bow thruster affect on sailing performance?

[SailBobSquarePants]

Contessaman,
I was just PMed this...it appears you do NOT need a bowthruster at all. The problem is simply that you do not have the following on your sailing CV:

Started sailing 1960
First cross-Channel 1965 (over 150 since)
when skipper of MAICA (Google her)
= long-keel + 4HP Stuart Turner!
Owned /shared 9 yachts 24-32ft LOA
Chartered 80-90 yachts 32-43ft LOA
all from Solent marinas
Cruised Rotterdam - La Rochelle
and Aldeburgh - Ireland
Raced round the cans & R the Is x 20

Get some miles in!!

Therefore, I think you shouldn't even be thinking about any aides at all to assist your sailing - in fact, I suggest you buy a sextant and get rid of your GPS(es), eliminate any man-made ropes and use hemp, and whatever you do do NOT use an electic windlass...

And forget you've ever heard of a bowthruster...because remember, you just need more miles...

N.B. - It's attitudes like this that limit the appeal of sailing to so many non-sailors, IMHO.

 

[contessaman]

Contessaman,
I was just PMed this...it appears you do NOT need a bowthruster at all. The problem is simply that you do not have the following on your sailing CV:



Therefore, I think you shouldn't even be thinking about any aides at all to assist your sailing - in fact, I suggest you buy a sextant and get rid of your GPS(es), eliminate any man-made ropes and use hemp, and whatever you do do NOT use an electic windlass...

And forget you've ever heard of a bowthruster...because remember, you just need more miles...

N.B. - It's attitudes like this that limit the appeal of sailing to so many non-sailors, IMHO.

Tee Hee! mate-thats fantastic! I thought that being an RAF pilot I had come across the worlds biggest egos in my time but that takes some beating!
all I was interested in was how much drag a bow thruster added. you have tried to help me, and somebody has decided that unless you have over 100 years before the mast then we have no right to an opinion!

I cant match that CV because im only 29 years old. on the plus side im not so close to the pearly gates as the CV writer so I should have plenty more years to 'get some miles in'. I am dissapointed there is no rounding of cape horn in there though or a fastnet since I have cracked those before 30.


isn't sailing supposed to be a hobby for fun and relaxing? my wife and I always stare on in bewilderment at the 'serious' sailors. Angry owner skipper at the helm screaming at his wife in front of everyone. always her fault for missing a thrown line or making off to the wrong cleat. never his fault.

me, I make an approach to the berth. 5 out of ten times its textbook. 3 times its not pretty but safe. the other 2 I realise I have porked it, calmly tell my wife not to bother jumping reverse out and have another go. nothing happens quick on a boat does it?

right, better go and take the jet engines off my plane and fit some propellors since im obviously a weak pilot for succumbing to technological advances. I'll rip the inertial nav kit out too while im at it and go for some dead reckoning.

 

[Elessar]

my wife and I always stare on in bewilderment at the 'serious' sailors. Angry owner skipper at the helm screaming at his wife in front of everyone. always her fault for missing a thrown line or making off to the wrong cleat. never his fault.

so so true.

and always moaning his wife doesn't like sailing.

rather come for a sail with you mate despite your poor skills

 

[Pete7]

The moody caught my eye as they do hold their value so should be a fair bet to sell on in the future once wife and child are more keen/able. It does sail a fair bit better than a motor sailer too, I was pleasantly surprised when I had a go (fin version -not tried bilge).

The Moody Association has a forum for potential owners so you could ask how existing members find the boat. However, unless you have a really tricky berth, I think you will be fine, Bill Dixon did design good hulls.

http://www.moodyowners.net/moa_home.shtml

Under "Info exchange"

Peter

 

[contessaman]

The Moody Association has a forum for potential owners so you could ask how existing members find the boat. However, unless you have a really tricky berth, I think you will be fine, Bill Dixon did design good hulls.

http://www.moodyowners.net/moa_home.shtml

Under "Info exchange"

Peter

awesome will check it out -thanks! would love to meet some owners of the eclipse. perhaps even bum a sail on a twin keel one before making the decision and buying a (fin)one. Considering the space below/deck saloon enourmous heads/in mast and roller furling -wife very keen, I am amazed how well the fin keel one sails. but then the fact that they have gone up in value since new speaks volumes I suppose.

I would of course have a good go at it with out a bow thruster before fitting one. they aren't cheap! its just that a lot of eclipses I have seen already have them fitted. Maybe because they need it (windage) or may be, as somebody already illuded -without implying any disrespect- a lot were owned by the older echelons of the sailing community. if so good on them for finding a solution and compensating for their aging bodies and still getting out on the water! theres one on the market currently that even has electric self tailing winches... why not!

 

[QueenBFirst45F5]

I'm thinking of putting one on my Beneteau as I like to sail alone and its a bit tricky getting on the birth in the wind, especially with my machete like sloping stern. :0) I also asked the question to a brother 45F5 owner who has already fitted one, and he responded by showing me his second place in class award from last week. I'm still a bit worried about the performance effect though, hence I googled it and came up with this thread. I think I'm a pretty experienced yachtsman, having owned and extensively sailed yachts like a Contessa 32 and a Nich 39, but am also getting a bit old to skip around the decks twiddling with ropes and fending off the same time and do love taking just myself and the dog out for an evening sail :0)