Catamaran Adventure Planned

It is very hard to tell from distance wheather a used boat advertised by a broker is a good one or not. According to brokers, their boats are always pure gold. You have to start with a survey.

If that pretty heavy boat is doing 5 to 6 kts in the tradewind, the hydro generator will not deliver very much power. The other other problem with the bottled gas will be, what kind of system is it. What type of connection, what pressure, etc. On the other side of the pond You might not be able to get a replacement bottle at all. And carrying several of those "gasbombs" in Your storage areas as spares, is not very safe either, as the storage may not be ventilated by gravity. Means, leaking gas will not leave the storage by itself, it will build a combustible mixture and with the smallest spike, it will eventually send the whole boat into the orbit. I would never take that risk with my family.

I am a big fan of single fuel boats and the safest fuel for boats is still Diesel. Even the little cannister for the petrol of the outboard engine of the tender needs propper storage. The boat, that has recieved some damage from the hurricane, definately needs a decent survey before paying that price and starting such an adventure with it.

The distance from Florida to the Canaries, following the tradewinds, it is basically 3.400 NM. At 5 to 6 Kts You will need appp. 24 to 28 days for that leg. And this is open water with no refuelling stop or the possibility of topping up Your fridges. And this will not include any safety margin for periods of calm winds.

Have look at some more boats, find the one, You like the most and than have it surveyed. With propper planning and equippment it will be definately the trip of Your lifetime. And do not have Yourself talked into trying the northern route via the island hopping. Even if You will survive that route, Your family will never forgive You having taken it.

Perhaps if the Older longer boat is in current condition. Older longer boat ridden hard and put away wet, as they say, not as likely to be such a sweet deal. Larger longer older boats in need of refit may be more costly, than a shorter newer one.

I think if you compare an older longer in updated condition (standing and running rigging, maintenance records on propulsion and machinery up to snuff, and all the survey details worked out and the list goes on and on...), then the cruising forum thread folks might be on to something.