What kind of boat do you need to cross the ocean?
You need a decent, well-built, properly equipped, and seaworthy vessel. You do not need anything luxurious, fancy but adequate for sea travel.
What size of a boat is good for a long journey in an ocean?
There is no right answer here. Either a 60-foot boat or a 20-foot boat can both cross the ocean.
It depends on your boating skill and your personal preference for Amenities. The key here is to find a sturdy, bluewater boat than a fancy or budget production boat.
Bluewater boats are boats designed to handle rough seas weather, are built for the rigors of the ocean.
Bluewater boats are usually built with heavier building materials like solid wood, metal frame, and larger tankage so these boats can handle rough seas and long voyages.
A Bluewater boat is more expensive than a production boat of the same size.
Production boats are good boats but not designed for ocean voyages.
Production boats are designed for coastal or river cruising in mild weather.
A Production boat is usually designed with lighter construction material so it has lighter displacement, which in turn makes it much faster in the light wind than bluewater boats.
If you want more amenities onboard such as a galley, navigation station, refrigerator, and good place to sleep, then you need a bigger boat. If you are like sailors who are comfortable sailing a boat with minimal amenities then you can choose small boats
What types of ships could travel long distances at the ocean?
1, Cruise ship
A cruise ship for sure is one of the best choices to travel at the ocean. You do not need seamanship skills but you still can enjoy the ocean breeze, the spectacular sunrise, or sunset in the open sea.
The transatlantic crossing is one of the typical routes. The cruise ship sails back and forth across the Atlantic ocean between US ports and European ports. It takes about 8 ~14 days to cross the Atlantic ocean. The average cost for a transatlantic cruise is $600 per person for 14 days voyage.
The best time to set sail for transatlantic cruises is either spring or fall when the weather is still warm but prices are more affordable.
The other popular route is a transpacific cruise. It takes about 16 days voyage sailing from Hawaii to Papeete, then all way to Sydney, Australia. The average cost for a transpacific cruise is $1400 per person. Transpacific cruises are recommended from May to October. This is because summer is the South Pacific’s cyclone season.
2, Sail ship
People take Sail ships to cross the ocean all the time. Generally, people suggest something in the 30 to a 45-foot range of sailboat to cross the ocean, but some recommend that 45-ish feet are about as small as you can comfortably have without cursing the weather. Few even suggest 60ft upwards, because larger hulls and larger beams lead to better stability, which in turn, leadto less seasickness.
Blow models of sail ships are very popular among sailors. They are all bluewater boats, well built, strong and seaworthy
| Ship Models | Year Built | Price Range |
| Cat (Catamaran 30 foot) | 2019 | $100,000~$700,000 |
| Corbin 39 | 1980 | $33,000~$83,000 |
| Contessa 32 | 1975 | $5,000~$87,000 |
| Cabo Rico 38 | 1987 | $68,500~$112,000 |
| Islander 36 | 1984 | $49,000~$60,000 |
| Nordic 40 | 1982 | $120,000~$150,000 |
| Oyster 56 | 1998 | $580,000~$670,000 |
| Prout Snow goose 37 | 2002 | $50,000~$100,000 |
| Tayana Vancouver 42 | 1982 | $98,000~$105,000 |
| Westsail 32 | 1975 | $34000~$55,000 |
3, Yachat
Most yachts are not designed to handle rough seas, even the superyacht does not handle well on a rough sea. The high-end accommodation does not help in storm weather.
large windows and high structures on some Yachats make them vulnerable to high wind and big waves in the ocean.
But some offshore Yachats do sustain rugged weather on the sea. These offshore yachts are equipped with a large fuel tank, a nice navigation system to cross the ocean.
What is the smallest boat you can take in the ocean?
I would say as small as you dare to. You can paddle across an ocean with a kayak if you want.
The world record of the smallest boat that crossed ocean is only 5 ft 4 inches named ” Father’s day”. Hugo Vihlen crossed Atlantic ocean in this tiny sailboatt in 105 days in 1993. ( based on www. nmmc.co.uk)
Alain Bombard crossed the Atlantic in a small (12~14 ft) inflatable boat in 1952. He completed his 65-day voyage on a single-sail raft. He proved that it was possible to live off of small quantities of saltwater, and fresh-caught fish.
Besides courage and boating skills, there of course is a minimum size you feel safe taking out into the ocean. the coast regulators will require you have a mandatory level of equipment on board, such as a life vest, freshwater, tools, spare parts, etc.
Most expert sailors suggest 30 feet around is a comfortable smallest size to take out into the ocean.
Here is a good video crossing the Atlantic in a small boat.
Equipment to keep you safe on the ocean
Below equipment helps you navigate through the ocean safely, so you can spend more time enjoying the ocean scenery, napping or reading.
- Flare
- Fire Extinguishers
- VHF radio with good range
- A print map
- Marine compass
- Waterproof flashlight
- EPIRB system (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon)
- Mobile Phone
- First Aid Kit
Summary
There is no safe ship if you are sailing without an eye to the weather and no knowledge of the sea. Safety is critical to any sailor. Superwaves and other dangers in the ocean can destroy even the biggest ships.
Safety has a lot more to do with your seafaring knowledge than boat size. The smallest ship could be saved by knowledge than the biggest ship.
The sea is not to be taken lightly. Even some of the greatest and most experienced seamen have been lost at sea. The author of ” Sailing alone around the world” Joshua Slocum was a highly experienced navigator and ship owner but lost in the sea with his boat Spray in 1909.
To sum up that you will need a seaworthy vessel and good voyage knowledge to cross the ocean safely. Seaworthy vessels come in all sizes. You can choose the best one to fit your taste and budget. The big concern is that you need to be a proficient seaman before starting your voyage.
You might also want to read the below related article
11 best Trawler Boats for Long-Distance Cruising
Choosing the Right Boat: Single Hull vs. Twin Hull vs. Multi-Hull
Sailing Fast: 11 Tips to Get You Up to Speed
How to use navigation buoys to stay safe on the water? (Explained)
