With the high heat weve been having and maybe a touch of lazyness but Seems Ive been puting her in gear and motoring more often then sailing. No Im not ready to switch to a powerboat, but days that I would be too tired to go out sailing but still wanna be out on the bay feeling the wind in my face and enjoying it... am I alone?
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Sailing
Took 5 days and sailed to Vancouver and back with a few stops along the way - probably did close to 80 nautical miles. Never had better sailing weather on a trip before in my life - winds ranged from 12-20 Knots and we were always on a beam or broad reach - both directions. We sailed 95% of the time - faster than I can motor and generally towards the destination. Never happy with a trip where I have to motor over 50% of the time - won't look at a power boat until I am unable to manage a sail boat and at that time I should probably stay on land.
Took 5 days and sailed to Vancouver and back with a few stops along the way - probably did close to 80 nautical miles. Never had better sailing weather on a trip before in my life - winds ranged from 12-20 Knots and we were always on a beam or broad reach - both directions. We sailed 95% of the time - faster than I can motor and generally towards the destination. Never happy with a trip where I have to motor over 50% of the time - won't look at a power boat until I am unable to manage a sail boat and at that time I should probably stay on land.
Sailing or Motoring
You're not alone. Sometimes the heat and lack of wind is torrid, but any day on the water is better than NOT being on the water. Certainly, I'd not want to convert to powerboating, but I do tend to use the motor regularly - long channel exits, etc. as well as "motor cruising" on windless days and evenings (when I tell my crew we will hoist the iron Genoa). Actually, it's good for the engine and most likely is helping to prolong its life. Diesels need work and tend to run better with more use, not to mention electrolosys-free battery charging!
You're not alone. Sometimes the heat and lack of wind is torrid, but any day on the water is better than NOT being on the water. Certainly, I'd not want to convert to powerboating, but I do tend to use the motor regularly - long channel exits, etc. as well as "motor cruising" on windless days and evenings (when I tell my crew we will hoist the iron Genoa). Actually, it's good for the engine and most likely is helping to prolong its life. Diesels need work and tend to run better with more use, not to mention electrolosys-free battery charging!
Motoring is Unavoidable
When you are taking a trip. We sail as much as possible but if there is no wind you can't sail. Were lucky on our spring trip and sailed more than motored. we sailed pretty much the length ofwilson lake(12 miles) and Pickwick lake(53 miles) but on the return trip had to motor all of the way on Pickwick. Light and varible winds mostly on the nose. Fortunately the next day after motoring into the lock at Wilson Lake we sailed the length of the lake about 12 miles. So on a trip of about 130 miles we sailed about 77 miles and motored about 53 miles. Actually on the return trip we sailed the length of wilson and enjoyed it so much we sailed back down the lake and back before locking through to Wheeler lake. So we actually sailed about 36 miles on Wilson that day. But for trip purposes sailing around in circles doesn't count. If you find that you don't like to sail you might want a trawler. The mast on our boat keeps us out of a lot of nice places. Without a mast we could go under a lot of bridges and powerlines. Also the keel keeps us out of a lot of shallow water. If I didn't like sailing I would buy a smaller housboat or trawler. A small houseboat has a lot more room than a large sailboat!!! but for now we love sailing and sail as much as is reasonable. I really hate the sound of a diesel engine all day and I really love the aesthetics of sailing. I have seen a couple sailboats without masts acting like a trawler. My sailboat gets about 10 miles/gallon or better motoring which is pretty good by stinkpot standards.
When you are taking a trip. We sail as much as possible but if there is no wind you can't sail. Were lucky on our spring trip and sailed more than motored. we sailed pretty much the length ofwilson lake(12 miles) and Pickwick lake(53 miles) but on the return trip had to motor all of the way on Pickwick. Light and varible winds mostly on the nose. Fortunately the next day after motoring into the lock at Wilson Lake we sailed the length of the lake about 12 miles. So on a trip of about 130 miles we sailed about 77 miles and motored about 53 miles. Actually on the return trip we sailed the length of wilson and enjoyed it so much we sailed back down the lake and back before locking through to Wheeler lake. So we actually sailed about 36 miles on Wilson that day. But for trip purposes sailing around in circles doesn't count. If you find that you don't like to sail you might want a trawler. The mast on our boat keeps us out of a lot of nice places. Without a mast we could go under a lot of bridges and powerlines. Also the keel keeps us out of a lot of shallow water. If I didn't like sailing I would buy a smaller housboat or trawler. A small houseboat has a lot more room than a large sailboat!!! but for now we love sailing and sail as much as is reasonable. I really hate the sound of a diesel engine all day and I really love the aesthetics of sailing. I have seen a couple sailboats without masts acting like a trawler. My sailboat gets about 10 miles/gallon or better motoring which is pretty good by stinkpot standards.
I just covered 974 nautical miles ...
over three weeks on Dreamboat traveling from Kent Island, Md out the C&D Canal and Delaware Bay, direct to Block Island, up the Narragansett to East Greenwich, RI and back via Long Island Sound and NY harbor. In that time I put 100 hours on the trusty Yanmar in a combination of sailing and motor-sailing. That works out to approximately 60% of the time the motor was on. I just pretend I'm a trawler with a mast as backup. ps: It was a fabulous trip!
over three weeks on Dreamboat traveling from Kent Island, Md out the C&D Canal and Delaware Bay, direct to Block Island, up the Narragansett to East Greenwich, RI and back via Long Island Sound and NY harbor. In that time I put 100 hours on the trusty Yanmar in a combination of sailing and motor-sailing. That works out to approximately 60% of the time the motor was on. I just pretend I'm a trawler with a mast as backup. ps: It was a fabulous trip!
The odds are
you're going to motor. Either the wind is too light, wind is too strong, wind is on the nose, the wind is just right. So one time in four or 25% of the time we get to sail. I just spent three weeks on northern Lake Huron and was only able to sail one full day. Got a few hours in each day but most of the time we motored.
you're going to motor. Either the wind is too light, wind is too strong, wind is on the nose, the wind is just right. So one time in four or 25% of the time we get to sail. I just spent three weeks on northern Lake Huron and was only able to sail one full day. Got a few hours in each day but most of the time we motored.
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