What is a motor-sailer?

[BrianH]

I've heard that a motorsailer is classified as such if the sail area in m² is less than the engine power in hp.

My HR94 Kutter, that I have always regarded as a motorsailer, certainly falls into that category at 34/37. But she sails well enough to turn the engine off when the wind reaches 5 knots and then boat speed will exceed 2 knots. Below she is sailing close to maximum hull speed at 6 knots, 40° to the apparent wind of 14 knots.

 

[snowleopard]

I recall reading, back in the 70s, probably Eric Hiscock saying that 1 BHP per ton was an auxiliary and a motor sailer had around 3 BHP per ton. That of course is a joke by today's standards.

I have heard of people taking a YM exam in motor sailers being given only a power certificate though whether that was examiner's prejudice of because they did things under power they should have done under sail I can't say.

I asked the question because I regard my boat as a motor sailer but a Colvic Watson it ain't. I have 11 BHP/ton and can do 10+ knots under sail or power. I have done passages of 500+ miles under power and 2000+ under sail. It so happens I have a wheelhouse or at least windscreen and hard top but I added that after getting fed up of getting soaked by spray going upwind. Like any boat with a deck saloon, I can steer from inside; all it takes is an autopilot repeater unit.

 

[dunedin]

Imagine an Arcona 430 or similar quite high performance cruising yacht. Add a lowish profile pilothouse with interior engine and autopilot controls: the pilothouse would fit under the existing boom/kicker and leave wide sidedecks. Put in a bigger engine - say 55hp instead of existing 39hp, obviously with a feathering prop, and a larger fuel tank under the raised pilothouse part of the altered saloon. You have a motor-sailer that will perform very well indeed under both sail and power.

Actually that Arcona is a great example of the antidote for Motor Sailers.

I often wonder why people tend to talk about “motor sailing” (ie using an engine to asssit sail propulsion), as it is something we have almost never done in 15,000miles of sailing.
Unfortunately I can’t afford an Arcona 430 - but I suspect if you study its polars you would see that in any wind over 6 knots it can sail fast enough without any engine assistance. And if the wind is so light that the engine is used, the apparent wind under engine will be so close to dead ahead that the job needs to be furled.
Certainly that is our experience with a well performing sail boat - it’s sailing as much as possible, but when not possible, furl jib and can motor at 7 knots without stress due to powerful engine, efficient folding prop and efficient hull shape.

Motor sailing is for motor sailors (only)

 

[LadyInBed]

To me, it's more a state of mind.
Passage head to wind, forget sailing, tacking back and forth, engine on, roll up sails and motor into (or slightly off) the wind.
In light winds, on short passages 12-18 hours, if sailing at less than 3 knots, engine on. On longer passages more than 24 hours it's less than 2 knots.
On day sails and just out for the fun of it, whatever the wind, then sail.
That's probably why I bought a pilot house ketch!

 

[Quandary]

'Unfortunately, I can not afford an Arcona 430'

Aaaaaaw, man, you are far better off with what you have got.

 

[lw395]

If you say 'motor-sailer', the first thing most people think of is the likes of a Fisher or Colvic Watson.

What characteristics define the term for you?

One or more sails and a fixed propellor.