Interesting article on MSN - Increasing sailboat sales - rising fuel costs. Remember the 1970's? (If you do, you weren't having any fun) Rana
Sailboat sales boom with high fuel costs
- Thread starter Rana Toro
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Getting there
You still have to get to the boat! Maybe we will have to carpool to the lake! Another positive, it may keep more Jetskis and loud powerboats OFF the water!
You still have to get to the boat! Maybe we will have to carpool to the lake! Another positive, it may keep more Jetskis and loud powerboats OFF the water!
Power boat reduction
I would love to see a reduction in power boats and those obnoxious jetski things. What drives me crazy is the magnet that I have become for jetskis. Several times, they have decided to run circles around me, or perform their acrobatics within spitting distance, when there is plenty of room on the lake at a respectable distance (hundreds of yards). I don't feed them, but I guess they are like the ducks, hoping for a handout. I still think a potato gun is good idea. Oh well, maybe it will improve after Labor day. Alan
I would love to see a reduction in power boats and those obnoxious jetski things. What drives me crazy is the magnet that I have become for jetskis. Several times, they have decided to run circles around me, or perform their acrobatics within spitting distance, when there is plenty of room on the lake at a respectable distance (hundreds of yards). I don't feed them, but I guess they are like the ducks, hoping for a handout. I still think a potato gun is good idea. Oh well, maybe it will improve after Labor day. Alan
$1, $2, $3, $4, $5...........
That is just the count I make when a loud obnoxious powerboat flies by me. I agree about those DARN jetskis. I think that it would be a fun game if we could shoot paintballs at them as they went by. The other day I was coming back into Monroe Bay (Colonial Beach, VA) and this idiot was on a jetski. In his lap was an enfant (the baby couldn't have been a year old). THIS JET SKI THING HAS GONE TOO FAR!
That is just the count I make when a loud obnoxious powerboat flies by me. I agree about those DARN jetskis. I think that it would be a fun game if we could shoot paintballs at them as they went by. The other day I was coming back into Monroe Bay (Colonial Beach, VA) and this idiot was on a jetski. In his lap was an enfant (the baby couldn't have been a year old). THIS JET SKI THING HAS GONE TOO FAR!
Sailboat girls must be the magnet
The jetskis must be coming by to check out our girls and show off. Thats why we should still carry cannons, sabres, and a cat-o-nine tails! Aarrrrrggggg! Keep yer hands off me booty!
The jetskis must be coming by to check out our girls and show off. Thats why we should still carry cannons, sabres, and a cat-o-nine tails! Aarrrrrggggg! Keep yer hands off me booty!
not as cheap as you think
Buying a sailboat to save the cost of fuel is false economy. Buy a sailboat to go sailing. The difference between sailboats and powerboats is we buy out fuel upfront. IE the sails. My set runs around 15K and that doesn't include the screetcher, and genaker. 15K will buy a lot of gas!
Buying a sailboat to save the cost of fuel is false economy. Buy a sailboat to go sailing. The difference between sailboats and powerboats is we buy out fuel upfront. IE the sails. My set runs around 15K and that doesn't include the screetcher, and genaker. 15K will buy a lot of gas!
maybe at .12/gal.
Bil: Maybe at .12/gal for gasoline in Venezula, but at $3+ per gal. and a boat that burns 15 gal. per hour this is less than 300 hrs of boating.
Bil: Maybe at .12/gal for gasoline in Venezula, but at $3+ per gal. and a boat that burns 15 gal. per hour this is less than 300 hrs of boating.
15K ???
Is that in Dollars? I haven't bought sails yet but have been quoted 2.5k for my main and jib. Anyway...you don't have to rebuild the engine nearly as soon either. Try looking at the cost to rebuild those engines on big powerboat...that's got to be atleast have of your sail cost.
Is that in Dollars? I haven't bought sails yet but have been quoted 2.5k for my main and jib. Anyway...you don't have to rebuild the engine nearly as soon either. Try looking at the cost to rebuild those engines on big powerboat...that's got to be atleast have of your sail cost.
Prices of depend on size and type
The screetcher for our boat is 5,500 dollars US, The Main with battens is almost 8K US to replace. The main for our old hunter 335 by UK Allan was $3,500US 5 years ago. Fuel at $3US would get me 5,000 gallons. I could go pretty far. Here in Venezuela the locals all have huge go fast boats becasue if you have a few dollars it goes a long way. Or in the case of Ven it is Bolivars. The point is that sailors should relize that we pay for our fuel costs up front by investing in sails which are a wear and tear item. I still would rather sail than motor any day no matter the price.
The screetcher for our boat is 5,500 dollars US, The Main with battens is almost 8K US to replace. The main for our old hunter 335 by UK Allan was $3,500US 5 years ago. Fuel at $3US would get me 5,000 gallons. I could go pretty far. Here in Venezuela the locals all have huge go fast boats becasue if you have a few dollars it goes a long way. Or in the case of Ven it is Bolivars. The point is that sailors should relize that we pay for our fuel costs up front by investing in sails which are a wear and tear item. I still would rather sail than motor any day no matter the price.
Prices of depend on size and type
The screetcher for our boat is 5,500 dollars US, The Main with battens is almost 8K US to replace. The main for our old hunter 335 by UK Allan was $3,500US 5 years ago. Fuel at $3US would get me 5,000 gallons. I could go pretty far. Here in Venezuela the locals all have huge go fast boats becasue if you have a few dollars it goes a long way. Or in the case of Ven it is Bolivars. The point is that sailors should relize that we pay for our fuel costs up front by investing in sails which are a wear and tear item. Power boats have engines to deal and so do sailors. We also have rigging to deal with. Eveybody has the financial cross to bear when owning a boat it is just where the money is spent. I still would rather sail than motor any day no matter the price.
The screetcher for our boat is 5,500 dollars US, The Main with battens is almost 8K US to replace. The main for our old hunter 335 by UK Allan was $3,500US 5 years ago. Fuel at $3US would get me 5,000 gallons. I could go pretty far. Here in Venezuela the locals all have huge go fast boats becasue if you have a few dollars it goes a long way. Or in the case of Ven it is Bolivars. The point is that sailors should relize that we pay for our fuel costs up front by investing in sails which are a wear and tear item. Power boats have engines to deal and so do sailors. We also have rigging to deal with. Eveybody has the financial cross to bear when owning a boat it is just where the money is spent. I still would rather sail than motor any day no matter the price.
I think gas price doesn't have much to do with it.
There are people who would buy a power boat, and some would buy a sail boat. I don't think the price of gas has anything to do with which kind of boat people end up buying. Think about this one. If the price of gas goes down to $.10/gallon, or even free, would a sailor switch to power? You think a sailor would be happy in a go-fast boat? I don't think so. I know we wouldn't switch to a power boat. We love the feeling and the sound of the wind on the sails. The best sound is that very moment when the sails fills, and we shut off the engine. What joy. I think people pick the type of boat or switch the type of boats for certain reasons, and that definitely is not due to gas prices.
There are people who would buy a power boat, and some would buy a sail boat. I don't think the price of gas has anything to do with which kind of boat people end up buying. Think about this one. If the price of gas goes down to $.10/gallon, or even free, would a sailor switch to power? You think a sailor would be happy in a go-fast boat? I don't think so. I know we wouldn't switch to a power boat. We love the feeling and the sound of the wind on the sails. The best sound is that very moment when the sails fills, and we shut off the engine. What joy. I think people pick the type of boat or switch the type of boats for certain reasons, and that definitely is not due to gas prices.
power boats
I get to check out different marinas here a lot, and have noticed that it's always sailboats leaving/arriving, or just plain looking like they've been used, most of the power boats are sitting at the dock growing lawns, and the bigger and more powerfull they are, the more grass they have. It's also seemed to be the same on the local lakes, sail, rowboats, small fishing boats, and canoes, not as many powerboats with tubers, and even the jetskis are down in number unless they're residents. But I've found that the residents are normally not as bad, they can't just run to the public access and go to a different lake when they cause trouble. hooray for high gas priced in that instance, now if only I could put a set of sails on my work truck. Ken
I get to check out different marinas here a lot, and have noticed that it's always sailboats leaving/arriving, or just plain looking like they've been used, most of the power boats are sitting at the dock growing lawns, and the bigger and more powerfull they are, the more grass they have. It's also seemed to be the same on the local lakes, sail, rowboats, small fishing boats, and canoes, not as many powerboats with tubers, and even the jetskis are down in number unless they're residents. But I've found that the residents are normally not as bad, they can't just run to the public access and go to a different lake when they cause trouble. hooray for high gas priced in that instance, now if only I could put a set of sails on my work truck. Ken
Sails cheaper than a mercruiser
Yeah, I can't imagine what kind of sails you're talking about but if you paid 15 grand you're just over what we paid to overhaul the family Formula T-Bird last year. No, that doesn't include 10 years worth of gas either! But to agree with JC on Bainbridge, it's emotional for me, not monitary. I grew up here in Puget Sound where there's a whole lot of sailing. I loved to sail and hated those obnoxious gas hog cabin cruisers until I married into a river-boat family. The St. Lawrence is big boat central and we sometimes don't see anyone sailing the seaway for weeks on end. Now I've developed a love for those gurgling V8 go-fasts. Oh man, it sure hurts put HALF a tank of gas in the Formula but it's worth every minute on The River. I think it might become a problem when I have to "invest" in my own boat but for the time being I get to split my devotions.
Yeah, I can't imagine what kind of sails you're talking about but if you paid 15 grand you're just over what we paid to overhaul the family Formula T-Bird last year. No, that doesn't include 10 years worth of gas either! But to agree with JC on Bainbridge, it's emotional for me, not monitary. I grew up here in Puget Sound where there's a whole lot of sailing. I loved to sail and hated those obnoxious gas hog cabin cruisers until I married into a river-boat family. The St. Lawrence is big boat central and we sometimes don't see anyone sailing the seaway for weeks on end. Now I've developed a love for those gurgling V8 go-fasts. Oh man, it sure hurts put HALF a tank of gas in the Formula but it's worth every minute on The River. I think it might become a problem when I have to "invest" in my own boat but for the time being I get to split my devotions.
That was the point
As I pointed out below, even at the cost of 7 cents a gallon here in Venezuela, I still would rather be sailing. We came from the Cheasapeake Bay where fuel cost were high and because Makai is a Cat we paid double for a slip. All boaters power or sail have expenses, things wear out or break, and toys need to be added. In the last 30 years on the water I have seen many boats both power and sail sitting doing nothing. In our marina in the Bay we saw sail boats theat neve left the slips, just as power boats. Boating or sailing is not an investment it is a passion. We live to sail and cruise. Makai is a 38 foot Voyage Yacht Catamaran with a full roach and harken bat car system. The sail is so large and heavy that it takes 2 people to move it around once it is off the boom. We had the boat built new in South Africa and these were the sails that come with the boat. Of course small non off shore boats may be able to get a suit of sails less expensively due to size, use, and construction, as we did for our Hunter 335, but it still was $3,500 for the main.
As I pointed out below, even at the cost of 7 cents a gallon here in Venezuela, I still would rather be sailing. We came from the Cheasapeake Bay where fuel cost were high and because Makai is a Cat we paid double for a slip. All boaters power or sail have expenses, things wear out or break, and toys need to be added. In the last 30 years on the water I have seen many boats both power and sail sitting doing nothing. In our marina in the Bay we saw sail boats theat neve left the slips, just as power boats. Boating or sailing is not an investment it is a passion. We live to sail and cruise. Makai is a 38 foot Voyage Yacht Catamaran with a full roach and harken bat car system. The sail is so large and heavy that it takes 2 people to move it around once it is off the boom. We had the boat built new in South Africa and these were the sails that come with the boat. Of course small non off shore boats may be able to get a suit of sails less expensively due to size, use, and construction, as we did for our Hunter 335, but it still was $3,500 for the main.
Not really.....
"Fuel at $3US would get me 5,000 gallons. I could go pretty far." 5000 / (18 gallons an hour * 8 hours a day) = 35 days. I think I can get at least 300 days out of a good set of sails. Don't forget the cost of rebuilding the engine.
"Fuel at $3US would get me 5,000 gallons. I could go pretty far." 5000 / (18 gallons an hour * 8 hours a day) = 35 days. I think I can get at least 300 days out of a good set of sails. Don't forget the cost of rebuilding the engine.
Power Boats Vs Sailing .....
TRIVIA QUESTION: One is too noisey...take a GUESS...and by the way, I saw a "speedster" with 3 200 HP outboads on the back...(he didnt even have a BIMINI)...I FELT so comfortable under my BIMINI...with a good tack...crusing in my CONFY. MAC 26C. Now a days, Miles Per Gust is so much better, than Miles Per Gallon.
TRIVIA QUESTION: One is too noisey...take a GUESS...and by the way, I saw a "speedster" with 3 200 HP outboads on the back...(he didnt even have a BIMINI)...I FELT so comfortable under my BIMINI...with a good tack...crusing in my CONFY. MAC 26C. Now a days, Miles Per Gust is so much better, than Miles Per Gallon.
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