Worried my 1st cruiser is only a day sailer????......

[sailingdog]

As tragic as this is, it really isn't the fault of the engine or the boat, but the skipper's fault IMHO. Running to beat a storm in is generally a bad idea, as storms can move quite a bit faster than small sailboats, and getting close to land with an impending storm is not a great formula for success or survival. It sounds like he panicked and ran for the harbor. If the storm drove the boat onto the breakwater, it is because the breakwater was a lee shore. Anchoring out or heading for deeper water would have been better choices. Summer thunderstorms are fierce but generally fairly short-lived.

IMHO 7hp is not enough for a Cal27. I'm a bit prejudiced because of what happened around here about 15 years ago. Catalina 27 with 7HP one lunger going towards yacht club entrance trying to beat thunderstorm in. 40-50 knot winds drove boat onto breakwall because engine could not turn the boat into wind even with main up. Of the 4 aboard 2 died, one hit when mast came down and the other drowned, with PFD on, when wedged into rocks. I casually new the skipper who survived. He has been devastated ever since. A 11-13hp engine would be a far better choice. The older Cal27s came with an Atomic 4 (effective 18HP) for a reason.

 

[tommays]

A 13hp beta diesel will push a C&C 35 Mark I with 8 crew at 6.5 knots at 3200 RPM with max power coming in at 3600 RPM

So i gotta think a good running correctly proped (able to reach full RPM) 7Hp should handle things fine

I also sail on a Tantan 10 33' with the 1 GM that also has no issues and we go out in high winds all the time