The dark side - The pull is strong

I've had MOBO's for a good 10 years or so and recently popped over to the 'dark side' and got my first sailing boat.

I have to say there is definitely not a winner in the top-trumps of boating. It really is oranges and potatoes.

Sailing can be bleedin frustrating and you really do need to use the elements to your advantage. Tide, Wind direction, Currents etc where as my last MOBO was kind of 'point - shoot - you're there'.
You also need to get your sails in the right direction and you stand a good chance of getting a bit wet and it may take you ages to get to the destination.

But you do really have to have a different mind-set to owning a MOBO. It being all about the journey rather than the destination is bang on the money. You have to enjoy the hours you spend at sea with little more noise than the lapping of the water and the odd ting-a-ling from the sails and you can't be in a rush to get to the pub for your dinner reservation.

Dare I day, it goes completely against modern life. You have to get there when you get there and not be in any particular rush and I have to admit it can be very hard to change your mind-set if you live and work in a fast paced world.

That said even my little sailing boat seems completely at ease with weather that would see the inside of my MOBO looking like it had been in a tumble-dryer so I do actually get out in more weather on my sailing boat than the MOBO.
I'm also not of infinite cash but I like to explore further afield and some of the fun was lost with my MOBO's with the cost in fuel for the trip and the limit of range.

One thing you can't really do is sail a sailing boat like a MOBO or visa versa. They are very different with very different objectives. Ok there are boats that kind of bridge the gap but whatever you choose is a compromise.

I still like both and I think everyone should have a go on both too. It'll certainly help people to understand the other side of the fence's perspective.
 
Deleted User said:
Surely the answer for is one of these http://www.macgregor26.com/. Sail for a while and then when you get pissed off with sailing, wind her up to 20kts:)
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On the face of it, that seems a great idea - at least I thought so when I first saw it, and they are very popular in the USA. However, it remains a compromise, it has water ballast & a drop keel that must be set up correctly for each mode.

The hull is neither good for sailing or planing, but a compromise between the modes. In effect, she is not the best sailing boat nor the best MoBo - just think of the air drag of all that rigging when doing 20kts, plus it will raise the CoG a bit when cornering or in a swell.

Having said that, it is amazing when you see a cabin yacht planing past.
 
fireball said:
Oi ... stop that - he's on the hook and we're reeling him in nicely .... ;)
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I have just taken tea with Tom on Little Ship. We are planning an intervention to save Phil from the cult of the raggies.

A few days in a darkened room while we arrange strategic intervention therapy, also known as deprogramming.
 
Major Catastrophe said:
I have just taken tea with Tom on Little Ship. We are planning an intervention to save Phil from the cult of the raggies.

A few days in a darkened room while we arrange strategic intervention therapy, also known as deprogramming.
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I'll go with that so long as it involves 'the manners'. Would this be the same deprogramming you underwent then ;)
 
Searush said:
On the face of it, that seems a great idea - at least I thought so when I first saw it, and they are very popular in the USA. However, it remains a compromise, it has water ballast & a drop keel that must be set up correctly for each mode.

The hull is neither good for sailing or planing, but a compromise between the modes. In effect, she is not the best sailing boat nor the best MoBo - just think of the air drag of all that rigging when doing 20kts, plus it will raise the CoG a bit when cornering or in a swell.

Having said that, it is amazing when you see a cabin yacht planing past.
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I'd heard stabilty can be a bit of a problem on them, and it can get a bit exciting in the lumpy stuff.
 
I noticed that video included a heck of a lot of what the boat is good at doing ....







being towed behind a car!!
 
Searush said:
On the face of it, that seems a great idea - at least I thought so when I first saw it, and they are very popular in the USA. However, it remains a compromise, it has water ballast & a drop keel that must be set up correctly for each mode.

The hull is neither good for sailing or planing, but a compromise between the modes. In effect, she is not the best sailing boat nor the best MoBo - just think of the air drag of all that rigging when doing 20kts, plus it will raise the CoG a bit when cornering or in a swell.

Having said that, it is amazing when you see a cabin yacht planing past.
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Yup, I guessed it wouldn't be on anyone's shortlist for a circumnavigation. I saw one motoring at speed off the N Wales coast on Sunday afternoon and as you say, it's quite the most incongruous thing you ever saw. Still, they've been around for years so I guess people still buy them
 
Major Catastrophe said:
I think the stability issue was because some people didn't read the instructions and fill the water ballast.

Watch the video.

I think that the Macgregor ticks a lot of the right boxes, as long as you realise it is a toasterkettle.
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No thanks, I don't mind a bit of a compromise as all boats seem to be, but these are just a bit too much of a compromise for me. Look a bit on the flimsy side too!
 
Well our rather well known American sailing / sports boat thingymajig is very popular with many but probably not what the O.P's thinking of. (And maybe save us from drifting into a slanging of that particular brand of boat)

One thing is for certain, if you have a fair amount of cash in your pocket you are spoilt for choice for the different blends of boat that you can pick.

If sailing is your bag but you don't like the heeling malarkey and prefer a bit of beam then some of the modern catamarans do look pretty appealing and i've heard many don't need to be sailed too far off the wind either. Not to mention can hitch up their skirts and run at a fair pace too.

Maybe worth considering for a MOBO fan.
 
Angus Mcdoon of this parish

If you are interested in a Trimerangue thingy get in contact.

He enjoys racing the ferries from Ireland and has only a 9.8 hp moter on the back!!!

He will extol the values of three hulls and they fold up to allow you into a marina berth. Should fit the lock at Felinheli.

Bet he doesnt catch as many fish at that speed though!

Steve
 
TSB240 said:
He will extol the values of three hulls and they fold up to allow you into a marina berth. Should fit the lock at Felinheli.
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Phil is not posh enuff to be allowed into the inner sanctum. He slums it with us lowlifes in the 'Council Estate'.

PS. I'm taking Tom to the pub this evening as he is becoming stir crazy and LS stinks of gloss paint.
 
You don't need to buy a sailing boat to get the same experience.

Just use the mobo but only at tickover with everything on board over on one side to simulate the heel and get your SWMBO to hit you over the head every now and again to pretend you have a boom.

Also, spend all day down below plotting your route and not actually looking ahead at all as you don't need to keep a look out on a sailing boat (tie a big tea towel up top somewhere).

:)

On a more serious note. On our sportsboat we have to go along at planing speeds at sea as the boat isn't very easy to control when at displacement speed at sea and it makes SWMBO feel sick. It would be nice to be able to potter along slowly sometimes.
 
Deleted User said:
Yup, I guessed it wouldn't be on anyone's shortlist for a circumnavigation. I saw one motoring at speed off the N Wales coast on Sunday afternoon and as you say, it's quite the most incongruous thing you ever saw. Still, they've been around for years so I guess people still buy them
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That'll b the one out of Red Wharf Bay I've never seen it sail tho.
 
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