Engineless....

T

The_Sailing_Pelican

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Mar 21, 2022
126
Bristol Corsair Tampa
Ok... This is going to be VERY controversial a theme here with gazillions of why I should and another throve of opinions on why is not necessary, ect.

There's a famous sailor(he's name escapes me) that has been sailing almost forever without an engine.
Somebody pls refresh my memory. I do have a portable power plant to use on whatever electric need arises. Choices are between a rebuild diesel or a desalinator. Due to time constraints I must decide for 1 of this. Cannot have them both(more than likely) long story behind this were geo politics run rampant in its influence, ect.
The floor is all yours maestro...
Let it ring in.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,746
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
The_Sailing_Pelican said:
Choices are between a rebuild diesel or a desalinator.
Click to expand
Why do you need either of these selections?

Your boat is designed for coastal cruising. You should be able to get to coastal water resources. A desalination resource would be unneeded. If you are sailing in open ocean for weeks then having the ability to make your own water would be helpful.

If you will be going against currents then you might find diesel power beneficial
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,158
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Josh Slocum sailed around the world without an engine or a watermaker.
More recently, so have the Pardey's ... more than once.

No drama here...it's your dollar...decide for yourself.
 
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kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,048
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Yup. If you plan to primarily daysail coastally, an aux engine is probably your best choice, especially in the Gulf of Mexico and your area where wind can get mighty light .. Getting safely in and out of restricted passes and harbors on a regular basis is not fun unless, like the Pardeys you don't mind anchoring for a day or two to wait for favorable wind. if planning long open water voyages with no marina access, then the watermaker kinda makes sense.
 
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D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,700
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
The watermaker won't make much water without a diesel running to make electricity. Have you checked out the power consumption of a water maker?

If you can get to a marina often enough to recharge your batteries, then you don't need a water maker.
 
Terry Cox

Terry Cox

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Dec 25, 2000
5,900
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
Mariners have sailed their engineless ships for eons, but usually had crews that kept them in safe waters. The thought of this solo skipper attempting to cruise around PNW waters without an engine is a bit risky, to say the least. Getting into and out of our slip without banging up other boats while under sail would be foolish. So, for now I will stay with a boat that has an engine. You just never know when it will save your bacon.
 
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stickinthemud57

stickinthemud57

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Apr 11, 2020
780
MacGregor 26s Scott's Landing, Grapevine TX
Terry's comments are spot on.

I look back on the days I sailed my dad's boats in and out of their slips in the Corpus Christi, TX marina without any auxiliary power. I kind of wonder how I did it, so recently I resolved to try doing so on my next excursion. It worked out fine, due in part to the very slack wind that day.

Obviously, boats of all sizes have and can be sailed without auxiliary power. It just takes more time and expertise, and the potential for getting in a spot (grounding, becalmed, etc.) is greatly increased.

Between dependable auxiliary power and a desalinator, I would choose auxiliary power.
 
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dLj

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
4,214
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
The_Sailing_Pelican said:
Ok... This is going to be VERY controversial a theme here with gazillions of why I should and another throve of opinions on why is not necessary, ect.

There's a famous sailor(he's name escapes me) that has been sailing almost forever without an engine.
Somebody pls refresh my memory. I do have a portable power plant to use on whatever electric need arises. Choices are between a rebuild diesel or a desalinator. Due to time constraints I must decide for 1 of this. Cannot have them both(more than likely) long story behind this were geo politics run rampant in its influence, ect.
The floor is all yours maestro...
Let it ring in.
Click to expand
The fundamental question is where and how are you going to sail? Where are you starting from, where are you going to, how long are you staying on the boat? How do you want to use the boat? How many times are you going into and out of marinas and what marinas?

While sure historically boats didn't have motor, there were also a lot fewer boats around and a maritime culture focused on those boats. I recall sailing into a port in southern France that was built in the 1200's. All sailing boats of that time frame went without motors. On the bulkheads and various strategic locations there were structures that were originally used for all the lines needed to haul in sailing ships to put them where they needed to be to load or discharge cargo. But those would have all had mariners available to run the lines - certainly not today.

Can you still sail today without a motor? Sure. But if your choice is between a motor and a watermaker - you clearly are making decisions based off criteria that you have not elaborated on. Simply based on time? This is like saying should I put on a wind vane, or should I put in a 3 burner stove...

Sorry - I call foul.

dj
 
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AlastairLC

AlastairLC

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Jan 2, 2017
765
O'Day & Islander 322 & 37 Scottsdale, AZ & Owls Head, ME
Check out the How to Sail Oceans series on YouTube. No engine. He uses a sculling oar to get in and out of tight spots for a long time but breaks down and gets a small outboard to help fight the currents.
 
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Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,239
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
James Baldwin comes to mind sailing on his boat Atom, a 28-foot Pearson Triton. But he has put an outboard on her now. I think he circumnavigated twice without engine or even electrical power. He was truly minimalist! If you can figure out how to keep a water-maker working without an engine, I suppose that could be one way to go, but I don't see that happening. If it was a choice between the 2, I would opt for the engine. Sailing Uma is in the Med now (in their vlog time), and I find it a little amusing that their very limited engine power has become a bit of an issue. They couldn't keep a schedule in their recent video ... not that it was a threatening situation, just an inconvenience & a tiny disappointment. Of course, they have an electric motor and lots of electricity-producing options. But they still found that their electric motor has limitations. A diesel sure comes in handy in the long run!
 
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J

JBP-PA

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Apr 29, 2022
576
Jeanneau Tonic 23 Erie, PA
This couple sails a Cape Dory 25 with no engine.
Here is an article about a family who sails without an engine.
sailingmagazine.net

Cruising without an engine

The Gonzalez family sails, sans engine, along the scenic coast of Isafjardardjup, Iceland. Haukur Sigurdsson photo When a cruising tale starts with the words, “We had no engine and ... ,” it,Features
sailingmagazine.net sailingmagazine.net
 
rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,553
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
The_Sailing_Pelican said:
There's a famous sailor(he's name escapes me) that has been sailing almost forever without an engine.
Somebody pls refresh my memory.
Click to expand
Lynn and Larry Pardey


Amazon.com: The Cost Conscious Cruiser eBook : Pardey, Lin, Larry Pardey: Kindle Store

Buy The Cost Conscious Cruiser: Read Kindle Store Reviews - Amazon.com
www.amazon.com

 
dLj

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
4,214
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
Seems to me you are all missing the point here.

The OP said - I'll paraphrase here - due to time constraints, I have the option to choose putting an engine in my boat or putting in a desalinator (watermaker). Which do I need more?

Well, you don't need either one. You can very nicely sail without both.

So the decision to choose one over the other must be based upon how the OP will sail their boat - not on having a time constraint. The time constraint simply is the cause of making the choice.

Neither a motor nor watermaker is needed.

dj
 
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,746
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Oh DJ... Applying logic to an illogical query...
:biggrin:
 
rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,553
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Judgmental much? Some of you have tried to offer genuine insights but this is starting to get a bit self righteous.

Come on guys.... he acknowledges that

The_Sailing_Pelican said:
Ok... This is going to be VERY controversial a theme here with gazillions of why I should and another throve of opinions on why is not necessary, ect.
Click to expand
... and he never said he felt he needed either... what he said is that he only has time to install one or the other and wanted opinions on which one you would choose (with an implied why)...
 
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dLj

dLj

.
Mar 23, 2017
4,214
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
rgranger said:
Judgmental much? Some of you have tried to offer genuine insights but this is starting to get a bit self righteous.

Come on guys.... he acknowledges that



... and he never said he felt he needed either... what he said is that he only has time to install one or the other and wanted opinions on which one you would choose (with an implied why)...
Click to expand
My point is - tell us what your sailing constraints are. Then we can give our opinions. I'm not being judgemental. I'm simply being practical.

But please, carry on....

dj
 
JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,744
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
There are many desalination units available. Three main issues for you.

1) Survival Water [muscle power]
2) Bulk water for your on board tank. [ hydrocarbon power ]
3) Solar distillation [Sunshine daily]

You decide by amounts of daily water needed.

Jim...

PS: Mental squabbles, by other posters, not required.
 
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