I have a serious bug to move up to a substantially larger boat from my Hunter 335. The boat I'm looking at is a Nauticat 43 which is a Sparkman and Stephens designed, pilothouse cutter rigged ketch of about 33,000 pounds displacement. Aside from getting in that deep in terms of money, boat size, etc., one of my biggest concerns is that I might lose my ability to singlehand which I really enjoy on my 335. I'm not terribly concerned about handling the boat out on the water but am concerned about getting into and out of my slip, especially as the Nauticat has a fair amount of windage. What was your experience as you moved up to larger boats? Do you still singlehand as much? What did you have to learn to singlehand the bigger boats? Thanks for your advice. Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
- Status
You probably won't sail a Nauticat as much
In my opinion,,, your 335 is more of a true sailboat than a Nauticat 43. I think the 43 is more of a trawler. Hasn't it got something like 185hp? Fred
In my opinion,,, your 335 is more of a true sailboat than a Nauticat 43. I think the 43 is more of a trawler. Hasn't it got something like 185hp? Fred
I have to agree.
Gary: I would have to agree with Freds' comment. We had a fellow in our marina that had a Valiant 40 that traded down to a Catalina 34'. He found that the Valiant was just too much work. I think if you moved up to something like the Catalina 40, Hunter 40 etc. you would find these boats are better 'all around' cruising and day sailing boats. Obviously they are not designed for heavy off shore sailing like the Nauticat either. So once again you have a compromise to deal with.
Gary: I would have to agree with Freds' comment. We had a fellow in our marina that had a Valiant 40 that traded down to a Catalina 34'. He found that the Valiant was just too much work. I think if you moved up to something like the Catalina 40, Hunter 40 etc. you would find these boats are better 'all around' cruising and day sailing boats. Obviously they are not designed for heavy off shore sailing like the Nauticat either. So once again you have a compromise to deal with.
Hi Gary, our slip neighbor has a Nauticat 39...
with a navy blue hull and bow thrusters. Nice looking boat with lots of freeboard like ours. The way he has his set up, IMHO, would be difficult to sail solo. Most all his lines are controlled at the mast step as opposed to the cockpit. Our P42 is 24,000 pounds plus and I've been out many times solo. I just take it slow and easy getting in and out of the slip, or docking. For her size and heft the P42 is very easy to maneuver. Our boat hook comes in handy, and I have a portable step secured to the toe rail amidships that helps, too. Where do you keep your boat, Deer Harbor? Terry
with a navy blue hull and bow thrusters. Nice looking boat with lots of freeboard like ours. The way he has his set up, IMHO, would be difficult to sail solo. Most all his lines are controlled at the mast step as opposed to the cockpit. Our P42 is 24,000 pounds plus and I've been out many times solo. I just take it slow and easy getting in and out of the slip, or docking. For her size and heft the P42 is very easy to maneuver. Our boat hook comes in handy, and I have a portable step secured to the toe rail amidships that helps, too. Where do you keep your boat, Deer Harbor? Terry
Tradeoffs
Thanks for your input guys. I really love our 335, but I think based on our cruising plans we're beginning to push her limits. We've done Desolation Sound and Barkley Sound. The latter was pretty sketchy on occasion. We'd like to circumnavigate Vancouver Island,do a cruise to Glacier Bay and probably some offshore stuff eventually. Having a pilothouse for the cold rainy weather to be experienced on some of this really beats standing out in an open cockpit in foulies. I'd also like to get a beefier boat for some of these trips. Nauticat makes a couple of classes of boats--motorsailers and pilothouse sailboats. The 521, 43 and 40 were designed by Sparkman and Stephens as sailboats and are reputed to be much better sailors and also built like tanks. Haven't made my mind up yet, but I don't want to give up my daysailing either. Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
Thanks for your input guys. I really love our 335, but I think based on our cruising plans we're beginning to push her limits. We've done Desolation Sound and Barkley Sound. The latter was pretty sketchy on occasion. We'd like to circumnavigate Vancouver Island,do a cruise to Glacier Bay and probably some offshore stuff eventually. Having a pilothouse for the cold rainy weather to be experienced on some of this really beats standing out in an open cockpit in foulies. I'd also like to get a beefier boat for some of these trips. Nauticat makes a couple of classes of boats--motorsailers and pilothouse sailboats. The 521, 43 and 40 were designed by Sparkman and Stephens as sailboats and are reputed to be much better sailors and also built like tanks. Haven't made my mind up yet, but I don't want to give up my daysailing either. Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
Gary,
I have a 420, and like Terry I generally have no trouble getting into and out of the slip. High winds can make it dicy, but even then you just adjust accordingly. IMHO, since only one person can drive any boat, in a sense, you are always single handing when it comes to getting into and out of a slip.... OK, maybe it's a little easier when someone helps with the lines, but no one else can help you get that boat in the slip, 'cept you...... So go for the Nauticat, if you want it, and don't worry about it being bigger... you'll adjust....
I have a 420, and like Terry I generally have no trouble getting into and out of the slip. High winds can make it dicy, but even then you just adjust accordingly. IMHO, since only one person can drive any boat, in a sense, you are always single handing when it comes to getting into and out of a slip.... OK, maybe it's a little easier when someone helps with the lines, but no one else can help you get that boat in the slip, 'cept you...... So go for the Nauticat, if you want it, and don't worry about it being bigger... you'll adjust....
Glad to hear--
...you're thinking of single-handing a Nauticat. I'm considering one for the same reasons: pilot house, enough engine, etc. Dismissing these boats isn't right: I can single hand my H-34, but I never do it, because it's hard, unpleasant work--out on the cabin top and in an exposed cockpit. I'd sail MORE with those amenities, and I agree that you'll adjust. As you say, the main issues are dealing with the lines in the slip.
...you're thinking of single-handing a Nauticat. I'm considering one for the same reasons: pilot house, enough engine, etc. Dismissing these boats isn't right: I can single hand my H-34, but I never do it, because it's hard, unpleasant work--out on the cabin top and in an exposed cockpit. I'd sail MORE with those amenities, and I agree that you'll adjust. As you say, the main issues are dealing with the lines in the slip.
Bigger May Be Easier!
My experience has been that small boats are harder to singlehand. My first boat about 30 years ago was a Ranger-27 with an outboard engine. My last four boats have been 40 feet or greater. I feel much more comfortable with a bigger boat, especially if I had one with two engines. However, singlehanding any boat means less margin for error. You have to have planned out and be ready to execute, intuitively, the most basic maneuvers and be prepared for any exigency that arises.
My experience has been that small boats are harder to singlehand. My first boat about 30 years ago was a Ranger-27 with an outboard engine. My last four boats have been 40 feet or greater. I feel much more comfortable with a bigger boat, especially if I had one with two engines. However, singlehanding any boat means less margin for error. You have to have planned out and be ready to execute, intuitively, the most basic maneuvers and be prepared for any exigency that arises.
Scratching the Nauticat itch...
Gary, I happen to share your affection for Nauticats. Particularly in the area where you are sailing a Nauticat should be able to extend your cruising season by a couple of months compared to most Hunters. Also, whereas the Nauticat 43 is a heavy vessel that has been designed for crossing oceans rather than for puttering around harbors and marinas, models such as the Nauticat 39 -- and other members of the newer pilothouse series -- actually sail quite well. A few years ago I had the opportunity to try one out on the Chesapeake Bay and was very impressed with its performance in relatively light winds. It is quite educational to compare the specs of the Nauticat 39 (a fin-keeler) with those of the Hunter 386, one of the medium-sized Hunters with highest SAD and lowest DL ratios, I believe. Combined with the greater draft and slightly narrower beam I would not be amazed if the Nauticat 39 could outsail the Hunter 386! At the same time, because of the much greater storage and tankage space, the ability to carry a 60 HP Yanmar and a ton of heavy add-ons, few Nauticat 39s sailing around in the USA are probably anywhere near their showroom displacement (16,000 lbs). Combine this with the preference of most Nauticat owners for less efficient, in-mast furled mains and your chance of being outsailed by a Nauticat is probably not too large. None of this has much to do with ease of shorthanded docking, of course. There you are looking at four major factors: visibility (not too good with most pilot house designs), windage (ibid, a bow thruster sure comes in handy here), manoeuverability (largely a function of rudder, keel and propeller), and accessibility (e.g. of lines and cleats from the cockpit). Having a large, efficient rudder is probably the single most important factor of all, since it allows you to keep speed down while retaining rudder control. Wish there was a reliable and affordable remote control which would not only allow you to operate the autopilot but also control throttle and clutch action while standing somewhere near the beam with the docklines already in hand..... Fair winds, Flying Dutchman
Gary, I happen to share your affection for Nauticats. Particularly in the area where you are sailing a Nauticat should be able to extend your cruising season by a couple of months compared to most Hunters. Also, whereas the Nauticat 43 is a heavy vessel that has been designed for crossing oceans rather than for puttering around harbors and marinas, models such as the Nauticat 39 -- and other members of the newer pilothouse series -- actually sail quite well. A few years ago I had the opportunity to try one out on the Chesapeake Bay and was very impressed with its performance in relatively light winds. It is quite educational to compare the specs of the Nauticat 39 (a fin-keeler) with those of the Hunter 386, one of the medium-sized Hunters with highest SAD and lowest DL ratios, I believe. Combined with the greater draft and slightly narrower beam I would not be amazed if the Nauticat 39 could outsail the Hunter 386! At the same time, because of the much greater storage and tankage space, the ability to carry a 60 HP Yanmar and a ton of heavy add-ons, few Nauticat 39s sailing around in the USA are probably anywhere near their showroom displacement (16,000 lbs). Combine this with the preference of most Nauticat owners for less efficient, in-mast furled mains and your chance of being outsailed by a Nauticat is probably not too large. None of this has much to do with ease of shorthanded docking, of course. There you are looking at four major factors: visibility (not too good with most pilot house designs), windage (ibid, a bow thruster sure comes in handy here), manoeuverability (largely a function of rudder, keel and propeller), and accessibility (e.g. of lines and cleats from the cockpit). Having a large, efficient rudder is probably the single most important factor of all, since it allows you to keep speed down while retaining rudder control. Wish there was a reliable and affordable remote control which would not only allow you to operate the autopilot but also control throttle and clutch action while standing somewhere near the beam with the docklines already in hand..... Fair winds, Flying Dutchman
Agree with Henk
I think the rudder/propwalk issues for close, slow maeuvers, and freeboard are the biggest issues. Freeboard not so much for the windage -- you can learn to compensate for that -- but when you're docking solo you've got to get on and off the bnoat quickly. The number of step and athleticism required to get from wheel to dock is _the_ issue, in my experience. My P42 worked great -- 2 or 3 steps from wheel lifelines, then a nominal hop to the dock. In contrast, my 450 was an intimidating leap to the dock and I never got comfortable singlehanding around docks because of it. That said, there may be some gear you can mount to your slip or cleats that will assist docking from the deck.
I think the rudder/propwalk issues for close, slow maeuvers, and freeboard are the biggest issues. Freeboard not so much for the windage -- you can learn to compensate for that -- but when you're docking solo you've got to get on and off the bnoat quickly. The number of step and athleticism required to get from wheel to dock is _the_ issue, in my experience. My P42 worked great -- 2 or 3 steps from wheel lifelines, then a nominal hop to the dock. In contrast, my 450 was an intimidating leap to the dock and I never got comfortable singlehanding around docks because of it. That said, there may be some gear you can mount to your slip or cleats that will assist docking from the deck.
Phil
I have found the opposite to be true about the larger vessel being harder to maneuver. Maybe your boats had similar displacement but the 450 carried much more windage. One of my previous boats was a 22,000 lb ketch and it would dock much better than my current 13,000 Hunter. I think maybe it was the greater mass of displacement that held the larger vessel in place longer against the forces of wind and current. It did require more advanced planning, but slow and easy usually prevailed.
I have found the opposite to be true about the larger vessel being harder to maneuver. Maybe your boats had similar displacement but the 450 carried much more windage. One of my previous boats was a 22,000 lb ketch and it would dock much better than my current 13,000 Hunter. I think maybe it was the greater mass of displacement that held the larger vessel in place longer against the forces of wind and current. It did require more advanced planning, but slow and easy usually prevailed.
Is someone becoming a sailing wuss...
I prefer the idea of being out in the open in foulies rather than in a pilot house where you lose or diminish the feel of the forces on the boat; wind, current, etc. Terry
I prefer the idea of being out in the open in foulies rather than in a pilot house where you lose or diminish the feel of the forces on the boat; wind, current, etc. Terry
It's simple Gary...
You just need TWO boats! Get your Nauticat for cruising (I have a friend with one, they're pretty nice) and also a little International-14, J-24 or something like that to mess around in for singlehanded daysailing... I'm sure you could daysail a big Nauticat but it might not be as much fun as something smaller. It is a nice heavy duty cruiser/motor sailer though, perfect for Pacific Northwest waters. Then you could be a two boat owner. Just think of the fun! (not to mention headaches, expenses, etc.) <trying to talk myself into an obviously crazy idea>
You just need TWO boats! Get your Nauticat for cruising (I have a friend with one, they're pretty nice) and also a little International-14, J-24 or something like that to mess around in for singlehanded daysailing... I'm sure you could daysail a big Nauticat but it might not be as much fun as something smaller. It is a nice heavy duty cruiser/motor sailer though, perfect for Pacific Northwest waters. Then you could be a two boat owner. Just think of the fun! (not to mention headaches, expenses, etc.) <trying to talk myself into an obviously crazy idea>
Traditional, heavy vessels have some advantages
when it comes to docking, particularly in spaceous marinas and harbors. I remember docking gaff-rigged, full-keeled 20-25 footers under sail a loooong time ago. As long as one had a fairly open shot at an upwind slip, this was easy as pie. You dropped the jib, adjusted boat speed and turned into the wind while lining up the bows with the dock or slip. It was important to keep one hand on the boom (with the main luffing) until you were satisfied that you did not have too much speed on; in which case you pushed the boom out to brake a bit (or even to back out in case of surprises). Then you just walked to the beam or the bows as soon as you were about 10 feet away from the dock. All the while, because of its mass and directional stability the vessel would just keep moving pretty much in a straight line, though continuing to decelerate. Much later, when we had little children and bought a 35 ft Drift-R-Cruz houseboat (with a single 250 hp Z-drive engine, practically no keel and more windage than a sailing vessel under reefed main) I had to learn the hard way not to line up "Rivendel I" with the dock or lock wall, idle the engine and walk to the bow to fasten a dockline, as she would tend to go every which way but straight ahead...... The real problem for all vessels trying to dock in todays cramped, overfull marinas with narrow turns, fluky winds and tight slips is that you can't go really fast (unless you know your slip, your vessel and your engine very, very well) and yet you can't go really slow without losing steerage unless you have a big, highly efficient rudder or a big, full keel. In the latter case, however, it is pretty hopeless to try and execute a narrow turn at low speed. So, in tight docking situations, I will happily take a big rudder over a big keel any time . Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II" (Legend 43)
when it comes to docking, particularly in spaceous marinas and harbors. I remember docking gaff-rigged, full-keeled 20-25 footers under sail a loooong time ago. As long as one had a fairly open shot at an upwind slip, this was easy as pie. You dropped the jib, adjusted boat speed and turned into the wind while lining up the bows with the dock or slip. It was important to keep one hand on the boom (with the main luffing) until you were satisfied that you did not have too much speed on; in which case you pushed the boom out to brake a bit (or even to back out in case of surprises). Then you just walked to the beam or the bows as soon as you were about 10 feet away from the dock. All the while, because of its mass and directional stability the vessel would just keep moving pretty much in a straight line, though continuing to decelerate. Much later, when we had little children and bought a 35 ft Drift-R-Cruz houseboat (with a single 250 hp Z-drive engine, practically no keel and more windage than a sailing vessel under reefed main) I had to learn the hard way not to line up "Rivendel I" with the dock or lock wall, idle the engine and walk to the bow to fasten a dockline, as she would tend to go every which way but straight ahead...... The real problem for all vessels trying to dock in todays cramped, overfull marinas with narrow turns, fluky winds and tight slips is that you can't go really fast (unless you know your slip, your vessel and your engine very, very well) and yet you can't go really slow without losing steerage unless you have a big, highly efficient rudder or a big, full keel. In the latter case, however, it is pretty hopeless to try and execute a narrow turn at low speed. So, in tight docking situations, I will happily take a big rudder over a big keel any time . Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II" (Legend 43)
Agreed, David
In many way big boats are pretty easy to dock, assuming they don't have serious prop walk... my major concern is access from deck to dock. If you can get from the wheel the dock and back quickly, it's a snap.
In many way big boats are pretty easy to dock, assuming they don't have serious prop walk... my major concern is access from deck to dock. If you can get from the wheel the dock and back quickly, it's a snap.
$/Fun; SA/hp; and Underwater Area
1. Bigger isn't always better. Bigger means more cost ($), both for initial cost and again for annual cost. But for all the cost does one really get the return-on-investment in the form of fun? To go from a $50K/$75K boat up to a $150K/$250K boat does the positive experience double or triple? Or, is say, a 10% or 20% improvement worth the incremental expense? Ahhh, life decisions. 2. SA/hp: If a boat has a large engine (hp) then the sail area (SA) it needs to perform well under sail is likely need to be proportionally greater. If this is true then can a short-handed crew manage the sail area? If the boom is high and you have to reach up to flake the sail is this safe? Would the larger rig and heavier sails be easier to handle? If it becomes more work to sail would you motor more and sail less? With heavier and bigger sails would one really single hand that much? 3. Underwater area: This is what really helps with docking: big rudder and keel area. Sure, a bow thruster would help too, to keep the bow from falling off, but keel and rudder area is really important. A shoal draft keel doesn't work nearly as well as a fin keel. 4. Boat Size: With our H-35 (12,600 lbs) we circumnavigated Vancouver Island in '91, sailed Cape Scott to Cape St James in the Charlottes in '93, and went to Alaska via Wrangell, Tracy Arm, Juneau, Sitka, came down the outside and returned. This was a 2-1/2 month trip and the boat performed perfectly. We know someone who took their 35.5 from Puget Sound down through the Panama Canal and up to Florida and someone else who took their Vision 36 from Vancouver BC through the Canal and up to Nova Scotia. With planning, preparation, and abilities, it can be done. We left Port McNeil behind a couple on a Nauticat 52 and arrived at Blind Channel right behind them. We sailed much of the way while they motored all the way. What can I say? They were very impressed with the Hunter 35. For the Puget Sound to Juneau area one could EASILY get by, safety-wise, with something in the 35 to 37 foot range in a Hunter or similar. Docking? Thats a different story. Off Shore? I'd agree it would be nice to have something bigger if for no other reason but to carry all the stuff I'd like to take along. There was an absolutely excellent Baba 38 for sale in the January "48 North" with a nice dodger which could be fully enclosed. Beautiful below decks. $130/140K? Met the owner in Sitka and he had returned from Mexico via Hawaii single-handed. The only problem he had was when his coffee spilled on his laptop and fried it - along with his electronic communications, weather following, etc. Owner bought a new Halberg-Rassy 50-something footer so needs to sell.
1. Bigger isn't always better. Bigger means more cost ($), both for initial cost and again for annual cost. But for all the cost does one really get the return-on-investment in the form of fun? To go from a $50K/$75K boat up to a $150K/$250K boat does the positive experience double or triple? Or, is say, a 10% or 20% improvement worth the incremental expense? Ahhh, life decisions. 2. SA/hp: If a boat has a large engine (hp) then the sail area (SA) it needs to perform well under sail is likely need to be proportionally greater. If this is true then can a short-handed crew manage the sail area? If the boom is high and you have to reach up to flake the sail is this safe? Would the larger rig and heavier sails be easier to handle? If it becomes more work to sail would you motor more and sail less? With heavier and bigger sails would one really single hand that much? 3. Underwater area: This is what really helps with docking: big rudder and keel area. Sure, a bow thruster would help too, to keep the bow from falling off, but keel and rudder area is really important. A shoal draft keel doesn't work nearly as well as a fin keel. 4. Boat Size: With our H-35 (12,600 lbs) we circumnavigated Vancouver Island in '91, sailed Cape Scott to Cape St James in the Charlottes in '93, and went to Alaska via Wrangell, Tracy Arm, Juneau, Sitka, came down the outside and returned. This was a 2-1/2 month trip and the boat performed perfectly. We know someone who took their 35.5 from Puget Sound down through the Panama Canal and up to Florida and someone else who took their Vision 36 from Vancouver BC through the Canal and up to Nova Scotia. With planning, preparation, and abilities, it can be done. We left Port McNeil behind a couple on a Nauticat 52 and arrived at Blind Channel right behind them. We sailed much of the way while they motored all the way. What can I say? They were very impressed with the Hunter 35. For the Puget Sound to Juneau area one could EASILY get by, safety-wise, with something in the 35 to 37 foot range in a Hunter or similar. Docking? Thats a different story. Off Shore? I'd agree it would be nice to have something bigger if for no other reason but to carry all the stuff I'd like to take along. There was an absolutely excellent Baba 38 for sale in the January "48 North" with a nice dodger which could be fully enclosed. Beautiful below decks. $130/140K? Met the owner in Sitka and he had returned from Mexico via Hawaii single-handed. The only problem he had was when his coffee spilled on his laptop and fried it - along with his electronic communications, weather following, etc. Owner bought a new Halberg-Rassy 50-something footer so needs to sell.
Terry; getting bored? This may wake you up!
OK, so you want to be out in the cockpit in your P42. For how many hours? If you are using an autopilot for longer trips, do you just sit next to the wheel or do you go down below to warm up a bit from time to time? Perhaps your Nauticat 39 slip neighbor has made a kind of trawler out of his vessel with an enclosed cokpit tent, etc. Sometimes, one also sees P42 center cockpits transformed into such powerboat-like structures. Make no mistake, though, if he (or she?) really wanted he could operate his N39 as a medium-light cruiser racer with a D/L ratio around 220 and a 16+ Sail Area to Displacement ratio. Compare this to values of 219 and 15.8 for your P42, respectively*. Also, take a look at the completely modern hull and appendages (see attached image). So, it is just a matter of how one wants to equip and sail ones boat. However, it would be wrong to consider every N39 a motorsailer for "wuzzies" Have fun! Flying Dutchman * Before the performance-oriented P42 sailors on this board all take me in their crosshairs for these remarks without re-checking their numbers: although the P42 performance ratio page on this site lists an SAD of 19.3 that value is mistakenly based on a 1000 sq ft, or so, total sail area with large overlapping genoa rather than on the sum of the fore- and aft triangles calculated from the I, J, P and E values. Just compare it to the SAD value for the Legend 43 (i.e. 16.9) which appears to have been calculated correctly.
OK, so you want to be out in the cockpit in your P42. For how many hours? If you are using an autopilot for longer trips, do you just sit next to the wheel or do you go down below to warm up a bit from time to time? Perhaps your Nauticat 39 slip neighbor has made a kind of trawler out of his vessel with an enclosed cokpit tent, etc. Sometimes, one also sees P42 center cockpits transformed into such powerboat-like structures. Make no mistake, though, if he (or she?) really wanted he could operate his N39 as a medium-light cruiser racer with a D/L ratio around 220 and a 16+ Sail Area to Displacement ratio. Compare this to values of 219 and 15.8 for your P42, respectively*. Also, take a look at the completely modern hull and appendages (see attached image). So, it is just a matter of how one wants to equip and sail ones boat. However, it would be wrong to consider every N39 a motorsailer for "wuzzies" Have fun! Flying Dutchman * Before the performance-oriented P42 sailors on this board all take me in their crosshairs for these remarks without re-checking their numbers: although the P42 performance ratio page on this site lists an SAD of 19.3 that value is mistakenly based on a 1000 sq ft, or so, total sail area with large overlapping genoa rather than on the sum of the fore- and aft triangles calculated from the I, J, P and E values. Just compare it to the SAD value for the Legend 43 (i.e. 16.9) which appears to have been calculated correctly.
Attachments
docking large boats
Phil's got some good points-getting down to the dock quickly from a high freeboard(i don't think overall length is really the issue) can be a big issue. There is a local company here that makes a set of products called linecatchers and dockcatchers that let you pick up your lines from on deck-makes singlehanded docking much simpler and safer-I'm sure something similar is available in your area.
Phil's got some good points-getting down to the dock quickly from a high freeboard(i don't think overall length is really the issue) can be a big issue. There is a local company here that makes a set of products called linecatchers and dockcatchers that let you pick up your lines from on deck-makes singlehanded docking much simpler and safer-I'm sure something similar is available in your area.
Hi Henk, I was hoping my article would get...
a rise out of Gary, but I'm glad you weighed in. My wife likes the idea of a full enclosure when the weather turns sour, but she's been with me at the wheel in foulies. No doubt about it the Nauticat is a nice boat. It seems my neighbor's boat spends little time away from its slip. Some day I hope to sail off shore, but for now the San Juan and Gulf Islands will have to do; darn. Terry
a rise out of Gary, but I'm glad you weighed in. My wife likes the idea of a full enclosure when the weather turns sour, but she's been with me at the wheel in foulies. No doubt about it the Nauticat is a nice boat. It seems my neighbor's boat spends little time away from its slip. Some day I hope to sail off shore, but for now the San Juan and Gulf Islands will have to do; darn. Terry
"Enough sense to come in out of the rain."
Wow! I leave my computer for a day (to go look at a couple of Nauticats btw) and find my sailing manlihood attacked. Sailing wuss indeed! My mother is a very uncritical loving person. About the worst thing she ever says about anyone is that "they don't have enough sense to come in out of the rain." You may have heard that it rains occasionally around here. Of course that doesn't keep us off the water and we sail year around. The further north you go, the more it rains. We've talked to people coming back from areas north of Desolation Sound in mid summer who said it rained 28 out of 30 days. Good friends came back from Southeast Alaska on their boat and said they saw the lowest 50 feet of Southeast Alaska as there was a cloud cover from the top of their mast up the entire time. The Nauticat 43 has two helms, one in the large open cockpit in front of the mizzen mast and a second inside a warm, dry pilothouse so you have your choice based on conditions. The sail area is spread over a main, mizzen, furling genoa and staysail and is also equipped with a cruising spinnaker so there are lots of sail plan options. Don't misunderstand my feeling about my H335. Shibumi is a terrific boat and has performed well in all that we've asked her to do. If there's been a problem, it's always been a problem with the skipper. But I come back to my point on intended use. Rain notwithstanding, the area on the north end of Vancouver Island experiences more hurricane force winds every year in unnamed storms than does the Carribean. The trip up the Inside Passage takes you through places with tidal current of 16 knots and more. Can you plan around problems and pick your times of departure? Could we make our planned trips in our H335? Probably so. But there are also issues of comfort and margins of safety. We also plan on some eventual blue water passages. Do you buy a boat one day and leave for the Marquesas the next, or do you buy a boat now and get to know it for a couple of years before leaving? All of these things are going through my mind, and I also don't want my mother to say of me: "he doesn't have enough sense to come in out of the rain." Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335 P.S. Besides I've got "new boat fever."
Wow! I leave my computer for a day (to go look at a couple of Nauticats btw) and find my sailing manlihood attacked. Sailing wuss indeed! My mother is a very uncritical loving person. About the worst thing she ever says about anyone is that "they don't have enough sense to come in out of the rain." You may have heard that it rains occasionally around here. Of course that doesn't keep us off the water and we sail year around. The further north you go, the more it rains. We've talked to people coming back from areas north of Desolation Sound in mid summer who said it rained 28 out of 30 days. Good friends came back from Southeast Alaska on their boat and said they saw the lowest 50 feet of Southeast Alaska as there was a cloud cover from the top of their mast up the entire time. The Nauticat 43 has two helms, one in the large open cockpit in front of the mizzen mast and a second inside a warm, dry pilothouse so you have your choice based on conditions. The sail area is spread over a main, mizzen, furling genoa and staysail and is also equipped with a cruising spinnaker so there are lots of sail plan options. Don't misunderstand my feeling about my H335. Shibumi is a terrific boat and has performed well in all that we've asked her to do. If there's been a problem, it's always been a problem with the skipper. But I come back to my point on intended use. Rain notwithstanding, the area on the north end of Vancouver Island experiences more hurricane force winds every year in unnamed storms than does the Carribean. The trip up the Inside Passage takes you through places with tidal current of 16 knots and more. Can you plan around problems and pick your times of departure? Could we make our planned trips in our H335? Probably so. But there are also issues of comfort and margins of safety. We also plan on some eventual blue water passages. Do you buy a boat one day and leave for the Marquesas the next, or do you buy a boat now and get to know it for a couple of years before leaving? All of these things are going through my mind, and I also don't want my mother to say of me: "he doesn't have enough sense to come in out of the rain." Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335 P.S. Besides I've got "new boat fever."
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