out that you're looking as you get down to 18-24 months from leaving. Be prepared to move quickly and have the cash lined up.

The list in the book was compiled by John Kretschmer who is one of the most experienced bluewater sailors out there. His book "Sailing a Serious Ocean" is a good read as well.

Good luck on your journey!

Oh, I can answer this one beautifully!

We used to use pour over coffee, one cup at a time. It took forever and was awful.

Do they have an inverter capable of up to 2000 watts? If so, read on!! If not, ignore my idea.....


So if they have an inverter, get them two things. First, this guy:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003KYSLNQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This thing is beautiful. Gets water to the perfect temp in just a few minutes, and saves tons of propane vs conventional heating. If they cruise in the tropics they will appreciate the savings on heating the cabin.


Second, get em this dude:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005YY9X/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=305DG4O1W7U4L&coliid=IYQ052FWO4QF9&psc=1


It is insulated, keeps coffee hot for a crazy long time, and its rugged stainless construction keeps them from having to have filters on hand!!!

All this results in coffee made effectively and efficiently at the cheap price of like 15 aH. give or take, depending on their battery bank.

Nick! Thanks for the quick and thorough reply.


>We are going to fit another fridge this fall and so will also need to add another 200-400w of solar to keep us energy neutral.

Are you looking to build a fridge with a plate, or buy an off the shelf fridge? For what it's worth, I have this in my Jeep. It pulls about 70ah in the summer at around 110f in the summer if the Jeep is closed up and not in use. If you have an ambient temp of ~70f, I pull about 65ah and 60ah with an insulated blanket. I have a cheapo 100watt flexible solar panel that keeps an aux battery that powers led lights, and the fridge always topped off, even in the winter when I only get about 8 hours of daylight that's mostly overcast. It will keep things frozen solid. I've been thinking of ripping it's guts out and building an insulated box.

My book - 'Age of Sail - a personal voyage of discovery' is available for free as a Kindle download on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th March only. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1983701122 If you enjoy it, please leave a review on Amazon

I've been looking at these as well as the ones you posted. Renogy 200 Watt 12 Volt Eclipse Solar Premium Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F865DS0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_zHAvyb63EV7KY

Are you in a sunny spot? I'm in the PNW which maybe a good reason to opt for the pricer model.

If you wanted darker ones black / brown.

I bought these
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MV1V80C/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

with this bulb.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BCA440E/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

absolutely amazing. and SIPS electricity.

I really like the AIMS pure sine wave inverters and have never had a problem but I think if you went with anything with decent reviews you would be fine when dealing with pure sine. Assuming you want US style and 12VDChere is the 300W one but they make all sorts and the 600W has multiple AC outlets

Thanks ! I did not see this one !!

Blue Seas 4532

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Voyaging On A Small Income, 2nd Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/1888671378/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_RxKoybXEVMVXD

It's a fantastic book.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009Z6CW7O/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481992359&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=Renogy&dpPl=1&dpID=41rOZxjogoL&ref=plSrch

Cheaper per panel if you bulk buy.

You will get more power from more expensive panels though, be aware. But it's looking like 400w is going to run me just fine.

I bought this one. It's insanely bright. Just clipped it onto the battery posts. Sat back with a rum & coke and watched the critters come. We saw everything from bristle worms, sea snakes, baitfish, jacks, and even some sharks.

I recommend the Voyager’s Handbook by Beth Leonard... taught me a lot and will stay on my future boat!

The Voyager's Handbook: The Essential Guide to Blue Water Cruising https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071437657/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_rmgEDbWHN8RN5

Always thought that with a bottle like that and a dry ice maker like this you could freeze fish sushi-safe on-board in a cooler.

To my knowledge it is only a matter of replacing the regulator and then maybe the nozzles.

The nozzles are tiny brass nuts with a microscopic hole in them. As far as I know they are all standard thread size (M6). Better to check of course.

CNG and LPG burn almost exactly the same, if they are at the same pressure. So it may not be even necessary to change nozzles. The idea here is that if it produces too much flame you switch to one size smaller, and if it makes too little flame you do the opposite.

The are also air inlets that can be adjusted with a scewdriver (some are not adjustable at all). These control the fuel to air mixture. You fiddle with them to get a nice sable blue flame. If it is yellow and flickering you have too little air.

On my Bristol I used these centered on a piece of flat steel and the steel attached to the edges of the panel. Then attach to an available rail.

On my new boat (steel hull) they'll be attached to the insane square steel tube davits that are welded to her stern :)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079K8H5JJ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

You won't find inexpensive slips for that size vessel. You'll either need to find a mooring ball, or anchor out.

https://smile.amazon.com/Creative-Anchoring-Everything-Cruising-Related-ebook/dp/B00UR6RRS0

https://isbn.nu/085059524X -- Shrimpy: A Record Round-the-world Voyage in an 18 Foot Yacht

The Old Man and the Sea.

The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner.

Moby Dick.

Other people listed some excellent picks and I'm avoiding giving you duplicates.

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Sail-Joseph-editor-Bathe/dp/1399996843/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=%22the+great+age+of+sail%22&qid=1555868353&s=gateway&sr=8-2 -- from 1967. Some stories of notable historic voyages and battles, but mostly just the picture of the insane scale of ship production and shipping and what an enormous part of many nation's economies it was. So much stuff from that era was just batguano nuts.


Favorite vlog is keepturningleft.co.uk.