Sailing: The Problem With SAILBOATS
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- Опубліковано 28 тра 2024
- The problems with sailboats and why they have become much less popular than powerboats. If you are learning how to sail, shopping for a sailboat or considering taking up sailing, there's several factors that make it much different than a motorboat or powerboat and those reasons are why sailing and sailboats have lost popularity over the years to powerboats. Sailing isn't for everyone and although sailboats can often be found more cheaply than a powerboat, sailboats are more labor intensive to operate and there is a steep learning curve.
00:00 Introduction
01:49 Learning how to sail is hard - it's a steep learning curve
03:48 You can't sail a boat when there's no wind
04:42 It is harder to solo sail a boat than it is to operate a powerboat by yourself
05:29 Sailboats are slow
06:55 Dealing with the sails and rigging before and after a sailboat ride
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I am a professional USCG Licensed 200GT Master of Power and Auxiliary Sailing Vessels. I drove large commercial working vessels for thirty years and now operate a small sunset charter sailing business in my semi retired seagoing life. before all that I served as a Quartermaster in the US Navy for twenty years. Speaking only for the "pleasure boater/sailor" Hands down the sailboat sailor normally is a much more capable, learned, respectful and safety minded boat operator. Wayne you said it yourself, You can get into your powerboat turn the key and off you go with little to no training. And that mentality in many pleasure power boaters shows. For most new sailors on a sailboat that just does not happen. A novice sailor is introduced to sailing and taught by a licensed instructor at a club, community sailing organization or friend. For those of us that love sailing it's for all the reasons you stated are the problems with sailing. We know our boats better because we love working on them and have a DIY mentality. We watch the weather closely and get excited when we have a perfect weather window for a fine sailing day. We pay close attention to our navigation because most sailboats have deep keels (Draft) and we don't want to run aground. Sailors plan a voyage in advance paying close attention to navigation, weather, local laws and Navigation rules in the areas we sail. Seven knots is a really big deal for sailors. That's really fast. I like to say to my passengers " Power Boat people are always going someplace in their boats. Fishing, water sports, dinner or maybe to a beach. But sailboat people we were where we wanted to be the moment we stepped on our sailboat". I drove big powerful motor vessels for a living. But I always went sailing for the love of sailing and the sea.
Well said!
Exactly!
Nailed it!💯🎯
I've owned three sailboats and have skippered bareboat chartered many times. Sailers have a saying that as soon as you are on a sailboat you are there. The journey is the experience and you become at one with the environment. At night when you are out at sea, the sky is full of stars from horizon to horizon and the milky way is clearly visible. Then the moon comes out and the only sound is the bow wave and the wind. There is nowhere better on the planet than that. Sailers are a very lucky and know a secret that motor boaters will never understand.
I totally agree with you. I was a Navigating Officer in the Merchant Navy (deep sea) and a Coastguard Officer in the UK's H.M. Coastguard before it became MCA. My experience of power boat owners (not all but too many) have no idea about the collision regs or have enough respect for the sea, others at sea and therefore safety at sea.
I bought a sailboat at 62 thinking I needed to learn something new heading into retirement. I took a sailing course at a local community college and found I love the challenge of learning to become more proficient. There is also something magical about the feeling of the wind moving you to your destination that is hard to describe to non sailors. It never becomes boring because there is always something new to learn. Just sorry I got started so late.
You nailed it. After sailing for almost 20 years, I still learn something new every time I go out. And that moment when the sails are up and the motor gets turned off...priceless.
I’m 64 and just bought my first boat last year. But, I’ve been sailing since I was 10, off and on. I just never had the money or time to put into yachting. I’m heading to Europe to pick up my new/old blue water ketch and sail it back to NZ -going the ‘wrong’ way. I’m in no hurry.
About to buy a sailboat but learning about the mooring/berthing fees the marina is charging on top of repairs and maintenance, I hesitated. Based on the simple research I made, it will cost no less than £5000 annually to run with a 30-33 feet boat and probably eat up my retirement fund soon.
I've actually been thinking it might be too late for me to start sailing, I've just turned 52! So it's great to hear that you didn't start until 62! So thanks for that, maybe I'll be alright giving it a try! Cheers.
We go flotilla sailing in the Med. You go sailing on your holiday and leave the purchase and maintenance costs to someone else. Of course with your own boat you have more opportunities to sail, I used to have a Wayfarer dinghy and discovered that there are still lots of things that stop you from sailing.
Going sailing for a day by myself makes me more relaxed than most people get from spending a day at a spa. The sun, wind, waves and quiet are pure bliss. Starting the engine depresses me.
This is how I feel about Archery. There is something about an analogue interface that connects you with the natural forces around you that is almost a meditation.
Same
My wife might approve of a sailboat more than a spa.
Let me fix your title: "Why doing almost anything is much less popular than sitting on the couch and watching TV". Top 5: 1 If I do something I might have to learn something new, that sounds hard. 2 The weather might not be right. The weather never changes in my living room. 3 Doing things sometimes requires other people. I can watch TV alone. 4 Doing things takes a lot of time. 5. Doing things is just a lot of work. Joking aside your list of bugs are actually features. Good hobbies challenge us. Driving a boat around on it's own is fun but can get boring. That is why a lot of long time boaters will fish, waterski, or turn to sailing to provide that extra challenge and fun on the water. So as you say it's not for everyone, but that is true for pretty much everything except sitting on the couch.
Your perspective is a good one! The challenging nature of sailing - and society’s constant slide away from those toward more sedentary activities doesn’t help.
Can I get an amen. !
That's hilarious because it is true.
HOW RIGHT A COMMENT BY WES. Learning curve. ???? At 80 I am still not at the top or over that curve. .probably never will.
EXACTLY. I came on here to say something similar. It was frustrating to watch.
I've been sailing since my early years.. I went on to become a professional yacht skipper, initially carrying out delivery work for owners and boatyards, both sail and power boats, then moving on to being a full-time skipper aboard the mega million $$$$ super yachts based in the world's exotic playgrounds... I state this just to make it clear that I'm reasonably qualified to comment.
I've owned numerous boats of all types.
To sail, you have to have a passion for sailing.. that means a passion for the peace and tranquility of sailing, and an appreciation of the skills required. If someone asks me where I'm going, I generally say.. 'I'm going sailing, I don't necessarily have to have a destination.. I'm going sailing. With a power boat, I'm generally heading somewhere, a destination. Under the right circumstances, and in no hurry, this can also be a tranquil experience, but more often than not, it more resembles a commando exercise, all noise and drama.
It's up to the individual. Motor boaters generally stay close to home.. sailors are more in search of new horizons and adventure.
Motor boats tend to be bought as a luxury.. sailing boats more as a passion.
Thanks! And yeah - there are situations where gas is still the better option and vice-versa!
Woah that was honestly a beautiful way of putting it
Well said :D 100% agreed.
Very good points.
I have a $300 paddle board with a Bixby motor. What an awesome way to explore and snorkel.
I have been sailing since I was about 6 years old, but I also have a lot of experience in powerboats. My thing is, is that powerboats are there to get you from point A to point B and I will admit there is something awesome about doing 30kts over a glass sea, but when it comes to actually enjoying and respecting the ocean, sailing is far, far better, kinda like the old adage of "its not the destination but the journey".
wróng power saik bóat bes 30 knot sail piwrr 30 knot hybred piwrf saik boat
Thank you. A reason that sailors are not too keen on motor boaters is that they don't seem to love the sea but use it as a medium to blast through, create noise and wake that others have to deal with. Jet skiers are the worst but speed boats and larger motorboats in my area constantly break speed limits. I do, however, have a number of motorboat friends who captain their boats responsibly and with polite regard to other water users. (From UK)
I'm a lake sailor in the US and have the same problem with inconsiderate power boaters, especially on summer holiday weekends when the lake tends to be overcrowded with noisy power boats driven unsafely and with no regard for their wake by drunken operators. One time while I was at anchor a speed boat pulling a skier at 50 mph cut between me and the shore, no more than a boat's length (30') off my bow. How his prop cleared my anchor line I don't know. But I enjoy tubing and fishing and jet skiing too and like you I have many friends who enjoy power water sports and fishing responsibly, so I grin and bear it with the obnoxious ones.
@@michaelbaughman8524 I'm also a lake sailor. I just avoid the lake on 4th of July or Memorial/Labor Day weekends. It's not worth the risk of getting smacked by a drunk powerboat operator going 30 knots through a no-wake zone. It's amazing how many people think "don't drink and operate vehicles" doesn't apply on the water, but I think I hate the fact people use Holiday weekends to act like dipshits most of all.
Jet skis are the bane of all waterways
here, we refer to jet skiers as lake lice.
😂😂😂
I’ve been sailing for almost 70 years…and have owned 6 sailboats…I think being on the water (whether sail or power) is a good thing and as I age out I’ll likely have to look at some form of power boat so that I can continue my journey. What I have always appreciated about sailing (like skiing) is that when I’m sailing, my mind is occupied with the dozen factors needed to make a 10 ton vessel move effectively against the wind…and in that preoccupation comes respite from the tensions and demands of life…Just steering under power allows my mind to drift back to what’s sitting on my work desk…After 2 or 3 days sailing, I suddenly remember and recall that I have mundane responsibilities at work or home…
Absolutely. Sailing, especially alone, can be like meditation. It’s just you, the boat, the water, and the wind. You’re focused on that, and nothing else.
As a sailor, there is nothing better than turning off the engine and having the boat make way under wind. That said, bombing along in a powerboat has its appeal too.
A sailor can also pilot a powerboat, but a non-sailor powerboater can’t pilot a sailboat.
Lastly my sailboat has an engine, and it took me a while to not think of using it as a necessary evil, but as I get more experience I realize both how little I need it, and how much I appreciate it when I do.
"but a non-sailor powerboater can’t pilot a sailboat" very true and well said!
Inboard Diesels are an essential backup, that can also be an essential backup battery charger. Diesels like to be used to keep them in best Condition. Despite having Solar and Wind power generation, on passage, I,like to run the engine for an hour before Dawn with the Sails furled - conditions allowing. Engine heat provides hot water for a hot shower, and the inverter can run an induction hob to cook breakfast, plus give a bit of a boost to all the batteries after the overnight drain on them from navigation lights, network instruments etc, before the Solar kicks in topping everything off. An hour after Sunset I do the same to have hot water, cook the evening meal, and top everything off for the Night Watches. Under 5 litres a day of diesel, and a happy Diesel engine. Sounds like a win to me anyway. Best Wishes and Fair Winds. Bob. 👍🏴
Now you are getting into the complexity build up of larger boats. Other than cost, I prefer a day power boat because we often just look at the day and jump in the boat and go out for a few hours with minimal prep and minimal work to put it to bed. It also helps to have the boat and dock in our own back yard.
Turning off the engine is the best part. After that we only hear water and wind. It's strange for non sailors.😊
Yes. Sailboats require sailors, Motorboats have pilots.
Piloting is NOT "nothing" but it's vastly less than Sailing.
As a power boat and a sailboat owner there is a purpose for each. When I am alone I pick the sailboat every time. There is nothing better than gliding through the water with wind alone.
power sail biat best
Real Sailors drive Sailboats and boaters drive power boats. You really have to have the passion to be a Sailboat driver and the folks I know who own a sailboat love everything that most of us would view as a hassle or work. They just love the journey and the challenges associated with Sail boating. I'll stick with my 21' power boat which is easy to drive with minimal hassle. Owning a Sailboat requires a certain temperament that I know I don't have. Good video Wayne, thanks for posting.
Well said!
Absolutely - Some areas are not sailboat friendly - Inlets often require shallow draft and are dangerous to run. Deep Keels Matter 😂too.
You mean real sailors steer sailboats or sail sailboats (especially ones without engines). The wind is the power that powers/ drives sailboats
An honest boater. Respect.
I sailed for many years with my family and the one thing you missed out is that blessed moment when you switch off that noisy engine and are just sailing and the only sound is the wind in the sails and the lapping water. Sail boat owner for over 60 years, power boat owner for 2. Need I say more!
I couldn't operate a 24 ft sailboat with jibs and spinnicars and all that, but when I was 14 my family stayed at a cabin on a lake in Wisconsin for several weeks. The cabin came with an 8ft sailboat with 1 sail,1rope and an anchor made of a paint can filled with cement It took me less than a week to master that boat
That was a cool opportunity to learn and have something interesting to do as a 14 year old!
Don't sell yourself Short. You're better than you think. It took a week to learn two lines. If you had the time and inclination you could learn a few more.
Sailing is all about preparation, I can handle my Lagoon 42 catamaran by myself, except docking stern to Mediterranean style needs another person to handle the dock lines if windy. Just takes practice, something I have found many power boate owners are not prepared to do, patience tends to be very low, their boats are simply a marine version of their car, and simply want to jump in and go from A to B as easy, and often quickly as possible. For those of us who have sail boats, the journey is just as important as the destination.
It really wouldn't take you long to learn the 24' sailboat either. Promise.
A small boat is much easier and why my grandson learned to sail one at age 8. One also do not go out far in one. Quite a different story when one has a 40 ft sailboat. One has to learn celestial navigation and to read charts. So much to learn.
Thinking about it some more, you could have easily titled this video "Why sailboats are better than motorboats" and kept pretty much the same content - just with a different perspective: 1. it's a great way of learning new skills, 2. it teaches you to really think about the weather (but there's still an engine if you need it), 3. solo sailing is a good test of boatmanship, 4. its about the journey not the destination, 5. take pride in looking after your beautiful boat.
Exactly how I heard it 😆👌
LOL
Yes, 100% agree 👍
Just an observation, my experience has been that for every photo or painting of a motor boat, there are ten or twenty or more photos or paintings of sailboats. They are just beautiful out on the water.
The Golden Age of Sail produced some elegant designs. Herreschoft comes to mind.
In the UK sailboats probably out-number motorboats 100 to 1. So UK artists will paint sailboats.
A small cruising sailboat like the one you are on appears somewhat daunting due to the plethora and seeming complexity of lines. The principles of sailing are relatively simple, running, reaching and beating close hauled to weather. The best way to learn the principles of sailing is in a small sailing dingy; the rest is just more of the same on a larger scale. You can learn the nomenclature in an afternoon. Don't over complicate it. You can learn the basics in short order, and then spend the rest of your life refing those skills.
So very true!
I was in a sailing club in college at Auburn University. I loved the sailing community there at the nearby lake. My first day out on a small one man sailboat I flipped it and the mast came out and it was a bit of a disaster as some emergency boat service had to come out and get the mast out of the lake bottom. That was my last time going out. The sail club sponsors were cool about it but I just couldn't go back.
@@michaelking4578 Did they know you were new to sailing? Someone should have inspected the rigging before you went out. You should have asked for help (Or did you try to pretend you knew what you were doing?)
I hate it when some people say they know how to sail and take control of the helm and end up not really knowing enough and capsize the boat you are on - when if you had been at the helm, you could have avoided it and done a much better job.
Well said sailing is not complicated you start small and learn more as you sail more. The journey is a big part of the fun. With a powerboat it’s mostly just going for A to B and that’s about it.
Sailing is magic, to move forward limitless without an engine, noises or fuel is pretty amazing. For me that magic never fades, I'm always amazed. Sure they are slow but if you need to go somewhere fast and loudly, take a car or a plane!
I love sailing. Have been sailing all my adult life. I have crossed the Pacific Ocean 3 times, once solo, in a cruising sailboat. What's the rush?
As a sailor, you can have a schedule or you can have a destination, but you can't have both.
Keeps me young, even at 80.
Can't sail without wind, but the weather doesn't have to be JUST right. Have to be adaptable and know how to deal with a wide range of conditions safely.
Wow - 3 trips across the pacific - and once solo! That's awesome - thanks for sharing!
4:40 I grew up sailing on a sailboat. I would always choose a sailboat over a motorboat. It's more challenging because of the fact that you relay on the weather. And they can be fast under the right conditions. But the slower speed is relaxing.
I’ve taught myself to sail on a 27ft hunter Cherubini I moved into full time. UA-cam is a great resource sailing really isn’t that hard. You just need patience for good conditions relative to your locations and patience with yourself. Don’t let fear stop you because anyone can learn. You just need to apply yourself a bit more.
I really want to get into sailing. Have the budget for sailing courses and to buy a boat but I'm on my own so was concerned about solo sailing so early on sailing career. Your comment here inspires. Was thinking of a similar sized boat to yours too.
@@seanmurray8051 Maybe a college near you has a sailing team and allows the community to sail their boats and take sailing lessons. A lot of schools race Lasers and 420s (pronounced 4 twenty). 420s have a mainsail, jib and spinnaker. Laser's just have a mainsail but they are super fast and responsive. 420s are too. Some of the 420s have trapezes so the crew who ordinarily would handle the jib could also stand on the rail of the windward side of the boat on a windy day if needed to hold the boat down. If you can solo saill a 420 with the main and jib up by yourself, and be able to sail it to and from a dock and sail it around other boats anchored etc, you'll be ready for a bigger boat which you will find MUCH easier to sail as bigger boats have a much slower reaction time.
@@seanmurray8051 The best boat to sail on is someone else's. About everyone welcomes guests. I grew up as a power boater and fisherman but joined the college sailing club to meet girls (it worked, married someone I met in the club 30+ years now). I took lessons and learned on many types of small boats in college. I started racing as crew on a sailboat on Lake Michigan in 1995 and do it every year. There is great camaraderie among sailors. My wife and I bought our first sailboat, a 1982 40' for $22k a few years ago. We have a refrigerator, enclosed toilet, 2 sinks, hot shower, 3-burner stove and we have bunks inside the cabin for 7 people. Sailing is quiet so you can have conversations. We accept the slower speed of a sailboat, but I always tell my friends "it's the fastest 8 miles an hour you'll ever go." You will feel the power and tension from the wind. Sailing is about enjoying the journey.
Horses for courses. If you're not the type of person that likes constant learning and challenges, get a power boat. If you're the type of person that likes problem solving
and making the most of the tools at hand in the environment you're in, get a sailboat.
Both have their place. Your choice as to whether or not you want to turn a key or develop a skill set.
Re: "Your choice as to whether or not you want to turn a key or develop a skill set."
That's an excellent summary of the choice to go sail vs. power.
The first point you mentioned that most sailors were exposed to sailing at a young age. I think this is true. Though there are exceptions. I was fortunate to of grown up with access to boats. Small boats of all kinds on an inland lake. Fishing boats, runabouts, ski boats, scow sailboats and catamarans.
I have been sailing on Lake Michigan now for over 20 years and I will say this. Power boats are awesome machines and so are sailboats but we are all one community. The community of boaters is eclectic and how we enjoy our time on the water is our choice, be it fishing, day tripping on a cocktail cruiser, exercising massive horse power with a offshore cigarette boat, racing a sailboat with crew around the bouys, distance racing, day sailing, or cruising...it is all one community of boaters and we all share a love of being on the water.
I will say some advantages of a sailboat are as follows:
Slowdown. Enjoy a different pace on the water from life ashore. Sailing is slower paced at 6 or 8 knots maximum speed. But under sail in a breeze of 20 knots at hull speed of 7 knots you feel the same exhilaration as a power boat at 20 knots. But when the wind is gusting to 20-25 and 6-8 seas the only boats you will see are sailboats and professional fisherman and charters.
A sailboat is more comfy under sail in more weather than a power boat. One thing you get with a sailboat is silence under way. That is magic. Also if you invest in learning how to sail the rewards are more than can be expressed here. Also...with a sailboat, there is a motor too...cruising a sailboat results in many hours under motor power.
As you mention, sailing has a deep historical connection to ancient technology. We keep old technology alive because is defines who we are and where we came from. Sailing is a skill that is too valuable to lose. One day it may be our only way across the seas again. As such, for some, we have some deep desire to become one with the sea, the boat and the wind. Just as the earliest mariners did thousands of years ago. Using the same technology in the same way.
Don''t fear sailing. Understand and respect it. Learn and enjoy it if you can but above all find the boat that speaks to you, care for it and enjoy the water and boats of all kinds with all the people who love them too.
I couldn’t agree more with your comments. For some reason many boaters are divided but we’re all out on the water and should be a big happy family!
My first experience was less than ideal but it got better. When you are leaned over and moving along at the most efficient speed for your conditions there is no comparison to the feeling of controlling that vessel on your own.
I like sailing cause it’s about adjusting your sails to get the most of your speed. I agree there is a lot I learn. I joined a club and sailed a lot last summer. Learned a lot. I’m older. I am constantly watching videos or reviewing online courses. Took a course on NautEd and started a resume.
Sailing is easy .... Pull the rope (line) sail goes up the wind blows and your sailing. Love it as the boat slowly heals over and you pick up speed. Soon you trim the sails in to match your sail plan if you have one and you become one with the boat. The sails (sheets) do talk to you, pointing into the wind the sheets start to rumble and complain. Again if you have a sail plan like we are doing a crossing you check the heading, change it or trim the sails. Back to being one with your boat. Sometimes you have a discussion do we hold the heading that takes us 20 miles too far north or wait it out perhaps the air will change. Let's do lunch and the tack back.
Sail plan if you have one?? Whaa? Every sail and every sailboat has a sail plan. But it's not a plan to sail, it's a 2-D representation of the sail area. And the sheets are NOT the sails!! The sheet is the line you hold to control and trim the sail. That other line you mentioned that takes the sail up is the _halyard_. Every sailboat other than a windsurfer has at least a sheet and a halyard. Sorry, I just got off the _Raging Queen_ with Captain John Belushi.
Hahaha... Someone who knows nothing about sailing. Plastic boat in your bath tub doesn't count.
I was fortunate enough to have grown up with a father who taught me many things, but one of the greatest was how to sail. He taught me the love, pease and serenity of sailing on the water. Like a walk with nature through the woods or a field, sailing is time with nature at a pace where it can actually be enjoyed, minus the noise and fumes. And as my dad use to say, "the wind is free."
I just started sailing a few years ago. I started small with a cheap beach cat and now I'm hooked. It's something I really enjoy doing by myself but it's hard to get people to come with me because I need to give them a 20 minute lesson to keep everyone safe beforehand. It's a niche hobby but I love it.
A very good summary, thank you! Having owned 7 boats from 1968-2017, all sail, I have experienced all the disadvantages you cite, and I would like to add two more:
1. The sailboat owner will often say sail is more economical. This is false. While of course it's true that a sailboat consumes less fuel (you mention this in the video), the reality of any pleasure boat's "speed-time profile", as the Navy term has it, is that it spends more time tied up than underway. Storage and maintenance are the largest expenses on the owner's budget, and the sailboat suffers from the disadvantage that it has two propulsion systems, both of them requiring maintenance. Sails and rigging deteriorate from exposure to sunlight even if they are rarely used, while the engine needs regular oil changes and probably winterization for the off season.
2. As the sailor ages (the human, not the boat), the physical agility and strength the sailboat requires to clamber up onto the cabin top to fold up the mainsail and tie it to the boom, not to mention adjusting the sails to the wind, or just moving around the boat as it pitches and rolls, declines, leading to a traumatic moment in the sailor's life when he recognizes he's no longer able to safely control the boat and has to get out of sailing. At that point he's presented with the choice I'm myself facing -- never go out on the water again, or switch to power.
However, you didn't address the main reason I opened up your video: I have observed that sailboat ownership has declined (along with the value of existing boats), while powerboats continue popular. You can see this by just driving around looking at marinas. Why should the disadvantages of sailboats be more important to the prospective owner now than they were in 1980? Even though the "greens" are agitating ever more for fuel conservation? Would you care to make a guess?
Thank you for your insight and input! To answer your question - My first thought is that power operated boats (and PWCs) are seen as easier, faster and perceived as more fun while a sailboat is perceived as work.
I have experienced both worlds, and they truly are different worlds. A dear friend of mine just bought a 34' power boat, 600hp, brand new with all the electronics. He invites me often. It bores the hell out of me, though. It is not much better than riding in his huge pickup truck. Actually worse, it's loud and uncomfortable underway; you can't really have a conversation and you have to hold on while roaring across the water. I see no redeeming factors. And then you arrive somewhere and then you go back. We don't really connect with the water, it is like driving to a sightseeing place, whereas sailing is more like hiking in nature. You take your time, the journey is the prime objective.
More like the difference of going through life while enjoying personal growth, gaining experience and enjoying your profession for its own sake. In contrast to working a job in order to make money, so you can retire and (hopefully) enjoy life then.
Then all the work on that sailboat trip of your life - is not work at all. It is your calling.
Sailors work with the sea and the wind and weather. We cannot change the wind, but we can always adjust our sails.
Powerboaters drive across the sea. Nothing to adjust there. And when the fuel runs out they are looking for a gas station.
I grew up in the mountains where nobody had a sailboat. My wife and I learned in our early 50s. We spent months on small sailboats. There's a magic when the sails go up and the wind takes over. The peace and quiet is amazing and no exhaust gases. My wife grew up on powerboats so she knows that world well. She fell in love with sailboats too. I must admit our first day out didn't go well. Never got the sails up. We remained calm and tried again the next day. After the first successful day we were hooked. More knowledge is required, but that's a good thing. Too many powerboaters don't know basic right of way or navigation. We've even been approached by a powerboat in the Gulf of Mexico. The guy was asking for directions as he didn't know how to run his gps. We were able to give him a compass setting that got him back to his port. You get into trouble a lot slower on a sailboat. :)
One sailing "gift" is to know if things dont feel right, wait until they do. Its ok to not to get sails flying, or head back in if the winds are not right. Its a hard skill to learn, but it does keep you safe.
Dear Wayne, your "5 problems" reminded me why I actually adore sailing. I am a 58yr lawyer, discovered sailing only 5 years ago, and now can't get enough of it. I've been learning for 5 yrs, and have just scratched the surface. And yes, understanding the wind and trimming the sails is science. Wind dependant? Much better than petrol station dependent. On average I need 10 gal of fuel a week. Motorboaters waste that in an hour. We look at the meteo and plan our trip accordingly, and there is always some wind. Too slow? Well, it seems that for you the ocean is an obstacle to cross asap, for us it's a whole new world to explore. And we can go solo sailing, but it does require more skill. And besides, we prefer sailing with friends. You are looking for zero maintenance? Hire a taxi. Sailboat is like a house on sails, with auxiliary motor. You do need to work around it to keep it tidy, in good shape and operational. And even on an odd day when we don't go out, nothing can beat a morning or sunset coffe/drink with friends in a cockpit of your sailboat. Cheers 🥂
Perhaps I am going against the tide of opinion here but after a period of owning both sail and power boats I consider myself a born again power boater. As boaters we all have our reasons and priorities about what we want to use our craft for. I am not a blue water sailor just strictly a coastal and inshore adventurer who eventually settled with living on both sail and power boats along the British Columbia coast year round and mostly cruised in the summer. I learned to operate sailboats and appreciate their potential but also realised how much more maintenance and expense they required over a single engined powerboat. Most cruising sailboats have engines or outboard motors on them. Inboard engines tend to be badly placed and difficult to get at for servicing unlike the ones found on powerboats therefore they tend to be more neglected and troubleprone. Outboard motors like on a sailboat I once owned are badly placed when aft of the transom and are useless for propulsion when the sailboat hobby horses in a head sea while the crew tries to pull the sails in. With sailboats of course I had to deal with recanvassing sun deteriorated sails, worn out rigging and the greater potential hazards of equipment failure and injury from it or making sail changes on deck in rough conditions. Power boats spared me those concerns and expenses. Power boats also tend to have helm controls in much better locations higher up and forward which offer much better visibility over the sea and potential hazards which lurk ahead. An aft cockpit sailboat with a vinyl windshield dodger, mast and full sails doesn't offer such an unobstructed view.
Living aboard sailboats when the interior floor is below sealevel, like the two I once owned, during sub zero weather made it very difficult to keep adequately heated. The last powerboat I owned had a raised floor, was much easier to keep heated and even had somewhat larger windows than a typical sailboat which made it brighter, easier to view the outside surroundings, and less cavelike over a typical sailboat.
Sailboat experience taught me to appreciate the importance of having a seaworthy, low profile, and slower propulsion type of boat which I found in two of the craft I owned. Unfortunately the powerboat industry these days doesn't seem to market a simpler slower speed cruising boat. My last boat was a 36 foot ex-troller which was very sea kindly, had a single simple old quiet naturally aspirated 3 cylinder diesel engine that powered her to a 6 1/2 knot speed using 3 1/2 litres per hour. Unlike the sailboats I've owned, these slow speed power boats never let me down. I loved the feel and sounds these boats made, the journeys made from the comfort of their wheelhouses in all kinds of weather, and the many destinations made good irregardless of the wind and weather. There were challenging conditions at times but that made the destination much sweeter.
From Saskatchewan: I envy you. Now 90 years old with failing health, so too late to get on the water. Next life dude. All the best in your ventures.
First time I went sailing (cali to Washington) on a 100ft double-ender. My friend who was much older and wiser than me. Straight up lied to me and said it will be like a vacation and we (him and I) will sipping bubbly 🍾 on the deck and it will be amazing. I ended being the deck hand with no pay. While him and is family (wife and 4 daughters)were on a vacation. I had to do 80-90% of the work. Man the helm on night shift ect.. when we got to Washington I got a taxi and left with out saying a goodbye 👋. Never talked to any of them again. Thanks for the vid 👍
suckerrrrr!!! 🤣But seriously, look at the skill you learned.
Chalk it up as a learning experience, both as a sailor and judgement of people.
I have had and enjoyed both power boats and sail boats. I found that after a while I got bord with the power boat. Learning how to sail dose take some time but I found it enjoyable and rewarding there is a connection with nature that is special. I have been in storms that would have swamped and sunk a power boat that the sailboat handled with ease I felt safe.
When it comes to weather the thing that is worse than dead calm is when you get caught in a storm and the winds are raging and constantly shifting. You better know what you're doing (especially in big water). If you want to dip your toe into sailing, get a little Sunfish or Cat for close to shore sailing. The learning curve is a lot easier and can be a lot of fun.
Larger sailboats are more seaworthy than powerboats.
Small boats are Capsize-able Vessels . Too much sail and over you go. In shallow water your mast can stick in the mud. A waxed hull is a slippery slope. Learn how to upright in a Blow so you can just wave off the rescue helicopter (like I did).
The old 15ft Hobie mono-hull is lightning fast - until the rail goes under - 😂 Lean hard !
Ask me how I know 😂
That's when the adventure begins
When the motorboats are running home because of the weather, the sailing boats are heading out with big grins...
completely! start on a small boat that gives you instant feedback.
That's why I love sailing. I had to apply myself and learn.
Sailing off Manhattan Island NY recently, ferries and tugs were coming and going from every direction. At one point I turned to scan the area and a tug was headed our way so we promptly tacked. A collision was maybe 3 minutes off. Later it occurred to me that one of the many things I love about sailing is that we have 2 means of propulsion. I always took for granted that if wind died, or we had a rigging failure, I'd just power up the little diesel. Nice peace of mind to have a backup. My powerboat friends love jumping out for a sail thank goodness because I don't often relish going out on a loud powerboat. If I need to get somewhere quickly, I keep gas in my car ; )
One point about sailing long distances. Each person on that yacht needs to know how to solo sail because you just take turns at solo sailing while the other sleeps 👍 also most sailors have a go fast tender. So we have the best of both worlds
Loved this vid and the comments. Thanks
My absolute favorite moment with a boat, no matter where I'm going, is when I turn off the engine, the noise replaced by water whistling around the hull as the boat keeps going by the wind. After 55 years of sailing, that experience just never get old.
Yeah I agree! Engine noise, whether a Yanmar diesel on a sailboat or a small 2 stroke outboard is not pleasant. It's one reason why I really like the electric outboards.
I converted a 12 foot sailboat into a 13 foot bass fishing boat by adding two stabilizers, a platform, reinforced the transom, and added a 25 hp johnson...
It's awesome.
Handles rough water very well
I learned to sail at seven by reading Royce's book "Sailing Illustrated" and going out on a 8' sailboat on the bay. I was sailing in literally minutes. Best way to learn sailing is on the smallest and simplest boat you can fit on with only one sail. Then there are only two controls, the rudder and the mainsheet. A child could do it! But if my first try were in a 32' sloop I would now be motoring stinkpots. As for no wind my solution is a fast kayak. A joy when the water is like glass. BTW, one real joy of sailing is waving at the fuel dock.
👍For Royce's "Sailing Illustrated" and learning on a small, simple sailboat.👍
There are many good beginner used sailboats out there for around $1,000 to $2,000.U.S. I strongly recommend sticking with popular brand names and boat models. A Sunfish is a fantastic beginner boat for one person. Shorter, sort of bathtub-shaped, sailing dinghies are good too, and more versatile. Moving up from there, a good second sailboat would be a Catalina 22 or smaller. An auxiliary engine usually isn't practical on sailboats smaller than about 16 feet, and becomes almost essential on sailboats over about 20 feet.
My point is to start out with an inexpensive sailboat, then climb the steps of owning larger sailboats in 3 to 5 foot increments rather than trying to jump to the yacht of your dreams too quickly. Cost of sailboat ownership is proportional to the *cube* of the length! Said another way, the cost of owning a 30 foot boat is likely to be *eight times* as expensive as a 15 foot boat, and similarly for 40' vs. 20' boats. The least expensive boat to go sailing on is one which somebody else is paying the bills for! So offer to bring/pay for drinks and snacks.🙂 Because of the amount of work involved in maintaining a boat, offering to help with boat work is a very thoughtful way to thank the owner, and will make you a much more popular guest.😊
If at all possible, get sailing lessons rather than trying to teach yourself at first. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) may be able to direct you to inexpensive instruction near you. UA-cam videos on learning sailing are a fantastic resource. Watching lots of videos isn't an ideal substitute for on-the-water lessons and experience, but videos can help get the most benefit from learning time on the water.
Many (most?) sailboat owners are happy to take pleasant, enthusiastic guests sailing, which provides informal lessons and a chance to get experience on different types of sailboats. It's hard to be on a sailboat and not learn something about sailing.🙂
My own 40 years of sailing has included two sailboards, a generic 14 foot sloop, two 14 foot Sunfishes, a 19 foot Lightning classic wooden race boat, two 22 foot sloops, the second being a Catalina, and now a Catalina 25 which is the largest practical sailboat for me where I live. I safely sailed my Catalina 25 from Florida to the Bahamas, which I like to think of as validation for the approach to learning sailing I'm recommending here.😁
When I was 15, I built a small plywood sailboat. It was probably about the worst built sailboat to ever successfully sail.
I think it sailed only 12 times. But in its short life, it taught four people how to sail. And this was without an instructor or even a instruction book. I had instruction books, and I found them worse than useless. The other three people did not. They learned faster than I did!
The one thing that one needs to remember about sailboats is the larger they are, the more difficult they are to sail. I used to lake sail with a couple of 15 foot boats on a reservoir in Kansas and the controls were a lot simpler than the cruising sloop shown in the video. I was reasonably competent after taking the Red Cross sailing class, with only two days on the water. and the forces on the ropes used to control the sail were light enough that I could handle the sails without winches or any form of mechanical advantage. My boats were also easy to handle when sailing alone. The main drawback that most small boats have is that they can be a handful when the wind pipes up. There was one day when I took my boat out in a bit too much wind and I ended up flipping the boat over. Thanks to the help of a few friends, the boat was recovered, but I learned my lesson. Small boats do have their limits. They are still a great way to start out.
After watching videos of a couple that is circumnavigating the world I have a big appreciation of the skill it would take to do it! There is a lot of freedom for travel but so much thought and preparation that you point of it being bout the journey is spot on! Nice video!
I grew up on powerboats my dad was a big fisherman after he passed I found sailing and I fell in love and it has changed my life ive met great long life friends thru it I changed my career cause of sailing and now I'm saving to cross oceans
That’s a great story!!
My dad loved fishing. We also had a powerboat (just a little one but still fun). Now I'm in my 50's and sailing! My partner had a dream of a sailboat and we finally got one last year! We are also considering crossing the ocean, for now, we are just learning in our wonderful water here in South East Queensland (Australia).
@@jemmainthegym I hope to be able to sail to Australia one day but I have great cruising grounds right here in Chesapeake bay in the states and good for you I hope to find someone to share the adventure with
@@Yeaitstemp Chesapeake Bay would be wonderful! I am sure you will meet someone soon to go adventure with.
Sailing is not a hobby. It's an obsession.
I totally agree. I only started sailing in my freshman year of high school doing team racing on 420’s. I’ve done various summer programs too and am in my senior year now. I’m going to be a sailing instructor this summer simply because this doesn’t feel like a hobby for me, but something I crave. I don’t think I could imagine my life without sailing anymore.
I agree, just bought my first very own boat, a jouet 680. Used to rent open sailboats for years but im very happy with my own now haha
An addiction.
Sailing is an art and you have to love it enough to put the work in even when you’re tired. It also comes with a sense of accomplishment and freedom you just can’t get with a power boat. Living on and sailing a sailboat provides the most well rounded education you could ever find.
I grew up on both power & sailboats. I bought a 32’ sailboat three years ago and never looked back. With a furling mainsail I’m able to solo sail with no problem. Sailors are generally much more experienced boaters than power boaters.
I think your title could have been: The problem with sailboats for novice boaters. I think all of your reasons not to have a sailboat are the actual reasons why people enjoy sailing. Because it needs a lot of expertise, because it can go anywhere, because it can go a great distance, because it needs little fuel, because it depends on the weather (but can't use any weather).
There is certainly something to be said for the satisfaction people can get once they learn how to manage a sailboat.
Ever seen a Cape Dory with a small diesel ? It's hard not to want one. Same for a South Bay Cat-boat.
@@youdonthavetoreadthispost.5850 I sail my Albin Vega 27 with a new Beta 14hp diesel PERFECT!! If you like sailing a Cape Dory you would enjoy a UA-cam Channel called (Sam Holmes Sailing). He and his voyages singlehanded are remarkable.
@@643manning I wouldn't own a boat I couldn't single-hand. My ocean voyages were mostly on my own with few exceptions. Many "Sunsets" were enjoyed on my old Chris Craft with that name on the transom. A picture hangs next to me now.
I fished in an inlet at night alone under the stars and it was memorable even without the fish. Sunrise is pure magic as well.
Albin makes a helluva boat. I know I'd like it.
A good summary Wayne. But there are two types of people, one that wants to get there and the other that enjoys the journey. Part of that journey is learning. Learning to sail, first in a little sailing boat is easy and fun. Then you get a bigger one... The real and increasing issue with bigger sail boats is the time and cost of maintaining them which increases with the volume of the boat rather than the length. However for those in the slow lane the pleasure of sailing to an island, dropping the anchor, having a swim before drinks then a meal of fish, caught on the way, as the sun sets before tucking up in a bed for the night is immeasurable. Your house on your back, go anywhere you like, don't have to refuel, eat what you catch and be free from imposed controls and enjoy nature before it is lost due to global warming from all those emissions from what sailors call stink boats. Now, if you were comparing it with an electric powerboat that might be different. See you on the water sometime. Cheers.
Oh I totally get the appeal of sailing. I have enjoyed it - but I am also glad I'm not the captain!
The smaller the yacht the more the enjoyment. A mate says get the smallest boat you can sleep in. Also the responsibility of skippering a yacht is the same as a small motorcraft, only because it is easier to get out in a fizz boat often the skipper does not realize this till something happens. I reckon they both require the same knowledge, mainly sea and weather.
the post trip work on a sailboat is relaxing. it decompresses me while i think about how the sail went.
That's awesome - Embracing the 'zen' aspect of tasks is a great thing and one I should funnel more of my energy toward. Around here in the summer it's usually so hot and humid back at the dock that I can't wait to get away from the boat!
I reckon there are about three reasons for this.
1: learning curve, sailing is easy but a lot of people have either a fear of or lack of patience to learn. Going side wind or running down wind is easy, upwind seems hard.
2: you get less boat for the money. From the obvious that you can fit fewer people on a 24ft day sailer than you can in an 18ft runabout. To the less obvious that a sailboat isn't very flexible. You can sail it, swim/dive off of it, and do some types of fishing. A power boat can go where you want, tow tubes or skiers, fish, wake surf, or haul cargo.
3: weather, I live in the Seattle area and here, good sailing weather is pretty miserable. If you have a boat and want to go out on the weekend, you want it to function. 6 knots under sail is usually fun, the same speed on the iron spinnaker is dull.
Hey, Wayne. I was interested to watch this video as I got a sailboat as my 1st boat ever. Powerboats - not interested, boring...
Your video is spot on most of the time. Not going to argue, I like the video.
Couple points :
- steep learning curve - yes. For some people,like me it's not a problem, that's what attracts me in sailboats.
- weather. In light air sailboats can use motors, but when wind exceeds 20kn, most powerboats are gone, it's a sailboat weather now! Sailboats handle rough weather much better than powerboats.
- sailboats are faster than powerboats. Seriously, you can get from point A to point B quickly on a powerboat. But on a sailboat, you get from point A to your happy place as soon as you out of marina and sails are up. As for point B - who cares? 🤷♂️
Again, your video is right just about everything. Still love my sailboat
I found starting with a smaller sailing dinghy made learning much easier. A couple of sheets and a rudder are a lot faster to pick up than tossing in multiple sails, sheets and winches without understanding how a sailboat operates at its most basic form.
We used to take my friends power boat over to an island to go scuba diving. With calm seas the morning trip out was smooth and fast. In the afternoon on the way back the seas were choppy and it was a bone crunching pounding we took as well as having to slow down to avoid breaking something. Later I bought a sailboat and learned how to sail it and the peace and tranquility were only occasionally broken by the terror of a bad storm.
I am super excited because I signed up for my lessons for Mid-May. Been wanting to do it for decades but finally at the point I can actually do it. Exciting
Anybody who wants to try sailing can sign up to be 'crew'. If you can pull a jib sheet properly and lean out the correct side of the boat when told you can be a crew member and the learning process begins. Reading books and taking sailing courses are great ideas but the skipper/crew route is like the apprenticeship program for tradesmen.
For me, the appeal of sailing is to get yourself in a situation where you must trust your skill and experience, the maintenance you've done, your mechanical skills and your judgement. I guess that's what people refer to as "seamanship".
You will find yourself in challenging situations, but unlike most things in life, you are the master of that situation. You need to take responsibility of everything. There is no one else to blame but yourself if you muck it up, and I think that mindset has been very important to make me the person I am.
When you feel that you have control of it, when you fight against the elements and win, that's the best thing I know.
I've been sailing for most of my life. I currently own a 28 foot, double-ender offshore racer, constructed by Arvid Laurin and built in 1966 by Rosättra boat yard in Sweden (still in business btw)
All vanished mahogany with teak deck and oregon pine spar.
Long-keeled, masthead rigging and a trusty three-cylinder diesel for when you're out of wind or strength.
It is a beautiful boat with it's heritage in traditional Swedish boatbuilding tradition but re-imagined through modern Scandinavian engineering and design.
It draws attention, a lot.
I served for 8 years in the USCG as a Machinery Tech aboard several 378' High Endurance Cutters. I've been through massive storms in the Bering, choppiness in the Caribbean and just about every other sea state and never once got seasick. Within about twenty minutes aboard a 22 foot Catalina sailboat on the Monterey Bay I was chumming off the fantail like a madman.
oh man!
Sailing was so important in human history that I hope it will never be a fully lost art
I taught myself sailing on a Santana 25 when I was a young adult. It was my only home for a while. I'd have to agree with everything you said, and just add that I gravitated to sailing specifically for the nomad lifestyle, unlimited range, and relative freedom from rules - except for the very stern rules Mother Nature imposed from time to time.
I owned a 16’ hobie catamaran years ago and loved it the rigging took a while but once out on the water it was so much fun, as a kid my dad owned a 25’ hunter sail boat on Lake Erie so relaxing with the wind coming off the sails especially liked the night sailing he didn’t mind me drinking beer out on the boat lol 😊
I’ve been sailing for sixty years. My small boats are trailer sailers. My kids learned quickly because they could easily handle them safely. Our family regattas on local lakes were great at stimulating growth and they had more fun in small boats when they were in control instead of just being ballast on a bigger one. Yes we bareboated the Virgins too.
My father said this about sailboats." A sail boat is a hole in the water lined with wood or plastic into which you pour money"
Learning to sail is on my bucket list before I get too old. I loved canoeing when I was younger and even spent a week in the Boundary Waters. When you don't use mechanical propulsion you become part of the environment and your senses open up. The sound of the waves, the feel of the breeze. Suddenly you have time to look around and enjoy creation. I can't handle canoeing anymore. My back, knees, and ankles hated me when I was younger, now it would be even worse.
Our city offers sailing through their outdoor programs. Maybe check out local clubs, as said in video, always looking for crew. BTW, boundry waters are amazingly beautiful, lucky to have canoed them
@@olivei2484 Funny story, there was a family that I would run into at the portages. The dad looked at me and remarked, "This is the prettiest part of the boundary waters, and what goes through your mind? Dang, another portage."
@@thechristianboomer LOL!
Funny, I'm 27 and I'm right now getting into sailing through kayaking, which I itself picked up 5 years ago.
Sailing is the journey itself, not the destination. To get it just right, to have those sails trimmed to get that little extra performance is thrilling and rewarding. To me, motorboats are transport. Sailboats sailed well are the ultimate in satisfaction.
Well said!
I learned to sail as a kid. We had a 23 foot sloop. As an adult I raced 30 foot J boats in Annapolis. I also sailed 40 some odd foot catamarans in the British Virgin Islands as the captain and had some of the best vacations ever.
I bought a sailboat and went sailing, job done. That was over 50 years ago and I'm still sailing, though now it's a 24 footer for ease of use.
Additional benefits of powerboats over sailboats (BTW I own a SAIL boat): - /1/-You are not restricted by draft (unless you own a heavy cruiser), therefore you can go to beaches, stop at restaurant docks, explore/fish shallow areas and maneuver your boat without one eye on the depth gauge. /2/- It is a lot faster and easier to get underway/stow the boat. No covers, lines to rig etc. /3/- Less maintenance $$- no sails, lines, standing rigging, blocks, winches to maintain/replace. /4/- Less physical WORK - No getting tossed around the cockpit, no having to jump on the cabin roof to untangle lines, reef. with a powerboat you just hop in , start the motor and drive away.
This is a something that a friend always told me about the The difference, Wind is free.
It’s because sailing is a hobby (or a job) and power boating is an activity. An activity is far more accessible than a hobby whether that is for the boat operator or for the other people in the operator’s life. It is easy to share an activity-not so easy to share a hobby. Due to the time and effort it takes to engage in a hobby, hobbies do not lend themselves to mass uptake.
I get on my sailboat and start sailing and after a few minutes I am so relaxed. Great feeling.
That's awesome!
I sailed from San Diego to Golfito Costa Rica single handed with my dog, first time I ever raised a sail. 71 days out of sight of land 73 days at sea. The worst part was the doldrums,
sometimes several days with no winds.
Second worst part was storms, and not knowing if you'd be dead in 15 minutes...
Other than that, pretty good, knew alot by the time I arrived.
I had both and you nailed it. You want convenience you get power. You want serenity, then sail.
I took a 9 week college course, one afternoon a week. Each person rigged, sailed alone, and unrigged the boat each time. Towards the end, we were racing our classmates. It was great fun operating this simple boat: one mast, one sail, removeable centerboard, hand tiller. I agree with the disadvantages of sailboats, but operating a trailerable fishing boat involves some work too. The funny thing is, when operating my open small outboard skiff in bad weather, I had to use a basic maneuver I learned in that sailboat class, like tacking into the wind until I could run downwind for the launch ramp. And If the wind is blowing hard enough, a tall powerboat at low speed starts acting more and more like a sailboat. So that short class, besides being fun, was worth it. I had my daughter take a beginner's sailing class when she was old enough. It's best to start small, power or sail.
Lifelong sailor here and I am a member of a Sailing Club in Annapolis. It's great to see a number of middle-aged+ couples who just up and decided sailing would be a great pastime. I've watched them take lessons , sail regularly and already begin cruising within the first couple years. And the great fun for me like a lot of sailors is showing other people the ropes.
I love sailing for the same reason I love surfing and mountain biking. It gets me out in nature and I enjoy being out in nature. The powerboat thing is ok for water skiing or fishing etc but that incredible feeling of the wind pushing you forward is like nothing else. It's not the destination but the actual feeling of sailing itself that's so enjoyable. No noisy motors, no noisy hull bashing.
AS you noted, sailing is all about the trip plus the destination. I got my first at 28 ( a Venture 22) next was a Hunter 27 . We sailed the heck out of that boat. The Hunter was my baptism for offshore sailing that trip was made more exciting by a violent squall that flattened the waves of what had been a roller coaster ride. Next up was a 36 foot custom build from a bare hull., then a Southern Cross 31and finally a Cal 33. The years flew by until they added up to 80 & the physical requirements became more than what was safe. My wife & I treasure the stories we have to tell and the experiences in our "memory banks". Note: we downsized to a 19 foot CC.
Cal 33! Very cool. I took care of a friend's Cal 28 while in college and he would let me sail it from Waikiki to Lahaina and back. One of the greatest sails ever.
Gosh, thanks for telling me all the reasons why I should crew on a sailboat.
For me, sailing is an art and a challenge. One has to use nature, the wind, to get you where you want to go. It's a beautiful thing too, just look at those sails, the mast, the lines of the boat.
I think being crew on a sailboat is a good way to learn!
Two things I've found over the years about sailing and boats in general: powerboats are like playing checkers, sailboats more like chess, and the smaller the boat the more likely you are to use it.
From someone who sails since im 7,and who owned multiple Sailing boats: The first Point about the Steep learning curve is 100% accurate. Without knowledge or someone who has this Knowledge, you won't get far. Heck some people wouldn't even make it out of the Harbour😂👍🏻
I am sailor but I don’t have anything against those that prefer other types of watercraft. I will say though, I think a lot of the conflict between sailors and power boaters is the lack of understanding most power boaters have about sailboats. A sailboat’s maneuverability is heavily influenced by the wind direction and wind speed among other things and any big change in heading requires a technical process of tacking or jibing. So, when a power boater wants us to get out of the way, it’s not that simple. Ive been forced to jibe on short notice in high wind (which can be dangerous), because another boat just had to turn themselves onto a collision course. in another instance a fishing boat pulled anchor and started motoring right for us while we were raising the sails. Had they maintained their heading there is no way we could have moved in time. Im glad you're learning about sailing. At least you will understand that for a sailor taking evasive maneuvers is a much more complicated process and we aren't just out there to get in the way of power boaters. BTW, for any power boaters reading this, it really sucks when you motor across our bow, especially in light wind when you could just as easily take the stern. I can always tell a power boater that has an understanding or at least respect for sailboats when they take the stern.
I actually enjoy the whole process of sailing but when I've used a power boat it's just a not very pleasant means of transport. A sailing boat is quieter and much more stable, once there is a bit of wind the sail above the deck acts a lot like the keel below the water to reduce the side to side rocking. Although the speed is relative no boat is all that quick compared to other means of transport. If you get a sailing boat up to 12 - 14 knots it's absolutely exhilarating, in a power boat at that speed its generally just noisy and you often get wet. It's not that difficult to get a sailing boat to move and as your skills improve you get a tremendous ammount of satisfaction from just doing it better. I just love it.
Everything depends on :
1)
Where you're sailing, and
2)
What do you want to do?
No. 1 determines which boats are safe to use, and No. 2 the type of boat you will want to buy.
I started sailing in sailboats - without any kind of engine, not even an outboard.
You will learn a lot, and become really good if you sail with no engine.
I'm amazed how good I had become at "reading" the weather, both out on sea, as well as getting the weather data I need.
E.g. a gust has a circular shape, with many small dots in it. With some experience, you will know how many seconds it will take before the gust hits the boat. You will use that to sail closer to upwind *before* the gust hit the sail. The reason is to reduce the amount of sail area who can be hit by the gust. That reduces the heeling.
I'm going to sail in the European Waterways, *and* the Wadden Sea of Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands - meaning that a deep draft and a tall mast makes navigating problematic - so I'm going to *build* a semi displacement boat.
While I'm not sailing in those waters, i'm going out sailing in sailboats (with a 2 to 3 HP outboard) with my sailor friends.
Best of both worlds.
Very well explained, thanks, subscribed.
The apparent “ease” of driving a power boat is partly the source of conflict with sailboats. Some/many power boaters have not learned the navigation rules for safely operating among other boats. I’m not saying all sail boaters know the rules but I believe a greater percentage of them do. As far as weather opportunities for going out, many power boaters will stay in their slips when the wind and waves pick up…exactly the weather that sail boaters will find fun. Plus, as you note, we can go out (motoring) when it’s flat calm. So we have more opportunities to get on the water, not less. Finally regarding speed…for sail boaters it’s the journey. If you really want to get to Annapolis fast then get in your car and drive. Sailing may look intimidating but it’s really not that hard. I enjoy power boats as well as sail boats. You make some good points in your video. I just wanted to add a bit of a different perspective.
Yes, on a sailboat the journey is the reason to be out there, but it is the destination on a powerboat. And as you said, on a sailboat you always have the option of becoming a powerboat when the wind stops. When the wind starts really blowing and it gets rough the sailors can have some fun since the power boaters have all gone in to avoid the "good" weather.
Turning off the motor the boat healing over hearing the water against the hull. Getting to your destination sometimes in the dark strategically setting your anchors getting thrown out of bed by rogue waves in the middle of the night. My best memories are on the water where every trip is an adventure very similar to reading a good book.
Thank you for the inspiration
I'm still new to sailing but I've been sailing a 1950s flying junior fj and even though it capssizes alot I love sailing it
"it capsizes alot" - Yikes!
Fun for me getting out there on a fairweather day and I like to get in fast when foulweather approaches. CHEERS from HERE!
Learning to sail can be a very enjoyable undertaking. It's like learning to play a sport well. Is golf a "problem" because it takes a lot of practice to learn to play well? Sure, sailboats are not fast if you compare them to forms of transportation that are designed to get you somewhere fast. If that is your goal, take a car or a plane. Sailboats are all about the journey. There is something very special about being one with nature as you are transported through the water only by the power of the wind and your skill at using it. No noisy engines, no smelly exhaust, and no big fuel bills.
I have a 13' day sailer. Friends and family don't get why I enjoy ghosting along on low wind days, or going out when it's blowing hard. If I offer to take them out, I hear excuses like "we'll be stuck out there", (on calm days) or "isn't it dangerous?" (on windy days).
They think I'm joking when I say it's more challenging than it looks, but won't give it a try. Handling the tiller, main and jib sheets will keep you busy, but also teach you about aerodynamics, wind patterns and currents of your local lake or bay and how weight and it's placement affects your boats performance.
As you learn how to sail your boat, sailing to the dock becomes more and more fun, yet anyone that isn't willing to try sailing can't comprehend how you can make something without a motor go where you want, when you want.
Another aspect of traveling slower is that the space you are in becomes "larger" by taking more time to cover the same distance. That gives me time to enjoy my beer properly.
I plan on getting a dinghy to sail, row and use a outboard motor on in a river and lake in my area to fish and have fun in. I also plan adding lights and electronics.
I'm building one of those right now. It's a Jimmy Skiff II which is a wooden boat kit that can be rowed, sailed, and motored with a small outboard.
Not cheap that's for sure, I did see a used jon boat for 100 bucks I could modify that to do what I want for cheap
I like both. When I want a day on the lake skiing, that's only possible with a powerboat. But I also sail, and that makes sense for longer trips where the trip itself is part of the adventure. Single class sailboat racing is also fun, where winning is dependent mostly on knowledge (and some luck).
I know of a Montgomery 17 that sailed from San Francisco to Hawaii. I also know of one that left Oriental NC, went through the panama canal, and ended up in New Zealand. Matt Rutherfold was the first to Circumnavigate the Americas non-stop in a 27 foot Albin Vega. He left the Chesapeake, went up through the Northwest passage, then all the way down past Patagonia, and back up to the Chesapeake non-stop.
As far as sailboats go, I have three. I have my Seasprite 23, an ancient GP14 sailing Dinghy that I recently finished restoring, and a small 8 foot Eastport pram that I built as a tender for the 23. It's a riot on those almost windless days.
I grew up spending summer weekends on the Grand Traverse West Bay sailing with my parents. We sold the sailboat in 2008 and I deeply miss it. Everything you said is exactly correct!
Great points. I have always loved boats, but don’t use them often enough. Have had power boats ranging between 20 and 12 feet a sunfish sailboat, jet ski, canoe, kayaks and a wind surfer. Some boats were expensive to repair, maintain, store and sailboats are harder to use bc they rely more on wind / weather.
All were tons of fun when I used them! I kept the kayaks bc they are easy to store with little maintenance and purchased a used 14’ aluminum v bottom boat bc is also easy to maintain, store, trailer and launch. Great video on pros and cons.
Honestly, even just the design of the sailboats are just nicer. They're like a camper on the ocean, well built with lots of interior space, impossible to tip, quiet and peaceful. Maybe one day I'll get one and travel round the islands here
I love sailing! A friend taught me enough to get by many years ago. Started with a 26' McGregor pre water ballast retractable keel boat. Then later the same friend bought a Jenson Marine Cal 30. Nothing like being heeled over with a strong wind behind you. That brings me to another subject, tacking. The sailors here know what I'm talking about. ;-) That boat was also a blast. That friend passed on much too early. I haven't been sailing since. Good memories though.
As a young man I was invited to go sailing. One hour and I was hooked. I bought my first boat with no experience. The learning curve was no problem because you can find a small company offering sailing lessons near any marina. I've owned 5 wonderful sailboats in my life. Two big advantages of a sailboat: 1. You can always get home...when a powerboat engine has a problem you are screwed unless you're a mechanic. 2. Once you're underway, the only sounds are the water and the wind and the only smell is the sweet sea air.