Rules of the road

[LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners]

Ok, Stanley, I won't misquote you this time

If you'll READ my post, I didn't comment at all on the big boat/small boat issue, my sole comment was in regards to what size boats folks *start* sailing on. So your following comment (copied from the original so as not to be accused of misquoting you) IS irrelevant as it is in regards to MY comment, not the other issue you're bothered about:"LaDonna chimmed in to agree with you, but she thinks Catalina 30's are tender.....so much for that opinion" And if you don't consider THAT an insult, you're living in a fantasy world.LaDonna

 

[Melody Miller]

Floating Condos , First Time Sailors and more

Hello All:Peggy remarked that today first time sailors want a floating condo. . . May I add to that . . and many passengers.Last time I took some people out, two of four complained that their backs were not properly supported while sitting in the cockpit. Another wouldn't use the head so we slowed to where he could jump overboard to do his business.( And hey, there's nothing wrong with the head.)One asked what it would take to put air conditioning on the boat . . LaDonna and you other folks that have Cat 27's made in the 70's know that their boats are never going to be anything like a floating condo.That's OK by me. Melody

 

[Stanley J. Rogacevicz]

My Apologies !

Peggie, I am Sorry for starting a public fight over a statement that you made that happened to offend me, and more importantly, LaDonna I am Sorry that I insulted you while in my, as you aptly described it, "fantasy world" of no holds barred arguing to make a point.Stan

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Apparently there were objections from the floor...

Stanley, you didn't offend me (I can't speak for LaDonna)...my only point was that sailing a dink--especially a very tender dink--requires far more skill than sailing a larger deep keel boat. Based on my experience (and btw, I'm very active in the sailing community--I've just recently retired as the only stinkpotter ever to be RC chairman at my YC...90% of my time on the water in my own boat has been spent sitting on an anchor flying a committee boat flag), I don't think the AVERAGE deep keep (please don't split hairs with me about what is or isn't a "deep keel"...for purposes of this discussion, it's any boat that can bury its rails in the water without capsizing) sailboat owner today has the skills to do it in 15k+ winds any better than the average stinkpotter could. It used to be that the only adults who owned sailboats "grew up" on 'em...starting with dinks and "graduating" to larger boats. But that's not true any more. Today there are FAR more first-time owners of deep keel boats who've never sailed before than there are people who grew up on boats. As I said earlier, I don't think I'll get any argument that it takes far more skill to sail a little boat than a big one...and the average sailboat owner today--the typical "weekend warrior"--doesn't have the skills to do it much better than the average stinkpotter could...which is to say, I don't think EITHER group would be able to keep a dink--and especially a particularly tender dink like the Cape Dory 10--up in 15k+ winds for very long. Melody...if I had guests in my home who did nothing but complain about what it does or doesn't have to offer, I wouldn't ever invite 'em back! And the same goes for my boat. In fact, I'd prob'ly have turned around and taken 'em straight back to the dock and then looked for a better class of friends, with better manners!Now can we quit?

 

[david lewis]

STINKPOTTERS

"it takes far more skill to sail a small dink than a deep keel sailboat...?" Or some such nonsense.I completely agree that keeping them from capsizing is a challenge to all sailors regardless of experience but please...most deep keel boat sailors must know how to navigate in fog, understand lights and collision regulations, know how to survive in storm conditions, and an incredible host of electronics, sail management, wiring, mechanical systems, rigging, engines, outboard motors, gas stoves, and be wine experts. I consider driving a stinkpot more difficult than sailing a dinghy because there is a lot more to worry about.I have sailed all classes from sunfish and smaller dinghies up to 41 foot boats as well as crewed on assorted powerboats.d

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

David, for a look at my boat, go to--

http://www.solitairef32.homestead.com/I restored her from non-running and unhabitable condition myself...I maintain her myself...I singlehand from the flybridge most of the time, and I can back her into her slip in a 15k crosswind (I've done it a few times in a 30-35k crosswinds, but it's not nearly as pretty to watch). I can also manage to take a 30' sailboat where I want her to go in mild conditions...but I finally sold my 10' Cape Dory because the d'd thing was so tender I was afraid to take it out if there was more than 5k breeze blowing. "must know how to navigate in fog, understand lights and collision regulations, know how to survive in storm conditions, and an incredible host of electronics, sail management, wiring, mechanical systems, rigging, engines, outboard motors, gas stoves, and be wine experts."Except for the sail management part, the same is required of competent skilled powerboat handling....and with a boat that has a lot of superstructure there's even a certain amount of sail area management--knowing how to use the wind--required for close quarter maneuvering. However, based on my experience, a depressing small number of either class even know how to correctly flush a marine toilet, much less anything more complicated. However, the argument was about whether it takes more skill to operate--"make it go where you want it to go"--a powerboat or a sailboat. I contend that it depends upon the sailboat and the conditions.