Engineless....

[capta]

I'm not sure where you're sailing, but from my experience one can sail engineless w/o an engine, with an engine, any time one pleases. However, consider the cons if you are a day sailor with a home port. You are 1/2 a mile from your home port (marina, mooring, etc) when the wind kicks up from where you want to go. Under sail, it would be quite difficult and time consuming to make your home port, especially in a narrow channel. Perhaps you have the free time and patience of Donald Street, but more likely dinner's on the table at home. Sure, you can anchor in place, but quite often these types of weather changes are related to moving fronts which may take days to move on.
As a cruiser, we did over 2k miles one season in the eastern Caribbean using the engine less than 20 hours. No long ocean crossings, sails limited to a max of around 80 miles between islands from St.T to Trinidad. If you have the time and energy, and trust me it takes lots of both, to sail the lee of the eastern Caribbean, then who needs an engine? But many of those lees are 20 miles long or more and that means sailing every puff, though you can do numerous 360s to achieve your goal. Never mind the currents running along the islands.
Also, we had a grand sailing vessel (53') and after hours and hours in the lees, she'd power her way across the next channel at 7 to 9 knots or more, which meant we could make our destination before dark, even without using the engine at all on the trip.
Watermakers are the greatest change for sailors, but I'd put the safety of your life and boat after one, not instead of one.

 

[Benny17441]

Winter time is here; this is the time when extensive discussions on trivial sailing subjects take place.

 

[JamesG161]

Winter time is here; this is the time when extensive discussions on trivial sailing subjects take place.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Whatdaya mean ? ? ?

You suggesting we go out into that pea soup ................. ?

Can't figure where the water ends and the air begins around here it's so rainy during the winter.

 

[JamesG161]

Whatdaya mean ? ? ?

I meant that Benny's comment was not needed.

It may be trivial to him, but interesting to others.
Jim...

 

[AlastairLC]

Most marinas don’t permit sailing in and out. Safety issue.

 

[william24424]

Engine. If time is a factor. For those circumnavigators, months @ sea....perhaps waiting 8 hours on a favorable wind & tide to enter harbor isn't an issue, for a simple man whose wife is waiting to meet up @ dock for a coffee & fresh chocolate croissant... 8 minutes is too long.

 

[rgranger]

Most marinas don’t permit sailing in and out. Safety issue.

This is true... The last two marinas I used had this policy. It was regularly ignored ... and to be fair, I think a skilled sailor has less chance of damaging another boat than the weekend Budweiser Boater (I just made that phrase up ).

 

[Tin Kicker]

The diesel was inop when I needed to move the Ericson 32 so I added a temporary transom board for my 5 hp 2-stroke dingy motor. Worked like a charm for the several hours needed and we got a solid 4+ mph. Note the split in the PVC tube to fit over the throttle. Hardest part was reaching down to fill the integral tank when it needed more gas.The lower set of long bolts are coming out from where the boarding ladder had been attached.

 

[rgranger]

Nice set up! Where I'm originally from, we call that Boudreaux Engineering!

 

[The_Sailing_Pelican]

A common adage is there are no dumb questions. That may be true or not, however, it is true there are well asked and poorly asked questions and many in between. For those of us who are trying to be helpful poorly asked questions are frustrating to answer.

How can one intelligently and thoughtfully answer a question like this one recently posted on SBO, "what kind of battery should I buy?" The poster received a bunch of conflicting answers. 10 days later the poster has still not returned to clarify the question or read the responses. It is actually kind of insulting to the many who responded.

For this thread, the only meaningful answer to the question as posted, are responses asking for more information and clarification. Unless the OP is trolling.

Right or wrong, poorly asked questions are going to receive some snarky answers and lots of confusing and irrelevant answers.

So, please on behalf of the many experienced sailors on here and on behalf of the sailors who are trying be helpful ask questions we can answer. And if we ask for more information, be forthcoming with that information. It is the least you can do.

I take my hat off for you sir...

 

[The_Sailing_Pelican]

I'm not sure where you're sailing, but from my experience one can sail engineless w/o an engine, with an engine, any time one pleases. However, consider the cons if you are a day sailor with a home port. You are 1/2 a mile from your home port (marina, mooring, etc) when the wind kicks up from where you want to go. Under sail, it would be quite difficult and time consuming to make your home port, especially in a narrow channel. Perhaps you have the free time and patience of Donald Street, but more likely dinner's on the table at home. Sure, you can anchor in place, but quite often these types of weather changes are related to moving fronts which may take days to move on.
As a cruiser, we did over 2k miles one season in the eastern Caribbean using the engine less than 20 hours. No long ocean crossings, sails limited to a max of around 80 miles between islands from St.T to Trinidad. If you have the time and energy, and trust me it takes lots of both, to sail the lee of the eastern Caribbean, then who needs an engine? But many of those lees are 20 miles long or more and that means sailing every puff, though you can do numerous 360s to achieve your goal. Never mind the currents running along the islands.
Also, we had a grand sailing vessel (53') and after hours and hours in the lees, she'd power her way across the next channel at 7 to 9 knots or more, which meant we could make our destination before dark, even without using the engine at all on the trip.
Watermakers are the greatest change for sailors, but I'd put the safety of your life and boat after one, not instead of one.

Wisdom in deed... Thx

 

[The_Sailing_Pelican]

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

Planning for the Bahamas after March 2023

 

[The_Sailing_Pelican]

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

Bahamas bound on March...
a desalinator will allow me to stay out independently and indefinitely

 

[The_Sailing_Pelican]

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.

You're so on target I completely forgot about the Pardeys, may his soul rest in peace.

 

[The_Sailing_Pelican]

There's a famous sailor(he's name escapes me) that has been sailing almost forever without an engine.

It could be Kevin Boothby. I have been following (and inspired to keep the engine off by) him for years.
gary

Haven't seen the video for time constraints, ect... Ill watch it tonight after all the turkey is gone

 

[The_Sailing_Pelican]

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.

Bahamas bound in march

 

[The_Sailing_Pelican]

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.

Mental squabbles... Loved it