Dan,  Most sailboats designed to win races "on the racing circuit" do
not make good liveaboard boats for several reasons...and, these
reasons are generalities, not specifics: 1. They have high-aspect
rigs. 2. They are lightly built. 3. Their keels and rudders do not
take groundings well. 4. Their interior "facilities" are minimal.
5. Below deck ventilation is poor. 6. They are "wet."
     I never raced. Just was not my "bag."  I was a cruiser. To me,
sailing to places I had never been before, "exploring" those new
locations, eating their "specialties," and "feeling" the people out on
how they viewed various aspects of our society, etc., etc....that, to
me, was what living aboard and cruising was all about. That is,
getting out and seeing some of the rest of the world. One learns a lot
doing that...and soon sees "things" from several different aspects.
     A good cruising, liveaboard sailboat should be easy to handle
under most conditions with a minimum of crew (like with you and your
wife or girlfriend). It should not "break" when "things" start to get
rough or don't go right...like getting hit with a line squall or
running aground). The boat should ride good in most encountered sea
conditions...and should not take water aboard except under adverse
conditions. Below decks, the layout should be comfortable, attractive,
and utilitarian. Remember, that is where you live. And, this is a
"biggie"...you must be able to ventilate below decks. This means
having lots of opening ports and hatches...and "scoops." Also, it is
most important that you have lots of lockers, drawers, cubby holes,
etc., in which to store your possessions, gear, and provisions. When
"ready for sea," you should see no gear adrift topside or below-decks.
If you do, "you'll be sorry." A boat with a deep bilge area provides
additional margins of safety if you take on water...which you will.
     Both the Inland and International Rules of the Road have this to
say about lookouts in Rule 5: "Every vessel shall at all times
maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all
available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and
conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of risk
of collision." This means that a "single hander" sailboat, underway,
is in violation of federal law everytime he goes below for whatever
reason: to go to the head, to get something to eat, to sleep, etc. In
my opinion, it is also kind of dumb (and dangerous) to be moving
through the water without seeing what is going on. One can get killed
doing that. Accordingly, I'm against sailboats being underway with
only one person on board. I have done it and was sorry every time. Too
many things "come up" aboard a sailboat that require the use of more
than one pair of hands. I think it's dangerous to go out...alone.
     One ability that is sadly lacking in many boaters is being able
to extract the information that is provided by a nautical chart. You
would be amazed at the number of "boaters" that cannot "read" a chart.
Don't you be one of them...or you could end up getting hurt..or worse.
There are several good navigation primers that can be purchased in
many bookstores that, in addition to "teaching" you how to read
charts, will give you the basics (and finer points) of the "Art of
Navigation." The ones that come to mind are: The American Practical
Navigator by Nathaniel Bowditch, and Dutton's Navigation and Piloting
by Elbert S. Maloney. They are mighty interesting reading, too.
     Chart Number 1 titled Nautical Chart Symbols and Abbreviations is
a handy publication to have on board. So is the United States Coast
Pilot for the area in which you are navigating. (Be wary of some of
the information contained in some of the so-called "cruising guides."
They are not always all that correct or accurate). I prefer the
government publications. And, don't forget to have in your boat
library a copy of the Rules of the Road...and know what they are.
     These are my opinions. Other people have theirs. You pick.
--- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 
---------------