When you’re sailing to get somewhere, for the day or a weekend or longer, what percent of the time do you end up motoring?
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Depends on what the wind is doing
If it blows, we sail, if it doesn't we motor.
I can say, with certainty, that we use the boat 88.96% of all weekends over the course of the last 27 years.
If it blows, we sail, if it doesn't we motor.
I can say, with certainty, that we use the boat 88.96% of all weekends over the course of the last 27 years.
Although our destination is really the water, unless there's really no wind at all the motor is on to pull away from the dock and set the main; on again for the last 100 yards to the island beach(a few underwater rocks to avoid at our favorite spot); On again to back away from the beach and again to dock. Total average time on motor per day:2-5 minutes. When I want to annoy my powerboat friends that complain about marina fuel prices I remind them that I put 6 gallons of fuel in the removable tank in April and pour 5+ gallons of it into my car in October. I didn't name the boat 'Wind is Free' for nuthin'. 
It depends... if you got to get somewhere at a certain time... put up the sails... keep an eye on your watch... and your finger handy to the start button! I hate to have to be someplace at a certain time... takes the fun out of sailing.
Our destination is always the water... and whatever the weather forecast dictates, we adjust our destination.
Our sailing area is around Sheepscot Bay in Maine. We usually motor out to the Sheepscot River due to tidal current and charge batteries... about 1 mile and set sail. If there is no wind... we will start the engine... no sense bobbing around the lobster buoys "in irons". Wind usually picks up in the afternoon with reefed sails. That is if there is no FOOOOOOG!
Used 10 gallons of diesel this year from mid May till mid October.
Our destination is always the water... and whatever the weather forecast dictates, we adjust our destination.
Our sailing area is around Sheepscot Bay in Maine. We usually motor out to the Sheepscot River due to tidal current and charge batteries... about 1 mile and set sail. If there is no wind... we will start the engine... no sense bobbing around the lobster buoys "in irons". Wind usually picks up in the afternoon with reefed sails. That is if there is no FOOOOOOG!
Used 10 gallons of diesel this year from mid May till mid October.
motoring
we always motor out of the harbor and until we are free of some big rocks, then again to pick up the mooring or back into the harbor...
when we have to reach a certain destination before dark i have no issues motor sailing to keep the speed up if the wind is low...
it's all about being on the water for me, i prefer to sail but i like it all...
j&r
we always motor out of the harbor and until we are free of some big rocks, then again to pick up the mooring or back into the harbor...
when we have to reach a certain destination before dark i have no issues motor sailing to keep the speed up if the wind is low...
it's all about being on the water for me, i prefer to sail but i like it all...
j&r
Depends on the situation
If I am just out for a day sail, I ain't going to crank the diesel up, other than leaving and coming to the dock. PERIOD Usually I would rather drift than motor for a day sail. If I am traveling for some distance, I usually have a set speed in mind, and as long as I can maintain that boat speed I sail. This speed is usually around 4 knots, but can go as low as just maintaining steerage way. Wanting to make an inlet before dark can change everything.
If I am just out for a day sail, I ain't going to crank the diesel up, other than leaving and coming to the dock. PERIOD Usually I would rather drift than motor for a day sail. If I am traveling for some distance, I usually have a set speed in mind, and as long as I can maintain that boat speed I sail. This speed is usually around 4 knots, but can go as low as just maintaining steerage way. Wanting to make an inlet before dark can change everything.
Seems like I am with the majority opinion so far....I prefer to sail and only motor if there is a good reason. It is so easy to become a powerboat with a useless stick. Once you get into the habit of wanting to be someplace at a certain time motoring becomes routine. At least here in the southeast the wind is too unpredictable to plan to be anywhere at a certain time.
Really depends. Here's the data.
We go under canvas whenever possible, but as others have mentioned, it depends on many factors including wind, current, available sunlight, how long we've already been out & how much longer the kids/admiral can hold out until we make our next destination, etc.
Fun with numbers: The last two seasons since we acquired Grasshopper, our H23.5, I've kept a consolidated log summary (I haven't done it for the prior 3 season on our previous boat).
In '07 we got a late start & had only 11 days on the water, most of them on Lake Champlain, where the slip required little motoring, and the balance was on LI Sound, which required greater motoring from where we launched. Here is the breakdown:
This season, I put out a mooring on LI Sound from July 4 to Labor Day. We had 18 days & did much more extended trips. We motored more for several reasons, including we would provision ourselves by motoring from the mooring to the public launch, which added about 40 minutes of motoring we might otherwise might not have done (that is, if we wanted to row back & forth to the mooring multiple times!). We also had long legs where we lost wind or when we needed to make a drawbridge or marina closing. I would have preferred more of a balance like the prior year, but it was pretty much 50/50. Here are the statistics:
I guess I should be embarrassed that in both seasons I can only average 3.9 kts under sail! We fought some wicked currents on the Sound & often held out as long as possible before giving up on the wind!
In any case, Hal, the numbers are what the numbers are; they don't lie. I leave them to you to draw your own conclusions to try to answer whatever the genesis is of your question!
Fair winds!
We go under canvas whenever possible, but as others have mentioned, it depends on many factors including wind, current, available sunlight, how long we've already been out & how much longer the kids/admiral can hold out until we make our next destination, etc.
Fun with numbers: The last two seasons since we acquired Grasshopper, our H23.5, I've kept a consolidated log summary (I haven't done it for the prior 3 season on our previous boat).
In '07 we got a late start & had only 11 days on the water, most of them on Lake Champlain, where the slip required little motoring, and the balance was on LI Sound, which required greater motoring from where we launched. Here is the breakdown:
- Total NM: 173.7
- Total hours: 44:20
- Avg Dist/Day: 15.8
- Avg Speed: 3.9 Kts
- Dist Under Sail: 134.1 (77.2%)
- Time Under Sail: 34:00 (76.7%)
- Avg Speed: 3.9 Kts
- Dist Under Power: 39.6 (22.8%)
- Time Under Power: 11:35 (26.1%)
- Avg Speed: 3.4 Kts
This season, I put out a mooring on LI Sound from July 4 to Labor Day. We had 18 days & did much more extended trips. We motored more for several reasons, including we would provision ourselves by motoring from the mooring to the public launch, which added about 40 minutes of motoring we might otherwise might not have done (that is, if we wanted to row back & forth to the mooring multiple times!). We also had long legs where we lost wind or when we needed to make a drawbridge or marina closing. I would have preferred more of a balance like the prior year, but it was pretty much 50/50. Here are the statistics:
- Total NM: 374.7
- Total hours: 91:05
- Avg Dist/Day: 20.8
- Avg Speed: 4.1 Kts
- Dist Under Sail: 188.6 (50.3%)
- Time Under Sail: 48:35 (53.3%)
- Avg Speed: 3.9 Kts
- Dist Under Power: 186.1 (49.7%)
- Time Under Power: 42:30 (46.7%)
- Avg Speed: 4.4 Kts
I guess I should be embarrassed that in both seasons I can only average 3.9 kts under sail! We fought some wicked currents on the Sound & often held out as long as possible before giving up on the wind!
In any case, Hal, the numbers are what the numbers are; they don't lie. I leave them to you to draw your own conclusions to try to answer whatever the genesis is of your question!
Fair winds!
Re: Really depends. Here's the data.
My fastest speed over the bottom this year was more than 8 kts. sailing with the flood tide on a broad run. My slowest was in the order 1 knot at slack with a dying wind, trying to go around Ordinary Point. Nancy insisted that there was too much traffic and we hoisted the cast iron jib.
My fastest speed over the bottom this year was more than 8 kts. sailing with the flood tide on a broad run. My slowest was in the order 1 knot at slack with a dying wind, trying to go around Ordinary Point. Nancy insisted that there was too much traffic and we hoisted the cast iron jib.
Ross that is the correct answer
My boat is my destination, but if Kathy wants the motor (which is rare) she gets the motor. I too would rather have my wife on board, but usually it is my sailing buddy and I, when its us we sail all the time except when entering or leaving the dock.
I agree with the posters who say the boat is the destination. We love sailing and I think we sail more than many of our cruising friends. But I'll start the motor if there's no wind, if I have a time mandate (Like a reservation at a marina, or need to get a mooring earlier in the day), if there's too much wind to head upwind into comfortably (Once the main is furled and the jib alone produces more heal than is comfortable), if we are tacking upwind into a wicked current and going nowhere, or if sailing dead downwind in light air.
Things we can do to avoid motoring are plan passages to go with the current, sail in the afternoon and plan to anchor upon arrival, keep destination flexible (don't make reservations), sail at night if you need to arrive earlier in the day, buy an asymmetical spinnaker.
I like being underway motor or sail. My wife prefers to sail. If any of the guys out there want your wife to like sailing more, LET HER DRIVE.
Things we can do to avoid motoring are plan passages to go with the current, sail in the afternoon and plan to anchor upon arrival, keep destination flexible (don't make reservations), sail at night if you need to arrive earlier in the day, buy an asymmetical spinnaker.
I like being underway motor or sail. My wife prefers to sail. If any of the guys out there want your wife to like sailing more, LET HER DRIVE.
I like being underway motor or sail. My wife prefers to sail. If any of the guys out there want your wife to like sailing more, LET HER DRIVE.[/quote]
Won't work with Nancy she gets rattled when the boat won't go where she wants under sail.
Won't work with Nancy she gets rattled when the boat won't go where she wants under sail.
We motor sail when, we are in a channel where the engine is needed and the main is up to keep the boat stable. If the wind is not there and we have a deadline, we will motor.
Now that I answered, May I gentely steer towards a related motoring issue?
I want to get some help from those with experience with folding props.
I have an '86 Cal 33 w/ a Yanmar 3gm.
I want to get more speed for cruising under sail and help light air sailing.
I am thinking of a Flex fold prop as a partial solution.
I have no issues with the engine system, and I can make 6.3 to 6.7 motoring.
Can I have the best of both?
In your experience what folding props do you use, and what effect does it have on your motoring speed vs fixed prop. And, what improvement did you see in boat speed when sailing.
I apologize to Ross and others in advance if this is an inapropriate place to ask.
fred
Now that I answered, May I gentely steer towards a related motoring issue?
I want to get some help from those with experience with folding props.
I have an '86 Cal 33 w/ a Yanmar 3gm.
I want to get more speed for cruising under sail and help light air sailing.
I am thinking of a Flex fold prop as a partial solution.
I have no issues with the engine system, and I can make 6.3 to 6.7 motoring.
Can I have the best of both?
In your experience what folding props do you use, and what effect does it have on your motoring speed vs fixed prop. And, what improvement did you see in boat speed when sailing.
I apologize to Ross and others in advance if this is an inapropriate place to ask.
fred
Folding vs fixed two blade = no diference in speed motoring.
Fodling vs fixed two blade under sail aproximately 1/2 knot better + able to point higher with less drag right in front of the rudder.
Folding vs feathering? probably the same under sail; feathering opens more easily forward or reverse. Just my opinion from 23 years racing & cruising with a Martec Folding Prop.
Fodling vs fixed two blade under sail aproximately 1/2 knot better + able to point higher with less drag right in front of the rudder.
Folding vs feathering? probably the same under sail; feathering opens more easily forward or reverse. Just my opinion from 23 years racing & cruising with a Martec Folding Prop.
Just my opinion and it has small value. With a fixed blade prop we are draging an angled bronze plate with an area equal to the area of the blades. If you race this will be a serious drag, if you only cruise you won't notice the difference. The difference between two blades and three is approximately equal to putting your hand in the water to slow the boat down.
Thamks
Thanks for opinions and details on sailing or motoring. Looks like motoring has a significant place, at times in most sailing.
Thanks for opinions and details on sailing or motoring. Looks like motoring has a significant place, at times in most sailing.
When we want to get somewhere, we motor exclusively, usually we want to get to a marina for our slip reservation. Once we are registered we can go out and sail. We sail in the PNW and if it is not blowing hard enough to log some distance we have to motor in order to make slack tide in the passes, overcome the current and stay on course and get to the marina during business hours and then go to a restaurant for dinner. When I want to get somewhere I am usually under time contraints so sailing is not always an option.
Daysailing is a different story but that is not what the OP asked.
one other option
we tend to drift a lot, come winter.
usually we drift with the sails up.
but that's how we motor as well.
we tend to drift a lot, come winter.
usually we drift with the sails up.
but that's how we motor as well.
First Mate rarely daysails, she's aboard mostly for trips. She doesn't like to bob around in the ocean, so if our speed falls below 3 kts, I fire up the iron jib and keep the main up for stability and sometimes motorsail with main and genoa. If it's me and the guys on a daysail, we'll drift around for a long time since we're not going anywhere. Long Beach, CA has great daysailing; good wind (usually) and flat water behind the breakwater. On trips with the guys, we'll sail more, use the pole and/or the gennaker more, but the First Mate usually wants to just get there.
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