Motor Sailing

[Petercatterall]

Please help a novice!!
I have a Colvic Atlanta 32 foot ketch. She motors well and sails better than I expected.
I have only a vague idea as to how and when there is benefit in motor sailing.
I appreciate that with a bit of wind I can sail at reduced revs etc and that the boat may well be more comfortable but anticipate that there will be a lot of trial and error in establishing what is best for certain conditions.
Are there any good books which deal with such basic questions?

Just to really reveal my ignorance can someone define a 'Motor yacht' I have heard the description applied to boats both with and without sails!!

 

[Bergman]

First suggest reading threads on S-Butt about power/sail

times I have motor sailed have been to weather with main sail sheeted hard and no headsail.

Make closer to wind and usually faster than sailing hard on wind. If not faster then certainly easier and more comfortable. Just keep main full and not flapping about.

What do you think of the Atlanta, I considered one of those once, and then changed my mind.

 

[castaway]

Hi Peter

First the easy bit.. Yachts are Yachts... Motor Sailers are Motor Sailers,, and yes you guessed...Motor yachts are Stink Pots!! Generic term used by Yachtsmen to describe any or all of the following;- Motor Launches/Cruisers/Boats.

Yachting would be not so much fun if we had to give up our long nurtured dislike of the afore mentioned!

As a general rule of thumb, the fatter and whiter they are, the less we like 'em.(only joking).

I would say that the term Motor Yacht would be applied to an elegant timber motor boat of a certain age, almost certainly not to a modern GRP white thing (God there I go again!)

Re.. when to motor, or sail or both. Most M/Sailers dont slip through the water easily enough to go to windward in a very satisfactory manner, however with yr inboard turning at 1300 rpm the difference between you and the chaps in the slinky fin keeler disappear.

My Halberdier is better than most, and will make good progress at 50 degrees of the apparent wind as long as there is more than say 8-9kts.

Off the wind its all down to how hard its blowing, the difference between you and the fin keeler is much less apparent. Personally I go everywhere at 6 kt. Often we romp along at 7.5--8kt in 15kt wind, but if it starts to fall light I have no compunction at starting the diesil.

My last boat was a fractionally rigged fin keeler and I would feel guilty if I didnt sail the last ounce out of her, because it felt so good!.. The Halberdier has different qualities and as I say, I frequently sail with the full working rig and mizzen and the engine quietly making up the difference between me and Mr Slippery hull.

Just one thing, never run the engine just at tick over for long periods although this may be all you feel is needed to provid the extra go. They dont like it at all. Diesils like to be worked hard or the bores "glaze", then you have problems.

Motorsailers are great. I love my Halberdier, even more so at the begining and end of the season, I have a half covered wheelhouse and the only time this year that Ive worn my wet weather gear is when going ashore!

Good luck Nick

 

[SteveA]

Nick,

Surely yours is a modern GRP white thing! - I know cos I've gor one as well ( Spearax).

I would agree with you that when heading into the wind using the engine makes it much more enjoyable - I reckon we can sail at up to 40 degrees apparent and still have a good effect from the sails.

I am not a die hard sailor - I enjoy boating whether sailing or motoring - I am amused by the arguments between the yachties and stinkies - I feel I'm somewhere in between

SteveA

 

[Guest]

...... I hope you hoist the obligatory black cone, apex downward, when using engine under sail and follow the rules as for a power-driven vessel...............

JR

 

[SteveA]

Doesn't everyone! - in the 30 odd years that I've been sailing ( all in the Irish Sea) I have yet to see a yacht showing the inverted cone.

 

[JeremyF]

Sailing school cone

You see them lots of times in the Solent........always on sailing school yachts.

I wonder why so few of us use motoring cones, but somehow feel obliged to use an anchor ball, even in the middle of 50 other craft at East Head?

<font color=red>Jeremy Flynn/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif
Dawn Chorus</font color=red>

 

[snowleopard]

Balls to East Head

the reason people use anchor balls there is that the Chistapo (harbour conservancy patrols) will fine you if you don't!

 

[colin_jones]

Re: Sailing school cone

The French Afaires Maritime have recently imposed quite stiff, instant fines on a couple of yachts obviously motor sailing, but not showing the correct indication.

The problem is that they do not do it all the time... only when they are a bit short of cash on the monthly target.

 

[Boathook]

I have thought of using the cone when motorsailing, but over half the time it would not be visible due to the shelter provided by main and genoa!

 

[quaelgeist2]

No joke, but actual conversation during a YM exam

Q (examiner) : What does the hoisted cone mean ?
A (candidate) : Examiner or instructor on board !
Q : OK, but what is it invented to show ?

no comment

chris

NB The cone is much more used in Netherlands (either police or law-abinding attitude, haven't found out yet)

 

[castaway]

Hi Steve

Nice to see you on the forum! Hows things in the North West? Did the storms abate?

I expect to only get one more sail from "Fairweather" this year before packing up, as I'm on a swinging mooring, plus Ive got quite a lot of winter jobs to do.

I think that motorboat/sailing boat opinions are far more polorised down on the Solent as its so crowded and we tend to give each other more opportunity to iritate one another!! ( See my post earlier this year called Due Diligence). Most of it is just banter!

All the best Nick

 

[Guest]

I have a motor sailer .. I run the engine to keep up with the faster boats and when proceeding anywhere near/into wind .....

Motor Yacht is old term for Motor Boat before the fashion boys got hold of 'em !!

I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Guest]

The word "Yacht" is derived from the Dutch word "yaghte," now spelt "jacht." The Dutch apply the term to almost anything in use as a pleasure boat: my 100' black tarred ex-commercial barge is termed a "jacht" by Dutch lock keepers and is required to pass throiugh the "jachtsluizen." The British definition of "yacht" is a small sailing vessel or larger motor vessel, in either case equipped for pleasure cruising.

Noting the Dutch influence on maritime matters it is always disappointing to see that the Dutch approach of being friendly and courteous to all water users has not crossed the channel to the U.K., and there are still people who take a clear delight in prolonging the antagonism between various perceived different "types" of boaters. It does still (just) remain a free world and that should extend to freedom of choice in the type of boat we have. Wouldn't life be hell if everybody was sailing and there was nobody on the water obliged to give way to us.

I cruise under power and also sail, in different boats. I do sometimes feel that powerboats could slow down past slower boats, but if we are on the sea we should expect waves. I also think it disappointing that a new user, who readily admits that he is also new to boating, should be institutionally infected with other peoples prejudices. Shame on you.

 

[castaway]

Oh dear..... up before the beek!

Im sorry my tongue in cheek remarks were so misconstrued.

There really no harm in the casual sparring between Raggies and Stinkies ( or do these terms also cause offence?) Im sure that Peter hasnt got as far as owning his 32ft M/S without noticing that we get in each others way from time to time.

Lighten up,enjoy the the forum and don't preach

Regards Nick.

 

[chippie]

When I first saw the term 'raggies' I thought somebody had sneaked a look at my sails.[;-)]

 

[heerenleed]

No, not really in the Netherlands. but it is wise to use it in Belgium. They do fine there.... You might have seen a lot of Belgian boats use them in my country, but that is because many Belgians keep their boats in the netherlands.

Personally, i have never used the thing in the Netherlands, but along the belgian coast i always do...

happy sailing

Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[Guest]

Old ones ???

Regarding stupid answers to examiners ....

Merchant Navy Cadet up in front for examination ....

Ex' : You are at anchor and the wind increases, you decide that measures should be taken to secure your position .... what do you do ?
Cadet : Call the Captain and do as instructed ....
Ex' : Ok fine, but the captain and others are drunk ... what do you do ?
Cadet : Let out more cable ....
Ex' : OK, so you let out more cable and wind increases more ? what do you do ?
Cadet : Let out more cable.
Ex' : And the wind goes even higher, what do you do ?
Cadet : Let out more cable ...
Ex' : But where are you getting all this cable from ?
Cadet : Same bloody place as you getting this wind !


I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Guest]

DIY

Being a scrooge ... I made my own out of 2 pieces of scrap 1/8th ply ... that slot together in a crossed style .... painted black matt.

Very nice too ... and they are still very nice too at the bottom of my locker !! keeping company with my also DIY 1/8th ply anchor ball !!

I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[quaelgeist2]

Thanks for correcting me as to what i've seen and do see every weekend.
Just happen to live in holland and sail a boat there for two seasons now.
-they told me it's a dutch habit and i have always disagreed (so far)-
never mind and have a good day
chris