THE BEST...
Want to go further afield? Duncan Kent looks at some of the most suitable second-hand sail and motor boats for cruising offshore
Offshore yachts need to exhibit a comfortable, controlled, and wellbalanced motion at sea, such that the crew can sail, cook, eat, and sleep without suffering too much discomfort. Second only to the yacht being soundly constructed, the crew is what turns it into a means of crossing oceans safely and enjoyably. A tired and irritable crew is one that’ll make mistakes when the going gets rough.
First and foremost is its motion through or over the waves. Many modern, lightweight production yachts are prone to slam into the oncoming waves rather than gently slicing through them, which not only jars the crew’s nerves and throws everything around below, but also puts relentless strain on the hull and rig.
As with most aspects of sailing, there are several schools of thought concerning offshore yacht design, but it’s generally accepted that ocean-going boats should be of a higher displacement than a coastal cruiser with a deeper forefoot to part the waves silently.
The ‘quicker you can go, the quicker you’re out of it’ motto is often quoted by those who believe the extra speed of a light displacement, performance yacht will enable you to avoid bad weather by sailing around it. Though this might be true of a thoroughbred Open 60 averaging 20-knots, with most production boats the result is usually a more uncomfortable and much wetter ride through the storm.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Duncan Kent Awell-known and widely respected yachting journalist, Duncan Kent has sailed hundreds of new and used yachts over four decades, and has amassed a wealth of practical and technical knowledge on boats of all types and sizes.
20-25ft LOA
First launched in 1966, the ubiquitous Hurley 22 was heavily built and reinforced with laminated beams and double-thickness GRP in high-stress areas. She was available with a long fin or bilge keels, with the ballast encapsulated within the hull moulding.
Owing to her narrow beam, accommodation is limited. There are berths for four, but she’s more suited to a couple, particularly as the boat was open plan with a toilet under the vee berth. An interior moulding provides a smooth finish to the interior, and teak veneer trims lessen the ‘plasticky’ feel. The two narrow quarter berths stretch back under the cockpit seats and are ideal for use on passage. The pointed vee-berth forward is very compact and just 1.8m/5ft 9in long. There are open lockers above, while underneath is the freshwater tank.
The galley is small and basic, but adequate for short trips. For longer cruises you’d need to create more workspace, although the slide-out chart table above the quarte
