Ever move to a Powerboat and did you regret it?

[Cool Beans]

Hmm, no gas boats for me. By "powerboat", I meant diesel trawler. You couldn't give me a free gas powered boat. Now worried about safety, just the umpteen gph fuel rate

Most of the mid 30'ish foot trawler type boats seem to get 2.5 gph @ 8 knots per engine (6 cylinder perkins/lehmans). A lot are single screw, and most have bow thrusters (or I'd put one in).

The big things I'm looking for is decent displacement for the length, shallower draft (Chesapeake is basically a tidal mud flat outside of open waters), big cockpit, and usable deck space. Inside I want a nice galley and full bathroom. I don't entertain often, but would like too. . .and I'd like to take more than 2-3 people out and not be crowded. Of course, I didn't figure this out until after I bought my Ranger33, but you don't learn by not doing The R33 has none of the above, lol.

A Pearson365 seems to be the most reasonably priced sailboat with the above requirements. It also looks like it would be a good motorboat. A trawler does all of the above better though, just doesn't sail as well :lame: but is nicer to fish from
One of the greatest things I get to look forward to is turning the motor off and quietly scooting along. . one of the worse is dealing with the sails I hate tacking. I've drug on day trips for a couple extra miles just from hemming and hawing about not feeling like turning the boat around, lol. It's even worse with people in the cockpit.

So much compromise in a single vessel to need to perform so many different tasks. . .one idea the guys at work mentioned was trawler + sailing tender. . .

I appreciate the comments and advice so far. I would like to try and make some friends this coming spring and try and get out on a couple trawlers and larger sailboats. The trick will be finding people who actually go out. Liveaboards as far as the few I've met at the local Little Creek Marinas are in no condition to go anywhere. I've made it out about a dozen times a year on average? And there are almost no other boats that go out. Same handful of smaller sailboats and a slew of small fishing boats I see coming and going when I'm not. . .and when I'm out it's always a half dozen or so that tack back and forth along Chicks Beach.

Maybe I can get a hold of Chuck Bear and get his take as well. . .

 

[stephen Penny]

My wife and I lived on this 56 foot twin-screw diesel for a couple of years. It offered a lot of room for living and entertaining. We cruised often.

 

[zeehag]

i had 2 gasoline powered chris crafts--one classic 1968 commander 38, one of first 18 set in fg...twin 427s..awesome ..
and one 35 cavalier 1965 with twin 283s..awesome engines... beautiful song.

regret?? hell no.. was a kick.

every kind of boat has a use and serves a purpose.

 

[wufibugs]

Having never owned anything but Windmistress, I can only wonder whether a catamaran could be the next iteration between full sail and full power?

 

[Chris Patterson]

I've been thinking about this thread for a couple of days now. I do that a lot, but that's irrelevant..

I spend some days on powered boats, and generally like them. Bear in mind that these boats are almost always in excess of fifty feet in length, upwards of maybe a tad over a hundred feet. And truth told, lovely bride has been shopping in that range for about a year. And I like them, shoot who would not, c'mon. It seems to boil down to what you can live with, and what you can live without. Very simplistic idea, huh? Right. I can hardly wait..

But to give up the sailing boat altogether? Not much of a chance of that. While I may take super-pig out on a ride on a very rare occasion, there's no way that it would replace the wind through the rigging. I don't have to explain that feeling, you all know it. But has it become so unimportant to trade off for the convenience of turning the key? There is no peace to be had on a powering boat unless it is stopped.

 

[weinie]

I grew up with powerboats. The problem with them is, unless you have a destination to reach or are fishing, it gets old. After about an hour or so, the boredom sets in.

With sailing, you are always doing something...even if you just set the AP on, you can be doing something else like making lunch, fixing something, or practice your knots, or whatever.

 

[rfrye1]

I think a lot of this has to do with where you are boating. In S. Cal, the boating destinations are somewhat limited, especially from San Diego. So sailing is always a great way to spend the day or two or three. If I lived in the Pacific NW, I would consider a trawler. So many destinations, tide and current considerations, weather, sailing in and around those islands is tricky.
Just my 2 cents.
Happy Thanksgiving. Bob.

 

[Davidasailor26]

One of the greatest things I get to look forward to is turning the motor off and quietly scooting along. . one of the worse is dealing with the sails I hate tacking. I've drug on day trips for a couple extra miles just from hemming and hawing about not feeling like turning the boat around, lol. It's even worse with people in the cockpit.

I wonder if you'd be happy finding a slightly larger sailboat with roller furling headsail and main and a self tacking job. We recently switched from hank on headsails and traditional main to both roller furling and the difference in set up and clean up time is tremendous. As others have said even with a powerboat you still need to stow everything before you go out for fear of waves and wakes.

 

[Cool Beans]

Currently traditional main and furling genoa. Going to rig up some lazy jacks over the winter. The mast to cockpit shuffle while raising the main in increments up to each sail tie is always a blast, especially without an autopilot and choppy waters :dance: And of course coming back in and dumping 266 sq-ft of mainsail on the back half of the boat the trying to tie it up while making sure the boat stays into the wind. . .I'm sure is entertaining for those on the beach

My big issue with tacking is trying to get the big overlapping genoa through the slot. It always hangs on something, or there isn't enough wind to blow it through. I've had some success partially furling the head sail, then unrolling it through the tack. . .but now I'm adding extra steps of something else. AND, even after new line and a rebuild, my furlex doesn't seem to like being partially furled either way. . .I've had to untangle several overrides, which isn't fun alone (but I'm sure is entertaining to watch).

Along with lazy jacks, I'm going to try the 110 next year and see how it does. Much less sail to have to pull over than the 155 and 135. If I had planned to keep the boat long term, I might have experimented with a self tending jib. Occasionally I've run across some Cutter rigged Ketches on YachtWorld, With Mack/Stack Pacs and those strike me as the bees-knees as far as ease of use. Solo sail, leave the head sail furled and let everything else self tend

As far as trips, the Chesapeake is a plethora of gunkholes. I plan to attempt more overnights next year, but a lot of the cool/protected anchorages I'm finding on my charts are limited by my near 6ft draft. A Trawler I could nearly beach if I wanted. And I would think weather semi-independent?

As much as I enjoy sailing, if there isn't a destination, I tend to get bored after about 4-5 hours. That's a couple tacks along the southern portion of the bay. Relaxing as it is. . .

With a Trawler, I wonder if actual trips would be more purposeful? Probably less often (fuel ain't cheap), but planned out farther in advance. Nothing more like a spur of the moment day sail, but an event. . .

Oh, bonus to a powered boat is I could actually visit Lynnhaven inlet and Rudee Inlet (low bridges). Not a huge determening factor, but they have nice live aboard marinas.

Anyways, i appreciate the advice and being able to ramble. Trying to talk with family and friends about this stuff tends to lead to "why don't you buy a house?"

 

[Cool Beans]

Just out of curiosity, could you guys give me some ideas of a sailboat that might itch all the right spots? This would be a couple years out. . .and I'd like to keep the price under 50k. The boat I came up with is a Pearson 365. But that's just me searching through Yacht World. . .

Thanks!

 

[DJN51]

Not getting rid of my Hunter but bought a wood 17 ft Carver runabout this year.Im retired Carpenter and thought it would give me something to do during our Long midwest winter.After LOTS of sanding,painting and varnish this is what I ended up with.Pretty sweet! Can,t wait to get it in this spring to do a little cruising and fishing.Lots of little lakes in In when no wind on Lake Michigan.

 

[zeehag]

i wouldnt mind owning a panga, but i dont have room on deck. very useful boats, pangas....