Just got back from a trip down the Tennessee river from Wheeler lake to Pickwick Dam. Going down was good. Sailed the length of Wilson Lake and most of Pickwick. If you know Pickwick we sailed from the steam plant to the dam. On the way back we had to motor the whole length of Pickwick sailed but beat into the wind across Wilson. After a day of motoring we decided that 20 or so tacks was a small price to pay for sailing. Is this the price of sailing..having to motor for long stretches?? Tacking up Picwick was not an option due to the narrowness of the upper lake the light winds and the slight current.. Do you avoid narrow bodies of water so that you can avoid long tacks upwind. It was great sailing down wind for three days. But I guess motoring one day out of five days on the boat isn't bad.
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Time constraints
cause a lot of motoring. If we need to get back to the slip by a certain time, I'll sail until math says we have to motor. Motoring 1 day to get 4 good days of sailing is a small price to pay. Besides, even the day motoring is better than most alternatives. JohnnyMac H380 S/V Dawn Treader
cause a lot of motoring. If we need to get back to the slip by a certain time, I'll sail until math says we have to motor. Motoring 1 day to get 4 good days of sailing is a small price to pay. Besides, even the day motoring is better than most alternatives. JohnnyMac H380 S/V Dawn Treader
On the Chesapeake and I suppose in most
places the wind can fail completely. When we find that the same bubbles are still along side after ten minutes we may start the engine. We never cover the sails until we are back in the slip. We have gone out for an evening sail and had to motor back because the wind abandoned us. Sometimes the wind and the tide conspire against us and we either have to start the motor or spend the night on the hook in a place we didn't plan.
places the wind can fail completely. When we find that the same bubbles are still along side after ten minutes we may start the engine. We never cover the sails until we are back in the slip. We have gone out for an evening sail and had to motor back because the wind abandoned us. Sometimes the wind and the tide conspire against us and we either have to start the motor or spend the night on the hook in a place we didn't plan.
Sailing the St. Lawrence
We do allot of day sails, the "River" has some pretty stiff currents, ranging from 2 to 6 knots, we meet ocean going vessels and the navigable portion of the river is sometimes narrow, but we sail, going up river on our yearly trips, we motor to our destinations, day sail and, after a week or two, we sail sail sail back. If we didn't motor up river every now and then "old iron lungs" would be in really bad shape, she doesn't get much of a work out.
We do allot of day sails, the "River" has some pretty stiff currents, ranging from 2 to 6 knots, we meet ocean going vessels and the navigable portion of the river is sometimes narrow, but we sail, going up river on our yearly trips, we motor to our destinations, day sail and, after a week or two, we sail sail sail back. If we didn't motor up river every now and then "old iron lungs" would be in really bad shape, she doesn't get much of a work out.
One day motoring is not bad at all
when you have to get somewhere you have to get somewhere. We like to keep boat speed above 5 knots during a trip. If you not going anywhere then it does matter. We don't have the same problem as the Chesapeake sailors. We get plenty of wind on the coast. It blows 10 - 25 MPH most days do the inversion process (difference in ocean and land temperature).
when you have to get somewhere you have to get somewhere. We like to keep boat speed above 5 knots during a trip. If you not going anywhere then it does matter. We don't have the same problem as the Chesapeake sailors. We get plenty of wind on the coast. It blows 10 - 25 MPH most days do the inversion process (difference in ocean and land temperature).
5 knots is a lot
5 Knots is a lot for the gulf coast and southeast in general. Going down river we were doing maybe 4 knots on average. We had periods of hull speed then lulls. My boat babe had out her binoculars and bird book and was bird watching so the slow speed worked well. We saw an eagle near Wheeler Dam just after we locked through. There were a lot of loons and cormorants and inumerable coots. I think her high point was watching an osprey dive for fish. They circle in the air and then just plunge into the water. This one caught a fish on it'ssecond try. Osprey are now fairly common but it is still rare to see them catch a fish and fly off. The turtles are out. I guee that my aversion to motoring is fear that I'll become a stinkpot. It isn't practical to sail on a trip but if you motor most of the time a trawler starts to make sense. But even motoring a sailboat is relatively frugal. The dock manager at Florence Alabama marina told me that he had just pumped 600 galons into a large stinkpot...at $2.90 /gallon that one fillup is about as much as my boat costs a year to operate.
5 Knots is a lot for the gulf coast and southeast in general. Going down river we were doing maybe 4 knots on average. We had periods of hull speed then lulls. My boat babe had out her binoculars and bird book and was bird watching so the slow speed worked well. We saw an eagle near Wheeler Dam just after we locked through. There were a lot of loons and cormorants and inumerable coots. I think her high point was watching an osprey dive for fish. They circle in the air and then just plunge into the water. This one caught a fish on it'ssecond try. Osprey are now fairly common but it is still rare to see them catch a fish and fly off. The turtles are out. I guee that my aversion to motoring is fear that I'll become a stinkpot. It isn't practical to sail on a trip but if you motor most of the time a trawler starts to make sense. But even motoring a sailboat is relatively frugal. The dock manager at Florence Alabama marina told me that he had just pumped 600 galons into a large stinkpot...at $2.90 /gallon that one fillup is about as much as my boat costs a year to operate.
Re:5 knots is a lot
It depends on the size of the boat (hull speed) and the size of the motor. I agree on smaller boats it can be hard to keep up 5 knots. My Boat Babe and I where heading back from NYC into a 20 MPH head wind. We here making 5 knts and were 5 miles away. My boat babe asked how long until we make port because we were getting pounded. I told her 1 hour. A 1/2 hour later we were making 3 knot and were 3 miles away and she asked again. The head wind picked up the 30 MPH. I gave her the same answer 1 hour. She was not happy with it and didn't understand how we were still an hour away. The current was with us through the inlet and speed of ground was 11 knts. It was nice to be in flat water again.
It depends on the size of the boat (hull speed) and the size of the motor. I agree on smaller boats it can be hard to keep up 5 knots. My Boat Babe and I where heading back from NYC into a 20 MPH head wind. We here making 5 knts and were 5 miles away. My boat babe asked how long until we make port because we were getting pounded. I told her 1 hour. A 1/2 hour later we were making 3 knot and were 3 miles away and she asked again. The head wind picked up the 30 MPH. I gave her the same answer 1 hour. She was not happy with it and didn't understand how we were still an hour away. The current was with us through the inlet and speed of ground was 11 knts. It was nice to be in flat water again.
Tom, we all turn into trawler boaters sooner
or later. My Boat Babe wants the Nordic Tug. I never should have took her on one!
or later. My Boat Babe wants the Nordic Tug. I never should have took her on one!
Nordic Tugs
Waffle, we tried that, too, but my fellow crewmember pointed out that there is almost no good footing to work the side decks, and the inherent potential danger therein. I agreed. Grand Banks' lookin' better everyday.
Waffle, we tried that, too, but my fellow crewmember pointed out that there is almost no good footing to work the side decks, and the inherent potential danger therein. I agreed. Grand Banks' lookin' better everyday.
Tom, motoring is where the autopilot
really shines. If you are relaxed, just keeping watch, a day of motoring goes by pretty quick. BC is notorious for light or no wind in Summer. Sailboats make great low cost low speed motorboats.
really shines. If you are relaxed, just keeping watch, a day of motoring goes by pretty quick. BC is notorious for light or no wind in Summer. Sailboats make great low cost low speed motorboats.
Hi Fred, BC winds can be fickle in the summer,...
especially with north headings, but some of our best sailing has been in your waters. Nanaimo to and from Smuggler Cove, False Bay to Lund, etc. Once you get into the Discovery Island Group the island shadows really do strange things to wind. Terry
especially with north headings, but some of our best sailing has been in your waters. Nanaimo to and from Smuggler Cove, False Bay to Lund, etc. Once you get into the Discovery Island Group the island shadows really do strange things to wind. Terry
A use for the GPS
I'm another Chesapeake sailor that puts up with fickle summer winds. I generally only daysail, so my handheld GPS doesn't serve much practical use for navigation. What it's good for is telling me whether I'm going to make it back to the dock before sunset, and/or before I told my wife I'd be home. Not that I can't sail in the dark, but I hate flaking and cleaning up in the dark, and I don't like being in the doghouse, either. If the GPS tell me that ETA is late, or speed falls below 1 knot, time to pull the rope on the outboard.
I'm another Chesapeake sailor that puts up with fickle summer winds. I generally only daysail, so my handheld GPS doesn't serve much practical use for navigation. What it's good for is telling me whether I'm going to make it back to the dock before sunset, and/or before I told my wife I'd be home. Not that I can't sail in the dark, but I hate flaking and cleaning up in the dark, and I don't like being in the doghouse, either. If the GPS tell me that ETA is late, or speed falls below 1 knot, time to pull the rope on the outboard.
Draft in TN River
Is a boat with 5 to 5.5 feet draft feasable for sailing on the TN river in the Decatur, Wheeler Lake, Wilson Lake, Huntsville areas? Any information would be appreciated. We are looking at boats and only have experience with smaller, swing keel model. Thanks.
Is a boat with 5 to 5.5 feet draft feasable for sailing on the TN river in the Decatur, Wheeler Lake, Wilson Lake, Huntsville areas? Any information would be appreciated. We are looking at boats and only have experience with smaller, swing keel model. Thanks.
5 to 6 ' will work
If you stay in the channels there is a 9' minimum and it's usually deeper. The problem is trying to go into a cove to anchor for the night. We have 4.5' of draft. The bottom 12-14 miles of Wheeler is a great place to sail. But as you get up towards Decatur it is very shallow outside of the channel. Wilson is a deeper lake and is sailable for almost it's entire length. Unfortunately it is only about 12 miles long. It's coves tend to be deeper. Pickwick is a fine lake but it's top 20 miles or so is more like a river than a lake. But that still leaves a good 20+ miles of sailing. Again no problem inthe main channel but getting into a cove for the night can be a problem. Guntersville is a shallow lake and there are extensive weed beds. But if you stay in the main channel it's bottom 8-10 miles are fine for sailing. All of these lakes would be perfect for a swng keel or daggerboard type of boat. But there are many fixed keel boats and some drawing 6'. IMHO
If you stay in the channels there is a 9' minimum and it's usually deeper. The problem is trying to go into a cove to anchor for the night. We have 4.5' of draft. The bottom 12-14 miles of Wheeler is a great place to sail. But as you get up towards Decatur it is very shallow outside of the channel. Wilson is a deeper lake and is sailable for almost it's entire length. Unfortunately it is only about 12 miles long. It's coves tend to be deeper. Pickwick is a fine lake but it's top 20 miles or so is more like a river than a lake. But that still leaves a good 20+ miles of sailing. Again no problem inthe main channel but getting into a cove for the night can be a problem. Guntersville is a shallow lake and there are extensive weed beds. But if you stay in the main channel it's bottom 8-10 miles are fine for sailing. All of these lakes would be perfect for a swng keel or daggerboard type of boat. But there are many fixed keel boats and some drawing 6'. IMHO
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