So, are aluminum blue water sailboats the best ocean-going sailboats? At Garcia Yachts, we believe the answer is yes — and here’s why.
Why choose an aluminium bluewater sailboat for your long-distance cruising project?
A Blue water cruiser isn’t just a sailboat, it’s a mobile home, a refuge, and a long-term companion designed to endure and deliver comfort anywhere on the planet. At Garcia, we’ve made a clear choice: aluminum is the best material to support ambitious bluewater sailing adventures.
Strenght to match the challenges of offshore cruising
When circumnavigating or crossing oceans, you’ll face changing—and sometimes harsh—weather. You might need to anchor in remote or poorly charted areas. And although rare, collisions with floating objects do happen.
Aluminium provides exceptional impact resistance to bluewater sailboats. It might bend, but it doesn’t break—and it’s easily repaired, even far from any marina. In other words, aluminium is the best material to go far, for a long time, with confidence.
Safety and lightness: Key allies for ocean going performance
An offshore cruising sailboat must be both strong and responsive: speed, handling, and stability are crucial to safety. Being able to outrun a squall or reach shelter faster can make a difference.
Aluminum is lighter than steel and stronger than fiberglass, making it ideal for building high-performance ocean-going sailboats. This weight advantage allows for increased payload, greater responsiveness, and better sailing behavior.
Longevity, reliability and peace of mind
A bluewater sailboat is constantly exposed to wear and tear—whether at sea or at anchor. Materials fatigue, and corrosion is a long-term concern.
Properly protected by sacrificial anodes, an aluminium hull ages very well. It offers lasting value, reduced maintenance, and a strong resale price—making it a reliable long-term investment.
Garcia Yachts aluminium sailboats: Designed for long-distance cruising
A Garcia yacht is more than just an aluminium hull. We’ve specialized in aluminium bluewater sailing yachts for decades. The Exploration range—45, 52, and 60 feet—was designed in collaboration with explorer Jimmy Cornell, specifically for long voyages, including high-latitude sailing.
➡️ Discover our range of aluminium hull sailboats
➡️ Tour the Garcia Exploration 45 with Marisa & Adriano (EN)
All the benefits of aluminium, without the downsides
Many aluminum sailboats are known for being spartan. Not so with Garcia. Our aluminum bluewater sailboats feature high-end finishes, luxurious interiors, and top-notch thermal and acoustic insulation.
We also eliminate corrosion concerns. Garcia integrates advanced practices against galvanic and electrolytic corrosion, ensuring peace of mind through good design, electrical engineering, and routine anode checks.
Bluewater cruising yachts built by and for real sailors
The Garcia Exploration 45, the first of its kind 45-foot sailboat for bluewater sailing , was developed with Jimmy Cornell. While preparing for the Northwest Passage, he had specific requirements in mind:
- Aluminium hull for safety and strength
- Integral centerboard for shallow anchoring and stability at sea
- Dual watch zones: protected outside cockpit and inside nav station
- Thermal insulation and double glazing for extreme temperatures
- Accessible technical spaces, generous storage volumes, redundant systems
[.content-en] ➡️ Discover our range of aluminium sailboats for blue water cruising [.content-en]
[.content-en] ➡️ Explore Marisa & Adriano's experience aboard their Garcia Exploration 45 [.content-en]
[.content-en] 👉 Dreaming of a great voyage aboard an exceptional sailboat? Write to us at sales@garciayachts.com: we'll be delighted to discuss the Garcia sailboat best suited to your project. [.content-en]
Blue water cruising & aluminium vs other hull materials
Which is the best material for long-distance sailing? Here's a comparison of common hull types for bluewater cruising sailboats:
➡️ What are the advantages and disadvantages of an aluminium bluewater sailboats?
Aluminium sailboats are strong, repairable, lihgtweight, long-lasting and ecofriendly as they are built of a recyclable material, but frequently have a higher upfront cost when compared to sailboats built with other materials (steel, fiberglass).
➡️ What are the advantages and disadvantages of steel sailboats?
Steel sailboats are very strong and affordable, but these advantages come at the expense of a higher weight, less corrosion resistance (compared with aluminium), and a less agile hull.
➡️ What are the advantages and disadvantages of fiberglas (GRP) sailboats?
Shipyards building fiberglass sailboats benefit from flexibility when designing and building boats with attractive curves. On the other hand, fiberglass sailboats are fragile to impact and difficult to repair offshore.
For those seeking to sail far and wide -without compromise- aluminium remains the ultimate blue water ally.
