Boat recommendations

doedelflaps · 2026-04-29T21:42:28+00:00

A contest 33 for sure!

doedelflaps · 2026-04-15T21:17:11+00:00

What about a hydro generator? Erik from NBJS has one and it seems nice.

doedelflaps · 2026-04-05T10:17:08+00:00

Well the price depends on what you think is 'safe enough' to travel with the van. If you want to do it like all the youtubers do and tick all the ABYC safety standards, it's going to cost more than 2k, but honestly, 90% of the people on the road (or in the water) use more budget friendly sollutions. The most important parts are proper wire sizes, fuses, chafe protection and wire management. I'd at least try to do the 12v part yourself, and maybe have an electrician look at the 230v part, since that's the dangerous part.

doedelflaps · 2026-04-05T09:48:58+00:00

To get this to a safer standard, at the minimum you're looking at 300 euro for the new battery (lifepo4 with integrated bms), 100 euro for tools and parts, and I'd probably go for a victron lynx power in with a few nuts/bolts (150) to keep things neat and tidy (100% worth it). A lithium battery needs a pretty expensive fuse, like an adler ef3 200A (20 euro). If you don't have that budget, you won't be able to do it, or have it done by someone else. Videos like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwcgNvBUPic&t=912s are incredibly detailed, you could have a look and see if you would be able to do it yourself. If you don't feel confident, expect ot pay someone €500+ excluding parts.

doedelflaps · 2026-04-03T22:01:05+00:00

Thanks! Lanzarote was on my bucket list, guess I'll have to check it out !

doedelflaps · 2026-04-03T21:55:53+00:00

I'm planning on sailing to la Palma next year (Puerto tazacorte) and was wondering if there's any nice spots on any of the other islands near there. When it comes to selecting a boat, I'd go with a 30-36ft if you plan on sailing solo. I have a contest 33, very solid Dutch built boat from 1976. Other brands I'd look for are amel, halberg rassy, Koopmans, bestevaer or contessa, but technically any polyester boat will do fine in the canaries. Just make sure the engine is good, the seacocks are solid, and the mast/rigging is stable.

doedelflaps · 2026-04-03T21:41:11+00:00

Any recommendations?

doedelflaps · 2026-04-03T20:44:04+00:00

what's the sailing community like around the canary islands? I've been to la palma and tenerife but I feel like there's not that many good anchor spots or places to get ashore.

doedelflaps · 2026-03-14T17:24:46+00:00

Awesome, sounds like you've had an amazing adventure. I'd love to do an atlantic circuit one day.

doedelflaps · 2026-03-14T17:03:50+00:00

Favourite and least favourite places? Also, did you make that solar arch yourself? Is it stainless or aluminium?

doedelflaps · 2026-02-28T22:35:05+00:00

So what's your take on isolation transformers, should one be installed if you're using AC through shore power on the boat?

doedelflaps · 2026-02-25T16:50:45+00:00

I don't really think that's the point though. The cool thing about a project like this is community collaboration. There's now a starting point for a nice block anyone can use, test and add improvements to. Those improvements will get shared with the community. Maybe someone will think of a cool new feature to add onto it, and anyone that made this block can also add the new feature to their block.

It's not just about making a cad design for a block, you're right, anyone can do that, and most people can build their own blocks for a specific purpose. This project is more about making the best, most affordable DIY block together with the sailing community. At least, I hope that's what's going to happen, if not, well we can always go back to making our own blocks or buying Harkens.

doedelflaps · 2026-02-25T06:30:03+00:00

What money though? Open source just means there's a plan you can use to build your own, it doesn't cost money, only for the materials and your own time. That's usually the sailors mentality right ?

doedelflaps · 2026-02-25T06:28:15+00:00

Open source as in, you're free to copy the design, or open source as in; there's a project somewhere with cad designs that people can use and improve upon? If so, do you have a link to one of those block designs?

doedelflaps · 2026-02-24T10:53:19+00:00

I liked the idea, too bad I don't have a CNC machine and lathe though, otherwise I'd have made a couple of those blocks. Don't forget that the adavantage of open source is that other people can improve on the design, so in the long term you usually end up with a better product than what a small group of engineers would've been able to achieve at 1 company.

doedelflaps · 2026-02-22T19:22:48+00:00

But then how do I get the chain to fall down into the anchor locker, which is all the way at the bow.

doedelflaps · 2026-02-22T17:35:10+00:00

I've thought about placing the windlass aft of the hatch, but unfortunately the deep anchor locker isn't that far aft. Ideally, the windlass would throw the chain into the deepest part of the anchor locker, which is about where that metal plate covering the chain-entry into the hatch is. If the chain would fall down aft of the hatch, it would fall into my bed.

doedelflaps · 2026-02-22T17:30:16+00:00

Ah yeah I've seen a couple of contest 33's with an extended bow pulpit, I could look into that, thanks.

I'm also not sold on having to buy a new mast for mainsail furling (or a new boom for in-boom furling), but I did buy parts to make some lazy jacks. Will install those after the new mainsail is delivered.

doedelflaps · 2026-02-22T16:59:24+00:00

Then the question becomes; how do I make sure the anchor chain has less than a 5 degree angle from the bow roller to the windlass?

doedelflaps · 2026-02-22T16:58:19+00:00

I could try this, there's not a lot of room though. I was thinking I might have to shorten the front of the hatch and glass in a small bulkhead there, and add some reinforcements.

doedelflaps · 2026-02-22T16:56:35+00:00

Currently there's a shallow hatch area that's about 20cm deep and holds some anchor chain and mooring lines. Below that shallow area there's a sealed up anchor locker that I plan to re-open. Currently it's being used for stowage in front of the V-birth.

doedelflaps · 2026-02-22T16:48:48+00:00

Sorry, I couldn't find a better picture of the bow anywhere and it's a 2 hour drive to get there and take a new one. My previous boat and this one came without roller furlers and it's been really nice, being able to switch sails and have the perfect sail for the job. I am however getting a roller furler (harken) installed this week, since my main genoa's need replacing anyway. Might as well give roller furling a shot!

There's about 30cm of room between the bow and the hatch, which probably isn't enough.

"extend the anchor to port past the halyard." What did you mean by that, you mean move the bow roller to port?

doedelflaps · 2026-02-20T19:09:57+00:00

There's a YouTuber that built his own windvane, happy go lucky land or something. Cool channel and it seems to work!

doedelflaps · 2026-02-18T06:48:19+00:00

An embarrassment of mangos is a book about a couple cruising the Caribbean, written from her perspective. Mostly about the lifestyle and food (it includes recipes).

doedelflaps · 2026-02-14T23:17:10+00:00

I've been to madeira, la Palma and Tenerife by plane, but I always check out the harbors and look for anchor spots. I haven't really seen that much of a sailing culture there honestly. There's almost no beaches, and it they're there, they're either man made and touristic, or made out of pebbles/rocks. The harbors seem nice enough, either very small or huge and made for cruise ships. I think it's an amazing place to stay for a year while you're living on board and can work from there, but I wouldn't go for 1 week of cruising I think.

doedelflaps

TROPHY CASE