We really have our eyes on this 1979 P-D 26. Hoping for a trailerable boat to gain experience with here-and-there before eventually, some day, heading on down thru the islands, maybe South America, etc. Had this boat appraised:

    1st surprise: Fin keel (1200 lbs lead, 3ft 6in draft).

Is this common? I was counting on the swing keel for trailering here and there as we gain experience, but I might choose to suffer this in exchange for (I hope) increased stability.

   2nd surprise: The appraiser says "Navagational Limits: Coastal".

I was sure I'd read about Parker Dawsons crossing oceans. So, in thinking maybe the current condition of the vessel being the limiting factor, I e-mailed the appraiser about the fin keel/trailerability in comparison w/Pacific Seacraft (I read "20 Small Sailboats..." by John Vigor) and also asked what upgrades would be required for blue water voyages?  I got this polite but firm reply:

"You are correct this is a full keel boat.  I think the trailerability is more in keeping with the Seacraft.  I do not believe that the vessel would or should be used as an offshore sailing vessel.  It was neither designed or built for that purpose and to venture offshore in it in any state of upgrade would be dangerous."

I love this design -not to mention the affordability.  But are we going to outgrow this boat?

I would love to hear more about your plans to sail to SA.  What route and timeframe. I have been sailing here in Iowa in some fairly heavy winds, the 30s, and feel that a small storm jib and maybe a storm trysail or small alternate main would be a great addition to the boat.

I did talk to one Dawson owner who sailed his boat to Venezuela.  They had a rough trip down, so rough that one crew member flew home saying they would never make it back.  They did make it back with no further problems.

There is a Dawson for sale in Hawaii.  I was thinking of trying to get in touch with the owner to see what sort of experiences he has had in the big time.  I have heard, maybe even here, that someone has sailed a Dawson all over the Pacific.  Does anyone know who he/she is or have any of the articles about such ventures?

I am sadly pulling my boat on Saturday, marking the end of its first season.  Wishing you all the best!

Bob Dubuque

The offshore record of PD26s is documented, but your surveyor may have objected to a few design aspects. The aft cabin creates higher than usual windage and two companionways means twice as much potential for water to go below. The cockpit drains are small relative to the potential volume of water in the cockpit, and the companionways don't have bridgedecks, ie they go down within a few inches of the cockpit sole so water can rush below in a knock down. I plan to create a watertight seal on the engine hatch and gasketted lower companionway boards that will latch in place. The high, set-back coamings are good offshore design however, and they should keep almost all water on deck running off. You should ask your surveyor to explain his comments. Was it the general condition or equipment  of the boat or design aspects?

I believe the appraiser made his comments to reduce his liability concerning law suits.  Small boats in the ocean can be dangerous, and if he approved it for ocean travel and the boat sunk or someone was killed, he would be in a poor legal position.

I agree with Tom's comments.  Keep in mind that there have been many ocean voyages in frail craft, not designed for such adventuring.  A West Wight Potter recently made a trip from California to Hawii and sailed among the islands as well.  He has since sailed the inland passage to Alaska from Seattle.  (He shipped the boat home from Hawaii)

No surveyor and most likely not the designer would have suggested such trips for that boat.  With preparation and very good luck, this sort of thing can be done.

I've just read an article the describes what is needed for an offshore boat.  It includes a lot of things that had not been obvious to me.  It also has an article written by a friend who did the Atlantic Circle at age 66 in a Nor'sea 27.  The  first several days were in survival conditions.  (The Midship 25 that did the Atlantic race etc. was somewhat modified. It would be helpful to know what he did.  Would someone plublish that article.?

I have several family members who have been involved in two trips to Burmuda from Cape Cod for one and from Norfolk for the other.  They both had the snot kicked out of them for days.  The boats were a Morgan 38 and a Valiant 40, well set up for the ocean.  In each case they took extra crew for that leg.

I hope you are reading all the books and magazine stories of people out cruising.  This should include Latitude 38 if possible.  Latitude 38 is a sailing magazine from San Francisco.  It gets a huge amount of reader input including cruising experiences.  Check their web page. <www.latitude38.com>  You might like their ,"Lectronic Latitude," which in on line update of the sailing world.

The two familiy members who are out cruising at the moment are in the Carribean right now and relating their experience through their simple web page. They are two brothers who started in early November from Cape Cod.  I'll have to list the long web page URL in another message.

Steve in San Jose