howdy,i would really appreciate some help on this.i live in mexico,ive found a 35 foot abandoned barracuta motor boat. all hardware has been stripped.i need to move it about 40 or so kilom.we are poor ,the truth real poor,we are planning to do this on around 50 bucks,we found a sail .kinda ripped up but we got 2 sails out of it,found a sewing machine,3 days later it was sewing.fixed the holes and put the hotes on two sides to put the ropes in.we have a picture and we try and copy that.any way the question is do we need a keel?and is this keel going to keep us from going sideways.?only material we have is 1 piece of 3/4 in.plywood.my other concern is the water the first 2 k.isthree and a half to 5 ft. so we need this keel to slide up and down in case it hits bottom on the way out into the ocean.we have one half gallon of fiberglass resin hardnerone teaspoon.big piece of fiberglass.the kind with pieces hanging out of it,like hair.i tell you this as i asume a hole will have to be cut into the bottom of this boat.we were planning to extend the dides of the hole higher than the water line so water wont come in.we werent sure this would work.plan b i thought on cutting the plywood in half and screwing one piece on each side of the boat extending into the watera couple ft or so whitch idea is best ?our recources are limited.we aresailing in a couple days.be kind with your answeres we are real people who have had little opertunities down here,but our love for the ocean is never ending.theres a large number of people whom know nothing of the wind.but we know its there.prices of gasoline has put the poorer fishing persons out to rowing to work ,my idia was to show them the wind.i know very little of the wind .this all came about the otherday as we were rowing to the work .a couple hours into the early morning.a gringo sailboat came by us as if we were standing still.my rowing buddy and i stopped rowing and just couldnt believe it when my friend said pinchy gringos have good motors coulnt even hear it.i told him that boat doesnt have a motor ,he says bullshit all boats use motors,i said no they dont,and i will prove it to you.and i did.one day i will tell you about the sailboat we made in one night and sailed in the morning.out of one dide of my garage and one roll of dibiton roofing.its still afloat.thankskevin
help in mexico
- Thread starter eehollee
- Start date
- Status
trade for a tow
Sailing sounds too risky with that rig. In any case, if the hull is sound, I would not cut holes in it for a keel. Could you find someone with a powerboat who would tow it for you in return for you doing some work for them? Maybe clean/scrape the bottom of their boat, or something similar.
Sailing sounds too risky with that rig. In any case, if the hull is sound, I would not cut holes in it for a keel. Could you find someone with a powerboat who would tow it for you in return for you doing some work for them? Maybe clean/scrape the bottom of their boat, or something similar.
keel
yes, your right...you need a keel to sail a boat. The keel helps keep the boat going straight, helps keep the boat from blowing over, and also helps bring it back "on it's feet" if it does capsize. Keels are usually thick and heavy (mine is 5400 lbs). I'm sure if your a good person, you can work something out with somebody to get a tow. That's your best option. If not, you can always walk it home. All you need to walk it home is a little rope and a pair of those fishing boots that go to the chest, a lot of heart and 4 spare days. personaly, I would try to find a tow but would rather walk it home then ruin it trying to make it into a sailboat.
yes, your right...you need a keel to sail a boat. The keel helps keep the boat going straight, helps keep the boat from blowing over, and also helps bring it back "on it's feet" if it does capsize. Keels are usually thick and heavy (mine is 5400 lbs). I'm sure if your a good person, you can work something out with somebody to get a tow. That's your best option. If not, you can always walk it home. All you need to walk it home is a little rope and a pair of those fishing boots that go to the chest, a lot of heart and 4 spare days. personaly, I would try to find a tow but would rather walk it home then ruin it trying to make it into a sailboat.
Daggerboard
All the other good advice aside, another option to reducing the sideways motion of your boat might be to use a "Daggerboard". A daggerboard is a (piece of wood) attached to the side of the boat - preferrably two pieces, one on each side - that can help to keep the boat from moving sideways. Caution: there will be a lot of pressure on these boards in the sideways direction - make sure that they are firmly attached and reinforced. Good Luck! Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
All the other good advice aside, another option to reducing the sideways motion of your boat might be to use a "Daggerboard". A daggerboard is a (piece of wood) attached to the side of the boat - preferrably two pieces, one on each side - that can help to keep the boat from moving sideways. Caution: there will be a lot of pressure on these boards in the sideways direction - make sure that they are firmly attached and reinforced. Good Luck! Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
techically those would be called leeboards
I've seen them used on canoes to convert them to sailing rigs.
I've seen them used on canoes to convert them to sailing rigs.
Sailing
Kevin, Talk with the locals. On the east side of MX they used the same boat with sails for a while. Also the locals tell me that at times they will shut off the motor and use the bimini folded forward as a sail.
Kevin, Talk with the locals. On the east side of MX they used the same boat with sails for a while. Also the locals tell me that at times they will shut off the motor and use the bimini folded forward as a sail.
WOW!
Kevin, I have done many crazy things, but this sounds loaded for disaster; how many pesos is your life worth, that is the FINAL question. If your target destination is directly, or nearly dead downwind, then a keel, centerboard is not necessary, but a good strong rudder is essential. Have a worst-case-scenerio plan so you don't end up in Palmyra island, or worse. Have an ancor, tell friends to keep a sharp check on you, have oars, hand-held vhf, flares, chart, gps, and some plan to get to shore. Glass boats can, and do, swamp and sink; inflatables, normally, do not.
Kevin, I have done many crazy things, but this sounds loaded for disaster; how many pesos is your life worth, that is the FINAL question. If your target destination is directly, or nearly dead downwind, then a keel, centerboard is not necessary, but a good strong rudder is essential. Have a worst-case-scenerio plan so you don't end up in Palmyra island, or worse. Have an ancor, tell friends to keep a sharp check on you, have oars, hand-held vhf, flares, chart, gps, and some plan to get to shore. Glass boats can, and do, swamp and sink; inflatables, normally, do not.
Capt Ron;-)
I think you missed his point. Man doesn't have money...how is he going to afford all that stuff? If the man really wants to get that boat home and doesn't have any money, then I still say if he can't find a tow, then he should just walk it home. It's only 40 K which I think is 24 miles. The boat doesn't have a keel so it can handle shallow water. All around shore is shallow water. Just get a 50' rope and pull it home. From what I understand, the west coast (which is where he is at, right?) gets deep quick near shore so he may not have to be out very far at all. Current shouldn't be much of an issue so close to shore, but it could be and that I think is the only danger he would have. If so, bring a friend. Point is...it can be done safely without hardly any money...just how bad does he want it? Now if I had my boat there, I would give him a tow for free, but I'm in the Gulf so that's out of the question.
I think you missed his point. Man doesn't have money...how is he going to afford all that stuff? If the man really wants to get that boat home and doesn't have any money, then I still say if he can't find a tow, then he should just walk it home. It's only 40 K which I think is 24 miles. The boat doesn't have a keel so it can handle shallow water. All around shore is shallow water. Just get a 50' rope and pull it home. From what I understand, the west coast (which is where he is at, right?) gets deep quick near shore so he may not have to be out very far at all. Current shouldn't be much of an issue so close to shore, but it could be and that I think is the only danger he would have. If so, bring a friend. Point is...it can be done safely without hardly any money...just how bad does he want it? Now if I had my boat there, I would give him a tow for free, but I'm in the Gulf so that's out of the question.
Missed Point
Hi Franklin, No sir, got the point, but oft you can borry beg or buy some flares, H.H. VHR cheap if your life is on line... I brought an Endeavor into Kemah, bout five years ago, real nice folks down there; including Dick Frenzel and Jay Stormer (marine surveyors). On this trip we ran across no less than four (4) count 'em, seismic vessels with their array of: cables, bouys, strobes, sirens, bull-horns, and lack of manners. In fact one was towing his 20 miles of cable across a fairway whence we found him, we were on the correct side in the right direction, his response was he had "special permission" to block the fairway. I knew a guy who got caught in the 'Molokai express' from Oahu 20+ nm to Molokai whilst surfing, but not on purpose; currents can surprise people.
Hi Franklin, No sir, got the point, but oft you can borry beg or buy some flares, H.H. VHR cheap if your life is on line... I brought an Endeavor into Kemah, bout five years ago, real nice folks down there; including Dick Frenzel and Jay Stormer (marine surveyors). On this trip we ran across no less than four (4) count 'em, seismic vessels with their array of: cables, bouys, strobes, sirens, bull-horns, and lack of manners. In fact one was towing his 20 miles of cable across a fairway whence we found him, we were on the correct side in the right direction, his response was he had "special permission" to block the fairway. I knew a guy who got caught in the 'Molokai express' from Oahu 20+ nm to Molokai whilst surfing, but not on purpose; currents can surprise people.
I think this is the point
If Kevin is so poor that he cannot afford some basic safety items, he has no business getting into boating. Tim R.
If Kevin is so poor that he cannot afford some basic safety items, he has no business getting into boating. Tim R.
worth the risk
Take a chance and go with the leeboards and a good rudder and you can make a sail out of sheets for that matter. How do you suppose they sailed of a deserted island? Any pole will do for a mast . If it gets too risky abandon ship. What do you have to lose. A bottle of rum and a set of eyes is all you need. The rum will give you what you dont have and your eyes will get you home. Need I say more?Dont forget the inner tube
Take a chance and go with the leeboards and a good rudder and you can make a sail out of sheets for that matter. How do you suppose they sailed of a deserted island? Any pole will do for a mast . If it gets too risky abandon ship. What do you have to lose. A bottle of rum and a set of eyes is all you need. The rum will give you what you dont have and your eyes will get you home. Need I say more?Dont forget the inner tube
FRANKLIN has the RIGHT IDEA...
IF the BOAT is WANTED BAD ENOUGH to try and rig it for SAILING...wouldnt it be easier to HOP IN THE WATER with a few FRIENDS...and just PULL THE THING HOME...only 24 MILES. A LITTLE EACH DAY, and SHAZAAAAM....Home At Last. IT ISNT THAT difficult to "HAND TOW" a boat if SHALLOW enough....BUT RIGGING and trying to sail this thing....with no $$$$....FORGET IT !! ALSO...you mention that you have $50 BUCKS...maybe a good SOUL would MOTOR--TOW it for you...you cant loose anything for ASKING for HELP. and By The Way...GOOD LUCK, and Hope you get it HOME !!
IF the BOAT is WANTED BAD ENOUGH to try and rig it for SAILING...wouldnt it be easier to HOP IN THE WATER with a few FRIENDS...and just PULL THE THING HOME...only 24 MILES. A LITTLE EACH DAY, and SHAZAAAAM....Home At Last. IT ISNT THAT difficult to "HAND TOW" a boat if SHALLOW enough....BUT RIGGING and trying to sail this thing....with no $$$$....FORGET IT !! ALSO...you mention that you have $50 BUCKS...maybe a good SOUL would MOTOR--TOW it for you...you cant loose anything for ASKING for HELP. and By The Way...GOOD LUCK, and Hope you get it HOME !!
Guys, come on, reread his post.
I think this is someone messing with you guys! Sooo, poor with an internet connection? I am kinda doubting the validity of this post. r.w.landau
I think this is someone messing with you guys! Sooo, poor with an internet connection? I am kinda doubting the validity of this post. r.w.landau
I'm with RW on this one
I'm with RW on this one. What has been intrigueing me is the amount of people responding to this. I wouldnt be surprised if he isnt also 'Kevin Drury' on an Irwin website with an even better story. reading those threads are just as amazing.
I'm with RW on this one. What has been intrigueing me is the amount of people responding to this. I wouldnt be surprised if he isnt also 'Kevin Drury' on an Irwin website with an even better story. reading those threads are just as amazing.
I Agree With Franklin
I know it doesn't happen often, but I agree completely with Franklin. The whole notion (if in fact it's even real) is dangerous. However, towing it from shore isn't dangerous. Cutting a hole for a keel is dangerous, towing it from shore is safer. Running the risk of being swept out to sea is dangerous. Towing from shore is safer. The only real drawback to towing from shore is it will be slow. But then, sailing a motorboat hull isn't going to be a speed demon either, even if the winds and currents are optimal (yeah, like that's going to happen). I think his best bet is get a tow boat. Plan B would be a long rope and tow from shore.
I know it doesn't happen often, but I agree completely with Franklin. The whole notion (if in fact it's even real) is dangerous. However, towing it from shore isn't dangerous. Cutting a hole for a keel is dangerous, towing it from shore is safer. Running the risk of being swept out to sea is dangerous. Towing from shore is safer. The only real drawback to towing from shore is it will be slow. But then, sailing a motorboat hull isn't going to be a speed demon either, even if the winds and currents are optimal (yeah, like that's going to happen). I think his best bet is get a tow boat. Plan B would be a long rope and tow from shore.
"Kevin--Compadre"
Kevin--Is this 35' boat seaworthy enough to make the 40km trip? Doe's the rudder work etc? If your going to use it for fishing, you'll need to license it. Any chance of borrowing an outboard from the locals for half a day. How about networking the locals to get in contact the Mexican Coast Guard for a tow. Your new found boat will have to be in good shape for a 10-15 knot tow. Check it out. Are you on the net from a internet cafe?
Kevin--Is this 35' boat seaworthy enough to make the 40km trip? Doe's the rudder work etc? If your going to use it for fishing, you'll need to license it. Any chance of borrowing an outboard from the locals for half a day. How about networking the locals to get in contact the Mexican Coast Guard for a tow. Your new found boat will have to be in good shape for a 10-15 knot tow. Check it out. Are you on the net from a internet cafe?
Point amiss
Methinks Tim R. is right on, and Mr. Landau is also right; the guy is messing with us. jus' dun sound right Earl, my other brudder Daryl says so two. BTW whence running you can pull a center/dagger all up, lee-boards don't point worth a darn either.
Methinks Tim R. is right on, and Mr. Landau is also right; the guy is messing with us. jus' dun sound right Earl, my other brudder Daryl says so two. BTW whence running you can pull a center/dagger all up, lee-boards don't point worth a darn either.
- Status