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Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere
John Vigor turns the spotlight on twenty seaworthy sailboats that are at home on the ocean in all weather. These are old fiberglass boats, mostly of traditional design and strong construction. All are small, from 20 feet to 32 feet overall, but all have crossed oceans, and all are cheap. Choosing the right boat to take you across an ocean or around the world can be confusing and exasperating, particularly with a tight budget. Vigor sets out to remedy that in this book. He compares the designs and handling characteristics of 20 different boats whose secondhand market prices 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, sail plans, 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 book can help you turn it into reality.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 14, 2023
I love buying and reading these types of books.
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
https://numberoneboats.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/sessa-dorado...
https://numberoneboats.com/sessa-dora...
https://theboatyacht.com/sessa-dorado...
https://numberoneboats.com/sessa-dora...
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
https://numberoneboats.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/sessa-dorado...
https://numberoneboats.com/sessa-dora...
https://theboatyacht.com/sessa-dorado...
https://numberoneboats.com/sessa-dora...
July 24, 2017
Vigor's book "Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere" is as short and accessible as the sailboats that he describes. The book contains reviews of 20 small(ish) sailboats that Vigor has chosen as being seaworthy enough to take the competent sailor anywhere in the world that she wants to go.
The boats range in size from the diminutive Flicka 20 to the cavernous Westsail 32. All, however, are chosen by Vigor not just for their size, but for their seaworthiness and track record in taking sailors out of sight of the harbor breakwater.
For each book, Vigor describes to boat's basic design, accommodations, and rig. He also mentions any known weaknesses and includes opinions and stories from owners. He includes various measured and derived specs for each boat, including a "safety-at-sea factor", in which he rates the seaworthiness of the boat against other boats in the book. (Possibly using well-known factors like the Capsize Screening Formula and Motion Comfort Ratio).
Best of all, the small boats that Vigor presents are far more affordable than the monster 40-45 ft bluewater boats that you'll find at most brokers. For not that much money and a little experience, you can pick up one of the "good old boats" and sail off to faraway places.
The boats range in size from the diminutive Flicka 20 to the cavernous Westsail 32. All, however, are chosen by Vigor not just for their size, but for their seaworthiness and track record in taking sailors out of sight of the harbor breakwater.
For each book, Vigor describes to boat's basic design, accommodations, and rig. He also mentions any known weaknesses and includes opinions and stories from owners. He includes various measured and derived specs for each boat, including a "safety-at-sea factor", in which he rates the seaworthiness of the boat against other boats in the book. (Possibly using well-known factors like the Capsize Screening Formula and Motion Comfort Ratio).
Best of all, the small boats that Vigor presents are far more affordable than the monster 40-45 ft bluewater boats that you'll find at most brokers. For not that much money and a little experience, you can pick up one of the "good old boats" and sail off to faraway places.
October 15, 2025
If you're interested in blue-water sailing on a budget and you don't have any idea where to start, then this is a good place to start your journey.
John is extremely knowledgeable and experienced in sailing, and his opinions are definitely worth your time. I was particularly interested in boats from Pacific Seacraft, mainly the Dana 24 and the Flicka, but reading about their peers was enlightening as well.
There are a couple of cons to this book though. The lack of any photographs is one, and the second being the poor quality/resolution of the drawings/plans included. There's enough there you can get an idea of what each boat is about (which is the purpose of the book), but you'll obviously need to do some further research once you start narrowing down your choices.
John is extremely knowledgeable and experienced in sailing, and his opinions are definitely worth your time. I was particularly interested in boats from Pacific Seacraft, mainly the Dana 24 and the Flicka, but reading about their peers was enlightening as well.
There are a couple of cons to this book though. The lack of any photographs is one, and the second being the poor quality/resolution of the drawings/plans included. There's enough there you can get an idea of what each boat is about (which is the purpose of the book), but you'll obviously need to do some further research once you start narrowing down your choices.
January 3, 2021
This book is not what I was hoping for. This came up as a "You might like..." based on my interest in woodworking and boatbuilding. I thought I would get 20 plans. Nope, 20 ships the guy likes. Lame.
January 13, 2018
Clear, well-organized, contains useful information.
April 29, 2019
this was a very good book--- but it is alittle old, so accuracy might be a bit off
April 24, 2014
Is it possible to find small boats that can sail around the world? What does ocean ‘seaworthiness’ really mean?
Loved this book. Loved it! It’s short enough that I powered through it in a single day.
John Vigor, former managing editor of Sea magazine, evaluates and compares the seaworthiness of 20 of the most tried, tested and beloved small yacht designs available. The boats range from 20 to 32 feet in length.
Any one of these designs would be a solid choice to cross an ocean in. John lays out his analyses and evaluations clearly. Each design is compared to the ideal of seaworthy and also compared to (ranked against) each other.
Vigor points out aspects of seaworthiness as he describes each boat and evaluates them. However, I would have liked a clear introduction defining 'seaworthy' independently at the start of the book.
Fortunately, I also invested in The Seaworthy Offshore Boat, by John Vigor. He defines here 'seaworthy' in the first chapter on pages 2 and 3.
Seaworthy definition - ocean crossing boat designs should have:
* sturdier construction
* stronger spars and rigging
* more storage
* less need for weather helm
* seakindliness
* ability to manoeuvre
* habiltability
* and the ability to right itself quickly from a 180 knockdown.
Some bias: There’s a bias in his group ranking scheme towards the larger boats which John readily admits to. It’s for good reason – a longer waterline means it takes a bigger wave to roll the boat. There also seems to be a bias towards North American designed boats. I expected a few Scandinavian (and possibly French) yacht designs to be included in the group. The closest were US-designed yachts that were ‘descendants’ of the Folkboat, for example.
Conclusion: I'm going to add in the Nicolson designs and the Southern Cross designs to my long list of boat designs to consider. This book was a good investment. The criteria for seaworthiness were clearly illustrated and analysed as he considered each design.
Loved this book. Loved it! It’s short enough that I powered through it in a single day.
John Vigor, former managing editor of Sea magazine, evaluates and compares the seaworthiness of 20 of the most tried, tested and beloved small yacht designs available. The boats range from 20 to 32 feet in length.
Any one of these designs would be a solid choice to cross an ocean in. John lays out his analyses and evaluations clearly. Each design is compared to the ideal of seaworthy and also compared to (ranked against) each other.
Vigor points out aspects of seaworthiness as he describes each boat and evaluates them. However, I would have liked a clear introduction defining 'seaworthy' independently at the start of the book.
Fortunately, I also invested in The Seaworthy Offshore Boat, by John Vigor. He defines here 'seaworthy' in the first chapter on pages 2 and 3.
Seaworthy definition - ocean crossing boat designs should have:
* sturdier construction
* stronger spars and rigging
* more storage
* less need for weather helm
* seakindliness
* ability to manoeuvre
* habiltability
* and the ability to right itself quickly from a 180 knockdown.
Some bias: There’s a bias in his group ranking scheme towards the larger boats which John readily admits to. It’s for good reason – a longer waterline means it takes a bigger wave to roll the boat. There also seems to be a bias towards North American designed boats. I expected a few Scandinavian (and possibly French) yacht designs to be included in the group. The closest were US-designed yachts that were ‘descendants’ of the Folkboat, for example.
Conclusion: I'm going to add in the Nicolson designs and the Southern Cross designs to my long list of boat designs to consider. This book was a good investment. The criteria for seaworthiness were clearly illustrated and analysed as he considered each design.
November 19, 2008
This is a great book if you're on a budget and want to go world cruising. That's not really me, not at this point anyway. Either way, I learned a lot reading this book about what makes for a sturdy and safe boat at sea. While I probably won't use 95% of the knowledge I read in this book, there are some common sense and safety items that I definitely will be using when I get my first boat. I'll also have a better chance of identifying real quality boats in the marina or when I go shopping.
I would have given it four stars, but the author is a tiny bit full of himself and really heavy on jargon. While this might appeal to the salty veteran sailor (which i don't argue this books is probably more targeted at) it is off-putting to the casual sailor who wants to learn more or fantasize about crossing oceans.
I would have given it four stars, but the author is a tiny bit full of himself and really heavy on jargon. While this might appeal to the salty veteran sailor (which i don't argue this books is probably more targeted at) it is off-putting to the casual sailor who wants to learn more or fantasize about crossing oceans.
March 18, 2011
This is one of a handful of "dream" books I have. I spend the winter poring through these, looking for a suitable vessel to take me...just about anywhere. When it's cold and I want to think of impossible pleasures, I often reach for this book.
My wife calls these books boat porn. This book is full of statistics and prosaic descriptions of the build of these boats. It's easy to imagine owning one and sailing it across an ocean, anchoring in a shallow bay in the Bahamas or the Virgin Islands. And it's a delicious thrill to imagine leaving port in one of these boats, watching the land sink down behind me and to know that it will be days or weeks before seeing the next destination. I will probably never take such a trip in such a boat, but I love thinking about it.
My wife calls these books boat porn. This book is full of statistics and prosaic descriptions of the build of these boats. It's easy to imagine owning one and sailing it across an ocean, anchoring in a shallow bay in the Bahamas or the Virgin Islands. And it's a delicious thrill to imagine leaving port in one of these boats, watching the land sink down behind me and to know that it will be days or weeks before seeing the next destination. I will probably never take such a trip in such a boat, but I love thinking about it.
April 22, 2014
This was a good book for me to learn some basics about sailboats and the jargon, or language of sailing.
It points out the important issues regarding ocean cruising.
This is a good "basics" book for this learner.
At 130 pages it gets right to the point. I already am using it as a reference book. This book is a must for the sailing library I am building.
It points out the important issues regarding ocean cruising.
This is a good "basics" book for this learner.
At 130 pages it gets right to the point. I already am using it as a reference book. This book is a must for the sailing library I am building.
Read
September 4, 2012currently reading ...getting ready for my ocean crossing !
November 14, 2010
A great first time buyer's reference guide.
May 2, 2022
Great way to think about how boats are made and the various trade-offs taken in their design.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews