rustybarge
Well-Known Member
is the motion on a Tri different to a Cat?
Any liveaboards on light-weight racer/cruisers?
- Thread starter demonboy
- Start date
is the motion on a Tri different to a Cat?
BurnitBlue
Well-Known Member
I sailed a lightweight boat across to the Bahamas. I would not do it again. You are wrong to think that a lightweight boat will allow you to sail rather than motor. In some conditions yes. In other conditions, no. Exactly the same as a heavyweight, the varied conditions is a swings and roundabout situation. I recall one instance when I was sailing alongside a heavy Hans Christian double ender. My lightweight boat was stopped dead in the water every time she met a wave. The heavy Hans Christian plowed straight through. The skipper lounged in the cockpit in easy motion while I was white-knuckling the helm trying to keep the jerking, stop-go boat moving.
Don't get hung up dreaming about conditions ideal for a lightweight boat. They don't happen all that often. There is a very good reason world cruisers are mostly heavyweights.
Don't get hung up dreaming about conditions ideal for a lightweight boat. They don't happen all that often. There is a very good reason world cruisers are mostly heavyweights.
Artic Warrior
Well-Known Member
Hi Demonboy,
Ive had the same "which boat issue" for years now having gone from racer mono, to racer cat, to medium mono, then to current heavy mono
So over the years im very confused, I want fast, strong, shallow draft etc etc,,,, I havnt the money for alloy,
Ps the main requirement of wife is a comfortable bed,,,
Colin
Ive had the same "which boat issue" for years now having gone from racer mono, to racer cat, to medium mono, then to current heavy mono
So over the years im very confused, I want fast, strong, shallow draft etc etc,,,, I havnt the money for alloy,
Ps the main requirement of wife is a comfortable bed,,,
Colin
Artic Warrior
Well-Known Member
I forgot,,, I even went down the motor boat route,,,(SSSShhhh !!! don't tell any one)
wingssail
New Member
Demonboy, I know this thread is old, but I wanted to give you a direct answer to your question and provide some food for thought for others. My wife and I live on and cruise (and BTW, occasionally race) an older, 43ft, raceboat. We've lived on it for 28 years, travelled 55000 nm, and are currently in Mexico. We modified it before going cruising to add bigger water tanks, fuel tanks, windlass, and quite a few other cruising items. Now the boat is more of a racer cruiser than a racer, however it still sails like a racer and still can win races. I would encourage you to do this.
Reasons (Pros):
1. It sails well. You will sail when everyone else is motoring because you can, and because it is fun. With a high performance boat you love to sail it. Why have a sailboat which disappoints you whenever you put up the sails? With that kind of boat you soon stop sailing and motor everywhere.
2. It is easy to sail. The deck layout and winches are made for efficiency, so they are easier for a husband and wife to operate. I hate to go sailing with my friends on their cruisers because everything is so much harder. Plus, with a performance boat it goes well with less sail area. We can perform well with a mainsail and small jib. It is also easy for a windvane to operate the boat. We can use our windvane, and do, 99% of the time we are sailing, heavy weather or light. Every thing is easier: Raise the dingy out of the water? with a big three speed winch and the halyard let to the cockpit, its a piece of cake. Going up the mast? infinitely easier with simple leads and big winches. Even setting sails is fast and easy because it has to be for a race boat. Our boat is astonishingly easy for the two of (69 & 65 yrs of age) to operate and you won't find that on a cruising boat.
3. It is safe. We can sail any direction in any conditions (though we might not like to). If we have to get off a lee shore, we can.
4. Volume. Our boat has a large volume and we have tons of storage. we carry everything we need for living, cruising, racing, including spares and tools, and two full sets of sails, and nothing is on deck and nothing is on the cabin sole, everything is stowed.
5. Reliability. Well, this has more to do with preparation than the type of boat, however, more sailing and less motoring gives less wear and tear on the drive train. Anyhow, all boats whatever the type, have breakdowns, constantly.
CONS
1. Cockpit. Our cockpit is made for racing, no proper seats and not easy to use for entertaining.
2. Bilge. We have no bilge, and a little water inside looks like a flood. pumping the bilge requires a portable hose connected to a self priming pump.
3. Limited space for guests. Our guest cabin has been constrained by the sail locker uner it's bunk and is too small for comfortable living. If we have guests they usually prefer to sleep in the cabin.
MYTHS
1. Bad motion of a light boat in a seaway. False. I've been on heavy boats, and boats with heavy ends, and compared to our boat, they hobby horse, drive the bows into the water, and their motion is worse than our boat, which lives lightly on the water. As for pounding, our friends with a Westsail 43 complained of pounding as much as we do. In big waves, upwind, all boats will pound, and many will not even move.
2. Light is weak, not strong. False. Boats engineered for the kind of pushing a boat gets in a race are strong.
3. Deep keels keep you out of harbors. False. Our 8ft keel has rarely been an issue and I'd rather deal with the rare issue of not being able to go to some place once in a while than have to live with a non-performing keel 100% of the time, every day.
4. Running Backstays and other racing equipment are too much trouble. False. Sure, there is more to do, but if you want to do nothing when sailing, stay home and watch a sailing video on TV. Sailing has always been an activity, and when the boat rewards you with great performance and fun, you don't mind a little extra to do.
5. Not stable and won't track in a straight line. False. Racer cruisers have more, not less, righting moment than most heavy cruisers, and limits of positive stability well within acceptable limits. The spade rudders provide such dramatically better response that small corrections from an autopilot or windvane will keep the boat on course better than an inefficient keel hung rudder ever will. In waves, we stay straight as well as any vessel, and if a broach happens, our powerful rudder brings us back quickly.
SUMMARY:
There are many advantages and no significant disadvantages from living and cruising on a Racer/Cruiser. Pick a well constructed and equipped boat and have fun.
Fredrick Roswold, SV Wings, Puerto Vallarta (http://wingssail.blogspot.com/)
Reasons (Pros):
1. It sails well. You will sail when everyone else is motoring because you can, and because it is fun. With a high performance boat you love to sail it. Why have a sailboat which disappoints you whenever you put up the sails? With that kind of boat you soon stop sailing and motor everywhere.
2. It is easy to sail. The deck layout and winches are made for efficiency, so they are easier for a husband and wife to operate. I hate to go sailing with my friends on their cruisers because everything is so much harder. Plus, with a performance boat it goes well with less sail area. We can perform well with a mainsail and small jib. It is also easy for a windvane to operate the boat. We can use our windvane, and do, 99% of the time we are sailing, heavy weather or light. Every thing is easier: Raise the dingy out of the water? with a big three speed winch and the halyard let to the cockpit, its a piece of cake. Going up the mast? infinitely easier with simple leads and big winches. Even setting sails is fast and easy because it has to be for a race boat. Our boat is astonishingly easy for the two of (69 & 65 yrs of age) to operate and you won't find that on a cruising boat.
3. It is safe. We can sail any direction in any conditions (though we might not like to). If we have to get off a lee shore, we can.
4. Volume. Our boat has a large volume and we have tons of storage. we carry everything we need for living, cruising, racing, including spares and tools, and two full sets of sails, and nothing is on deck and nothing is on the cabin sole, everything is stowed.
5. Reliability. Well, this has more to do with preparation than the type of boat, however, more sailing and less motoring gives less wear and tear on the drive train. Anyhow, all boats whatever the type, have breakdowns, constantly.
CONS
1. Cockpit. Our cockpit is made for racing, no proper seats and not easy to use for entertaining.
2. Bilge. We have no bilge, and a little water inside looks like a flood. pumping the bilge requires a portable hose connected to a self priming pump.
3. Limited space for guests. Our guest cabin has been constrained by the sail locker uner it's bunk and is too small for comfortable living. If we have guests they usually prefer to sleep in the cabin.
MYTHS
1. Bad motion of a light boat in a seaway. False. I've been on heavy boats, and boats with heavy ends, and compared to our boat, they hobby horse, drive the bows into the water, and their motion is worse than our boat, which lives lightly on the water. As for pounding, our friends with a Westsail 43 complained of pounding as much as we do. In big waves, upwind, all boats will pound, and many will not even move.
2. Light is weak, not strong. False. Boats engineered for the kind of pushing a boat gets in a race are strong.
3. Deep keels keep you out of harbors. False. Our 8ft keel has rarely been an issue and I'd rather deal with the rare issue of not being able to go to some place once in a while than have to live with a non-performing keel 100% of the time, every day.
4. Running Backstays and other racing equipment are too much trouble. False. Sure, there is more to do, but if you want to do nothing when sailing, stay home and watch a sailing video on TV. Sailing has always been an activity, and when the boat rewards you with great performance and fun, you don't mind a little extra to do.
5. Not stable and won't track in a straight line. False. Racer cruisers have more, not less, righting moment than most heavy cruisers, and limits of positive stability well within acceptable limits. The spade rudders provide such dramatically better response that small corrections from an autopilot or windvane will keep the boat on course better than an inefficient keel hung rudder ever will. In waves, we stay straight as well as any vessel, and if a broach happens, our powerful rudder brings us back quickly.
SUMMARY:
There are many advantages and no significant disadvantages from living and cruising on a Racer/Cruiser. Pick a well constructed and equipped boat and have fun.
Fredrick Roswold, SV Wings, Puerto Vallarta (http://wingssail.blogspot.com/)
