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5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: April 19, 2023

A small sailboat can take you big places

Small sailboats are the ticket to going cruising NOW — not when you retire, save up enough money, or find the “perfect” bluewater cruising boat. In fact, it’s the first principle in Lin and Larry Pardey’s cruising philosophy: “Go small, go simple, go now.”

Small yachts can be affordable, simple, and seaworthy . However, you won’t see many of them in today’s cruising grounds. In three years and 13,000 nautical miles of bluewater cruising, I could count the number of under 30-foot sailboats I’ve seen on one hand (all of them were skippered by people in their 20s and 30s).

Today’s anchorages are full of 40, 50, and 60-foot-plus ocean sailboats, but that’s not to say you can’t sail the world in a small sailboat. Just look at Alessandro di Benedetto who in 2010 broke the record for the smallest boat to sail around the world non-stop in his 21-foot Mini 6.5 .

So long as you don’t mind forgoing a few comforts, you can sail around the world on a small budget .

What makes a good blue water sailboat

While you might not think a small sailboat is up to the task of going long distances, some of the best bluewater sailboats are under 40 feet.

However, if you’re thinking about buying a boat for offshore cruising, there are a few things to know about what makes a small boat offshore capable .

Smaller equals slower

Don’t expect to be sailing at high speeds in a pocket cruiser. Smaller displacement monohulls are always going to be slower than larger displacement monohulls (see the video below to learn why smaller boats are slower). Therefore a smaller cruiser is going to take longer on a given passage, making them more vulnerable to changes in weather.

A few feet can make a big difference over a week-long passage. On the last leg of our Pacific Ocean crossing, our 35-foot sailboat narrowly avoid a storm that our buddy boat, a 28-foot sailboat, couldn’t. Our friend was only a knot slower but it meant he had to heave to for a miserable three days.

Small but sturdy

If a pocket cruiser encounters bad weather, they will be less able to outrun or avoid it. For this reason, many of the blue water sailboats in this list are heavily built and designed to take a beating.

Yacht design has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. Today, new boats are designed to be light and fast. The small sailboats in our list are 30-plus year-old designs and were built in a time when weather forecasts were less accurate and harder to come by.

Back in the day, boat were constructed with thicker fiberglass hulls than you see in modern builds. Rigs, keels, rudders, hulls and decks – everything about these small cruising sailboats was designed to stand up to strong winds and big waves. Some of the boats in this post have skeg-hung rudders and most of them are full keel boats.

The pros and cons of pocket cruiser sailboats

Pocket cruiser sailboats present certain advantages and disadvantages.

More affordable

Their smaller size makes them affordable bluewater sailboats. You can often find great deals on pocket cruisers and sometimes you can even get them for free.

You’ll also save money on retrofits and repairs because small cruising sailboats need smaller boat parts (which cost a lot less) . For example, you can get away with smaller sails, ground tackle, winches, and lighter lines than on a bigger boat.

Moorage, haul-outs, and marine services are often billed by foot of boat length . A small sailboat makes traveling the world , far more affordable!

When something major breaks (like an engine) it will be less costly to repair or replace than it would be on a bigger boat.

Less time consuming

Smaller boats tend to have simpler systems which means you’ll spend less time fixing and paying to maintain those systems. For example, most small yachts don’t have showers, watermakers , hot water, and electric anchor windlasses.

On the flip side, you’ll spend more time collecting water (the low-tech way) . On a small sailboat, this means bucket baths, catching fresh water in your sails, and hand-bombing your anchor. Though less convenient, this simplicity can save you years of preparation and saving to go sailing.

Oh, and did I mention that you’ll become a complete water meiser? Conserving water aboard becomes pretty important when you have to blue-jug every drop of it from town back to your boat.

Easier to sail

Lastly, smaller boats can be physically easier to sail , just think of the difference between raising a sail on a 25-foot boat versus a 50-foot boat! You can more easily single-hand or short-hand a small sailboat. For that reason, some of the best solo blue water sailboats are quite petite.

As mentioned above small boats are slow boats and will arrive in port, sometimes days (and even weeks) behind their faster counterparts on long offshore crossings.

Consider this scenario: two boats crossed the Atlantic on a 4,000 nautical mile route. The small boat averaged four miles an hour, while the big boat averaged seven miles an hour. If both started at the same time, the small boat will have completed the crossing two weeks after the larger sailboat!

Less spacious

Living on a boat can be challenging — living on a small sailboat, even more so! Small cruising boats don’t provide much in the way of living space and creature comforts.

Not only will you have to downsize when you move onto a boat  you’ll also have to get pretty creative when it comes to boat storage.

It also makes it more difficult to accommodate crew for long periods which means there are fewer people to share work and night shifts.

If you plan on sailing with your dog , it might put a small boat right out of the question (depending on the size of your four-legged crew member).

Less comfortable

It’s not just the living situation that is less comfortable, the sailing can be pretty uncomfortable too! Pocket cruisers tend to be a far less comfortable ride than larger boats as they are more easily tossed about in big ocean swell.

Here are our 5 favorite small blue water sailboats for sailing around the world

When we sailed across the Pacific these were some of the best small sailboats that we saw. Their owners loved them and we hope you will too!

The boats in this list are under 30 feet. If you’re looking for something slightly larger, you might want to check out our post on the best bluewater sailboats under 40 feet .

Note: Price ranges are based on SailboatListings.com and YachtWorld.com listings for Aug. 2018

Albin Vega 27($7-22K USD)

The Albin Vega has earned a reputation as a bluewater cruiser through adventurous sailors like Matt Rutherford, who in 2012 completed a 309-day solo nonstop circumnavigation of the Americas via Cape Horn and the Northwest Passage (see his story in the documentary Red Dot on the Ocean ). 

• Hull Type: Long fin keel
• Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:27′ 1″ / 8.25m
• Waterline Length:23′ 0″ / 7.01m
• Beam:8′ 1″ / 2.46m
• Draft:3′ 8″ / 1.12m
• Rig Type: Masthead sloop rig
• Displacement:5,070lb / 2,300kg
• Designer:Per Brohall
• Builder:Albin Marine AB (Swed.)
• Year First Built:1965
• Year Last Built:1979
• Number Built:3,450

Cape Dory 28 ($10-32K USD) 

This small cruising sailboat is cute and classic as she is rugged and roomy. With at least one known circumnavigation and plenty of shorter bluewater voyages, the Cape Dory 28 has proven herself offshore capable.

• Hull Type: Full Keel
• Length Overall:28′ 09″ / 8.56m
• Waterline Length:22′ 50″ / 6.86m
• Beam:8’ 11” / 2.72m
• Draft:4’ 3” / 1.32m
• Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
• Displacement:9,300lb / 4,218kg
• Sail Area/Displacement Ratio:52
• Displacement/Length Ratio:49
• Designer: Carl Alberg
• Builder: Cape Dory Yachts (USA)
• Year First Built:1974
• Year Last Built:1988
• Number Built: 388

Dufour 29 ($7-23K)

As small bluewater sailboats go, the Dufour 29 is a lot of boat for your buck. We know of at least one that sailed across the Pacific last year. Designed as a cruiser racer she’s both fun to sail and adventure-ready. Like many Dufour sailboats from this era, she comes equipped with fiberglass molded wine bottle holders. Leave it to the French to think of everything!

• Hull Type: Fin with skeg-hung rudder
• Length Overall:29′ 4″ / 8.94m
• Waterline Length:25′ 1″ / 7.64m
• Beam:9′ 8″ / 2.95m
• Draft:5′ 3″ / 1.60m
• Displacement:7,250lb / 3,289kg
• Designer:Michael Dufour
• Builder:Dufour (France)
• Year First Built:1975
• Year Last Built:1984

Vancouver 28 ($15-34K)

A sensible small boat with a “go-anywhere” attitude, this pocket cruiser was designed with ocean sailors in mind. One of the best cruising sailboats under 40 feet, the Vancouver 28 is great sailing in a small package.

• Hull Type:Full keel with transom hung rudder
• Length Overall: 28′ 0″ / 8.53m
• Waterline Length:22’ 11” / 6.99m
• Beam:8’ 8” / 2.64m
• Draft:4’ 4” / 1.32m
• Rig Type: Cutter rig
• Displacement:8,960lb / 4,064 kg
• Designer: Robert B Harris
• Builder: Pheon Yachts Ltd. /Northshore Yachts Ltd.
• Year First Built:1986
• Last Year Built: 2007
• Number Built: 67

Westsail 28 ($30-35K)

Described in the 1975 marketing as “a hearty little cruiser”, the Westsail 28 was designed for those who were ready to embrace the cruising life. Perfect for a solo sailor or a cozy cruising couple!

• Hull Type: Full keel with transom hung rudder
• Hull Material:GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:28′ 3” / 8.61m
• Waterline Length:23’ 6” / 7.16m
• Beam:9’ 7” / 2.92m
• Displacement:13,500lb / 6,124kg
• Designer: Herb David
• Builder: Westsail Corp. (USA)
• Number Built:78

Feeling inspired? Check out the “go small” philosophy of this 21-year-old who set sail in a CS 27.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

Saturday 1st of September 2018

Very useful list, but incomplete - as it would necessarily be, considering the number of seaworthy smaller boats that are around.

In particular, you missed/omitted the Westerly "Centaur" and its follow-on model, the "Griffon". 26 feet LOA, bilge-keelers, weighing something over 6000 pounds, usually fitted with a diesel inboard.

OK, these are British designs, and not that common in the US, but still they do exist, they're built like tanks, and it's rumored that at least one Centaur has circumnavigated.

Friday 31st of August 2018

This is a helpful list, thank you. I don't think most people would consider a 28' boat a pocket cruiser, though!

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Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

The best small cruising yachts in 2023

• Theo Stocker
• September 29, 2023

Despite bigger yachts dominating the new boat scene in recent decades, there are still any number of builders making new smaller cruisers. Here's our pick of the best small cruising yachts in 2023

We have seen a surprisingly large number of builders going against the grain to bring small cruising yachts to market in the last year or so, ranging from trailer0-sailers to smaller traditionally-styled options. Here, we’ve rounded up 4 of the best small cruising yachts launched in the last year.

Typically this size of yacht appeals to those who are looking for a day sailer or weekender and will often offer reduced draught in able to allow you to go creek crawling or nose your way into otherwise hard to get to anchorages.

The best small cruising yachts 2023

Once you’ve seen one, Bente yachts are unmistakable. We revisited the brand’s first boat, the Bente 24 , a couple of issues ago, which has been around for 10 years or so. The brand then launched the striking Bente 39 which was immensely innovative, but the company ran into financial difficulties. Now under new owners and a more stable footing, a third model has been launched, which I can’t wait to test sail. The Bente 28 is unlike any other 28-footer.

The hull is cutting edge with wide transom, double rudders and full bows providing a powerful hull form as well as volume below. Construction is polyester GRP foam sandwich, with the basic version being heavier hand lamination, and the more expensive Edition version being vacuum infused. While this is a boat designed to be fast, it’s a long way from a wild racing boat.

Displacement is a not outlandish 3.2 tonnes and draught is 1.6m (there’s an option for a 1.95m performance T-keel with lead bulb that’s 100kg lighter), so it fits well within the scope of a sensible cruising boat.

The Tide 25, built by MFH in north Germany – began its life as a Dehler SQ25, but the mould was sold off when that company hit hard times. Plumb bows and stern with a long hull chine, bevelled deck edge and twin rudders put her on trend, and maximise performance under sail and accommodation on board.

On deck, she has a large cockpit with benches forward and four decent lockers. Under the cockpit sole there’s access to what would be engine space for a diesel inboard, now housing batteries for the electric motors.

Opt for the sport version, and you’ll get beefed up deck hardware and a minimalist fit out, with the mainsheet traveller across the transom, while the comfort version has a smaller main with the mainsheet coming to a fixed point on the cockpit sole forward of the helm. The rig has aft-swept spreaders and no backstay.

The fact that the accommodation of the Pointer 30 is designed around a Nespresso machine, enshrined in glory, tells you a lot about this boat. It was conceived as a comfortable, fast and stylish weekend cruiser that you can take your friends down to for a coffee before a nice sail to somewhere for lunch. This is a boat that knows what it is about. Tea drinkers, don’t worry; there’s still a gas hob to boil a kettle.

The sail area isn’t vast, but this looks to be an easily driven hull. A below-deck furler setting a genoa that sheets to tracks on the coachroof is standard, with a self-tacker being optional.

The fixed bowsprit houses a bow roller, and a tack point for furling offwind sails – the gennaker takes her offwind sail area up to 100m2, set from an aluminium twin-spreader rig with adjustable backstay. She has a powerful kicker, but no traveller for the main, which is sheeted to a raised plinth in the cockpit sole.

Below deck the layout is simple, clean and quietly stylish. Headroom is restricted, dictated by the low freeboard and elegant lines.

To port, the heart of the boat is the ‘coffee bar’ on a shelf in the moulded hull liner, next to a small dinette-style table with two leather swivel armchairs. The forward of these chairs spins round to face a neat lift-top desk (though the drawer below isn’t large enough for a chart).

Swallow Yachts 32

Aimed at sailors who may have owned larger yachts before but want to downsize, Swallow Yachts owner Matt Newland explained that he ‘wanted to build a boat that was fun and easy to sail, simple to maintain and had timeless looks with as low an environmental impact as possible.’

Though not a true launch-and-sail trailer sailer, a four-by-four will still be able to tow the 32 on her own trailer, as boat and trailer come in at under 3.5 tonnes, and within the 2.9m overhang limit.

With a keel-down draught of 2.8m, a fine entry at the bow and broad aft sections, this boat promises to be a good performer. You can sail with the lifting keel in any position for shoal waters, but lift it all the way and you’ve got a draught of just 40cm for creek crawling and drying out.

Newland has tried to draw lines that are timeless rather than trendy while a retractable bowsprit, backstayless carbon rig and square-top mainsail ensure she is right up there in terms of her contemporary design and latest tech.

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Best Boats for Ocean Boating

9 Best Ocean Boats

• Cabin Cruisers
• Center Consoles
• High-Performance Boats
• Motor Yachts/Power Cruisers
• Multi-Hull Powerboats (Catamarans)
• Sportfishing Yachts
• Walkarounds

Obviously, this is a wide range of boat types and which will be your personal best choice depends on how you plan to use your boat. If you enjoy saltwater fishing and you dream about hunting down huge pelagic trophy fish, this list of choices shrinks to include center consoles, sportfishing yachts, and walkarounds. But if you just want to go on dolphin- or whale-watching cruises or head down the coast to a new destination, one of the other types of boats will probably be a better pick.

In all of these cases, however, one thing’s for sure: you want to feel safe and confident in your boat’s abilities. To that end, there are some specific attributes any vessel needs if you plan to use it for ocean boating.

Explore Saltwater Fishing Boats

Must-Haves for Boating on the Ocean

First and foremost, any boat that goes through an inlet and into the ocean must be large enough and seaworthy enough to safely handle the conditions .

Just exactly what this means is a judgement call, because boating in the ocean can vary dramatically depending on the location and the weather. Wind speed, sea state, and the potential for storms (see Boat Handling: Riders on the Storm , to make sure you know what to do if you get caught in a sudden squall) all play a role in determining whether or not any boat can safely venture out into the ocean on any given day. That’s why checking the latest weather forecasts and paying close attention to changing conditions is absolutely critical. So, how can one say which are the best boats for ocean boating, in this regard? You simply can’t—the correct answers change from day to day and place to place.

Being properly equipped with safety, communications, and navigational gear is another necessity.

You can check out Boat Safety Checklist & Safety Equipment to see the must-haves as well as recommended safety gear, but in addition, most experienced captains would agree that a VHF radio should be on each and every boat entering the ocean. Naturally you also need to have a full understanding of how to use it; see How to Use a VHF Radio , to get the scoop. And remember that when you’re in the ocean, losing sight of land is almost always a possibility be it due to distance, haze, or fog. In any case you’ll need to be able to find your way back to that inlet, so GPS should also be considered a must-have. In fact, it’s critical for anyone captaining a boat in the ocean to have a firm grasp on how to navigate a boat with and without the assistance of electronics.

Another critical factor for boats used in the ocean is that they’re designed and built with corrosion-resistant hardware.

Most of the boat types we’ve listed above will have stainless-steel fittings and fasteners, but if you take a boat that was intended for freshwater use and put it in the ocean, you’ll likely have corrosion streaks and deteriorating hardware starting on day one. In just a season or two, serious damage can occur.

Fuel economy and fuel capacity also become important issues to consider when ocean boating.

Remember, the ocean is essentially limitless when you’re on a boat, and while a boat may be perfectly competent to take offshore, some will burn a lot more fuel than others doing so. There are many high-performance boats, for example, that are designed for offshore racing, can handle heavy seas, and are equipped to navigate beyond sight of land. But those big engines need to be fed lots of fuel, and this can mean range restrictions. If the captain miscalculates his or her range, running out of fuel is a much bigger problem than it would be ashore. On the flip side of the equation, some sailboats can travel for literally thousands of miles while requiring little to no fuel. When calculating range for your own boat, most experts advise accounting for a bare minimum of 10-percent of fuel capacity in reserve, and some suggest it’s safest to plan in as much as one-third in reserve.

What are the Best Boats for Ocean Boating?

As is usually the case when it comes to boating in general, the answer to the above question will be different from one person to the next. But we can say one thing for sure: if you have a boat that’s appropriately sized, designed, built, and equipped for ocean boating, you should consider giving it a try. Because the experience of fishing, cruising, or just observing nature outside of the inlet is an amazing adventure that many people in this world never get to enjoy—and that’s one more reason why the boating life is indeed a better life.

Read Next: Best Family Boats

You Might Also Like:

• Best Boats for Beginners
• Best Small Sailboats for Beginners
• When is the Best Time to Buy a Boat?
• The Ultimate Boat Buyer's Guide
• Small Boats: What Are My Options?

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13 Best Small Catamarans For Cruising 2024

The best small catamarans for cruising are affordable and comfortable, making great sailboats for a number of different purposes. If you’re looking for the best small catamarans to start your cruising life then look no further!

When searching for a catamaran for our adventures we scoured the internet for any and all information we could find on just about every size, shape, and model!

Although in the end, we opted for a bigger catamaran, in the hopes of having more family and friends on board, we did heavily research the best small catamarans as an option.

Each small catamaran has different pros and cons. As with every sailboat, there will be compromises, but hopefully, this post will help you firm up what you’re really looking for in a multihull and find the right smaller catamaran for you!

Here are what we consider the best small cruising catamarans out there, costing anywhere from $40,000 to $300,000. You can also read up on the average costs of sailboats here.

Why choose a small catamaran for cruising?

The downsides to small multihulls for cruisers

The best small catamarans for ocean sailing

The best small catamarans for coastal cruising

Why Choose A Small Catamaran For Cruising?

The main advantage to choosing a small catamaran for cruising has to be the cost. Not only are smaller sailboats cheaper to buy initially, but they are also cheaper to maintain and to dock in marinas or dry storage.

Why buy a small catamaran over a monohull? This isn’t the post to go into the pros and cons of multihulls vs monohulls, but a few of the main reasons you might prefer to buy a small cat over a bigger, cheaper monohull is the living space and the comfort underway and at anchor.

Living on a sailboat is very different from taking the boat out for a sporty sail every now and again. Having a catamaran over a monohull means you won’t be heeling or rolling at anchor half as much, you can leave out your coffee cup, and you have the space you need to spread out a little.

A small catamaran will enable the more comfortable lifestyle you’re seeking at a more reasonable price tag. So what’s not to love about small cruising multihulls?

The Downsides To Small Multihulls For Cruisers

Of course, just with everything in sailing, there are always compromises to be made when it comes to small multihulls.

One of the biggest downsides for cruisers is the weight issue smaller catamarans present. You won’t be able to carry half as much as you would on a larger catamaran or monohull, which might be a problem if you live onboard full time.

The other negative is that smaller boats usually aren’t quite as seaworthy as larger ones. You might find you’re limited to coastal cruising if you choose a small catamaran, so make sure you have your cruising intentions in mind before you buy.

Another big thing to look out for when it comes to choosing the right small cat for you, is the bridge deck clearance. This is often worse on smaller catamarans, and can cause nasty slamming in any sort of sea, both when sailing and at anchor.

With these downsides in mind, we’ve split this post into the best small catamarans for ocean sailing and the best for coastal cruising. Obviously this is a little subjective, as many people have sailed around the world in much smaller and less seaworthy vessels!

The Best Small Catamarans For Ocean Cruising

#1 wharram tiki.

• Suitable for: Bluewater sailing
• Fixed Keels
• Draft (max): 2.08′
• Engines: Single outboard, though some versions have twin inboards
• Price: Roughly $100,000

We have lusted after the Wharram catamarans since our adventures began and would have opted for one of these if we had found one for sale this side of the pond.

Designed by the legendary James Wharram, these small multihulls are pretty unique. They are based on the Polynesian catamaran design, and the plans enable you to self-build these boats if you have the time, money, and space for a project of this magnitude.

If you aren’t keen on taking on a project then you can commission a boat builder to complete the design for you, or buy one second-hand. The advantages of having one made yourself are that you can tweak things to your personal taste, and you can even contact the Wharrams themselves to see if they can adjust the designs for individual requests.

The Wharram catamarans have a lot of charm dues to their traditional design, and the old-fashioned appeal continues inside the boat too. You won’t find the same huge hull space as some of the modern design catamarans now have, but the outside entertainment space is perfect for entertaining.

These small catamarans don’t have an inside space across the hulls, so all of your inside living space is below. If you’re used to monohulls then this won’t be a problem but if you like the idea of a galley-up then these boats aren’t for you.

Wharram catamarans, especially the Tiki 38, have great reputations as around the world, bluewater boats. They have fantastic bridge deck clearance so slamming is minimum and they sail well.

Most models have a double cabin and two singles, a galley, a head, and a small salon area below. They are smaller catamarans than many newer 38ft multihulls but this does make them more affordable.

A big appeal for us was the fact these boats are designed to be self-made. Although a secondhand model could potentially come with a lot of problems (get a decent survey before you buy!) it does mean that almost everything onboard can be self-fixed. This is a huge bonus if you plan on sailing your small catamaran around the world.

Another thing we loved about these smaller catamarans is the fact they have outboard engines, which we felt would be easier to maintain and replace if necessary. This is a personal choice though so consider this before you get your heart set on one!

One of the downsides to the Tiki 38 is that there aren’t many of them around. These are unique boats and they don’t come on the market frequently. When they do, they tend to be scattered all over the world so you’ll have to be prepared to travel to find one!

#2 Prout Snowgoose 37 : Small Catamaran For Ocean Cruising

Prout catamarans are a popular choice for cruisers, and you’ll find many owners who have circumnavigated in them. The Snowgoose is no exception. Prout no longer exists as a company, as it was bought by Broadblue in the 90s.

Broadblue still makes catamarans today, and they have very similar features to the original Prouts, though obviously they are far fancier and have all the benefits of a more modern design!

The Snowgoose is a great small multihull to go for as you get quite a lot of space inside and out. We weren’t sure about the berth in the salon area, but it might make a great space for a baby or small child while underway!

The compromise in the Prout Snowgoose is the bridge deck clearance and this was something that put us off these smaller cruising catamarans. A low bridge deck clearance makes the boat slam in waves, both at anchor and underway.

#8 PDQ 36 : A Small Catamaran Without Too Much Slamming

• Suitable for: Bluewater
• Draft (max): 2.82′
• Engines: Twin inboard or outboard
• Price: Over $100,000

These small catamarans have an excellent reputation among cruisers because of their solid build and use of decent materials. They come with either outboard engines for coastal cruising or inboard engines designed to withstand offshore use.

If you like the sound of the PDQ 32 but need a little more room then you’ve got that here! It’s also a boat that people have crossed oceans in, though you might want to consider something more tried and tested like the Prout Snowgoose or the Wharram if you’re planning longer ocean sails.

The boat has three cabins, a galley, salon and head, but there’s a more spacious feel compared to the smaller model. Again, the bridge deck clearance is good so you shouldn’t experience too much slamming.

#9 Lagoon 380 : One Of The Most Popular Small Multihulls

• Fixed keels
• Engines:  twin diesel engines
• Price:  from $100,000, used

The Lagoon 380 is one of the most popular catamarans out there, and you’ve probably already spotted a lot of them in your search! This is a great option if modern cats appeal to you, as it’s pretty ‘with the times’ as far as smaller catamarans go!

There are lots of different layouts of this boat available all over the world. Some were built for charter with numerous berths and others were commissioned for couples or families with differing cabin and head options.

This is a proven catamaran from a reputable company, but obviously with so many of these boats out there, they come in a range of conditions. Make sure you get a thorough survey done before purchase!

Lagoon 37 TPI

• Draft (max): 4′
• Engines: Twin inboard diesels 
• Price: Over $100,000 USD 

This is the smallest catamaran built by Lagoon, and unfortunately there aren’t many of them out there. These boats were built mainly for the charter market, and have a smaller rig than some similar sized catamarans.

There are two big queen-size forward doubles port and starboard and a smaller double in the starboard hull aft. The galley and salon are designed to be simple and timeless, with none of the fancy trims you’ll find in the newer Lagoons.

As this boat was intended for charter it probably wouldn’t make a great ocean-going vessel. For starters, it isn’t designed to carry too much in the way of provisions. That’s not to say it won’t be a suitable bluewater boat with a few tweaks. Sailors who have circumnavigated in them have increased sail area and added folding props to get more speed from the vessel.

#11 Catalac 9M/30

• Draft (max): 2.5′
• Engines:  two outboard engines or one diesel engine
• Price:  from $50,000

The Catalac 9M is a little different to a lot of the catamarans on this list, as it was built for sailing in the North Sea! This is a great small catamaran for anyone wanting a boat built to be safe!

The bridge deck clearance is reasonable but the boat is light, which can make it more prone to slamming. The unique feature of this small sailboat is the hard dodger, designed as somewhere safe and dry to stand in bad weather.

It sails well, though like a lot of catamarans there is technique involved in getting it to tack smoothly. Once you’ve got the hang of though, this boat will make good speeds for its size.

The Best Small Catamarans For Coastal Cruising

• Suitable for: Coastal
• Draft (max): 3.62′
• Engines: Twin inboard
• Price: Up to $300,000 for a newer model

The Mahe 36 is the smallest of the Fountaine Pajot range, and these small catamarans can go for a heafty budget if you find a newer model!

This tiny multihull packs a lot into a small space, and because of its modern features, you’ll feel like you’re in a much bigger boat when you step aboard.

This boat is a fast mover, with an ok bridge clearance and some attractive upgrades compared to their last small catamaran design. Most notably the full-length hard top bimini which has the reviewers raving!

If you have the money to splash out on a newer, more expensive small catamaran then this should definitely be on your list to consider! Although they come with a large price tag, these small catamarans are considerably cheaper new than some of the bigger models.

#4 Gemini 105Mc (34ft)

Suitable for: Coastal cruising Centreboards Draft (max): 5′ Engines:  Single inboard Price:  from $80,000

The Gemini 105Mc is still in production in the US, which speaks to its popularity. Obviously if you buy new you’ll pay a much higher price! This is one of the smallest catamarans on the list, but it’s still a great option for coastal cruising (or some have even successfully completed ocean passages on them in relative comfort).

For a small multihull this boat sails pretty well and is fast for a coastal cruiser. The living space is decent with good headroom. It has two double cabins and a master bedroom, and the interior finishes are nice too.

A big negative to this boat is the bridge deck clearance which really isn’t amazing, but as we said at the start, there’s always a compromise! This is a sporty-looking little catamaran that’s a good contender for the top smallest catamarans out there!

#5 EndeavourCat 36

Suitable for: Coastal cruising Fixed keels Draft (max): 3′ Engines:  two inboard Price:  from $100

Designed and built by Endeavour Catamaran, these American built boats are great cruising catamarans. A big advantage to this little multihull is that it will fit into most monohull slips, so if you anticipate using marinas a lot then this might be the small catamaran for you!

This isn’t a slow boat, and owners report speeds of 8-9 knots. Bear in mind though that the narrow beam does make it less suitable for any offshore passages. It has good interior space with 6′ standing headroom throughout, three double cabins, and a decent-sized galley below. The salon area can seat 6 people comfortably.

This cat is great for single-handed sailors, as all the lines lead to the cockpit and the main and jib are completely self-tacking.

#6 Prout Event 34

Suitable for: Coastal/bluewater Fixed keels Draft (max): 2.72′ Engines:  Single inboard Price:  from $30,000

These multihulls are quite hard to find, but if you like the Snowgoose but are on a tighter budget then they might be just what you’re looking for. They share lots of features with the Snowgoose and look very similar, only smaller!

There are three cabins, one head, a salon, and a galley, only they are rather squeezed in compared to the larger model. Personally, we thought there was plenty of space for a smaller sailboat but it’s worth seeing them in person if you’re keen on this model.

They do have the same downsides as the Snowgoose though, with limited headroom and low bridge deck clearance. These boats are known for their slamming!

Coastal Engines:  twin outboards Price:  from $80,000, used

The PDQ 32 is a great budget option catamaran and should be cheap(ish) to buy second hand and maintain. With two outboards that are easy to replace on a smaller budget, you’re looking at some of the usual pinch points on a boat becoming a lot more affordable!

This small catamaran only has two cabins, so sleeps less than a lot of the boats on this list, but it is roomier than you’d imagine inside with a decent galley and salon area. It has decent bridge deck clearance so shouldn’t slam too much in any waves.

This isn’t a boat for longer passages as it is a little small (and perhaps underpowered) to face serious weather. If you’re searching for something to potter around in then this is a fun boat to sail and live in!

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• Suitable for: Coastal cruising
• Draft (max): 3′
• Engines:  one or two inboard
• Price:  from $45,000, used

These South African catamarans are great little coastal cruising catamarans that are hard to come by anywhere other than South Africa!

They’re pretty tiny, but have enough space for a galley, 3 or 4 cabins, and 1 or 2 heads. Some of the designs even have a bathtub, which speaks of their liveaboard suitability rather than their sail performance!

These boats are some of the smallest multihulls on this list, so don’t expect much in terms of headroom or bridge deck clearance. That being said, if you’re looking for a tiny catamaran to live on and you are prepared to compromise on sailing ability then these are a solid choice.

We have heard that the build quality can vary somewhat with these multihulls, so make sure you do some solid research and get a good surveyor when buying one of these. If you get a good version then they can make really solid boats.

#13 EndeavourCat 30

Suitable for: Coastal cruising Fixed keels Draft (max): 2.1′ Engines:  single or twin outboard Price:  from $70,000

This is a boat built for comfort over all else, so if you’re looking for a budget catamaran to live in then take a look at the endeavourcat 30. Some people don’t like the boxy design, but we quite liked how it looked in the water. I guess it’s personal taste!

This sailboat has two double cabins, a decent sized galley and salon for the size of the boat, and a head. The bridge deck clearance is low so that’s something to bear in mind before you buy, but the headroom is good (another reason why this would make a good liveaboard catamaran).

Hopefully this has given you some inspiration when searching for small catamarans for cruising, and helped you to find your dream boat!

We’re passionate about helping people live this incredible cruising lifestyle, so if you’re planning your dream liveaboard life make sure you check out our guide on how to run away to sea, with everything you could possibly need to know before, during, and after starting this adventure of a lifetime!

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Such small mention of probably the best catamaran for overall cruising, focusing on ease of helming, speed and livability. Simple rig, great ergonomic features, style and definitely a pedigree on the water. The FP Mahe duo! Sea proven. Most delivered on their own bottoms from France. Wide beams and light. Beautiful interior arrangements and easy to maintain. I’m confused about so little mention of probably the best entry level and beyond real cruiser out there.

You forgot the edelcat 35. Great boats, and have circumnavigated!

I wonder why Broadblue 346 is not on the list.

Appreciate it’s a bit more expensive than most cats listed here but what about the Aventura 37? Technically a small cat but with ocean going abilities and an actual live aboard!

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Best Small Boat for Ocean Crossing and Sailing

Sep 16, 2021

less than a min

Have you ever wondered what the best small boat for ocean sailing is ? It is an interesting question as most boats used for crossing oceans are big, spacious, comfortable, and rigid. But small boats do have several advantages too when it comes to sailing the world. 

First of all, smaller boats are more affordable and allow you to have an overall cheaper journey. Their fuel costs less, their provisions as well as parts that might need to get replaced are more affordable.  Most importantly, marine services are way cheaper for smaller boats as they are typically calculated by the size of the vessel. 

Next, small boats are easy to maneuver especially if you are new to the entire industry and marine world. Their systems are easier and maintaining them is much simpler which is a good asset for when you travel the world as things always tend to malfunction or break. 

There should be noted however that small boats lack a lot of amenities and comfort that bigger vessels provide on a trip around the world. They also cannot accommodate as many people so you would have to choose your sailing partners carefully. But if you are traveling the world with just one partner, small boats are the best choice. 

Here are two of the best small boats for ocean crossing and sailing . 

• One of our favorites is the Albin Vega from Albin Marine. It is a 1965 offshore cruiser with a fiberglass hull. This is a modest boat but can provide a nice smooth sail for a maximum of two people. It offers a retro look and a comfy interior in addition to a good sail size that makes sailing more efficient. 
• Next, you have the Northshore Vancouver 28 from 1985. This is an affordable offshore cruising sailboat with a composite hull. You can get it for 20-30 thousand dollars and enjoy a great sailing experience in a perfectly finished interior where no meter has gone to waste. This boat has one tiller, one transom-hung rudder, a swing keel, and a closed aft cockpit. 

You can explore these two vessels that made the list of best small boats for ocean sailing at TheBoatDB database . Search for their names in the search toolbar and discover sizes, information on price, designer, features, and specifications. In addition, the database allows you to compare these models against one another or with other small boats appropriate for long trips around the world. 

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What’s the Smallest Boat You Should Take Offshore?

• By Alan Jones
• Updated: May 23, 2024

The first thing that pops up if you Google “What’s the best boat size for offshore fishing?” is a definitive answer: “Between 30 and 40 feet long.” Well, that was easy. Sadly, there is no magic-size boat that’s ideal for heading offshore. The best boat length for you depends on many factors: budget, type of boat, how far offshore you plan to run, where you live and the conditions you’ll face, how experienced you are and your tolerance for risk. 

What is Offshore Anyway?

If you live in the Northeast and want to go canyon fishing on the continental shelf, you might have to run more than 100 miles one way and will need a boat with the range capable of handling rough water. The Atlantic will start rocking at some point. 

Grady-White’s Canyon series starts at around 27 feet LOA, which is probably the minimum length for a well-designed boat fishing the closer canyons. A boat like the Canyon 271 does well offshore thanks to its capable SeaV2 hull, which features a sharp 55 degrees of deadrise at the entry, 30 degrees amidships, and 20 degrees at the stern. But for most canyon runs, a larger model like the Canyon 326 would probably be more appropriate. Its larger size and 327-gallon fuel tank give you a lot more range. 

– NEVER MIX ALCOHOL AND BOATING – Alcohol is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, and in many states a citation for boating under the influence goes on your driving record. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

Offshore Fuel Management

When calculating range for an offshore trip, a 10 percent reserve won’t cut it. Use the more conservative rule of thirds instead. First, make sure the tank is full. Use ­only a third of your fuel for heading out and fishing. Reserve the second third of your fuel capacity for heading back. That leaves the last third as a reserve in case conditions worsen.  

The Near-Offshore Boat

If you are fishing off Miami Beach, the edge of the Gulf Stream might be only a mile offshore. At 4 miles out, you can be in 1,000 feet of water. In good weather, you’ll even see flats boats trolling weed lines for dolphin. In this scenario, a capable compact center-console like the Scout 215 XSF or Robalo’s R222—which both have a lot of freeboard in the front—will likely be sufficient for close-in offshore work. But here’s the catch: In summer, violent thunderstorms tend to form over land and head toward the ocean. These can cut off small boats from heading back in if a skipper isn’t ­paying attention.

– LEARN THE NAVIGATION RULES – Know the “Rules of the Road” that govern all boat traffic. Be courteous and never assume other boaters can see you. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

Weather Watching

A good weather app to have on your phone in the above scenario is WeatherBug, which is free ($3.99 without ads). It automatically homes in on your location, and the home page immediately shows the distance and location of the nearest lightning strike during the last half-hour, a great ­indicator of severe weather. 

Bigger Means Safer

In general, bigger boats are safer, according to the 2021 US Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics report. It said 273 deaths occurred on boats from 16 feet long to less than 26 feet long. For boats 26 feet long and greater, the total number of fatalities drops to 59, with only one of those occurring on boats greater than 65 feet long. Most of those fatalities, by the way, were due to drowning by those not wearing life jackets.

– LOWER YOUR RATES – Taking a boating safety course won’t just make you a better skipper. It could also help you save big on insurance. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

Experience Counts

A well-designed catamaran with an experienced captain will punch above its weight when it comes to handling rough water. I remember fishing in the 1998 Tred Barta Blue Marlin Classic held at Walker’s Cay aboard a Glacier Bay 260 Canyon Runner (there’s that C word again). Conditions were rough, but it handled the 6-foot seas far better than most of the larger boats in the fleet as we passed them heading back to the docks. 

The trick with this particular cat was to go about 25 to 30 mph to keep air moving between the hulls, and to not let off the throttle, even when we saw a larger wave coming.

Gyrostabilization

A great equalizer for handling offshore conditions in smaller boats is a gyrostabilizer such as the Seakeeper 1, which is designed for boats as small as 23 feet. 

This marvel of modern engineering weighs 365 pounds and costs $15,900, not including installation. But it makes a tremendous difference in the way your boat handles rough water by nearly eliminating side-to-side roll. That makes it much easier to fish and run in comfort aboard smaller boats.    

No matter what size boat you head offshore in, you should do what’s necessary to make it safer by owning and maintaining all your required safety equipment, including a VHF radio, an EPIRB or a personal locator beacon, and a ditch bag for worst-case scenarios. And don’t forget to always use good judgment. Some days, it’s just better to stay inside.  

• More: Boat Talk , boating safety , Boats , March 2023

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Small Boats for Offshore Fishing

• By Sport Fishing Staff
• Updated: May 23, 2024

What is the minimum size boat for offshore fishing? The answer depends on who you ask. The challenge and your budget are the two biggest reasons for fishing from a small offshore boat. Many cite the unique satisfaction of taking on the ocean to fish it on their own terms, knowing they have the boat, the knowledge and the ability to get out there, catch some good fish and get back.

“There’s definitely the excitement of being out there in a small boat where you’re in control and doing your own thing,” said Angelo Cuanang, a West Coast offshore fishing writer and expert who regularly fishes off San Francisco Bay. He’s done so for many years — all in a 17-foot Boston Whaler Montauk. Being unsinkable, the Whaler is one of the best small boats for ocean fishing.

One school of thought from skilled mariners actually considers a smaller hull advantageous in large swells. Tom King, once a professional mate in Massachusetts, for years made the 20-plus-mile run to fish Stellwagen Bank aboard his 19-foot Midland (“a Nova Scotia-style hull,” he said, with a very high bow and very low freeboard). “We came home riding on top of the big seas like an eggshell, while much bigger sport-fishing boats were having a tough time rolling in the swells.”

For purposes of this discussion, let’s focus on saltwater fishing boats with a minimum size ranging from 17 to 22 feet in length overall (LOA). A boat this size has an element of responsiveness that much larger hulls lose. In addition to being a criterion for offshore fishing, this size range also offers the best small boats for rough seas. Of course, rough seas are relative, and distance from shore often dictates the decision to go or not go.

– GET A VHF RADIO – A VHF marine band radio is your first line of communication on the water, allowing you to talk to the Coast Guard and other boat traffic. Use Channel 16 only for hailing and emergencies. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

Offshore Boating Benefits of Small Fishing Boats

Besides the challenge, downsized boats are less expensive and easy to tow on the road than king-size boats. Small boats can also be easier to handle and dock in tight quarters, though features such as joystick controls on larger boats are making low-speed maneuvers easier for skippers of large boats.

Start comparing costs of purchase, insurance, moorage or storage, maintenance and so on for a 30-foot center-console with those of a 22-footer. Then of course there are fuel costs. At today’s prices, a day fishing a 30-footer with twin 300 hp outboards can cost you in the high hundreds of dollars, if not more than $1,000. But you can run offshore and troll all day in a boat such as the Robalo R222 (21 feet 6 inches LOA) or Sea Chaser 22 HFC (21 feet 9 inches LOA) with a single 200 or 250 hp outboard for a few hundred or less.

Lots of anglers trailer their boats 50 to 100 miles at the drop of a hat. Compare hauling a double- or triple-axle trailer behind a ¾- to 1-ton pickup versus a lighter, single- or double-axle trailer behind a half-ton pickup — and there’s even more economy.

Small-Boat Knowledge, Ability and Common Sense

There’s no federal regulation stating that “Thou shalt not take thy boat and go (offshore),” and in fact the Coast Guard only has authority in a few places to prevent boaters from going where they want, a Coast Guard spokesman said. To go or not to go is not the question. Rather, focus on knowing your small boat, recognizing when to go or not, and with what gear and preparation.

Accident reports often retell scenarios where anglers in small boats perished before the Coast Guard could reach them. Often these are cases where knowing the boat and having the right equipment could have saved lives. Experience often makes a major difference when it comes to safety. Anglers who know what the ocean can dish out and respect that power choose to err on the side of caution, and do not scrimp on safety gear .

Many who skipper such mighty mites far from land tend to be independent by nature. Still, many make it a point to travel offshore with another boat — known as “buddy boating”— when possible, small or large, which in effect offers a second engine.

Whether or not you have a buddy going with you, be sure to file a float plan before you leave. That can be as simple as making sure someone back on land knows when you plan to depart and return, and where — in general — you expect to fish.

– LOWER YOUR RATES – Taking a boating safety course won’t just make you a better skipper. It could also help you save big on insurance. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

The Right Boat: Moderate Vees and Hard Chines

What is the best small boat for offshore fishing? There are plenty of 17- to 22-footers for fishing bays, channels or flats. But if you plan to run offshore, you’ll need to investigate construction, quality and design.

That said, some bay boats such as the Pathfinder 2200 TE (22 feet 2 inches LOA) or Sea Born FX22 Bay Sport (21 foot 9 inches LOA) offer offshore fishing capability , as well as the ability to sneak into shallow inshore waters.

Still, there can be no doubt that with the specialized demands of offshore fishing, not all small hulls are created equal. When it comes to hull design, opinions vary — suggesting competent small hulls might come in more than one style.

A modified V rather than the deep V common on larger center consoles ranks as the top choice among experts looking for the optimal small planing hull for big water. While the steeper deadrise angle of up to 26 degrees at the transom offers the softest ride through waves, an angle in the 17- to 20-degree range proves more stable. That way you still get some damping effect from the V but also get some benefit of lateral stability.

Fuel capacity becomes a serious consideration for any small boat heading offshore. On the minus side: Many small boats have built-in tanks and some provide space only for portables. On the plus side: Light boats with small outboards can go all day on amazingly little fuel. Once you pick a boat, know its range and always allow for at least a 15 percent reserve.

A small but important point: marine battery placement. Batteries should ride forward, beneath the console, rather than at the transom, where they can get wet and add unnecessary weight.

One other essential element of small boat construction that becomes particularly important offshore is flotation. Positive flotation is required for certification by the National Marine Manufacturers Association in boats less than 20 feet, but the best hulls are fully filled with foam, and the reasons should be obvious. In an emergency, water can force air out of a hull or sides but not out of foam. A light hull gains little weight (always a factor) but considerable strength and rigidity from foam.

Water In, Water Out

A small boat easily takes on spray and, on rough days, some green water as well. That’s when scuppers become critical. (This assumes that no angler without a death wish would be offshore in a boat that’s not self-bailing.) The scuppers must be able to drain water as fast as it comes into the hull — if not, you’ll soon be playing submarine.

Transom height and design also play key roles in keeping water out of small boats. A small outboard-powered boat faces trouble fast once enough ocean water enters and runs to one side or the other in heavy seas. To help avoid that, look for small offshore boats with a full transom. A cut-out transom might work with a really good, generous motorwell. Worst case for offshore: a low, cut-out transom with no well. If that describes your boat, stick to the bay.

The Right Offshore Boating Equipment

No small boat, however seaworthy and stable, belongs offshore — ever — if it’s not properly equipped. The most major piece of equipment to consider is your outboard engine . A traditional preference among blue-water anglers has been twin or even triple outboards for safety. However, adding a second engine for the small boater might be either cost-, design- or weight-prohibitive. Fortunately, today’s outboard engines are more reliable than ever.

When feasible, a small auxiliary engine (aka kicker) is a great addition since it can get you home in a pinch — but, again, it may not be worth the additional weight on the stern of a 17- to 22-footer.

Additional key safety equipment to carry when fishing offshore includes the following:

Fixed-Mount VHF Radio — Fundamental and essential. Fixed-mount radios offer a range of 15 to 20 miles while handhelds only reach out 3 to 8 miles. All new VHFs, by law, come with Digital Selective Calling, which instantly sends a distress call to authorities anywhere in the world. Be sure that you set up your DSC calling feature before leaving port. Cell phones are popular everywhere, including offshore, and offer some backup. But these can’t substitute for a VHF in a pinch since users might not find coverage in all areas offshore, and a phone call does not immediately summon on-water help. Mate your VHF radio to a tall (8-foot) VHF antenna for the range necessary when fishing offshore.

GPS Plotter/Sounder — As critical for navigation as for fishing. Separate units are fine, but a single unit (capable of showing both chart plotter and sounder reading on screen simultaneously) maximizes limited space on small consoles.

Compass — With a good nautical chart, a compass will keep you headed in the right direction if your GPS fails. Amazingly, some small boaters venture far offshore with neither radio nor compass, according to the Coast Guard.

Extra Battery — Any boat fishing offshore should have a dual-battery system with a selector switch. This allows you to keep one battery in reserve in case one goes dead.

Emergency Beacons — An EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicator Radio Beacon) and a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) are good ideas for any boat fishing offshore. Once activated, an encoded digital message is received by satellites, and is then transmitted back to ground-based search and rescue authorities. This signal provides information to assist in the search. Assuming you have properly registered the EPIRB or PLB, it tells rescuers who you are, your boat type and size, where you are, and other important data, including emergency contact information. An EPIRB is registered to the boat and is usually mounted on deck, while a PLB is registered to an individual and is carried by that person.

Life Jackets — Going offshore without them would not only be illegal but insane. Make sure your jackets are Coast Guard rated for offshore use (Type I). It is a good idea to wear a life jacket at all times, especially if fishing alone.

Emergency Kit — including flare gun and flares, cyalume sticks and waterproof strobe lights. (I also make sure my boat’s running lights are in good working order.) Don’t forget a good flashlight and extra sunscreen.

Emergency Food and Water — At least a half-gallon of water, some granola bars and beef jerky or canned meat can get you through a day or two.

Anchor and Lots of Line — Even if you don’t anchor to fish, you might find an anchor valuable, and plenty of heavy line is a must if you need to be towed.

Sea Anchor — Space might preclude stowing a small sea anchor, but make sure you have at least a bucket or, in a pinch, even a spare life jacket. Most boats tend to drift stern-to — the worst situation in a building sea. Your odds of staying afloat when broken down and adrift go up by a big chunk if you can keep the bow into the waves, and any sort of sea anchor will help accomplish this.

– CARRY A BEACON – Satellite beacons such as EPIRBs or PLBs allow boaters to transmit distress signals and their exact coordinates from anywhere on the planet, no cell service required. It may be the best $400 you ever spend. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

Pick the Right Fishing Weather

Given a seaworthy boat, properly equipped, everything else comes down to common sense. And nowhere can the small boater better demonstrate that than by reading the weather before and during a trip.

Starting out the morning in a 3-foot sea is a mere irritant to a 30-footer, but for the mini-boater who has his head screwed on right, it means a canceled trip. Many mornings I’ve arisen to find the weather service data revised from the previous evening’s 5- to 10-knot wind forecast to one of 10 to 20 knots. Anyone hoping to go offshore in a 17- to 22-footer has to realize his fishing days will be limited.

Look for periods between frontal systems, particularly in fall, winter and spring when dead-calm days sneak in between blows. During the summer, high pressure systems often bring many successive days of calm weather, particularly in the morning. The run home in many regions might mean a moderate but manageable chop, thanks to afternoon sea breezes.

Just be sure you know the marine forecast for the day, before you head out. When the forecast calls for light breezes all day and into the night, boating anglers with small boats can usually venture forth into offshore ocean waters with peace of mind. Otherwise, the best rule of thumb is a simple one: When in doubt, don’t go out.

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10 Motoryachts Over 80 Feet For Sale Now

• By Yachting Staff
• May 20, 2024

Most boaters start their journey with owner-operator-size boats, but as their enthusiasm for the pastime grows as well as their voyaging aspirations, so does the length of the boat. There comes a point where some boaters will choose to leave the helm chair and enter the crewed-yacht arena. If you’re a boater considering that move, here are 10 ready-to-roam yachts looking for new owners and new adventures.

Ocean Alexander 27R – Almost Done – Pompano Beach, Florida

MarineMax has Almost Done , an Ocean Alexander 27R, listed at $7.99 million. The low-hour 2022 build will make a lasting impression with its beach club, whirlpool spa and five-stateroom layout which has an on-deck master stateroom and three VIP staterooms in total.

The “R in this series from Ocean Alexander, stands for Revolution,” Yachting previously reported . “It’s an apt description because the series, which also includes the 88-foot 27R and 97-foot 30R, is different from anything else Ocean Alexander has built in its 40-plus years in business. Starting with the styling, which is decidedly modern and edgy, there’s a deliberate break from the builder’s more traditional look. It’s all the more notable that the appearances of both the traditional cruisers and the Revolution series come from yacht designer Evan K. Marshall.”

2021 Sanlorenzo SL96A – Gatsby – Miami, Florida

The Sanlorenzo SL96A Gatsby is currently listed with Allied Marine for $9.25 million. 

“The ‘A’ in SL96A stands for asymmetric and Sanlorenzo achieves this unique design by, Conserving only the gangway on the starboard side and eliminating the one on the port side, which shifts to the roof of the superstructure,” says Sanlorenzo . “The asymmetrical configuration, seen on SL102A first, frees up about 10 square meters of space for internal use. With respect to a traditional layout, this arrangement offers more space, improving luminosity and flexibility.”

Furniture placement in the salon helps to define the yacht’s social spaces. A six-person L-shaped settee and ottoman are immediately to starboard with only a cabinet separating the settee from the sliding glass doors leading to the cockpit. A formal dining space for eight guests is adjacent to the salon’s settee, a feat only achieved because of the extra space afforded by the asymmetrical design. A flat-screen TV is mounted forward against the bulkhead separating the salon from the galley forward and to starboard, and the on-deck master suite forward and to port. A day head is just forward of the bulkhead and to port.”

2018 Viking 93 Motor Yacht – Obsession – Stuart, Florida

Gilman Yachts has Obsession , a Viking Yachts 93 Motor Yacht, listed and an asking $7.4 million. The 2018 enclosed-flybridge motor yacht has charter potential with its five-stateroom layout, two crew cabins and a sub six-foot draft.

Yachting ‘s initial review of the Viking 93 Motor Yacht reported how the New Jersey boatbuilder’s flagship model was based on its 75 Motor Yacht’s design, but also drew inspiration from a Viking owner’s Westport 112 .

“One Viking owner also has a Westport, and Viking’s designers and top brass spent a good amount of time on board that yacht learning how to nail down the needs of owners in that size range. What Viking developed from that experience is a boat built for socializing, one that lets hands-on owners feel at home while enjoying mega-yacht features.”

2019 Hatteras M90 – Jetstream – Key Largo, Florida

The Hatteras Yachts M90 Panacea called Jetstream is listed with Atlantic Yacht & Ship for $10.3 million. The 2019 build has an options list that totals more than $2 million. The motoryacht has a four-stateroom, five-head layout that sleeps 10.

This yacht can go the distance or go quickly. Captain’s choice. Twin 1,900 hp Caterpillar C-32A diesels provide power on Jetstream , giving it a reported 24.7-knot top speed and a 22-knot cruise speed. The engines have just 500 hours on them. Jetstream also has a Bahamas-friendly 5-foot-7-inch draft.

This Hatteras M90 Panacea has the performance, but it also has luxury cruising comfort. The salon feels thoroughly modern, thanks in part to the white-oak sole and light-tone furnishings. Frameless house-spanning windows and indirect lighting adds a sense of elegance and enhances the salon’s open feeling.

2019 Ocean Alexander 100 Skylounge – Lanikai – Seattle, Washington

Alexander Marine has Lanikai , an Ocean Alexander 100 Skylounge , listed for sale with an asking price of $9.8 million. The 2019 motoryacht has a five-stateroom layout, a crew quarters and engines with very low hours. Let’s take a closer look.

When Yachting first reported on the 100 Skylounge we noted at the time that “Ocean Alexander already offers a 90-footer with a four-stateroom layout whose guest spaces would qualify as VIP suites on most yachts. With its OA 100 Skylounge, the builder has added an on-deck master, much like the kind aboard superyachts. That’s one reason why Ocean Alexander calls the 100 Skylounge the entry-level yacht in its six-model mega-yacht series, which stretches up to 155 feet length overall.”

2014 Hatteras 80 Motor Yacht – Done Deal – Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Atlantic Yacht and Ship Inc. currently has Done Deal , a 2014 Hatteras 80 Motor Yacht , listed for sale with an asking price of $4.1 million. The 80-footer has a four-stateroom, five-head layout with accommodations for eight, and two crew cabins that sleep four.

The four staterooms include a full-beam master stateroom amidships with a centerline king berth and an en suite head. The forepeak VIP stateroom has a centerline queen berth and an en suite head. The portside VIP stateroom also has a queen berth and en suite head. The final guest stateroom is to starboard and has two single berths with an en suite head.

2009 Paragon 94 – Rhapsody – Chesapeake, Virginia

Rhapsody, a 2009 Paragon 94, underwent an extensive refit by Lyman Morse in 2018. The 94-foot motoryacht is currently listed for $2.975 million with Worth Avenue Yachts, which represents a $750,000-plus price reduction.

The refit included servicing all equipment and systems, updating soft goods, adding a dining area, transforming the flybridge into an enclosed skylounge and repainting the upper deck space.

Twin 1,550 hp Caterpillar C-32 diesel engines work with the yacht’s planing hull form (with 13.5-degree transom deadrise) to help propel this 100-ton motoryacht to a 20-knot top hop and a 14-knot cruise speed. The engines have just over 2,000 hours on them.

2007 Hargrave 82 – Roxy Maria – Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The 2007 Hargrave 82 Open Bridge motoryacht Roxy Maria could be a solid fit for an experienced owner-operator or for owners traveling with a small crew, according to Hargrave Custom Yachts, who built the motoryacht and is selling it for its current owners. The yacht is listed for $1.995 million.

When it comes to boat handling with or without crew, this Hargrave has upper and lower helm stations, bow and stern thrusters and two cockpit docking stations. There are also full walkaround decks and side-deck access from the lower helm station.

With regards to the interior layout, this yacht’s salon has three lounge chairs positioned around the room with a four-person sofa to port. The sole-to-ceiling, high -gloss cherry wood creates a comfortable, warm and inviting entertainment space. This interior design is from Yacht Interiors by Shelley.

2020 Ocean Alexander 84R – Panacea – Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The Ocean Alexander 84R Skylounge Panacea is currently listed with Gilman Yachts for $6.65 million. The 2020 motor yacht has accommodations to sleep eight guests in its four-stateroom, five-head layout.

Yachting has previously reported that “the 84R is built via resin infusion with structural foam, fiberglass and carbon fiber, for strength at sea. Carbon fiber is applied to high-stress areas and used in construction of the sky lounge. Aluminum beams in the bulkheads and ceiling further strengthen the yacht.”

2001 Burger 85 – Checkers – Destin, Florida

Worth Avenue Yachts currently has the 85-foot Burger, Checkers , listed for sale with an asking price of $2.9 million. The 2001 build underwent an interior refit in 2023, including an updated Furuno glass-bridge navigation suite. The yacht has a three-stateroom, four-head layout, and has a main-deck day head.

Checkers can sleep six in its three staterooms, which includes a full-beam owners’ stateroom with an en suite head amidships. The owners’ stateroom features a king berth on centerline, a flat-screen TV at the foot of the bed, his-and-hers vanities, and walk-in closets aft to port and starboard.

Forward, the two guest staterooms as well as the captain’s cabin are accessible from the pilothouse stairway. The forwardmost stateroom has a centerline queen berth and en suite head. The starboard VIP stateroom also has a queen berth and en suite head. The captain’s cabin has upper and lower single berths and an en suite head.

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Robb Report

10 Small Superyachts That Offer Supersized Interiors

Posted: June 21, 2023 | Last updated: June 21, 2023

Sunreef 100

For many yacht owners, the solution to finding more space aboard for friends and family is summed up by that immortal line by Chief Brody in Jaws: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

Until now, bigger has typically meant longer. But that’s quickly changing as more and more builders are creating interior volume by going wider and taller. For disrupter builder Wally Yachts and its polarizing new Wallywhy 150—which refers to its internal volume rather than the boat’s length—the quirky design is said to deliver 50 percent more space than more traditional 78-footers.

Other builders like Princess have been in the game since 2021. Its X95 first appeared several years ago, effectively throwing down the gauntlet as a way forward for sub-100-foot yachts to supersize both interior and exterior volumes.

Since then, many other builders of small superyachts have jumped on board, with designs that typically have somewhat bloated profiles, far-forward main suites, and open transoms—features all designed to maximize space but minimize length.

Here are 10 new yachts 100 feet and under that are breaking the mold in an attempt to dominate the nautical space race.

wallywhy150

It’s no wonder that disrupter Italian builder Wally—now part of the Ferretti Group—calls its latest head-turner a “spaceship.” Claiming up to 50 percent more space than comparable 78-footers, the 150 (named after interior volume rather than length) has standout features like a main salon with over eight feet of headroom, and a beam of more than 22 feet. The pragmatic design includes a one-level main deck attached to an open rear cockpit that offers easy access to the water. Its most noteworthy feature is the rule-breaking, full-beam master suite tucked into the bow on the main deck. It has wraparound glass—stretching all the way around the bow—for panorama-like views from the main bedroom. Priced from about $6.7 million.

Lazzara UHV 87

Short for Ultra High Volume, this new Turkish-built pocket superyacht is a sistership to Lazzara’s UHV 100 and 125 models. The newest Lazzara boasts an impressive 2,153 square feet of interior space in its 87-foot length. Arguably, the boat is not pretty in a classic sense. The towering hull sides, blunt, plumb bow, and dark-tinted glass make it look more like a dinner cruiser than a mini-superyacht. But the interior space is astonishing, from the cavernous Sky Lounge, with its floor-to-ceiling windows, to the salon with a separate, chandelier-lit dining area and chef’s galley. With a fuel capacity of 3,000 gals, the twin 1,000 hp Volvo D13s deliver a top speed of 16 knots. The boat also has transatlantic range. Base price starts at about $10.9 million.

Sunseeker 100 Yacht

Movie nights under the stars should have a whole new appeal aboard UK builder Sunseeker’s brand-new 98-footer. Lie back on the yacht’s extra-wide foredeck sunpad and watch the latest blockbuster on a 140-inch screen with laser projection. Or, if you’re the lucky owner, stargaze from your private terrace tucked away in the bow, just steps from the full-beam main-deck master suite, with atrium-style glass sliding doors. One of the best innovations here is the wide, uninterrupted walkway around the entire top deck, which provides safe, easy access from the flybridge to the forward entertaining space. With its twin 2,600 hp V16 MTU diesels, top speed is an impressive 29 knots. Priced from about $10.5 million.

Azimut Grande 26M

For its brand-new Grande 26M compact superyacht, Italian builder Azimut has gone extra wide to create massive interior and exterior spaces. Spatial highlights include a full-width flybridge that’s almost 20 feet across and close to 40 feet long, and a foredeck entertaining area that seems more like an outdoor patio. The Alberto Mancini-styled go-fast cruiser is crammed with space-enhancing innovations, such as a teak-decked garage door that, at the touch of a button, hinges upwards to extend the rear cockpit by almost five feet. New ZF pod drives coupled to the yacht’s twin 1,650 hp MAN V12 diesels also save space. It is priced from about $6.2 million.

Princess X95

As we said during our 2021 tour of Britain’s Princess Yachts’ tri-deck X95 “When it comes to the polarizing, head-spinning design, there are no half-measures, no in-betweens. You either love it. Or loathe it.” But what those eye-popping lines hide is perhaps the most spacious 95-foot luxury cruiser in the category. Reckoned to be some 40 percent roomier than cruisers with the same length, the X95 has stretch-out accommodations for up to 10 in five cabins and living spaces that rival most apartments. The flybridge covers almost the entire length of the yacht. The 100 is also fast, with twin 1,990 hp MAN V12s delivering a top speed of 23 knots. Prices start at about $12 million.

Extra X96 Triplex

This broad-beamed 96-footer is from the Italian builder Extra Yachts, which is part of the Palumbo Superyachts Group. While it’s called the Triplex, there are actually four levels if you include the cozy upper sundeck with its outdoor kitchen, dining area, and oversized sunpads. The exterior comes courtesy of Italian designer Francesco Guida, while interiors are by Milan-based Hot Labs. Both teams have made the most of the yacht’s class-leading 25-foot beam. Notable features include a vast full-beam master on the main level and an upper salon dedicated entirely to dining, with a table for 10, an open chef’s galley, and an adjoining outdoor bar. Twin Volvo IPS1350s deliver a 16.5-knot top speed. Priced from $12 million.

This Sunreef power catamaran’s beam spans a staggering 44 feet, offering the kind of interior and exterior spaces you only get with superyachts twice the length. Every element of the yacht is XXL-size—from the massive hydraulic swim platform to the full-width flybridge that covers almost 1,000 square feet. Down in the salon is a huge 11-seat U-shaped bar that would delight any mixologist. The five staterooms in the twin hulls have space for 10. A pair of 1,300 hp MAN V8 diesels delivers a six-knot top speed. It is priced from about $15.3 million.

Absolute Navetta 75

In Italian, the word “navetta” translates to “little ship.” Which is a perfect description for Absolute’s new 75-foot fast cruiser. It’s an evolution of the strong-selling Navetta 73 but with nearly two feet of extra length. The yacht’s expansive interior volumes will remain the same, with features like a forward master stateroom on its own level that has a private entrance steps away from the main salon. The salon features floor-to-ceiling glass, with full views of the water, courtesy of open bulwarks. Twin 1,000 hp Volvo IPS1350 diesels deliver a top speed of 25 knots. Pricing starts at about $4 million.

Arcadia A96

Cross a spacious Miami high-rise penthouse with a Canyon Ranch spa and the result could be this new 96-foot superyacht from Italian builder Arcadia. Boasting a remarkable 4,300 square feet of total living space, there’s room for 12 guests and five crew. And the living spaces even expand, courtesy of fold-down terraces in the main salon and on the rear deck. But the yacht’s focus on wellness and healthy living sets it apart. That expansive, teak-decked foredeck, spanning over 500 square feet, is perfect for yoga sessions or meditation, while the cockpit and beach club offer another 1,000 square feet of social space. For extra peace and quiet at anchor, solar panels can provide up to nine hours of generator-free power.

Numarine 26XP Fast

Think of it as offering pace, with space. Turkish yard Numarine has been building its bold 85-foot 26XP explorer style mini-superyacht since 2018, but later this year, it will launch the U.S.-focused 26XP Fast. Instead of slow-churning 435 hp diesels and nine-knot cruising, it’s bolting-in a pair of mighty 1,800 hp MAN V12s and modifying the hull to deliver a top speed of 31 knots. What hasn’t changed is the XP’s cavernous interior and expensive deck space. Take the top-deck flybridge which, thanks to the yacht’s 21-foot beam and far-forward helm, spans over 700 square feet. That space will include a dining table for eight, a full outdoor kitchen, and more lounges than a Saint-Tropez beach bar. Prices start from $6.95 million.

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Six Great Boats Under $20,000

• By The Boating Tech Team
• Updated: April 1, 2020

Think you’re priced out of buying a new boat? Think again. Whether you’re looking for a small family boat to get everyone out on the water, or a small fishing boat that gets the job done at an affordable price, there are plenty of great boats available in a variety of styles that cost less than $20,000.

Our curated list of affordable boats includes runabouts, fishing boats, pontoon boats, and PWC. You will find both fiberglass and aluminum boat options, all of which we consider to be some of the best boats under $20k. Check out the list below to see what tickles your fancy. And when you’re ready to buy, don’t forget about our tips for how to sea trial a boat .

Family Boat: Bayliner Element E16

Rated for up to six people and 80-hp, Bayliner’s Element E16 provides a great way for the family to get out on the water and discover the experiences exclusive to those who own a boat. Deep freeboard and high gunwales provide security and the secure feeling many boaters seek. The seating rotates to facilitate conversation at the sandbar or cove.The unique M-Hull hull design offers quick planing and stability. It comes with a single axle trailer, and, weighing tk, can be easily towed by many vehicles. Also comes with cupholders, accessory power outlet, swim platform with ladder and more.

More Information: bayliner.com

Freshwater Fishing Boat: Bass Tracker Classic XL

Try to get fishing cheaper than this. And, try to get a better list of standard equipment, better warranty, (limited lifetime, transferable, 5-year on electrical components and 3 years on Diamond Coat, black or royal red powder coating) and a trailer to boot. Tracker’s exclusive Diamond Coat finish is baked on. Powered by a Mercury 40 horsepower outboard, it includes an aerated livewell, plenty of rod storage, two pedestal fishing seats, a Lowrance Hook 3 fish finder, Minn Kota Edge 12 Volt trolling motor and trailer.

More Information: trackerboats.com

Sea-Doo GTI SE 170

Capable of carrying three riders, Sea-Doo’s GTI SE 170 still delivers sporty feel and handling, thanks to its hard chine hull, low center of gravity and a new 170 hp version of the Rotax 1630 ACE engine. Sea-Doo’s 100-watt Audio-Premium system streams music directly from a smartphone to the pair of waterproof, MTX Audio-developed speakers neatly integrated into the forward wall of the footwells. A touchpad control mounted adjacent to the left speaker turns the system on, adjusts volume, and skips forward and back in the user’s selected playlist. Because the speakers essentially point directly at the driver and passengers, volume is ample. And accessories make it versatile:Twin recessed, 16-inch-on-center composite cleats raise into position to secure a variety of optional accessories, including a gas caddy, premium coolers, storage caddy or roll-top dry bag via a cam-type latch system.

More Information: sea-doo.com

Saltwater Fishing: Dragonfly Marsh Hen Micro Skiff

Want to get up close and personal with shallow water fish? A micro-skiff is a great way to pursue a lifetime catch–and memories–for an economical price. This 15-foot flats boat features rounded chines for a quiet entry, spray rails and a 9.9-horsepower outboard engine. There is stowage fore and aft, built-in nonskid surface and you can have them build it in a choice of colors. Boat, motor and trailer packages can be had for $13,000. Go get ‘em!

More Information: dragonflyboats.net

Yamaha WaveRunner EXR

Under $10,000, but delivering speeds exceeding 50-mph and capable of handling a crew of three, this Yamaha WaveRunner could be the path to the water for a boating family. Yamaha’s high-tech Nano 2 system reduces the EXR’s weight to 540 pounds, a 60-pound drop from the otherwise comparable EX Deluxe. Added power comes from modifying the engine control unit (ECU), which ups the 1,049 cc three-cylinder TR-1 engine’s horsepower by roughly 10 percent. The now-110 hp engine also features an increased 8,000 rpm rev limit, a 700 rpm boost over the existing 7,300 rpm threshold. RiDE, Yamaha’s dual control system, gives forward and reverse thrust separate throttles on opposite sides of the handlebar. There’s also two-tone Hydro-Turf EVA traction mats, a spring-loaded boarding step, and dual mirrors are all standard.

More Information: yamahawaverunners.com

Entertaining: Sun Tracker Party Barge 18 DLX

The cost of boats can be intimidating to many potential buyers, first timers or not. If you’re in the market for a pontoon boat to play host to you and eight of your friends, and you’re looking to spend less than $20,000, look no further than the Party Barge 18 DLX from Sun Tracker. Built on 24-inch, multi-chambered pontoons with internal bracing for added strength – and with “10+LIFE” limited lifetime warranty – this party barge is built to last. Standard options at the listed price include a Mercury 40hp ELPT CommandThrust motor, bimini top, Bluetooth equipped stereo, illuminated dash gauges and rocker switches, ample storage and much more. Tack on optional extras like a rail-mounted BBQ, soft cooler, and bimini top drop-down curtain and you’re still comfortably under $20k – making this one of the most affordable pontoon boats on the market. Just note, these prices do not include a trailer.

More Information: suntrackerboats.com

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Garmin Inreach Mini 2 satellite tracking and texting across an Ocean

• May 20, 2024

They say love comes in small packages? Well I absolutely love my Garmin Inreach Mini2. I took it for a spin across the Atlantic. It's been one of the high lights of my trip...

Product Overview

Garmin inreach mini 2.

• Tiny form factor, excellent long battery life, easy to use, low cost for use
• limited comms, would be nice to have the map integrated with google

clipped to a small spring clip, it sits near the dash area to have constant view of the sky

I’ve been positively itching to get out to sea properly and take this tiny little Garmin gizmo with me for a real test. Crossing the English channel is far too short a journey to really let it stretch its tiny but ass kicking legs.

The Garmin Inreach Mini2 looks so small that it can be hard to believe it’s a real thing.

Yes, it is a satellite tracker.

Yes you can send texts with it.

I’ve had the Garmin in a box for a while, waiting for the right time to unleash it. An Atlantic crossing seemed like an ideal opportunity to give it a whirl.

Out of the box it’s really straight forward. There’s two options to activate an inreach mini2. You can activate it directly with Garmin, or you can go via a 3rd party reseller. I chose to go with GTC (Global Telesat Communications) as they offered a slightly better deal than Garmin direct on the monthly rental and number of texts I’d get for the subscription.

This particular model came with a few additional accessories for mounting it or securing it for marine purposes. I was not sure how I’d be able to fasten it to someone elses boat, so I flew with just the unit and attached it to a spring clip.

I paid £45 for a monthly contract which gives me 60 texts and up to 600 tracking points. This is plenty for an hourly track point for the duration of an ocean crossing. I can cancel it after one month.

Texts cost 50p once you go over the allocation. The allocation uses one text to send and one text to receive.

It took me a little while to get my head around the Garmin messaging app. It doesn’t have a dedicated number that people can text directly to. To be able to text or receive, your recipient needs to have the app on their phone. So before I left I had to direct those I wanted to communicate with to download the app.

Within the app I eventually figured out how to put a small message on my track line. These can be toggled on and off in the web page on a laptop. I haven’t seen any way that the track can be viewed without additional internet. So once you set it going, if you don’t have internet onboard,  you have to have a little faith that it is tracking. It does give a confirmation that all track points are up to date on the Garmin app dashboard.

It’s possible to set the map to allow viewers to send you messages, but this will use your text allocation.

On the subject of texting, there’s something quite fun about trying to say exactly what you want in so few characters. Though I think my highly abbreviated text speak might have confused my mum a few times.

I love the simplicity of the small tracker and the ability to text. It’s such a simple thing, but does feel like I’m still in touch with family with my daily text.

The battery life has been excellent. With hourly track points set, it used 75% charge in 10 days. It uses USB C to charge which is easy and low power for even the most frugal boating battery bank.

I highly recommend the Garmin Inreach Mini2. Cheap to use and invaluable for keeping in touch and letting friends and family, or a wider network know how you’re doing on whatever big adventure you’re on. Hiking the Alps, sailing an ocean, going off piste in the wilderness. This thing means you are never more than a click away from people knowing your location.

Additional functions in the device which I haven’t used. The pre-set messages. I couldn’t figure those out. Weather forecasts, because I also, couldn’t quite work out how that worked and if it would be a marine enough weather forecast or not. (I’m not really worried it it will be hot and sunny, but what the wind is going to do and sea state. I suspect that’s not the kind of info it will be supplying). And the SOS function, which when triggered sets up a relay call through to a Garmin dedicated assistance call centre, who, for a fee, will coordinate with rescue services on your behalf. Personally I’d rather have a dedicated personal locator beacon for that, but it is an option if you are travelling light, particularly on land.

Kayakers Race Down a Drainage Ditch Into the Ocean

• May 21, 2024

Bored whitewater kayakers amusingly paddled their boats in the rain down a small stream of water in a drainage ditch in Lions Bay, British Columbia , until they hit the deep water of the Pacific Ocean .

Once the rain started coming down, this trio of friends made a road trip to Lions Bay, BC, where they had seen an extremely long drainage ditch that’s perfect for a kayaking. After lowering their boats into position + pressing record on their GoPros, the crew raced down towards the Pacific Ocean.

Perhaps they got the idea from Benny Marr  and  Rush Sturges , who previously paddled this same route in a tandem kayak .

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Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry , playing guitar , taking photos and mixing craft cocktails .

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International court rules GHGs are marine pollution

Matthew Ward Agius

Matthew Agius is a science writer for Cosmos Magazine.

Small island nations have hailed a ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea that greenhouse gases are a form of marine pollution.

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) is an independent judicial body that adjudicates maritime disputes that come under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

On Tuesday, ITLOS ruled on a 2022 request from 9 small Pacific and Caribbean island nations to consider greenhouse gas emissions as a form of pollution, which is regulated by the Convention.

Greenhouse gases are molecules like carbon dioxide and methane that cause global temperatures to rise due to their heat-trapping effect on the atmosphere and the oceans.

This causes ocean warming, acidification, ice sheet melt and disruption to other marine systems. Ocean warming and its knock-on effects are forecast to cause sea level rise that will inundate many small island nations.

In a unanimous opinion, the ITLOS found “anthropogenic [created by human activity] greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere constitute pollution of the marine environment”.

It means 168 nations that are parties to the Convention, which includes Australia, have “the specific obligations to take all necessary measures to prevent, reduce and control marine pollution from anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and to endeavour to harmonise their policies in this connection.”

There’s also a significant scientific component in the ruling, which says these necessary measures “should be determined objectively, taking into account… the best available science and relevant international rules and standards contained in climate change treaties such as the UNFCCC [Climate Change Convention] and the Paris Agreement”.

The ruling is an advisory opinion and is not legally binding. However it is seen by experts on the law of the sea as offering a potential precedent for courts – including within nations themselves – on states’ obligations under the Convention.

Constantinos Yiallourides, deputy director of the Centre of Environmental Law at Macquarie University, says the ruling would have “authoritative value” in how states engage with the Convention.

“It would reinforce the global environment and climate change regime, and it is likely that other international and national courts would consider the ITLOS Advisory Opinion when making assessments on climate-related cases, including challenging the legality of high-emitting activities due to their potential carbon footprint on the oceans,” Yiallourides says.

It’s a view echoed by Melbourne University’s Margaret Young, an international law specialist with expertise in the law of the sea.

Young says the need for state parties to consider scientific evidence in their actions is noteworthy.

That includes a requirement in the ruling for state parties to uphold a stringent standard of due diligence in controlling greenhouse gas emissions.

“There’s a real emphasis of ‘best available science’ in this judgement,” Young says.

“What the court is really cleverly doing is saying states have to act with due diligence to prevent marine pollution from greenhouse gas emissions. ‘Due diligence’ is increasingly being discussed by these international courts because it does require states to act to a particular standard.

“The court is not about to say specifically what each country has to do, but it is able to give a sense of the seriousness with which it treats this issue, especially where pollution crosses state boundaries: ‘stringent’ is a really important word that’s been used here.”

Originally published by Cosmos as International court rules GHGs are marine pollution

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Billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg spend six figures a year maintaining their superyachts. Here's how.

• Superyachts  are one of the most expensive assets money can buy.
• The true cost of ownership is even more, adding up to millions a year.
• Here's how much it costs to own a superyacht — and what that money is going toward.

Financial advisors are quick to warn prospective owners that a boat is nothing more than a hole in the water in which to throw money. When it comes to superyachts , you'd better have bags and bags of cash.

As one luxury agent told Business Insider at the Palm Beach International Boat Show: "Buying a boat, it's a huge purchase — and nobody needs a yacht."

A superyacht, generally over 30 meters long, is one of the most expensive assets money can buy, with the largest costing more than a lot of real estate or a private jet. Billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Steve Jobs each spent nine figures on their megayachts.

That doesn't include operating costs. Owners should expect to pay about 10% of a yacht's new-build price each year, experts told Business Insider. That's tens of millions of dollars annually for the most luxurious boats.

"It's a small-to-medium-sized business in its own right," said Jeffrey Beneville, a senior vice president at insurance company NFP, where he specializes in consulting clients about yachts.

Unlike many smaller boats, superyachts need staff, not just a captain. Some superyachts have space for dozens of crewmembers , including a chef, engineer, and masseuse for the guests onboard. Each gets an annual salary — the highest-ranking members earn six figures — and benefits. Eric Schmidt's yacht fits a crew of 28 for a ratio of about two crewmembers per guest.

Then there's fuel, dockage fees, routine maintenance, and insurance. The latter hinges on everything from the reputation of a yacht's shipyard to where an owner wants to take it (if a vessel is taking frequent trips to the South China Sea, for example, expect to pay a higher premium). If a superyacht has a support yacht — or a support superyacht, in Bezos ' case — expect to pay another 10% of that boat's price annually.

"The cost to maintain a yacht is so high that they just think that money's getting lit on fire," Matthew Fleissig, the CEO of wealth management firm Pathstone, told BI of his clients who choose to charter rather than own.

One of his firm's clients who does own has a 23-meter yacht valued at $5.2 million. The annual cost to staff, maintain, dock, and insure the boat is $346,297, according to documentation provided to BI. The lion's share is spent on marina fees ($95,970) and maintenance work ($88,408.) While not exactly a Sunfish, that boat is too small to count as a superyacht.

At 106 meters, the Amadea, owned by a sanctioned Russian oligarch , definitely does. The $300 million yacht, which was seized in 2022 and is docked in San Diego, cost $922,000 a month to maintain, a court filing showed: $360,000 for crew salaries, $75,000 for fuel, $144,000 for insurance, $178,000 in dry-docking fees, and $165,000 for maintenance, waste removal, food for the crew, and miscellaneous expenses.

"And that's an inactive yacht that's in the water," NFP's Beneville said.

If it were operational and carrying guests, the costs would be about twice that, or between $20 million and $30 million a year, he added.

Of course, it makes more financial sense for the non-obsessives to charter, and many of Fleissig's clients do. And some owners choose to offer their yachts for charter — the most luxurious cost as much as $1 million a week — to offset the costs.

"If you charter the boat for 50 days a year, it's going to help a lot," Anders Kurtén, the CEO of brokerage firm Fraser Yachts, told BI.

Then again, the running costs don't matter as much at a certain point. "If you're worth $30 billion, it's nothing. And if you're worth $117 billion — and these are the guys we're talking about — they're in it as long as it's still enjoyable for them," Beneville said. "It's not a money thing."

Watch: Why South Sea pearls are so expensive

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You'll Never Guess What Happened After This Guy Tried to "Body Slam" a Killer Whale

"the video left us genuinely stunned.", killer move.

A New Zealand man, probably drunk out of his mind, did an ungraceful belly flop from a boat in an attempt to "body slam" an adult male orca swimming next to the vessel, NBC News reports .

In an Instagram video of the incident, which happened back in February, the man flops into the water, almost missing the orca, popularly known as a killer whale, and a calf swimming near it, the news outlet reports, while other people on the boat laugh and egg him on.

At one point, he swam back to one of the orcas to touch it, as seen in the video.

The incident concerned other people out and about in the Devonport suburb of Auckland, where it occurred, according to a statement from New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC). Somebody then sent a tip about the video to government officials, who tracked the man down and fined him $365 in American dollars.

Orca vs Man

"The video left us genuinely stunned," DOC Principal Investigation Officer Hayden Loper said in the statement. "This is stupid behavior and demonstrates a shocking disregard for the welfare of the orca. It is extremely irresponsible."

"Orca are immensely powerful animals, and this really could have ended horribly — with either the startled whale being injured, or the man responsible being harmed by the aggravated animal," he added.

Under New Zealand law, orcas are protected animals, and people are forbidden from swimming with, disturbing or harassing them, along with whales and other marine species, according to the DOC.

Boats and orcas have made big headlines lately, with the killer whales attacking vessels in numerous incidents. The most recent occurrence involved a pod of orcas sinking a yacht this month near the Strait of Gibraltar.

So it seems this New Zealand man is exceedingly lucky he came away with just a fine because this orca — which could weigh more than 13,000 pounds — could have fin slapped him into an entry for the Darwin Awards.

More on orcas: Experts Say Killer Whales Are Teaching Each Other to Attack Boats

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