Pootling - I get it now.

[PEJ]

I think it was Hurricane who first put forward the virtues of pootling along at tick over speed or thereabouts, apologies if someone else deserves the credit. Anyway big credit to whoever it was!

Coming back from Poole on Monday the sea was flat calm so at Hurst I dropped the revs to 750 and the fuel consumption from 5 ltrs/nm to 0.9ltrs/nm. Set the auto helm for a waypoint and spent the most delightful couple of hours at saily boat speed. It was great. I could sit on the bow watching the flat sea go past, lay on the cushions looking up every few minutes or so to see that there was still nothing in the way. If I had gone at 25 knts (like I did from Poole to Hurst) I would only have been sat enjoying the sun in the Marina before it was time to go home, this way I got the relaxing on the flybridge bit and the slow change of scenery too. It is a totally different dynamic at 10 kts compared to 25 kts.

I am a pootling convert now and would recommend it to one and all. Only works on sunny and flat calm days though I guess.

 

[U4]

We are regular pootlers, it is a lovely way to get somewhere if you have the time

 

[Bertramdriver]

We are regular pootlers, it is a lovely way to get somewhere if you have the time

For those of us with SD hulls pootling is a way of life. Sort of sailing without the hassle.

 

[Elessar]

I think it was Hurricane who first put forward the virtues of pootling along at tick over speed or thereabouts, apologies if someone else deserves the credit. Anyway big credit to whoever it was!

Coming back from Poole on Monday the sea was flat calm so at Hurst I dropped the revs to 750 and the fuel consumption from 5 ltrs/nm to 0.9ltrs/nm. Set the auto helm for a waypoint and spent the most delightful couple of hours at saily boat speed. It was great. I could sit on the bow watching the flat sea go past, lay on the cushions looking up every few minutes or so to see that there was still nothing in the way. If I had gone at 25 knts (like I did from Poole to Hurst) I would only have been sat enjoying the sun in the Marina before it was time to go home, this way I got the relaxing on the flybridge bit and the slow change of scenery too. It is a totally different dynamic at 10 kts compared to 25 kts.

I am a pootling convert now and would recommend it to one and all. Only works on sunny and flat calm days though I guess.

5mpg. Really?????

But yes i do it, always have, some of the time.

 

[PEJ]

5mpg. Really?????

That is per engine. So 2.5m per gallon at 750 revs.

 

[NoviceRod]

I like to 'pootle', usually at 1500 revs, 7kn, which is max displacement speed for me.
It was pot city in Torbay today, and at least at pootling speed those buoys don't suddenly appear in front of you.

 

[Nick_H]

We were on the boat over Easter, spent few days cruising, and didn't go above 7.5 kts the whole time. We used to have lunch at anchor, then cruise at 25 kts to the next port or anchorage, now we set off earlier and have lunch on the way.

 

[crazy4557]

Anything less that Warp Speed 10 and my kids call it BOOOOORING!!!!!!
Less hassle to go at 25 knots and have some peace and quiet from them but I would like to pootle from time to time....

 

[Nick_H]

Anything less that Warp Speed 10 and my kids call it BOOOOORING!!!!!!
Less hassle to go at 25 knots and have some peace and quiet from them but I would like to pootle from time to time....

Well flybridges aren't really that exhiilarating anyway, even at 25 kts, so the kids play on the Wii in the saloon, and don't really notice whether the boat is moving, moored or anchored.

 

[Harpsden]

Switched to pootling with the change to an ST34 at the start of last year. Very enjoyable and much more sociable on board.

Still do the higher speeds when needed but otherwise its a steady 7 knots through the water. (Much cheaper as well).

 

[SammyB]

We were introduced to pootling by a neighbour on our pontoon after a discussion about fuel consumption - we both had Antares 9.8. Since that day we have loved it, as we are never in a hurry anyway it works for us. Presuming on our new ST44 we will do much of the same.

 

[Hurricane]

Yep - thats the way to do it.

However, there are times when you can't
We wanted to go down to Alcanar for lunch on Saturday - less than 10 miles away but the sun was out and wall to wall sunshine.
However, it was a little windy and the sea was a little too much for "Pootling" so. with a load of raggies on board, I decided to put her on the plane.
Remember that the speeds we "Pootle at", raggies only dream of!!!
I was showing a non-boater how the plotter worked and didn't before I knew it, JW was hacking along at over 30 knots!!!
And her electronics were showing 220 litres per hour - per engine.
Sorry guys - I seem to have let the side down!!!

Normal service will be resumed soon!!!

 

[lisilou]

I love pootling probably more so than planing speeds. Nice to have the option tho.
L

 

[symondo]

I love the feel of going fast over water. But on the limited times ive helmed the old mans boat, ive found 7kts to be plenty. Aparently our boat will do 25, i'll look forward to experiencing that but pootling is good for me

 

[rbcoomer]

I'm as happy trolling along on tickover as blatting about at 30kts+ We usually hug the coastline more at 4-5kts however and that usually means a longer A-B route - although we do get to see more and I can use the camera at the helm with ease. Less direct route coupled with a 2-stroke, kind of undermines the economy though - you either burn the fuel at 20kts+ or pump 30% of it unburned into the sea at tickover! I fitted a fuel flow meter to our old 30hp Evinrude and was shocked to discover 0.9L/mile on the river at 4kts vs 0.7L/mile at 22kts open water... Oh that and SWMBO & Junior love speed so I'm usually outvoted and have to settle for a mix of fast and slow!

 

[Searush]

OOhhh, this is so nice to read! You see more of the wildlife & scenery too at displacement speeds. Making & consuming snacks & drinks is easier too. Plenty of time to rescue beach balls, buckets & other seaside litter too. I use about 1/3rd ltr/ hr if not sailing.

 

[rustybarge]

Switched to pootling with the change to an ST34 at the start of last year. Very enjoyable and much more sociable on board.

Still do the higher speeds when needed but otherwise its a steady 7 knots through the water. (Much cheaper as well).

Love the ST 34', lovely looking boat.

What sort of economy do you get at 7 or 8 kts?

 

[Bertramdriver]

At 8/9 knots everybody stretches out on the foredeck lounging area (big enough for 8, or 5 Americans). The sun is worshipped, drinks are consumed and there is lively conversation. At 20 knots everybody comes crowding back into the wheelhouse, tripping over each other and getting in my way. There is muttering and the inevitable " how long until we get there?" In my book it's a no brainer.

 

[Robg71]

Love it..... Room for 8.... Or 5 americans

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Mmm, I'm not against pootling per se, in fact I was doing it today myself. Just remember that at 7kts, you're putting 3x as many hours on your engines as you would do at 21kts so any fuel saving is going to be swallowed up by extra depreciation on your boats due to higher hours