Dark Decisions

Moonshiners

Moonshiners

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 Feb 2008
Messages
590
Location
Solent-ish
www.speedandstrip.co.uk
Were selling our little 20 bilge'r as we've decided we want something a little quicker and larger.

Only problem is now i'm faced with a difficult decision, i'm a sailor at heart, but work/time constraints have been giving me a larger feeling of grass is always greener and the dark forces are pulling me towards a stinky for the versatility and speed. This would solve some family issues and get us exploring more places but still I'd be driving a mobo.

Luckily the little guy on my other shoulder is firmly reefed in and is trying to convince me to stay with it in which case were either looking at something along the lines of Macwester 26 etc... or Trapper 300 etc...

So I have two dilemas-
1st) Sail or Power
2nd) if Sail, do i go along with the Macy weekend approach or the more slender Trapper-esque style of boat.

Were based in the Solent, have a swing mooring, work too much and want to make the most of it. Would prefer a saily boat but think we would visit more places if we had a Mobo...

I've weighed it all up and still can't decide, any opinions on Mobo vs plodding weekender vs sleeker small yacht?

They all have there merits and here in lies the problem... Has anyone owned 2 or 3 of the above types for comparisson /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I know it's all personal but any constructive advise/experience is appreciated as always.
 
Just ask yourslelf, what do you enjoy more -

Sitting on the boat in harbour?

Or the actual sailing?

Answer that question and you're well on your way to deciding what type of boat would be best for you.
 
Depends on how you feel about the fuel costs.
Do you envisage going very far, or just around the solent?
Are you happy to motor around at 5-6-7knots or are you thinking of a planing boat?
You give speed as an advantage of a mobo, but to save any serious amount of time, you have to be burning fuel at a rate I would find hard to justify, that's a personal judgement, I find it easier to spend £1k on a cruising chute than £100 on fuel a few times. Probably not logical!
I am really a sailing person, but I do enjoy the odd trip to Cowes or Bembridge under power. I wouldn't buy a yacht merely to cruise around the solent though, I find it too crowded at weekends. I'm lucky enough to have a variety of friends with different boats, so I can get a little of the best of both worlds.
In terms of practical advise, put together a budget for each case, although you'll have to do some guessing for depreciation. You will probably use the three boats differently, so try to estimate what use you'd get out of each in the next couple of years, then see what looks the best deal all round.
(Then buy a smallish yacht and a modest RIB?)
You pays your money...
 
Try to get out on a motor boat for a trip and see if you like it. If your a sailor at heart you might find it a tad boring.
 
I can't offer advice on the particular boats you are looking at.

However, in general, motorboats are very good at getting from A to B in a reasonable amount of time, then you can slow down and go phut phut for a bit, anchor, go exploring, go to the pub for lunch, have a snooze, then blast back late afternoon, for example.

I've done a little sailing (blush, don't tell anyone) which was fun. I'd just need more time to make good use of a sailing boat, plus I can handle the motorboat on my own.

dv.
 
Thanks S28 & others, that's my problem I'd prefer a sailing boat, but at the moment i'm getting frustrated that i can't make enough time to enjoy sailing as id like, i just don't know if it's a case of the grass is always greener, and if a couple of knots in a bigger sailing boat will make much difference or if i go down the stinky route and buy a mobo, until i can free up enough time to enjoy sailing again.

I've had ribs in the past as well as sailing boats, but i've nver owned a Weekender mobo...

Do you mobo's feel like you do make the most of going further quicker etc..., or do you find that cost of fuel etc... restricts you to local haunts anyway...

Sailing we'd mainly be in the solent pompy - christchurch ledge.

Motor - i'd like to think we'd have more time to be adventurous and have time to visit cornwall, france, Eastern harbours etc...

But not sure if this is really the case as it looks like most of them stay in the Solent on wknds!
 
What about a yacht with a fairly large engine? Some Centaurs had a 25 hp engine.I even heard of one with 50 hp which was way OTT in my opinion . Point is they sail well enough to be enjoyable and can motor at 6 knots or more to get you home in time if needed.
 
We spend most of the time blatting around the Solent / IOW. But, also some trips further afield. Last year, Cherbourg / Dives / Deauville. This year, off down West to check out Dartmouth / Salcome etc. This probably isn't average, but most of the motorboat owners on these forums are fairly keen (addicted?).

Cost of fuel is an issue in that it costs lots of money, but then again, so does everything else these days. Main difference since starting out is that I am a bit more selective with the weather.

dv.
 
[ QUOTE ]
motor at 6 knots or more

[/ QUOTE ]

Is that supposed to be very fast? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

dv.
 
Journeys are quicker in mobos, but very noisy/boring.
Much more restricted by waves/weather (unless displacement).
Fuel is very expensive. They are more difficult to manouver in marina in cross winds unless you have
thruster(s).
If you want to get around the Solent more quickly, save lots of money, be unaffected by the weather, have no mooring problems and no mooring fees ..................go by car /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Is that supposed to be very fast?

[/ QUOTE ]

Speed is a comparative thing. 6Knots is a good average speed for a small yacht under sail or motor.

Personally I prefer to spend more hours underway and less hours hanging round in harbours and then working to earn the money to pay the fuel bill. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
They are more difficult to manouver in marina in cross winds unless you have thruster(s)

[/ QUOTE ]
... or two engines.

But even with one, not really a problem once you get the hang of it.

dv.
 
Just accept the praise - we're trying to build up Moboing as a worthwhile pursuit and that you have to be more than a brainless redneck to use one .... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Last year is was faced with the same dilema,SWMBO doesnt like sailing much except on nice flat sunny days,she almost convinced me to buy a motorboat which i would have done if i could have sold my sailing boat,then i did a bit of crewing on a fast RIB and a fast fishing/charter boat.very exiting for the first few trips then the boredom sets in,basically press the starter and go,no need to worry about wind or tide just steer the thing,i decided then it was not for me.As mentioned before a motor sailer might be the way to go.
 
for what its worth I sailed for 20 years with centaur, macwester 27, onto larger cwntre cockpit sloops. I got bored and moved onto a mobo. I love boats and so to me they all had their good points, but I can say that it took me 2 years to get used to the mobo way of boating but now I would not change.

On the sailing front go for the better sailing yacht as macwesters a good yachts but not on the wind and I think if you love sailing then the speed of an efficent hull cant be beaten. My son now has a first 21.7 which I crew on and its great fun and exciting sailing.

Its the old story of paying your money for your choice etc. but they are very different for example now I love getting up on the plane trqvelling 30 miles in an hour, having lunch and being back by sunset.

Good luck with your choice
 
[ QUOTE ]
but at the moment i'm getting frustrated that i can't make enough time to enjoy sailing as id like, i just don't know if it's a case of the grass is always greener, and if a couple of knots in a bigger sailing boat will make much difference or if i go down the stinky route and buy a mobo, until i can free up enough time to enjoy sailing again.


[/ QUOTE ]

ever considered a lifestyle change, your a long time dead
 
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