Nice boat for someone!!!...Cardude?

AusCan · Apr 15, 2013

To do any long distance cruising around here we require more range. Heading west across the Australian Bight, requires over 700 NM of cruising against the prevailing wind between fuel stops. (Ceduna to Esperance). Safe achorages are in short supply as well. Some long distance cruisers organise a fuel cache to be brought into a remote semi-accessible beach by 4WD along the way.
The remoteness here has its challenges, but plenty of advantages too.

refugio · May 8, 2013

There was one of these 50s kicking around the PNW 5 to 10 years ago at around $200K. I went on it briefly at one of the Lake Union shows, and from memory it wasn't nearly as well finished as the one on YW (might have been owner-finished on the same hull), and I seem to recall a lack of headroom issue (I'm just a hair over 6') though that might have been another boat at that show.

I do think that the manufacturer-assigned name "Voyager" might be a bit of a stretch, and it's not exactly what comes to mind as a "trawler". It's definitely more in the "motoryacht" pattern.

randyt · May 8, 2013

This boat was also called a Fantail 50. There was(is?)one for sale out of Portland, OR for about $275,000. It is a little used up. This design caused a bit of a stir when it came out because it was designed to be fuel efficient as a criteria. In my memory, it was one of the first to use fuel usage as a marketing tool. You can have one built today if you wish, it just won't be $300,000. BTW, a couple of these that I have been following have added stabilizers.
RandyT

Alaskan Sea-Duction · May 8, 2013

ksanders said:
Thats a tough one, and I have no idea what the answer is.

I would guess, and thats only a guess is that the more populated an area is the more fuel opportunities.

My 300NM in North America is based on looking at charts, reading, and my own travels.

The longest documented jaunt I can find is approx 320 NM from Yakutat to Seward, but even that could be shortened down to 235NM by going Yakutat to Cordova.

There is also a leg in Mexico from ensenada to turtle bay at 282NM

The rest of north american is much shorter.

Personally I prefer a ample fuel reserve. My boat for example holds 440 gallons, and we get 1.5NMPG at 9 knots and 1.75NMPG at 8 knots. That gives us a run dry range of between 660 and 770 NM depending on speed, sea state, etc...

Last summer we took the boat Yakutat AK to Seward AK which was 320NM. We had very rough weather part of the trip, and still had enough fuel to run the last 50NM at a 14 KT fast cruise (to make it to port before dark.)

So, based on that I'd be MORE than comfortable taking our boat, weather permitting anywhere in North America. With a little research and fuel planning I would have no issues taking her much further, say through the panama canal into the carribean. Thats a big statement, but I think its probably doable fuel wise.

Good point! All I want is range enough to do the Yakutat crossing and be able to make it from the Columbia River Bar to Neah Bay WA. Even this short trip would requires a crew. But why. First stop at Grey Harbor, then the next day to Neah Bay......That being said outside the U.S. range has to be a big decision factor.

CPseudonym · May 8, 2013

When the distance between ports exceeds 60% of your fuel capacity you should consider other options IMO. Although I have heard some discuss less than 20% safety factor, I personally wouldn't.

Cruising locally I do not like having less than a half tank of fuel.

Nice boat for someone!!!...Cardude?

AusCan

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refugio

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randyt

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Alaskan Sea-Duction

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CPseudonym

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