HORIZON...a blue-water steel cutter
SOLD!
But check out my books about our adventures:
SOLD!
But check out my books about our adventures:
My book about our circumnavigation in the 1970s (in a different boat) is now available on Amazon here.
Although it was written over 40 years ago, it still gives a candid and realistic glimpse of the struggles we went through and what it's like at sea in a small boat with few of the conveniences and gadgets usually considered "essential" today. If you have dreams of sailing off into the sunset, this is a great book to give you some sense of what it's like. It's not a bad read for the armchair adventurer either. Check it out!
Latest news (6/2/2023)!!!!
Due to continuing demand, First Voyage is now available as an audiobook (I did the narration myself)!
If that's your preferred format, you can find it on Amazon too.
And my book about our second, 4-year voyage in the boat described here is now available on Amazon here.
This time we went first to Central America, then across the Atlantic to the Med, as far east as Turkey, then back across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. I try to present ocean voyaging as it is, without sugar coating it. Lots of info here on the two Atlantic crossings and sailing in the Med. A good read if you have thoughts of doing something similar. Even better if you're thinking of buying the boat!
This time we went first to Central America, then across the Atlantic to the Med, as far east as Turkey, then back across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. I try to present ocean voyaging as it is, without sugar coating it. Lots of info here on the two Atlantic crossings and sailing in the Med. A good read if you have thoughts of doing something similar. Even better if you're thinking of buying the boat!
Even later news (7/26/2023)!!!
I've uploaded slideshows from both voyages to YouTube. Of course we had no video back then, but some years ago I digitized the slides, added music and narration and some motion. The quality isn't quite what it would be today, but it still may be of interest. Check it out here for First Voyage and here for Second Voyage.
I've uploaded slideshows from both voyages to YouTube. Of course we had no video back then, but some years ago I digitized the slides, added music and narration and some motion. The quality isn't quite what it would be today, but it still may be of interest. Check it out here for First Voyage and here for Second Voyage.
HORIZON has made two trouble-free Atlantic crossings and many other extensive offshore passages over the years. Still in great shape and scrupulously maintained. One owner for 30+ years.
Design: Departure 35
LOA: 35'
LWL: 29
Beam: 11'
Designed draft: 5' (about 5'3" in cruising trim).
Designed displacement: 16, 800 lbs (In cruising trim, about 19,000 lbs–-waterline raised 4-5 inches)
Designer: Charles Wittholtz
Hull built by Mooney Marine, Deltaville, VA in 1982-3. Rest of construction, rigging, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and interior done by owner. Launched 1986. Cruised extensively since then.
Features/Equipment of Specific Interest to Offshore Sailors and Serious Cruisers
• Steel hull
• Nearly full keel with attached rudder
• Wind vane self-steering
• Oversized rigging with all Sta-Loc terminals
• Avon 4-man liferaft
• Wind generator
• Solar panels
• Ham/SSB radio
• Heavy anchor gear (all-chain)
• Pole for downwind sailing set up on mast for easy deployment
• Storm trysail on separate mast track
• Plus much more. See details and additional gear below.
Owner’s Comments
This is a rugged go-anywhere boat that still looks like a yacht. The design is from the 1960s and was featured in Arthur Beiser’s book The Proper Yacht. It has a number of features that make it a good offshore boat. The nearly full keel with attached rudder gives exceptional directional stability. The moderate draft is a good compromise, neither too shallow nor too deep. The outboard rudder with tiller steering is not the usual choice these days, but it has the huge advantages of simplicity, excellent control, and ease of rigging self-steering. The conservative rig is easy to handle, yet the hull is easily driven and reasonably fast. It’s no racing machine, but it goes to windward quite well for a cruising yacht, has enough weight to carry its momentum in a seaway, and its downwind performance is exceptional--the fairly low aspect main provides excellent drive.
In general, this is not a boat for someone who’s interested primarily in day-sailing or limited cruising in sheltered waters in the summer. It’s rigged and equipped and designed for offshore sailing, and over the years it's always been maintained with that in mind. It’s ideal for a single-hander or an active couple who want to do some serious cruising without a lot of frills and at a reasonable price. As offered, this boat is ready to go, with all equipment functioning. I wouldn’t hesitate to set off for the Caribbean or Europe tomorrow in it.
You might want to consider this boat if you want...
• ... a proven vessel that has been tested in a full range of conditions on numerous offshore passages. (Click here to look at the Cruising History page.)
• ... a boat with all gear working and with extensive notes on all systems. It's fully ready to take you to the Caribbean or Europe or wherever you have in mind. Basic systems (rigging, sails, engine) are all in excellent shape and ready to go. (Click here to look at the Gear page.)
• ... the strength and water tightness of a steel hull. (Click here to look at the Hull page.) Steel is an excellent choice for offshore sailing. No worries about leaking chain plates or hull-deck joints coming apart. Even if you hit something, the steel is much more likely to bend than to puncture as a fiberglass boat might. There are no worries about blisters. Steel does require a little more vigilant maintenance than fiberglass, but the peace of mind you get in other areas makes it well worth it.
You might not want to consider this boat if...
• ...you're looking for spacious living. You'll find much more luxurious accommodation in innumerable production boats.
•...you don't want to deal with tiller steering. I consider the simplicity of tiller steering with an outboard rudder to be a plus for offshore sailing, but you may not.
•...your cruising plans are limited to coastal or sheltered waters sailing, or perhaps motoring up and down the inland waterway. In that case, there are boats far better suited for that kind of thing.
But if you're dreaming of palm trees and white sand beaches, of trade-wind passages (with only the occasional calm or gale thrown in!), of isolated anchorages or busy Mediterranean harbors, this boat will take you there as surely and safely as any gold-plater...and at a fraction of the cost. How do I know? It's already done that!
Buy today--Leave for the Caribbean tomorrow!
(Well, maybe not quite, but this boat really is ready to go! It just needs a willing and enthusiastic captain.)
Located in Oriental, NC