The acid test

[nicho]

After years of owning motor cruisers, we decided to ditch the whole boating scene 18 months ago when we both retired. Having £150K tied up in a boat that was also hugely expensive to run was not really viable once our income reduced with pensions only.

Then came the (rather stupid!) holiday in Brittany, when we discovered how much we missed owning a boat (what else do you do in Britanny but spend your time in ports and marinas looking at boats?). However, there was no way we could comfortably spend the money necessary to get back into an equivalent motor boat, so we decided to buy a sailing boat instead. Our new boat arrived in January, complete with white flappy things and lots of ropes disappearing to God knows where!!

Five months and two sailing courses on (and considerable help from forum members including Twister Ken, Jimi, Skyva 2 etc), we are really beginning to enjoy our sailing experiences, and are far less apprehensive about handling the boat ourselves.

Interestingly, last week, we had some motor boat owning friends on board for a drink or two (if only it had stopped at two...), and we discussed our reasons for the change from power to sail. "Ah yes," they said "all well and good this cheaper form of boating, but the acid test would be, what if you won, say £1/2 million on the lottery, bet you'd soon come back to power". They were rather shocked when both myself (and more to the point, SWMBO!) both said without hesitation, "No way, we'd maybe buy a more expensive sailing boat, but NEVER go back to power". From where we now sit, motor cruisers (that's the boats, not the crews) seem rather vulgar....

So there you have it. Our adoption of sail was initially forced on us by financial reasons, and we are still impressed with the lovely cabin on our friends Princess, but having sampled the peace and tranquility of sailing (no seriously rough stuff yet to test our metal!), we'll NEVER go back.

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[tony_brighton]

welcome to the fold!

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[snowleopard]

so what advice would you give...

to my friend who, after many years as a raggie, is talking about turning into a stinkie now he's getting a bit decrepit and finding the sail handling a bit much?

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[Cutter]

Congratulations.
Had an interesting day on Saturday on a Sealine 49 gin palace (£400k+) and enjoyed the extra visibility and different skills needed to handle such a craft. Come Sunday and a decent blow there was no comparison - the raggie won hands down and the 'stinkie' was confined to port in case it rolled too much.
Even my 'stinkie' friends agreed the sailing was more fun tho' one of the SWMBOs (a two-shower-a-day girl) felt it wasnt up to much! Such is life...



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[oldsaltoz]

Welcome to the world of rag and string Mike (and Mrs Mike),
power without pollution, give me waves, wind and open sea.

And my favourite order, issued as soon as possible:-

"Turn that b****y noisy thing off and rig for silent running"

even the bubbles at the back are noisy today. . . . . .



<hr width=100% size=1> Old Salt Oz /forums/images/icons/cool.gif Growing old is unavoidable. However, growing up is still optional.

 

[Mirelle]

Good for you!

That is the most encouraging post I have read in ages!

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[Twister_Ken]

Welcome back from the dark side.

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[nicho]

Re: so what advice would you give...

I realise we've sort of done it the "wrong" way around. Many raggies find it becomes too physical as they get older, and hence go over to power, which is presumably what has happened in your friends case. If they REALLY would like to stay sailing, then perhaps they should find a boat that's easier to handle. We specified in-mast reefing for example, which is "de rigeur" to many on this forum, but as age creeps up, it makes life so easy. They could have a bow thruster fitted as many older yachtsmen have done in our marina, (even on 36 foot boats). These are very experienced sailors who are getting on in years and perhaps no longer want any hassle involved in "springing off" a pontoon. If winching the genoa becomes too much effort, then electric winches may help.

He should remember, that if it is a planing hull he's going for, then that too can be tiresome on longer journies if the sea is a bit boisterous, and their high topsides that make it near impossible to step off the boat when coming alongside.

Finally, does he really want to be on the recieving end of the many sarchastic comments from (a minority?) of raggies aimed at his diesel smoke. In Lymington a couple of weeks ago, I was amazed at the three or four raggies who all stood out in their cockpits, making loud adverse comments, and over exaggerated coughing fits, when the poor owner of a new Fairline Targa started his engines. It was not very good for the image of sailboat owners. Being new diesels, there was literally no smoke, but that did not deter our trio from being extremely arrogant and rude. I must say, that since coming over to sail boats, the comments when a pair of big diesels are fired up seems much more noticable - perhaps the average stinkie cannot hear them above the noise of big diesels idling, or perhaps treats them with the contempt they deserve.



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[Sybarite]

Re: so what advice would you give...

http://www.amel.fr/Anglais/web1.htm

Get an Amel boat for push button sailing. Henry Amel still single hands his 53 footer and he is in his 80's.

John

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[Observer]

Re: so what advice would you give...

Oooh. I think there's a large example in Port Solent just now. I was admiring it over the weekend. Looked very comfortable with semi-enclosed cockpit/wheelhouse. Do they sail well and is mid-cockpit good/bad/neutral?

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[duncan]

Re: Never say never

With the exception of your last statement I can accept and understand how you feel.
Surely what you are saying is that right now, given your health and shared objectives, the sail boat gives your what you are looking for. More money isn't going to change the key elements in that decision so you would get the bits you currently miss on your existing craft in a new stick boat.I would suggest that in 15 years you may well decide that you have had enough cruising and wish to base yourself in Cornwall, Brittany, Spain, Florida or wherever and would like a small displacement stink pot to go on the mooring at the bottom of the garden; NB I am not suggesting you will, but you might - equally you might want 2 sea canoes or a 2 person windsurfer (I draw the line at suggesting 2xPWCs!)


enjoy

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[Sybarite]

Re: so what advice would you give...

IMHO they are brilliant boats and they have the reputation in France of being the "Rolls-Royce" of yachts.

Henry Amel however is a pedantic guy and gives you what he considers is the best for you and it is a no modification - no option deal even down to things like instruments. ( This said I think the watermaker and air-conditioning are the only options). However the formula works to the extent that he has freed up capacity to produce only the top of the range model the Super Maramu 2000 and has dropped the production of the other models in the limited range. The Santorin is a 14m equivalent and would be my choice.

They also pride themselves that they have NEVER missed a delivery date. The boat is delivered in true sailaway condition : all warps, fenders, crockery and cutlery etc are there even an electric hair dryer and a bouquet of flowers and a two day handover training deal to be sure you

Everything has been thought out to give maintenance-free boating. The teak decks are not teak but a molded-in feature. The electric motors are built to their own specification. The drive shaft has two conical drives and is attached to the after end of the keel providing vibration-free motoring. The fuel and water "guages are in fact transparent tubes with floats visible inside the companionway.

Downwind sailing is catered for by twin foresails being boomed out from struts attached to the shrouds - this allows you to "crank" the poles back on to the deck for easy attaching of lines. The sails roll up together in a few seconds if you need to reef quickly.

The anchor chain is automatically washed as you haul it up - from a cockpit operated switch. The rear shower unit has a concealed safe... There are dish washers and washing/drying machines on board fridge and deep freeze ...

etc etc I could go for ages.

The disadvantages are (a) no options (b) false teak deak (c) not too close-winded because the deliberate choice was made to put the genoa sheet rail on the toe-rail - where it can be automatically adjusted using a continous line and a winch handle arrangement and where it keeps the side decks free, and (d) slightly anachronistic styling.


John

PS (I don't get any commission)






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[tcm]

Re: Amel

Ooh. It sounds nearly as good as a powerboat! But evidently some owners have taken the maintenance-free slogan a bit too far: the nasty browny beige theme with fake teak deck is horrible, and the so-called stainless is badly finished such that it rusts , so they look pretty awful after a couple of seasons.

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[nicho]

Re: Never say never

In 15 years time I'll be 75!! Don't think I'll want a PWC that's for sure!!

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[Starspinner]

Re: Never say never

What about all those rather mature gentlemen on the land based version, the Harley Davidson?


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[Twister_Ken]

Amels

Such a shame they look like they were designed by the guy that did Lego.

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[Sybarite]

Re: Amel

Can't say I have seen any with rust. I was seriously considering their Sharki - 40' and the ones I have looked at have been immaculate. And they havn't been made for about 15 years and get consistently good write-ups.

As for looks I agree there are nicer looking boats on the market but for serious long term short-handed cruising I can't think of a better boat.

Also there cannot be too many 53 footer models which have sold over 300 boats.

John

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[loonyscot]

Im probably going to get a whole load of flak for this, but what exactly is the fun in cruising a motorboat. Sure theyre fun for half an hour or so, but wher's the achievement and skill? What do you need to know except where the key to the mini-bar is stored? Example-

5 minutes on yacht- Hoist main, hoist genny, sheet main, sheet genny, tighten main outhall, ajust genny fairlead, tack, sheet in main+genny, view and trim sails etc.

2 hrs on motorboat- Throttle up, throttle down

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[Observer]

Re: Amel

I noticed the fake teak. Don't you think it's a bit snobbish to turn your nose up at it? It looked good from a distance (a few metres). Only when you get up close you see it's not the real thing. From the sound of it, the designer must have a good reason for going with imitation. Would it be the because a decent thickness of teak is horribly expensive and a cheap "veneer" thickness has por durability?

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[nicho]

Re: Never say never

But, some 2/3rds of Harley owners are erm........well let's say they play 'tother side of the fence!

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