Feather bedded sailormen?

[Guest]

Hi,

I can't help noticing that some priorities seem to be getting mixed up these days. You see boats with liferafts and radars fitted - for safety - but there are no collision bulkheads or floatation chamber fitted to the boat. Some folk have a spinaker and a cruising chute but no emergency bilge pump or spare anchors.

On any given weekend about 30% of the yachts in the Solent are motoring from east to west because the wind is against them. Another 30% are motoring from west to east because the wind is from dead astern and it is a bit slow.

On another post someone claims that a nice little 32 footer can't possibly be an offshore cruiser because she only has an 18 gallon fuel tank. On a sailing boat for crying out loud!

Have we forgotten that sailing is about using the wind to get from a to b and that our timetables must adjust? That we are falling back on our own resources and those of our boat? Just because we hurry round the countries motorway network do we have to bring the same mentality to the water? Has anyone else noticed that fewer and fewer yachties wave to each other as they pass? That here, in the south, we are getting more and more preoccupied with getting to the pubs and less interested in having a lovely evening sailing into the sunset?

I plan to launch a new campaign. CAMS. Chainsaws Against Motor Sailing. Anyone caught with the main and the engine up, genoa down in good sailing conditions will lose their mast. Then at least they will have an excuse to motor their fine fast yachts from port to port. Any takers? Membership is free, bring your own chainsaw.

Regards




Fred.

 

[claymore]

Hmm
I think sailing is really about having the freedom of choice to do what you want in the time you have available. Rather stuffs your points I think.
About the 18 gallon tank - not much use if you have to motor all the way because there is no wind on a 37 hour trip in a boat that consumes half a gallon per hour ?

regards
Claymore

 

[hlb]

Exactly where I'm coming from. There all displaced motorboaties really. Just not done the "Coming out party" Yet.
Nice to meet a real yachty.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[rich]

how many sailboats do you see these days with out an engine,in france,maybe!

rich ) Why pay, when you can do it yourself?

 

[peterk]

sign me up, but...

Hey Fred:

I agree, though chainsaws have motors, don't they?

actually - I have nothing against motors in sailboats,
as long as SAILING is the reason for going out there
- otherwise, guys:
GET A STINKPOT!

try: www.juprowa.com/kittel
about some engineless miles.

...peter

 

[JeremyF]

I don't think you understand that some of us have families that only tolerate sailing. When I go out with the family, its a different experience to sailing with friends. Keeping the sail short, and boat level,and getting to the destination is the only way I get grudging acceptance to sailing. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. So, maybe the 30% you see with motors fall into the 'keeping the family quiet' camp.

Jeremy Flynn

 

[Twister_Ken]

> not much use if you have to motor all the way because there is no wind on a 37 hour trip in a boat that consumes half a gallon per hour<

Then you drift (or anchor if shallow enough) until the breeze comes back, and leave enough fuel in the tank to get into a port with a fuel pontoon.

In fact, in 30+ years of sailing, I've never known a period of more than about 8 hours (and that was overnight) without some sailable breeze developing.

 

[tcm]

Re: Tolerating sailing -sprung mattress please

I think that sailing wd be a lot more "tolerated" if the boats weren't so primitive.
Handpump toilets, no carpet in the cabins, crappy fridges, spammy fittings in the kitchen and nasty foam beds - and that's on 50 foot Oyster! Feather bedded sounds a bit much - but a sprung mattress might be a start and wd be an improvement to gettem all on side

 

[claymore]

Summer of '95 from July 19th we motored in flat calm glassy seas from Fleetwood to Ramsey, Portpatrick,Sanda,Gigha, Puilldobrhan,Oban (For Fuel!!) before there was a headwind for a nice beat to Tobermory,
The log indicates that it took around 58 hours of motoring to get there.
Obviously, I tend to agree with you but Para's original posting commented on the need for a larger fuel tank if the boat in question could be considered a true offshore cruiser - to which I also agreed.
Its fair to say that we all have different timetables and as my presence is required in work on a fairly regular basis - a priority for me is the ability to be able to switch on the engine and leg it home - often in conditions where if time allowed - I could be enjoying a pleasant sail

regards
Claymore

 

[Guest]

Hi,

> Keeping the sail short, and boat level,and getting to the destination is the only way I get grudging acceptance to sailing.

Then either buy a motorboat or a catamaran. Better yet, buy a motorboat for sailing with family and a speedy dinghy for the thrill of sailing.

> So, maybe the 30% you see with motors fall into the 'keeping the family quiet' camp.

But it isn't 30% it is nearer 60%. Less than half of the yachts on the Solent at any one time seem to be sailing. Given the fact that a sailing boat is generally a compromise between sailing performance and comfort with a motor as an "auxillary" means of propulsion with comfort being a poor second. Buying a motor boat would be cheaper, more comfortable and more likely to keep the SO happy.

As far as I am concerned a propellor just creates drag and engines create problems because when they don't start then the first reaction isn't "Oh dear, let's sail her in to harbour and then anchor while we sort it out." The first reaction is to call out the rescue services because we can't live without the precious motor.

Sit in any anchorage for an hour or two and what you tend to hear is the irritating rumble of a yachtie charging his batteries to keep all the fancy electrics and the fridge going. Other than creating noise and stink it is also destroying their shiny motor as a diesel run without load for long periods will glaze the cylinders.

Sigh. If you can't get to your destination without your motor then you have the wrong kind of boat or you are going to the wrong destination.

Regards



Fred

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.

 

[claymore]

Re: Tolerating sailing

Ye great Bratfud Jessie
Whit kind of man are ye?

regards
Claymore

 

[claymore]

There is no end to this

Except to say its a free world and people are entitled to do as they wish - particularly on a boat they've spent hard earned money on

regards
Claymore

 

[tcm]

Re: Tolerating sailing

Not my observations - comments from swmbo. Seems saily skipers daren't go near stinkie boats even at boat shows for fear of a mutiny from sailing crew/wife. Apparently they even have to make do with just one generator and no icemaker!

 

[Eudorajab]

Agree almost entirely but to each thier own. I certainly derive a hell of a lot more pleasure sailing then using the iron genny. That is not to say however that ohters shouldnt use theirs. I look at it this way, the more boats motoring means the more boats that should give way, thus leaving loads of space and a clear line to wherever I wish to go to. To each his own I say

 

[Sinbad1]

Aren't we getting a little confused between 'sailing' and 'cruising'. The former is what we do at weekends and is limited due the fact that we have to be back at work on Monday. This will often mean using the engine. The latter is what we do on hols and when the dreaded work business has been forgotten. Then you can drift about as much as you like but from my experience the true pleasures are when you reach harbour/anchorage....so why prolong the passage for a few galls of diesel.

...and I want a sprung mattress!!

 

[castaway]

Fred
Do you have:
a) A Job
b) Wife or partner
c) Kids

If you have 2 or more of the above in the end you end up using the engine.

And finally how do you get windward in a 60s catamaran.

All best Nick

 

[Guest]

Hi,

Nick writes

> If you have 2 or more of the above in the end you end up using the engine.

I have a job and a wife. Still manage to go sailing. Not motoring. Sailing. It is usually the missus that asks if we really need the engine and she always remarks on how much she prefers having the engine off. Since a cat is more stable, doesn't heel, doesn't roll about and has a lot more space the female of the species often prefer them. We usually have a vase of flowers on the saloon table and even the most determined of powerboaters seem unable to knock them over.

> And finally how do you get windward in a 60s catamaran.

Gosh - very easily. I might not get to winward as well as a narrow high pointing deep keeled yacht such as a contessa 32. I'll probably do better than any bilge keeler of similar length and put a lot of the modern caraboats to shame.

Regards


Fred

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.

 

[kgi]

Nick dont forget the eighties cats most of those did not go to weather either...

 

[JeremyF]

Re: There is no end to this

Well spoken, Claymore. Each to his own. Its all an escape anyway, so some illogical behaviour is not an issue.

Maybe Twohapence sails with the same folk (or none), has all the time in the world, does not have other commitments, has 20 years experience, and hates marinas.

Not everyone is the same as him. My suggestion was that there are reasons why skippers who prefer to sail happen to be under motor. I resent being told to buy a power boat. When sailing with friends, when time is less of an issue, then the sail / motor time ratio changes.

Jeremy Flynn

 

[castaway]

Fred

Only joking of course... I did look very closely at cats b4 I bought "Fairweather"last year and am very well aware of their merits.

What I couldnt get over was how expensive they were.. I looked at some truely horrible examples( H/Twins and Iroquoise/ Scirroccos etc) All top end of 20k except the Iros at top of teens.

The chap at multi hull world said it was all supply and demand..Every one with reluctant families wants the same.



Regards Nick