The Pull of the Dark Side is Strong

[Steve Dion]

Richard G.

Richard:If we are going there, he can buy a MacGregor 26X with a 50HP O.B. When he wants to go fast you take Mac. When you want to Sail, take "the boat".How about that for compromise.

 

[Andy Falls]

You are dinghy

if you think that a powerboat is the "family answer". You race to your destination, scarf down your food, race to meet friends in a cove by 5:00 only to find that they change plans, etc etc.True sailing is enjoying the trip. I noticed my kids enjoy the trip to the swimming hole by sail more than by motor if it takes the same amount of time! great kids huh? More relaxing while still more challenging!One dinghy suggestion-buy a nice sportboat dinghy. Teach the kids (and wife) to run it, and let them zoom circles around you as you sail peacefully along (with a watchful eye!) They will be happy-an you will have a nice dinghy for a run to the ice dock!

 

[Larry S]

Writing on the wall

After 23 years of sailing I am now faced with the same problem. Three years ago I upgraded to a legend 37.5 (replacing my H31, that I raced all the time) and have all the comforts of home for the family. It is now my floating condo, no one wants to sail much anymore, and certainly not race. I have sailed less and less each year. I sold my R.I.B, and bought a Boston Whaler Supersport (can be towed, SLOW)and it gets used all the time, we can go to the beach, fishing, exploreing etc... And now my son is always showing me pictures of fast boats with (2) engines, thats what he wants, and my wife agrees (although she likes Dock Life). What is a diehard sailer to do? I started boating with small powerboats, but had always wanted to sail. I told my wife, I'll buy it, you feed it, and her comment was "then we will stay at the dock", and I said "thats what we do now , so why buy another boat". We sail Buzzards bay, so a heavy duty roughwater powerboat with deluxe accomadations would be needed (alot of $$$$$$$$$$) I am considering replacing the Whaler with a bigger Whaler (21 to 23feet) with a cuddy cabin for day trips, and keeping my sailboat (I still want to race to Bermuda). More Money???? The way I figure it, I made the situation worse by buying the whaler. Maybe I should buy that 38' mainship with the twin diesels, and get it over with. Oh well.

 

[terry dornan]

Easy Solution

I would suggest that you consider either of two directions.1_ Buy a bayliner and set back and let the domestic realities of life consume you.Or -2_ "Step out the back Jack"-and get your priorities straight, Wives and ladies come and go-kids never leave till they have more money then you do and - If you want a powerboat then that's what you want don't blame the family. Remember thought that the vibration does seem to inhibit clear thinking (as seen in the previous math demonstration).Terry

 

[newly anonymous]

Balance the force

Put a three-bladed prop on your sailboat, and then send the wife and kids through keelboat sailing certification classes, where they'll learn the ropes from someone other than Dad. That way you get better motoring, better crew, and better sailing all at the same time. (A three-bladed prop, by the way, not only increases your speed, but eliminates all the vibration that makes motorsailing so unpleasant.)

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

Hmmmpphh, Terry!

Actually, my fuzzy math comes from trying reconcile what sailors THINK their PHRF should be vs what it really is during all my years of race committee work!

 

[terry dornan]

Peggy- sorry just could not resist

But with respect to you question regarding PHRF ratings_Simply take the calculated rating (say 147) on any day but race day subtract 9 So the owner can talk up his low rating of 138 all week and how fast his boat is.Then on Race day add 11 so that the 158 gives the owner a far chance against the slower boats. And never take it seriously_ Terry