flicka sailboat review

Flicka 20 - Hull # 3

The story of FLICKA may well end here, production wise at least, unless orders are a possiblility. The design is quite at home on a lake or a dam. It can be trailered to most places and weighs in around 2600 kgs, so the average 4x4 can tow this boat with ease. Then of course you can cross oceans in it!

Regards Roy Mc Bride Founder, www.ckdboats.com

Cape Town, South Africa

• Subscriptions
• Back Issues
• Instant Downloads
• Boat Plans & Kits
• Message Board
• Classifieds

Boat Review: Flicka

by admin · November 7, 2008

Let’s talk about that recurrent daydream you’re having. You know the one–you’ve tied up loose ends, packed your bags and sailed for the horizon. Look closely at the scene in your mind. Notice the boat? Looks a lot like a Flicka doesn’t it?

I’m not clairvoyant, just subject to the same fantasy. For many enthusiasts, the Flicka is the quintessential small sailboat. Priced at nearly $100,000 in 1998, this three-ton blue-water cruiser will for most remain the stuff of dreams. Nevertheless, we decided to take a closer look.

In the early 1970s Bingham opened his own design office. By 1972 he was offering plans for a stout, plumb-bow 20-footer called “Flicka,” based on the Newport boats. After the favorable reception of his plans (over a five-year period, more than 400 sets were sold), Bingham began building a plug for a Flicka of his own, but circumstances forced its sale to Nor’star Marine in Santa Barbara before completion. Starting in 1975, Nor’star produced Flickas, either as owner-finished kits, or boats completed under contract by Westerly Marine of Costa Mesa. In 1977 Nor’star ceased production. In 1978 Pacific Seacraft bought the tooling and began building its version.

Over the years Flickas have been built from a number of materials to a variety of specifications. Pacific Seacraft reduced the deck camber which seems to account for the disparity in headroom measurements we found–variously listed as from 5′ 11″ to 6′ 2″. Flickas have been rigged as gaff cutters, yawls, mastheaded sloops, marconi cutters, schooners and junk rig, so some of our comments and those of owners will not apply to all examples.

In 1978 Pacific Seacraft completed hull number 25, and Bruce Bingham finally had his own Flicka– Sabrina. Pacific Seacraft continued building Flickas until 1998, halting production after the completion of hull #434. Robin Bradshaw of Pacific Seacraft told SCA that production was ended for a variety of reasons. Flicka had become quite expensive, in part because its smaller size relative to other models precluded more than one person at a time working on it. Robin said the Flickas were literally “handmade,” while the bigger boats might have as many as four persons working on them at once. The low number of man-hours per day spent on a Flicka tied up limited production space.

Robin told us Pacific Seacraft still has the tooling, and he wouldn’t completely rule out production of another Flicka, although there are presently no plans to do so. Pacific Seacraft does, however, continue to support the boat fully. Robin and the staff are happy to help with replacement parts and other questions about the boat he considers truly “one of a kind”.

Flicka, which means “happy little girl” in Swedish, is a fair if perhaps inadequate description of this legendary cruiser. The hand-laminated Flicka features a balsa-cored deck (plywood in hardware-mounting areas), backing plates for every piece of deck equipment (caulked on both sides), and eighteen hundred pounds of solid cast lead encased in fiberglass. What’s the Swedish word for “bulletproof”?

On an 18′ 2″ waterline, Bingham managed to incorporate a solid list of amenities; enough stowage for passage-making, standing headroom and–on some later models–an enclosed head.

With a fixed draft of 3′ 3″, the Flicka draws more water than most boats found in the pages of SCA, but, compared with vessels of similar capabilities, it’s relatively shallow draft.

Once again, Small Craft Advisor consulted the real experts–Flicka owners–for a discussion of the boat’s specific characteristics.

PERFORMANCE:

“I have sailed my boat thousands of miles upwind against strong trade winds.” Charles S. Dewell, Kawabunga 1981

Owners were generally pleased with the Flicka’s pointing ability. Jack and Penny Harding, owners of the 1984 Flicka Rapport, responded to our question about windward ability saying simply, “Don’t worry, she’ll get you home.”

Flicka owners concede–it’s not the fastest boat on the water. But the good news is that this beamy cruiser is faster than she looks. Essentially “5-knot-boats,” Flickas have reportedly averaged 5.25 knots on long passages.

We had an opportunity to test sail with Skipper Eric Jungemann aboard his Flicka Hotspur. Although initially somewhat tender, stability improved rapidly as the boat heeled. Eric told us the Flicka needs a decent breeze to realize its speed potential. But once moving, it does quite well. We enjoyed easy, responsive sailing and the Flicka felt as stable and secure as any boat we’ve sailed. “It’s a truck, not a Ferrari” Eric told me.

SEAWORTHINESS:

“I have weathered a 9.5 Beaufort wind-scale gale for three days in the North Pacific. She handles very well in the rough stuff. She heaves-to properly and rides well with a storm jib and double-reefed main.” Charles S. Dewell, Kawabunga 1981

Certainly anyone purchasing a Flicka does so with an expectation that he or she is buying seaworthiness; to that end the Flicka does not disappoint. Owners unanimously describe the boat as “stiff” and “stable.” With 30 percent of its displacement in ballast, the Flicka boasts genuine blue-water specifications.

One characteristic that makes Flicka particularly well-suited to long passages is her tendency to sail herself. With sails trimmed properly, the Flicka tracks well, holding course hour after hour.

“I’ve always felt secure aboard her.” Prince Riggs, Maggie Mae 1983

Having crossed the Pacific and Atlantic, the list of impressive voyages made aboard Flickas is long. With owners assuring us the boat inspires “absolute confidence,” the list will undoubtedly continue to grow.

On the issue of how dry the boat rides, there was a surprising amount of contradictory opinion. Responses varied from “real wet” to “bone dry.” However, most agreed cockpit drainage was adequate.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

The Flicka is a boat with true liveaboard potential. An open, unobstructed interior boasts a complete galley, standing headroom the length of the cabin, and tremendous stowage. She’ll swallow fifteen hundred pounds of crew and gear before sitting down on her lines.

In addition to a comfortable v-berth, there are either one or two quarter-berths, which were sometimes described as “a little tight”. Later generation Flickas replaced one of the two quarter-berths with an enclosed head. Considering the price of these boats and recognizing their true cruising potential, we’d appreciate the enclosed head model. We did, however, hear comments from owners who favor the four-berth arrangement with its extra space.

The galley consists of a deep stainless sink with a fresh-water hand pump, a two-burner alcohol stove, an ice box and storage lockers. Some owners have converted to propane, but in general, the stock galley is described as simple and effective.

“This boat has a lot of storage for a small boat–but it’s still a small boat. For an extended cruise that makes it difficult to stow equipment, food, water, etc. You need the same amount of safety gear on a 20-footer as you need on a 40-footer.” Charles S. Dewell, Kawabunga 1981

“When I bought her, I thought I was getting the best 20-footer in the world. Haven’t changed my mind yet.” Prince Riggs, Maggie Mae 1983

“20 years old and still very stout.” John Calhoon, American Pie 1979

Flicka owners used the word “overbuilt” more often than owners of any other boat we’ve reviewed, and apparently for good reason. Most skippers told us they’d had no problems with oil-canning, peeling or delamination. There was only one mention of blistering, but even that owner was pleased with overall quality. Clearly, both Nor’star and Pacific Seacraft seem to have made quality a priority. The Flicka is one of the few small boats so universally noted for superior construction.

COMPROMISES:

“The quarter berth is useless unless you’re a child or a midget” Prince Rigg, Maggie Mae 1983

Small Craft Advisor readers, some who own boats that would fit entirely inside the Flicka’s cabin, might not be as critical of the tight quarter-berths.

Other compromises mentioned include: The lack of a bridge deck on pre-1984 models, which leaves the cabin potentially vulnerable to a flooded cockpit, and of course the lack of a proper head on early boats.

One owner also mentioned, “fielding questions from crowds of onlookers” as a unique compromise Flicka owners must endure or enjoy, depending on one’s perception.

MODIFICATIONS:

Virtually all owners have modified some compartments or increased storage in some manner. Several have added staysails and one mentioned installing shore-power wiring.

Articles written by Bruce Bingham and Katy Burke about the modifications they made to their Flicka for cruising are still circulating. Anyone interested in modifying the Flicka, or any small boat, for serious cruising will find them informative. A good place to start your search would be the Flicka Sailboat homepage at:: http://home.att.net/~seagypsy/index.html#it

It’s difficult to call a boat in the Flicka price-range anything other than expensive, but that didn’t stop some of our survey respondents. They based their argument on Flicka quality, seaworthiness and resale value.

The $64,000 question was: would you buy the Flicka all over again? In essence, every owner said yes–and really–that’s all you can ask of any boat.

“We’ve had a blast on our Flicka. It’s a great boat for cruising the Puget Sound area and San Juan Islands. It’s easy to manage and the short length is a bonus when trying to find moorage in the summer. We’re often able to tie-up in the same areas as runabouts and dinghies.” John Calhoon, American Pie 1979

“If you want a small, thin-water/ deep-water ‘pocket cruiser’–and like a lot of attention–get a Flicka. Used ones are not too expensive. She’s not fast, but I sailed (in comfort) from San Diego to Hilo, Hawaii (2200 miles) in 22 days. Not bad for a boat with an 18-foot waterline.” Jack & Penny Harding, Rapport 1984

The Flicka represents the ideal for many sailors. She’s as lovely and romantic as she is seaworthy. She’s spacious and can carry a heavy load, but she can be easily single-handed. With many ambitious voyages to her credit and a lineage traceable to the capable Newport workboats, she’s more than time-tested–she’s a proven performer.

Special thanks to the Flicka Friends newsletter. For information contact:[email protected]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Discussion 1 Comment

I recently acquired a flicks ferro cement sailboat and I’m trying to find out where it might have been built. I got it near middle river Maryland. I believe it was built it 1972 because I found a 1972 silver dollar at the base of the mast. Any help would be appreciated

Add a Comment

Recent posts.

• Themed Issues —by Joshua Colvin
• The Child Inside
• Escaping on a 10-foot Sailboat
• Good Little Ship
• When Steering is a Drag

Recent Comments

• Terrance Watling on Bequia Beauty
• Marshall Weston on Boat Review: Flicka
• Allan Magee on A Conversation With Jerry Montgomery
• Peter Bristow on Pursuit of the Perfect Pram Continues (Readers’ Prams)
• Walter Yale on The Child Inside
• January 2018
• October 2017
• February 2017
• December 2016
• October 2016
• September 2016
• January 2016
• November 2015
• October 2015
• September 2015
• August 2015
• February 2015
• January 2015
• December 2014
• November 2014
• September 2014
• August 2014
• January 2014
• December 2013
• November 2013
• October 2013
• September 2013
• August 2013
• February 2013
• January 2013
• December 2012
• November 2012
• October 2012
• September 2012
• August 2012
• December 2011
• October 2011
• September 2011
• August 2011
• February 2011
• January 2011
• December 2010
• November 2010
• October 2010
• September 2010
• August 2010
• February 2010
• January 2010
• December 2009
• November 2009
• October 2009
• September 2009
• August 2009
• February 2009
• January 2009
• December 2008
• November 2008
• October 2008
• 70.8% (Thomas Armstrong)
• FETCH Across America (Kees Prins)
• General Posts
• R2AK Race to Alaska
• Rice's Southern Cross Voyage
• Uncategorized

• Compare Sailboats
• Sailboat Calculators
• Bluewater Sailboats
• Catamarans and Multihulls
• Sailing Liveaboard
• Sailboats Galley
• How Much it Costs
• Sailing Destinations
• Meteorology Terms
• Sailing and Nautical Terms
• Parts of a Sailboat
• Great Explorers
• People of the Seas

Bluewater Sailboat – Flicka 20

The Bluewater Sailboat Flicka 20 is the polar opposite of ‘go small, go simple.’ Few other boats with proven blue water capabilities are smaller than 20 feet. Flicka has traversed the world’s waters, experienced strong storms, and survived reef groundings with minimal damage. Nonetheless, this miniature global cruiser may be loaded onto a trailer and driven home.

The Flicka 20 was designed by Bruce Bingham along the lines of the Newport workboats of the nineteenth century and was first introduced to the home-build market in 1972 before being produced, first by Nor’ Star and subsequently by Pacific Seacraft.

If you can get over the lack of deck room and find a spot to park your tender, you’ll find a boat that’s strong, seaworthy, and has the interior space of a boat six feet longer. She’s big enough to live in, yet because she’s so small, she’s wonderfully easy to handle. Despite her short length and heavy displacement, she sails effectively. These are some of the justifications for purchasing the Flicka 20, but perhaps the true reason is her charm and character; this little boat has a cult following.

• LOA: 24′ 0″
• LWL: 18′ 2″
• Beam: 8′ 0″
• Draft:  3′ 3″
• Displacement: 6,000 lbs.
• Ballast: 1,800 lbs.
• Headroom: 5′ 11″
• Sail Area: 243 sq. ft.
• Fuel: 8 US. Gal.
• Water: 20 US. Gal.
• Engine: Yanmar 1GM10, single-cylinder diesel, 9 horsepower
• Designer: Bruce P. Bingham
• Year Introduced: 1972
• Builder: Custom build / Nor’ Star / Pacific Seacraft

The Bluewater Sailboat Flicka’s earliest line drawings were published in RUDDER magazine in March 1972, although the Flicka’s origins may be traced back to the 1950s when Bruce Bingham sketched two derelict wooden sailboats on a river just south of Wickford, Rhode Island. Bingham subsequently discovered that these were workboats used by fishermen who sailed out to the stormy Block Island Sound to work the fishing there since 1840. These boats were known as Newport boats, and they had a reputation for being quick, seaworthy vessels that would safely return their crew. Bingham admired the rugged character of the Newport boats, and after discovering the line drawings in a book, he began changing the lines into a new design that became the Flicka 20. The design was primarily focused at the home construction market, and the length was restricted at 20 feet to keep costs low.

RUDDER published the first of a six-part article on creating a Flicka out of ferrocement in September 1972, showing more modifications to the lines and inside. According to legend, the first ferrocement Flicka was created as a demonstration project at a boat show to promote the building process. The boat did not catch on because ferrocement construction was expensive and required a lot of work for a little boat. However, 400 sets of plans were allegedly sold over the next five years, with the majority of these boats built from GRP but at least one from carvel planking.

Bingham and Katy Burke created a Flicka plug in 1974 and sold it to Nor’ Star Marine in California. Nor’ Star began producing firmly made GRP hulls in 1975, although there was no mould for the deck or cabin trunk at the time. Nor’ Star was constructing a GRP deck, cockpit, and cabin truck by February 1976. Their Flickas were either offered as kits or were completed by Westerley Marine. This was a successful mix that resulted in well-built, high-quality boats that many consider to be the most beautiful Flickas ever built, with exquisitely created and finished wood interiors. When Nor’ Star Marine folded in 1977, the winning relationship came to an end.

The Flicka was eventually sold to the then-new Pacific Seacraft Corporation, which established a reputation for high-quality construction and hand-crafted interiors. Pacific Seacraft further modified the Flicka by reducing the radius of the cabin trunk crown and placing the deck hatch to the cabin top forward of the mast step. Pacific Seacraft had constructed 434 Flickas by 1994, but the company went bankrupt in 2007. Stephen Brodie, a marine archaeologist, purchased the brand name, moulds, and tools at a bankruptcy auction and relocated the company to the East Coast, where it was revitalized.

In 2001, the new Pacific Seacraft sought to restart the Flicka design on the basis of a four or five-boat order. Unfortunately, the order was not filled, and the design was put on hold. The Flicka is unlikely to be produced again, but there are always Flickas for sale on the used boat market, and for anyone interested in building their own, the plans and at least one hull and deck kit are supposedly available presently through Roy McBride at CKD boats in South Africa.

As a home-made boat, Flickas are built to differing standards and in a variety of materials.

Pacific Seacraft Flickas were constructed of fibreglass, with early hulls manually poured in polyester resin and later hulls switching to osmosis-resistant vinylester resin. The decks are fiberglass with a balsa core, with plywood cores in locations with through deck fittings. The cabin is made of a single fiberglass pan that is glued to the hull and lined with lovely teak trim.

The mast is stepped in a stainless-steel tabernacle for ease of removal and quick raising and lowering to avoid overhead impediments.

The outboard chainplates were installed through the hull with stainless steel backing plates and employed high-quality bronze fittings. Enclosed heads with holding tanks became common in 1980, and later models include unique bronze port lights, inboard engines, and a good cruising rig by LeFiell.

Performance

Given her low waterline length, hefty displacement, and small rig, the Flicka sails very well. Though most Flicka owners would agree that boat speed is not the most important factor, she is far from slow. According to Pacific Seacraft, 5-knot average voyages are not uncommon. Owners claim she can easily sail at 4 to 5 mph in ideal conditions and can exceed 6 knots on a stretch in winds of 20 knots or higher. A beam to broad reach is her best point of sail.

Light air performance diminishes, as it does with most heavy displacement boats. Many owners suggest using a drifter in 10 knots for a little more go-go energy.

The Bluewater sailboat is agile, thanks to its wineglass sections, shallow draught, and 30% ballast ratio . Weather helm has also been reported by owners. Due to her tendency to pitch, tacking can be challenging in turbulent weather. Some owners claim that in certain weather circumstances, she can cause seasickness in even the hardiest sailors, yet her motion is normally gentle.

Aside from that, she is well-known for keeping her crew safe in a storm and is a lot of fun to sail.

If you are interested in learning more about the specifications and details of a sailboat, we recommend visiting the page Bluewater Sailboat data by   Ocean Wave Sail . This page provides comprehensive information and is an excellent resource for anyone seeking detailed information about 1000+ sailboats.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Don’t miss new updates on your email.

© OceanWave Sail. All Rights Reserved 2022

Terms & Conditions – Privacy Policy – Cookie Policy

About Us – Privacy Policy

• New account

Forgot your password?

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive mail with link to set new password.

Back to login

Privacy Overview

Little Cunning Plan

A plan so cunning you could stick a tail on it and call it a weasel.

1981 Pacific Seacraft Flicka, S/V Kawabunga!

See how she sparkles?

When I finally set eyes on this little Pacific Seacraft Flicka, I thought it was one of the cutest boats I’d ever seen. Stout and rounded, a pretty shade of blue, with dainty details at the bow, her little snub nose tilted ever so slightly to the sky, this little boat tugged at her lines and started working her charms on me before I even stepped on board. If she’d had eyes, she would have batted her lashes at me. When I opened the companionway doors and looked inside the cabin, all I could think was, “Oh my gosh, this boat is adorable!”.

To be fair, if this boat were a person, she probably wouldn’t be too happy with that description. After all, ‘adorable’ is not generally the word one would use to describe a boat that is built well enough to take you safely and comfortably around the world in all kinds of seas. And yet, that’s what we have in this boat. We have this complete union of the opposites: a well built, well designed serious little boat that is completely cute. Sorry ‘Kawabunga’, you just can’t help yourself. You are Mighty Mouse incarnate. Sort of.

The second thing that hit me as I climbed down into the cabin was, ‘We should have bought a boat like this for Andrew’. Last summer we bought our son, Andrew, an Ericson  25 which he christened ‘Danger Kitten’. It’s a great little boat and he loves it. But even as I wrote the check for the purchase, I knew that ‘Danger Kitten’ was not going to take him to places like Alaska or Vancouver Island’s wild and wooly west coast. Very soon he is going to want to go further, and we will need to rethink that purchase. Oh, how I would love to have bought him this little Flicka, a 20 foot boat that considers itself a tiny ship.

She may be small, but she anchors with the big boys.

This particular Flicka has had quite the experience in the South Pacific, so she is already well-proven, as though there would ever be any doubt that she could handle it. The owner of this boat wrote a book about her adventures: Kawabunga’s South Seas Adventure: Blue Water Cruising in a Twenty Foot Boat . I’m going to get this book for Andrew so I can read it. And he can begin dreaming about his next boat.

[amazon_image id=”0966647203″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Kawabunga’s South Seas Adventure: Blue Water Cruising in a Twenty Foot Boat (Microexplorer)[/amazon_image]

Inside the Flicka is spacious for such a small boat. There is good standing head room throughout the cabin, a result of the rounded ‘cuteness factor’ of her cabin top. To starboard there is a long settee that has storage underneath and behind the cushions. Bronze ports all open to give good ventilation and provide light. The companionway doors also have windows in them, which provide quite a bit of light into the cabin, light which reflects off the gleaming wood in the forepeak.

This is a boat that is built to go to sea on the big ocean. There are solid hatch boards for the companion way to use when out cruising. In addition, the anchor locker is completely sealed off from the rest of the boat. This is something that I pay a lot of attention to as we look at boats to replace our Cal 34. I can’t imagine being in big waves and having an anchor chain locker that opened to the interior of the boat. That seems to me like it’s asking for trouble. And yet most boats I’ve seen are made just that way.  Likewise, this boat has a sturdy anchoring system that even larger boats would do well to have.

Spacious and versatile interior.

On a boat this small, versatility is the name of the game and this boat is designed with that in mind. There is no bulkhead separating the cabin into sections, which makes the cabin feel very spacious. Privacy curtains are mounted such that when closed, the forward berth is enclosed. These curtains have seen better days but they would be cheap and easy to replace.

Privacy curtains become even more important when one realizes that the fully plumbed head (NOT a porta-potty, thank goodness) is situated at the front of the boat. Later models of this boat apparently were offered with an enclosed head, but that’s hard to find on a boat this size. With all cushions in place, the forward berth is large enough for two people to sleep comfortably, but with the head basically situated underneath the bed, this is not a boat for middle aged women unless they sleep alone. With cushions left out of the middle, the forward berth offers two nice singles, with that head fully accessible.

Another versatile thing in this cabin is the fold down table, which doubles as extra work space in the galley. Yep. There is a galley. It has a two burner alcohol stove, a deep icebox, a small sink and cabinets for storage. There is also storage underneath and behind the settee.

It’s not often that you find what amounts to a regular galley in a boat this size. A little lemon oil would fix those cutting boards right up.

I noticed that the quarter berth, just aft of the galley, was stuffed full of sailbags. Indeed this little boat comes with a pretty full complement of sails, including a storm jib, storm trisail, genoa, and cruising spinnaker in addition to the main and roller furled jib. These owners did some serious sailing on this boat. There is even a drogue anchor should you need to slow down a bit in big seas.

This settee is long enough for a grown man to stretch out on and nap. Notice the zippered headliner and windowed companionway doors.

The boat is a gem with a lot of experience under her hull, but will need some cleaning up and maybe some updating. The interior needs only a spit and a polish to be great just as it is. And she already has all the right ‘stuff’ like the solar panels, a gps, and even an autopilot.  This would be a perfect ‘first boat’ for someone, or would make an excellent small pocket cruiser for just about anyone. But if you have a young adult or older teenager in your family and you’ve been considering that they need a project as part of their ‘growing up’, you could do worse than to take a look at this little boat.

Her provenance is excellent. There is quality in every aspect of her from her stout hull to her convenient zippered headliner. She has many years more life in her and with her full keel, shallow draft, and newer engine, she could take you anywhere you want to go in the whole wide world. And you would definitely have the cutest boat in the bay!

This boat is available through Capital City Yachts , in Olympia, WA.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

5 Best Liveaboard Bluewater Sailboats

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 28, 2023

Liveaboard bluewater sailboats are both comfortable to live on and capable of making long, offshore ocean voyages.

The best liveaboard bluewater sailboats must strike a balance between comfort and seakeeping abilities. These boats are generally heavy and stable and roomy enough to spend time in. They must also include the necessary hardware to make cooking, sleeping, and bathing possible in choppy conditions.

Table of contents

Bluewater Liveaboard Sailboat Design

What makes a good bluewater liveaboard sailboat , and how is it different from a coastal cruiser? There are a few aspects of purpose-built bluewater sailboats that make them different from most production vessels. The first and (possibly) most important is the hull design.

The classic bluewater sailboat hull shape features a long, deep, full keel. The keel acts as a hydroplane and keeps the boat stable on course in all sea conditions. Deep keel sailboats aren't the only kind of bluewater-capable vessels, but they're a tried and tested design.

Other vessels gain stability from having a wide beam. Beamy sailboats are far more comfortable in rolling seas, as they tend to buffett and pitch much less than leaner, narrow boats. Most ideal liveaboard bluewater sailboats balance length and beam carefully to make the most of the space and hull shape.

Space is another important quality to consider when choosing the best bluewater liveaboard sailboat. Interior space comes first, as living quarters are a key element of comfort.

Cockpit space should also be considered, especially if more than one person comes aboard. Most liveaboard bluewater sailboats sacrifice cockpit space for cabin space.

A comfortable liveaboard sailboat should include several amenities, including a head (toilet), a shower, two sinks, a galley with a stove, an icebox, a place to eat, and a place to sleep. Ideally, the dining area is separate from the primary sleeping area.

A separate chart table is ideal as well because it keeps food and clutter away from important navigational equipment. A chart table is less important on liveaboard sailboats that spend the majority of their time docked. That said, the chart table functions well as a spot for a microwave, toaster oven, or TV when you're not underway.

A separate forward V-berth, known as a master cabin, is a big plus on liveaboard boats. Separating the sleeping area from the rest of the cabin can increase comfort and coziness.

However, on a bluewater sailboat, a side berth near the hatch is essential as well. This is because you may need to quickly take control of the vessel after waking up, and it's best to sleep close to the helm.

Power and Water

Power and water shouldn't be overlooked when choosing a bluewater liveaboard. Many liveaboards spend most of their time docked and hooked up to shore power, water, and sewage. But bluewater liveaboards are designed for cruising, which means everything must be self-contained.

The best bluewater sailboats have sufficient freshwater storage tanks for several weeks on the water. Some have desalination (water maker) machines, which require electricity to run.

Solar panels are an excellent option for power generation, and they can be installed on almost any sailboat.

But all bluewater sailboats should have battery banks and a gasoline or diesel generator built into the system. On many vessels, the inboard engine also functions as a generator.

Safety is an essential factor to consider when choosing a cruising sailboat , especially if it doubles as your primary residence. Basic safety equipment such as bilge pumps and radios should be maintained and tested regularly. Backups and spare parts should also be kept aboard.

Other safety features, such as watertight hatches, can keep your cabin safe and dry during inclement weather. Self-draining cockpits are helpful when sailing offshore, as spray and waves drain from the exposed cockpit without the use of electric or mechanical pumps. If the drain ports are kept clean, no bailing is ever necessary.

Radar is another useful safety feature that, while not mandatory, can keep you in-the-know and alert you to the presence of nearby ships. Radar is especially useful at night, as the automatic alarms can wake you whenever a potential obstacle appears nearby.

Bluewater Sailboats for Living Aboard and Cruising

Living aboard a sailboat is one of the most interesting and rewarding lifestyles available today. It's even more alluring when you can sail your vessel across oceans, which is what bluewater sailboats are designed to do.

A liveaboard cruising sailboat combines comfort, seakeeping ability, and ease of handling in a compact and thoughtfully-designed package. Here are the best liveaboard sailboats for bluewater cruising.

1. Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20

{{boat-info="/boats/pacific-seacraft-flicka-20"}}

The Flicka 20 is the smallest and most interesting sailboat on our list. At only 20 feet overall in length, the interior accommodations of this vessel are spartan at best and suitable for minimalist living.

What makes the Flicka 20 stand out is its exceptional bluewater performance. This sailboat is truly an ultracompact pocket cruiser. With a full ballast keel, self-draining cockpit, and wide beam, the Flicka 20 is more capable offshore than some boats almost twice its size.

This sailboat has the profile of a traditional keel cruiser. From a distance, it would be easy to mistake for a much larger vessel. Its hull shape, manageable Bermuda rig, and small size make it a perfect starter sailboat for single handed offshore cruising.

Inside, you have (almost) everything you need to live comfortably, albeit in a minimalist way. The cabin features standing headroom throughout, which is highly unusual for a 20-foot sailboat. On the port side, you're greeted with a small but functional galley. On the starboard side, there's a small head with a toilet and a shower.

The Flicka 20 displaces a hardy 5,500 lbs. Due to its large keel, there's no centerboard trunk to obstruct interior space. A V-berth upfront makes up the sleeping accommodations, and some models feature settees on both sides with a pop-up dining and chart table in between.

The Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 has achieved somewhat of a cult status amongst bluewater sailboat enthusiasts. Only about 400 were built, so purchasing a Flicka 20 is somewhat of a rare and expensive proposition. That said, the benefits of owning a 20-foot bluewater liveaboard sailboat are hard to beat.

Cheap slip fees, low maintenance costs, and simplicity are the major selling points of this vessel. It's trailerable behind most heavy-duty pickup trucks and technically small enough to store on the street or in a driveway.

2. Pacific Seacraft Allegra 24

{{boat-info="/boats/pacific-seacraft-allegra-24"}}

If the Flicka 20 is too small for your taste, try the Pacific Seacraft Allegra 24. It follows the same design principles of the Flicka 20, but with four feet of additional space for cabin amenities and seaworthiness.

Four feet may not sound like a lot, but it makes a world of difference on a sailboat. The additional space on the Allegra 24 adds room to the head, extends the port and starboard settees, and increases the size of the galley.

If you like the idea of a small, semi-trailerable offshore sailboat with liveaboard amenities, you'll love the Allegra 24. This stout sailboat has almost miraculous handling and seakeeping qualities while retaining the benefits of small overall size.

With the Allegra 24, you'll be able to make virtually any offshore passage and save on slip fees, maintenance costs, and overall labor. This vessel is easy to sail single handed and large enough for a minimalistic couple to live, eat, and sleep comfortably.

The Pacific Seacraft Allegra 24 is not ideal for people who need space for pets, children, or guests, as the interior is quite small when compared to other sailboats. That said, there's enough room for an occasional passenger, and the cockpit is comfortable enough for four adults to sit and interact.

3. O'Day 28

{{boat-info="/boats/oday-28"}}

The O'Day 28 is a popular sailboat that makes a great liveaboard cruising platform. This affordable vessel was produced between 1978 and 1986, and over 500 examples were produced over the years.

All in all, the O'Day 28 is a stout cruising sailboat that's suitable for offshore and coastal sailing. It features a raked stern and hidden rudder, and a helm that's similar to what you'd find on much larger boats.

The O'Day has a large fuel tank for its inboard engine and an even larger 25-gallon freshwater capacity, which is excellent for offshore cruising. Additional tanks can be added in storage spaces, making the O'Day 28 suitable for long voyages.

The cabin of the O'Day 28 is spacious and includes everything you'd need to live aboard comfortably, along with plenty of storage space throughout. The wide beam of the O'Day 28 gives it lots of space, so the cabin doesn't feel cramped for its size.

Two models of the O'Day 28 were built; one featured a swing keel, and the other had a fixed swing keel. The swing keel model is ideal for coastal cruising and shallow-water sailing, while the fixed keel O'Day 28 is more suited for bluewater cruising.

That said, both keel variants make fine offshore sailboats. The cabin of the O'Day 28 features a large galley with a stove and icebox, two large settee berths, a large center table ahead, and a V-berth forward. The head serves as a separator to the forward cabin, giving the V-berth an extra layer of privacy.

4. William Atkin "Eric" 32

{{boat-info="/boats/atkin-co-eric-32"}}

"Eric," designed in the 1920s by famous marine architect William Atkin, is a radical departure from typical modern liveaboard sailboats. However, as a bluewater liveaboard sailboat, this vessel likely outshines all the others on this list in almost every conceivable way.

Eric is a 32-foot traditional wooden ketch. This planked full- keel sailboat displaces over 19,000 lbs and has a draft of about five feet. The basic design of the hull is based on early Norweigian fishing boats, which were known for their resilience in rough North Sea storms.

Eric is a traditional gaff-rigged vessel with two short masts and a long bowsprit. Though complex to rig, it sails beautifully in all weather conditions. One of the earliest examples built survived a hurricane offshore in the 1930s, and subsequent models have completed numerous long-range ocean voyages.

Eric is a purpose-built long-range ocean cruiser. Interior accommodations are spacious and designed for comfort and utility. Unlike most sailboats of the time, Eric features a full head with shower, a 'master cabin' style V-berth forward, a full galley with an icebox, and standing headroom throughout.

William Atkin's Eric is, by all definitions, an ocean-crossing sailboat designed to take between one and four adults just about as far as they want to go. It has all the qualities of an oceangoing sailboat in a compact package, along with excellent seakeeping characteristics.

The primary drawback of this 32-foot Atkin sailboat is maintenance. Most of these hulls were constructed using traditional oak planking, which lasts forever if taken care of but requires skilled maintenance. The planks are caulked using cotton wadding, and they'll need recaulking if the boat stays out of the water for too long and "dries up."

If you're looking for a beautiful and historic liveaboard sailboat with serious offshore cruising capabilities, consider an Atkin Eric 32. Although somewhat rare, examples of this design occasionally pop up for sale on the used market.

5. Pearson 35

{{boat-info="/boats/oday-28"}}, {{boat-info="/boats/pearson-35"}}

The Pearson 35 crosses the rubicon into the 'big boat' category, as it has everything you'd expect of a large oceangoing sailboat. The vessel also has a unique displacement keel with an additional swing keel at the base.

The Pearson 35 is a roomy sailboat with excellent seakeeping abilities and a large sail plan. It's a typical Bermuda-rigged sloop with a tall mast and the usual sheet and halyard arrangement. As a result, it's fun to sail and easy to handle. It's also a fast boat, making it ideal for longer voyages.

The swing keel certainly doesn't make the Pearson 35 a shoal-draft sailboat. It has a modified full keel which (with the swing keel retracted) draws 3 feet 9 inches. With the additional swing keel down, the draft of the Pearson 35 increases to over 7 feet.

The Pearson 35 is a heavy boat with good sea keeping abilities. It was introduced in 1968, and over 500 units were produced. That makes it one of the more popular sailboats in its class, and plenty of Pearson 35s are still sailing around the United States.

Down below in the cabin, the Pearson 35 is roomy and comfortable. It features a full galley, an enclosed head with a shower and sink, and several berthing areas, including a forward V-berth. Plenty of storage is available throughout the cabin, making the Pearson 35 an excellent choice for living aboard.

There's something empowering about piloting a 35-foot sailboat through rough weather. The size of the boat provides both safety and a sense of security, which can help you keep a clear head during stressful situations at sea. The vessel is beamy as well, making it less likely to heel aggressively and increasing roll comfort in dicey seas.

Overall, the Pearson 35 is an excellent choice for a liveaboard bluewater sailboat. It's a large boat in comparison to the others on this list, and it's known for easy handling and excellent windward performance. The Pearson 35 is a common sailboat that's widely available on the used market.

Related Articles

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

by this author

Best Sailboats

Most Recent

What Does "Sailing By The Lee" Mean?

October 3, 2023

The Best Sailing Schools And Programs: Reviews & Ratings

September 26, 2023

Important Legal Info

Lifeofsailing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

Similar Posts

Affordable Sailboats You Can Build at Home

September 13, 2023

Best Small Sailboats With Standing Headroom

Best Bluewater Sailboats Under $50K

Popular posts.

Best Liveaboard Catamaran Sailboats

Can a Novice Sail Around the World?

Elizabeth O'Malley

June 15, 2022

4 Best Electric Outboard Motors

How Long Did It Take The Vikings To Sail To England?

10 Best Sailboat Brands (And Why)

December 20, 2023

7 Best Places To Liveaboard A Sailboat

Get the best sailing content.

Top Rated Posts

Lifeofsailing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. (866) 342-SAIL

© 2024 Life of Sailing Email: [email protected] Address: 11816 Inwood Rd #3024 Dallas, TX 75244 Disclaimer Privacy Policy

Sail Far Live Free

Go small and go now 5 pocket cruisers to take you anywhere.

What, no Georgian 23? ;)

Gotta love those little Canadian sloops!

Or Bayfield?:)

I am a Bayfield fan (and even more so a Ted Gozzard fan), but I wasn't aware of the Bayfield 25 making any major bluewater passages. Do you know of any?

A bayfield 25 is built well enough BUT it’s shallow keel and light weight classify it more of a coastal cruiser. But that also makes it a great gunk holer. It’s a nice little boat for the Chesapeake and coastal areas. It lacks the deep keel and ballast to be comfortable offshore. The bayfield 29 is a bit more blue water but also it’s shoal keel at only 3ft 6 inches also gives it a comfort ratio a bit on the edge for a true blue water boat. BUT that said a bayfield 29 outfitted right will get the job done and with a good turn of speed over most listed here. It will reach its hull speed of 6.5-7 knots no problem and will point windward well enough. (It’s not got to compete with a fin keel 30 footer but it will be more comfortable. And it’s faster then a westsail32 (nick named the wet snail 32) I find most of the better pocket cruisers on this list are great for what that are but NOT the most boat you can get for your money today. Some great 30-32 foot blue water boats can be purchased for LESS then some of these. I just bought a great bayfield 29 for UNDER 3K that’s right 3 not 30. I looked at a foulmouth cutter that was available in my area it was rough really rough and they still were asking over 10K. It’s only benefit was it came with a trailer but what good doesn’t that do when Your offshore. I wouldn’t mind taking one on single handed adventure as the romance of the boat would add to the fun of the adventure but. Is it the best boat for your buck? No their popularity and reputation and (good ones are getting scarce) bring high prices.

It's amazing: after looking at all your boat reviews and choices, I realize we have exactly the same tastes and dream boats! And I enjoy your writing and musings! I'm very glad I happened upon your blog site! Bill Hinkel

Thanks Bill! I love writing about sailboats almost as much as I love actually sailing them.

I've owned a Flicka, Allegra, and FC all excellent boats.

Wow...that's an impressive resume! I bet you've got some great stories to tell.

What about the Halcyon 23? Any thoughts on that one? Great article by the way!

Sorry, I'm not personally familiar with the little Halcyon 23, but you can read a review reprinted from "Yachts and Yachting" originally written in 1970 here .

How about the Pacific Seacraft 25? If your talking about small salty sailboat (SSS) that can take you to the paradise. She prolly don't a standing headroom but sure does the perfect little sailboat. Just like HC33t.

Yup, I too like the PSC 25. She's not as roomy as either the Flicka or the Dana, but a typically a fair amount more affordable. And as you point out, no standing headroom. Still, a pretty boat with bluewater experience.

A very informative article, thank you very much. I find myself daydreaming to be on a boat, sailing around the world quite often and i'm trying to collect a budget, to buy a boat and take sailing classes. I love the design on the ships you posted. Are there any good pocket-cruisers with a steering wheel ?(i can't say i really like tillers :P). Again, thank you for compiling this list, you gave hope to a "wannabe" skipper.

My humble little Bristol 24 wants to know if she can join the group.

Yup, good choice. Humble and capable...just the right ingredients!

what about the Catalina 22 ?

A fine little coastal sailboat, trailer sailboat and "first" sailboat, but for all the things that the C22 is, she is definitely not a pocket cruiser that can GO ANYWHERE. Don't get me wrong, I love the C22 and our first boat (Helms 25) was very similar, but neither is suited for offshore work.

My little hurley 22, can she make the mark?

A Hurley can do anything! Ihave had a 24 since 1972 they are forgotten but they are great! Joe

Morris Frances 26.

Good recommendation! I love all of the small classic Morris boats like the Frances 26, Linda 28 and Annie 29. Chuck Paine has a way of making these small boats look larger than life!

Was expecting to see an Albin Vega 27 mentioned...

I included the Albin Vega in my "Bluewater on a Budget" post about affordable offshore cruisers. You can read it here: http://www.sailfarlivefree.com/2012/06/blue-water-on-budget-5-budget-cruisers.html

Any thoughts on our west coast Brent Swain 26 welded steel boats? Truly budget cruisers!

I have built one, but yet to launch it I am getting a trailer for it, an advantage that I never thought of when I started building it. Not very many built, mine is a single keel version and I added a wheelhouse.

What about Cape Dory's?

Howard - Good suggestion. Both the CD22 and CD25 are worthy little pocket cruisers with classic Alberg looks. I haven't been aboard either and don't know of any that have crossed oceans, but I suspect someone's been offshore in these two little Cape Dory's and I have little doubt they could be good sea boats in the right hands, given their stout construction, full keels, etc.

The boats listed are priced such that one could buy a much larger, albeit not-so-primo boat for the same or lesser amount. I've seen decent cal 34s go for $8k. So why buy a pocket cruiser that goes for 30K? Smaller sails and reduced slip rent can only account for a modicum of savings

True enough, this is NOT necessarily a list cheap/affordable small boats, but rather well-built and capable small boats that can go offshore in the right hands. Some sailors simply prefer a small, simple sailboat to a larger more spacious (and sometimes more complicated) sailboat, even if the purchase price is similar.

West Wight Potter 14 #223. Mexico to Hawaii.

I'm contemplating buying a 26' Micmac for rougher waters. http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=6202

A Vancouver 27 !!!!

hey you forgot a little boat from south africa called the flamenca 25 great little boat built for the cape of storms

A Flamenca would also sail circles around this list of boats. These traditional long keel boats are slow and without decent fouls, suck going upwind.

Would the Cascade 27 be a good pocket cruiser or is this just a coastal cruiser

I think it would be a excellent choice

Mmm. Some consistencies in your selections (apart from the obvious US of A bias), they all have square bows. Me thinks this is as much a beauty contest as a seaworthy small boat list. I'm afraid trailer and seagoing don't fit in the same sentence

Guilty as charged! Although I do disagree about trailer and seagoing...with both the Flicka and the Nor'Sea being plenty capable on both fronts.

Okay. On seaworthy, I sailed in 12 knots past a site where 2 friends were drowned, their yacht lost in a gale. So is my Folkboat, my sailing skill or patience to credit or was their boat any less seaworthy? An ocean crossing does not make a boat seaworthy, the sailing skill and weather and sea mix have as much to credit. I assert that a long heavy keel, stout rig and water tightness are compulsory if you want to lengthen the odds in your favour.

Nice article, I would however strongly suggest that you give a second thought about linking to myboatplans.com. It's a scam (most, if not all, of the plans are available for free elsewhere on the net and at least some pics are stolen from other boatbuilders). You don't have to take my word for it, just google around.

Thanks, and thanks for the suggestion...the link has been removed!

I am agree with you. Tks. An article about siling solo those smalls boats (in spanish): http://www.navegar-es-preciso.com/news/la-navegacion-oceanica-en-solitario-en-peque%C3%B1os-veleros-/

How about a Privateer26 by Kenner ? Check the specs, and I think you'll find she's equal in important areas and prettier by far than most!

Having a love affair with traditional boats with genuine shear lines, I just stepped out of my Marshall 22, and into a totally unknown double ender called a Skipper 20. Why these trailer sailors dream have gone unnoticed is hard to fathom. With room for 4, 2' draft, 800#s ballast, and a cockpit larger than my Bristol 27' which includes a outboard locker has me spending the last 4 months making the 40 year old look like modern and updated, quality pocket cruiser. With the new genoa, 5.5kts up hill and down, and as dry as they get,, Where they been???

I just bought a Skipper 20 and am fixing it up, can you tell me how it handles in a heavy blow? I am planning to use it as a micro coastal sailer and would like to know as much about it's capabilitys as I can. Much appreciated, Richard.

What are your thoughts on a San Juan 7.7 with the keel shoe? Offshore sailong to Hawaii or the inside passage to Alaska.

What are your thoughs on a San Juan 7.7 with the keel shoe offshore? IE; Hawaii or the Inside Passage to Alaska.

We recently purchased a JJ Taylor Contessa 26, hull #262, Ophelia, and have trailered her to Malletts Bay in Lake Champlain, VT. We were extremely flattered to have a visit from Tania Aebi, who lives 35 min. from us and wanted to show her sister and daughter-in-law an example of the boat that she sailed round the world in the late '80's.

What about steel Tom Thumb 24 ???

For whatever reason, I'm a fan of the Bristol 24 (Paul Coble design). The baby Bristols are full-keeled and don't go upwind very energetically, but once the sheets are started they come into their own. Hulls are usually nearly bulletproof, and even if damaged, they are small and easy to fix... some have been gilded into mini-yachts, but I prefer sparse brightwork and light/white paint. They are very (very) sea-kindly for their size and although they heel to about 15-20 degrees, their nearly 50% ballast usually stops it right there... Mast-head rigged, they have a large main and can develop noticeable weather-helm, so one reef keeps the tiller loads modest. Thankfully they aren't very popular or well-known, so you can find bargains and even top-drawer examples probably will cost less than a modest commuter car... I'm now on my second one (after having a larger fin-keel... am returning to the B24); if possible, look for one with split lower shrouds... Oh, they have comfortable 5'11" headroom, or just a fraction more,,,

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog, top 10 favorite affordable bluewater sailboats, escape to the sea: how to get from the great lakes to the caribbean.

• Forums New posts Unanswered threads Register Top Posts Email
• What's new New posts New Posts (legacy) Latest activity New media
• Media New media New comments
• Boat Info Downloads Weekly Quiz Topic FAQ 10000boatnames.com
• Classifieds Sell Your Boat Used Gear for Sale
• Parts General Marine Parts Hunter Beneteau Catalina MacGregor Oday
• Help Terms of Use Monday Mail Subscribe Monday Mail Unsubscribe

Limits of a Flicka 20

• Thread starter SailorElliot
• Start date Aug 1, 2021
• Tags breaking waves flicka 20 storms
• Forums for All Owners
• Ask All Sailors

SailorElliot

Hello! I was wondering what the "weather limits" are for a Flicka 20 (example: 30 knots of wind, 4 foot breaking waves). Also, if you have any tips on making storms/heavier weather more comfortable and safer, please let me know! Thanks, Elliot  

jon hansen said: that boat can cross oceans. match you sail square footage to the force of the wind. keep the vessel buttoned up/ keep 100% of the water out, hang on. heavy weather handling? lots of books and/or videos on that Click to expand

Hello SailorElliot, If you have not already done this.....check the pedigree of the Flicka 20 on sailboat data. Many different constructions and options according to the site. For any sailboat we owned I felt sure it could sail better (and therefore handle more difficult situations) than I could handle. My $ 0.02.  

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

The flicka 20 sailboat : bluewaterboats.org.

Thank you! I was also wondering, what are the chances of the weather really picking up?  

Chances that the weather will really pick up are 100%. You just don't want to be there then. The Flicka is not fast enough to outrun every weather system, so it is a good idea to be prepared.  

SailorElliot said: what are the chances of the weather really picking up? Click to expand

• What are the chances that if sailing in the open ocean during Hurricane Season of you running into a Hurricane? If you sail in the area that hurricanes form, better chance of experience than if you avoid such areas.
• If you sail in the North Atlantic during the winter months, then you are likely to experience "Weather really Picking Up"!

Kings Gambit

I think he’s referring to the weather of the San Pedro Channel, perhaps the Inner Waters generally. The basic answer is that “weather” can develop between forecast up-dates and lead to advisories; thus perhaps “picking up”during your transit interval, etc. The most common advisories off southern California are Small Craft Advisories and Gale Warnings. During the winter Santa Ana conditions can develop quickly, often leading to gale force winds from the northeast. The warning time on those may be only a few hours.  

Here are the forecasts for my trip: 5 to 8 knots of wind, up to 10-knot gusts. Waves 2-3 in Santa Monica Bay with 5-8 second period. Waves 3 and 3 in the middle of the passage with, again, 5-8 second period. Will that work?  

Have you been out in those conditions? Is the boat sound, the rigging reliable, motor in good operating condition? Are you fully prepared for this journey? Do you have the charts, the safety equipment, the knowledge how to sail the boat, how to navigate from your start point to your destination? If you can truthfully answer yes to all of the above then it sounds like you are ready to go out and test the waters. Recognize, that no one is ready having never been there before. Once you leave the safety of your experience you need to constantly consider the evolving conditions. Always consider returning to your safety zone if conditions exceed your level of comfort. Only you can really decide if it will work.  

The Water in Between: A Journey at Sea

SailorElliot said: Here are the forecasts for my trip: 5 to 8 knots of wind, up to 10-knot gusts. Waves 2-3 in Santa Monica Bay with 5-8 second period. Waves 3 and 3 in the middle of the passage with, again, 5-8 second period. Will that work? Click to expand

jssailem said: Have you been out in those conditions? Is the boat sound, the rigging reliable, motor in good operating condition? Are you fully prepared for this journey? Do you have the charts, the safety equipment, the knowledge how to sail the boat, how to navigate from your start point to your destination? If you can truthfully answer yes to all of the above then it sounds like you are ready to go out and test the waters. Recognize, that no one is ready having never been there before. Once you leave the safety of your experience you need to constantly consider the evolving conditions. Always consider returning to your safety zone if conditions exceed your level of comfort. Only you can really decide if it will work. Click to expand

jon hansen said: The Water in Between: A Journey at Sea Wise, funny and beautifully written, The Water in Betwe… www.goodreads.com he had never sailed. left his life as a doctor. bought a boat. put it in the water. knew nothing. sailed to tahiti and back. fun read! Click to expand

Kings Gambit said: Those should be “fairly benign” conditions. Likely a little slow-going for your heavy sloop, but comfortable. I’d prepare for a long (hours) trip. It’s a bit like one’s first dive off the high dive. Once you’ve done it once or twice it’s not as “scary.” Click to expand

So if I was comfortable, I would go til that changed. That is the way I sail my boat. 2019, I left my marina to meet up with friends. I had to sail about 40nm to meet them in a bay for a couple of days. About 20 miles into my journey I got a call. They were in 40 knots of wind, the waves were 6 feet and they had decided not to go any further. At the same time I got a Small Craft warning for the next 24-48 hours. Winds in excess of 40 knots. Waves 6-8 ft. I had 2 choices. Find a safe harbor and hope that the weather might improve in 24 hours, or turn around and head back to my marina, spend the night there and see what happens. I chose my marina. Weather went from bad to worse. Winds were clocked at 53knots over night. In the morning driving rain and winds 30 knots SCW for then next 48 hours. I hated not getting to join up with friends, but was pleased to be safely in the marina able to sail another day.  

garymalmgren

Here are the forecasts for my trip: 5 to 8 knots of wind, up to 10-knot gusts. Waves 2-3 in Santa Monica Bay with 5-8 second period. Waves 3 and 3 in the middle of the passage with, again, 5-8 second period. Will that work? Yes. Have a good trip.  

• This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies. Accept Learn more…

Flicka Reviews

John Vigor - Good Old Boat Magazine

"Shortly after I took over the Flicka Home Page, one of the projects on the to-do list was a Flicka Review Links Page. Several Flicka Reviews were available on the Internet and required only a simple link.

One of the articles considered was the Flicka Review done by John Vigor and published in Good Old Boat. I contacted them by e-mail and received the article and photos.

While Good Old Boat was more than willing to forward the photographs and text, they were concerned about how the article was received when it appeared in the 1999 November/December issue. They felt that John Vigor's "British Humor" was interpreted by some Flicka sailors as criticism and told me they had learned a valuable lesson about just how passionate Flicka owners can be about their sailboats. In 1999 they were "new" in the business and felt bad about the response to the article".

Tom Davison

Blue Water Boats

Sailing Magazine

Small Craft Advisor re-print Issue #6

Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. Sign in to save them permanently, access them on any device, and receive relevant alerts.

• Sailboat Guide

1975 nor star flicka

• Description

Seller's Description

Project boat ,finished to high standard , on cradle , needs to be finished .

Equipment: 3 new sails ,mast ,boom , standing rigging, miscellaneous hardware,

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

From BlueWaterBoats.org :

At the extreme of ‘go small, go simple’ is the little Flicka 20. At an incredibly small 20 feet, few other boats can claim proven blue water capabilities. Flicka has crossed the oceans of the world, weathered severe storms and survived groundings on reefs with little damage. Yet this pint sized world cruiser can be popped onto a trailer and taken home.

Designed by Bruce Bingham along the lines of the Newport workboats of the 19th century, the Flicka 20 was originally introduced to the home-build market in 1972 before reaching production, first by Nor’ Star and then by Pacific Seacraft.

If you can get over the lack of deck space and finding place to stow your tender, you’ll find a boat that’s essentially solid, seaworthy and with the interior space of a boat 6 feet longer. She’s large enough to live in, and being so small she’s incredibly easy to handle. She sails well despite her short length and heavy displacement. These are some of the reasons people rationalize buying the Flicka 20, but perhaps the real reason is her charm and character; this little boat has quite the cult following.

The first line drawings of the Flicka were published in RUDDER magazine in March 1972 but the origins of the Flicka go back to the 1950’s when Bruce Bingham made some sketches of two derelict wooden sailboats on a river just south of Wickford in Rhode Island. Bingham later learned that they were workboats that had been used since 1840 by the fishermen who sailed out to the stormy Block Island Sound to work the fishery there. These boats were known as Newport boats and had a reputation for being fast, seaworthy boats that would bring home their crew safely. Bingham liked the rugged character of the Newport boats and upon finding the line drawings in a book he started modifying the lines into a new design which became the Flicka 20. The design was originally aimed at the home build market and the length was kept at 20 feet to make it affordable.

In the September of 1972  RUDDER published the first of a six part article on building a Flicka from ferrocement, which showed further refinements to the lines and interior. Rumor has it that the first ferrocement Flicka was built at a boat show as a demonstration project to promote the construction method. The boat failed to catch on as ferrocement construction was expensive and a lot of work for a small boat.  However, over the next five-year period, 400 sets of plans were reported sold, most of these boats built from GRP but at least one using carvel planking.

In 1974 a Flicka plug was made by Bingham and Katy Burke and sold to Nor’ Star Marine in California. In 1975 Nor’ Star started producing solidly built GRP hulls but at this stage there was no mold for the deck and cabin trunk. By February 1976, Nor’ Star was producing a GRP deck, cockpit and cabin truck. Their Flickas were either sold as kits or sub contracted to Westerley Marine for completion. This was a successful recipe which produced well constructed, high quality boats, regarded by many to be the most beautiful Flickas ever produced, with finely crafted and finished wood interiors. The winning partnership was brought to an end when Nor’ Star Marine closed down in 1977.

The Flicka was then sold to the then newly starting out Pacific Seacraft Corporation, who built a reputation for high quality construction and beautiful hand-crafted interiors. The builders at Pacific Seacraft modified the Flicka further by decreasing the radius of the cabin trunk crown and moving the deck hatch to the cabin top forward of the mast step.  By 1994 434 Flickas had been produced by Pacific Seacraft but in 2007 the company went bust. The brand name, molds and tools were bought at a bankruptcy auction by marine archaeologist Stephen Brodie and the company was moved to the East Coast where it was resurrected.

In 2001, the new Pacific Seacraft attempted to relaunch the Flicka design on the basis that they required an order of  four or five boats. Unfortunately, the order was not filled and the design was shelved. It is thought unlikely that the Flicka will ever be in production again but there are always Flickas out there for sale on the used boat market and for those who are interested in building their own, the plans and currently at least one hull and deck kit are apparently available now through Roy McBride at CKD boats in South Africa.

Configuration & Layout

The Flicka’s workboat heritage is clear to see in her strong sheer, bluff bow and low freeboard (for hauling nets). She has a full keel which draws 3 feet 3 inches and a simple transom-hung rudder. Her 1800 pounds of ballast is positioned well forward in the hull and is responsible for a large part of her total displacement.

In order to create a lot of space on a waterline of only 18 feet 2 inches the Flicka was designed with a relatively wide 8 feet beam, tall topsides, and a high coach roof. This design might suggest elements of a bathtub toy, however the Flicka is far from ugly and has an undeniable charm which attracts attention wherever she goes.

Most Flickas use a masthead sloop rig which is set from a short bowsprit. It’s a small rig with 106 square feet in the mainsail and two rows of reefing points, and a working jib of 137 square feet. Variations do exist including some that are fractionally rigged, while others employ a full cutter rig, though it is debateable whether there is any advantage in cutting up the sail area in an already small rig thereby creating extra windage from the extra halyard, sheeting lines and inner stay.  Several Flickas have been successfully converted to gaff and junk rigs and there is at least one yawl.

On deck you’ll find narrow side decks and relatively restricted access to the mast and foredeck. There’s little space to stow a tender, most owners tow theirs or stow it below. The cockpit is small and protected although comparatively large in comparison to the Flicka’s size. At 1 1/2″ the small cockpit drains have been an area of concern for some blue water sailors.

Bingham’s beamy hull allows for a capacious interior with 5 feet 11 inches of headroom and three full-sized berths. The interior is open-plan with no bulkhead separating the forepeak from the main cabin. Her fresh water supply is carried in a 20 gallon tank under the quarter berth.  The diesel fuel tank, which lives under the V-berth, holds 8 gallons, as does the holding tank. The standard inboard engine is the economical Yanmar 1GM10, a single-cylinder diesel of 9 horsepower.  Access to the inboard is afforded by a watertight hatch in the sole of the cockpit. With an inboard and enclosed head almost half the stowage space on the Flicka is lost and for that reason an outboard engine is the choice of many Flicka owners. With an outboard the fuel tank can be replaced with freshwater and a lot of extra space is created behind the companionway steps.

Construction

Being initally a home build boat you’ll find Flickas built to varying standards in a range of materials.

Pacific Seacraft Flickas were built in fiberglass, early hulls were hand laid in polyester resin while later hulls switched to osmosis resisting vinylester resin. The decks are fiberglass with a balsa core while areas with through deck hardware are cored in plywood. The interior is built from a single fiberglass pan which is bonded to the hull and lined with beautiful teak trim.

The mast is stepped in a stainless-steel tabernacle to allow easy removal for trailering as well as quick raising and lowering to avoid overhead obstacles.

Quality bronze fittings were used and the outboard chainplates were mounted through the hull with stainless steel backing plates. After 1980 enclosed heads with holding tanks became standard and the later models also come with custom bronze port lights, inboard engines and an excellent cruising rig by LeFiell.

Given the Flicka’s short waterline length, heavy displacement and small rig, it’s generally agreed she sails exceptionally well. Though most Flicka owners would agree that boat speed is not the number one priority, she is not a laggard by any means. According to Pacific Seacraft long passages of a 5-knot average are not uncommon. Owners report that she can easily sail 4 to 5 knots in the right conditions and can exceed 6 knots on a reach in winds of 20 knots or more. Her best point of sail is a beam to broad reach.

Like most heavy displacement boats, light air performance suffers. Many owners recommend the use of a drifter in 10 knots for a bit of extra go-go juice.

With her wineglass sections, short draft and 30% ballast ratio the boat is tender. Owners have also reported a tendency for weather helm. Tacking can be difficult in choppy conditions due to her tendency to pitch. Some owners have suggested that in certain weather conditions she can induce seasickness in even the hardiest of sailors but her motion is generally kind.

That aside, she is renowned for keeping her crew safe in a blow and she is a whole lot of fun to sail.

Buyer’s Notes

Flickas built by Pacific Seacraft are considered by many to be the one to go for due to their superior construction quality. Due to her solid construction and sensible design, the Flicka 20 has aged well. There have been no specific weaknesses that have come to light. Flickas tend to be well loved and in relatively good condition and have proven to be popular in the used boat market.

There is an active owner community. For further advice, boat listings and resources it is recommended buyers get in contact via the Flicka20.com website as well as the email discussion list on Yahoo Groups.

As of 2010 the asking prices for the boat is in the range of $10k – $50k USD depending on year and condition.

Links, References and Further Reading

» Flicka 20 information and resources at flicka20.com » Flicka 20 owners discussion group at Yahoo Groups » Flicka Review from Good Old Boat Magazine by John Vigor Nov/Dec 1999 » A Flicka Sailboat Story by Roy McBride » Flicka 20 info at CKD Boats , source of Flicka 20 Hull and Deck kits. » Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere by John Vigor , (Ch13, p77-82) an in depth look at the Flicka 20. ISBN:978-0939837328

This listing is presented by SailboatListings.com . Visit their website for more information or to contact the seller.

View on SailboatListings.com

Embed this page on your own website by copying and pasting this code.

Similar Sailboats For Sale

2022 Current Marine 46 Custom

1987 Ferro 46

• About Sailboat Guide

©2024 Sea Time Tech, LLC

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.