[PUP] PPM - how big?

[Tad Roberts]

While it is true there is no perfect boat for everyone, there are many
common points of interest that make up each boat.  This list exists to talk
about passagemakers, not just electrical systems.  So I've been sketching
and considering PPM size.

 

I'm for moderation in these choices.  Not too long, not too wide or high,
not too heavy or light, and certainly not too complex. (what the heck does
that mean?) While following along I've noted advocates of various extremes
(narrow and heavy?).  I believe Windhorse and Convergence are extreme
passagemakers for most of us due to both initial cost and high operating
costs.  It is much easier to get all you want in a larger vessel with
unlimited budget.  But most of us do have a limit on the budget, for
whatever reason.  The smaller boat is a smaller investment; smaller
investment equals a wider potential audience making the boat (perhaps)
closer to perfect? 

 

When thinking about minimum passagemakers, I always look back at a design by
Phil Bolger done in about 1987 and published in Small Boat Journal.  She was
a 31' by 8' ocean crossing powerboat.  The boat had minimal accommodations
for two wrapped around a 27 HP engine in the bow and a 325 fuel tank
amidships.  Pretty Spartan living and not acceptable to most of us for full
time cruising, but she would get you there.  The little Willard Vega 30' is
another minimum passagemaker that can get you across the ocean, but not with
tons of space or comfort. 

 

So the ideal for many might be somewhere larger than 30' but less than 80'?
Length is attractive to the NA because of the easy speed (reduced
wavemaking) and added comfort due to bridging wave groups.  I also strongly
believe in reducing height and volume of the boat by minimizing
double-decking.  No two story houses!  Accommodation close to or on the
waterline keeps motion to a minimum, reduced motion means less crew fatigue,
and that's what we're really after.  Again the smaller boat, with minimum
deckhouse, means a smaller investment. 

 

It seems that for this (PUP) group the usual permanent crew is a couple,
with one or two friends joining the ship usually for short periods.  So
ideal accommodation includes one very comfortable and private stateroom for
permanent occupation, including en-suite head with shower/tub. The guests
can make do without a private stateroom, using occasional berths in the
pilothouse or saloon seems to be quite acceptable to most.  In my experience
it is often desired that the guests have their own head, so the PPM has two
heads.  This is less than ideal for the maintainer and cleaner of these
heads, but it's probably best in view of crew happiness.

 

It comes down to a list of things the PPM must contain.  There must be an
owner's cabin with head, there must be a saloon and galley, there must be a
pilothouse and an engineroom, there must also be a guest head, and there
must be some outside relaxing space.  There must also be room for food,
fuel, and water storage, spare parts and tools, and reasonable access to
systems for maintenance.  My feeling is that the minimum length to enclose
all this is about 40'.  While 50' would be nice, any talk of 50' boats
raises the investment substantially. Building in North America will put a
50' budget north of $1m fairly easily, going down to 40' will reduce the
volume (weight) by over 40%, and materials and labour equally.

 

My best to all, Tad

 

www.tadroberts.ca <http://www.tadroberts.ca/> 

www.passagemakerlite.com <http://www.passagemakerlite.com/> 

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