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Subject: Minimum Ship Size for Sea-worthiness
Roman    6/17/2007 6:17:10 PM
What is the minimum ship size-needed for the sea-worthiness of a ship? By sea-worthiness, I mean capability to withstand the conditions of the high-seas, other than completely calm weather with essentially no waves (that even small boats can deal with).
 
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Roman       7/5/2007 9:27:54 AM
Great link on ship speed and modern developments - thanks!
 
To AdamB: True, but the question was how large it has to be to float on the open ocean. ;) Apparently, size does not really matter though.
 
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ens. jack    unlimited   7/5/2007 11:13:11 AM
Honestly, I dont see why there is any sort of limit to seaworthiness, maybe depending on the mission, but it would be possible to cross an ocean on a catamaran raft less then 20 feet long and ten feet wide, unless you get cocky and put a huge sail on it,
 
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xylene       7/11/2007 12:39:52 PM

FS makes good points about practicality. Even though size is open ended, you do not want a warship with too much draft so that it is limited in maneuverability nor do you want such little freeboard that your radar is useless when in trough of a wave. A wider ship may aid in stability and less rolling but could have adverse effect on speed. A small narrower ship may be faster but may beat up crew and equipment.

 
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Nichevo    20m? Wussy!   7/11/2007 5:47:56 PM
Bligh made it four thousand miles to the Cape in an open boat!
A twenty meter ketch could be sufficient for cross ocean travel.

http://www.boatingsf.com/photos/nehemiah/Nehemiah%20Profile_edited-1.jpg">

Just have a tough stomach.

Herald






 
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VelocityVector    Requires more than stomach   7/11/2007 6:06:16 PM

Blech!  I've crewed two offshore long distance ocean races on stripped-out 70's and 80's in heavy weather.  It's like living inside a kettle drum - waves on the hull and crew scurrying about the topside all hours dragging carabiners on the jacklines.  Sleep on deck when it's seriously heavy.  Winches ratcheting and rigging whining in the breeze, 4 on and 4 off for days.  Lower bunk prankster yanks on your upper coffin bunk adjustment line until you are mashed against the hull.  Meals are freeze-dry boil over a fancy bunsen burner and you use the bucket for elimination because the head is too valuable a seat it gets used for repair bench.  Skin rashes from the salt and no fresh to bathe, eyes cake up after you finally manage to sleep while wet.  Pass on that pleasure, gimmee Wright Brothers any day ;>)

v^2

 
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xylene       7/11/2007 6:17:46 PM

Well I only sailed on oil tankers. I won't cross the ocean unless I'm on a VLCC with 1000 ft LOA and 200 ft beam. I need to be able to have my steak and lobster for dinner , relax in the lounge off watch to play video games, and kick back on my queen sized bed in my own officer's cabin. Goes without saying, swimming pool is a must.

 
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VelocityVector       7/11/2007 6:42:08 PM

Well I only sailed on oil tankers. I won't cross the ocean unless I'm on a VLCC with 1000 ft LOA and 200 ft beam. I need to be able to have my steak and lobster for dinner , relax in the lounge off watch to play video games, and kick back on my queen sized bed in my own officer's cabin. Goes without saying, swimming pool is a must.

A good friend's MM-ticketed brother crews on tankers.  He totes along several of his preferred electric guitars and amps.  I hear you guys even have high-speed Internet.  Please show pity on the mortals by not sweeping civvie radar targets with your blinding searchlights at night -- it screws up the works big time and there isn't anything we can do about it, which only adds to the suffering.  Then again if I was in your bridge shoes I very well might . . .

v^2



 
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jastayme3       2/3/2008 3:07:05 AM
The point isn't seaworthyness but functionality. Theoretically almost any reasonably handled craft is seaworthy. Robin Graham after all sailed around the world alone on a one man boat. Though of course he did  have to get a new boat to finish.
 
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Herald12345    Delayed reply. Yes I am a wussy.   2/4/2008 7:00:52 AM

Bligh made it four thousand miles to the Cape in an open boat!

A twenty meter ketch could be sufficient for cross ocean travel.

http://www.boatingsf.com/photos/nehemiah/Nehemiah%20Profile_edited-1.jpg">

Just have a tough stomach.

Herald







Been in a broken C-47 inside a thunderstorm too. I was scared !@#$less.

I keep telling myself to stop doing those dumb things.

Herald

 
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