dare i say it.... convert sailboat to powercruiser

[phatmanmike]

hi. dont shoot me!!!
this is just a general question.

ive been looking at getting a new(used) boat. and we dont sail. you can see where im going with this, eh?

i know its been done before, but im curious about buying a nice used sailboat in the 24-26 foot range and throwing away the mast(s) and all sail stuff and just using it as a power cruiser/trawler.

i can get a excellent 27 foot sailboat for 15K and less.

the thing i especially like about sailboat is the diesel power and the rediculousy little amount of fuel they use. my current cruise machine is a 28' trojan Fly bridge with twin inboard v8s.( gulp, gulp, gulp) all we do is idle around at 6mph in the intercoastal around west central florida. tampa area.

if i tried to buy a 27 foot boat with diesel power that sipped fuel, it would cost me 100K.

shoot me some wacky ideas, im just thinking out loud and im not afraid to think outside the box...

mike

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: dare i say it.... convert sailboat to powercruiser

i have thought about the same thing, but draft, and the unstableness with no sail has kept me from it.

 

[tommays]

Re: dare i say it.... convert sailboat to powercruiser

Having Crusied My sailboat back for winter storage with the mast in my friends basement i can tell you it was NOT much fun


Without the mast and sails to blance the keel weight it was a rocky trip Much like a clock pendulum it never wanted to stop

In calm water it would be OK


The other issue is the speed of the current in your area as UP here it runs from 2 to 5+ MPH which does NOT really matter much at 25 MPH BUT requires a plan at 6 MPH



Tommays

 

[SamLin]

Re: dare i say it.... convert sailboat to powercruiser

you need to look into a Magreggor boat. They are designed to be both a sail and power boat. Check it out .

 

[Gary M]

Re: dare i say it.... convert sailboat to powercruiser

You might want to consider learning to sail. You could lean the basics to get you started in no time.

Gary

 

[steelespike]

Re: dare i say it.... convert sailboat to powercruiser

It wouldn't be unusual for a 27ft sailboat to draw close to 4 ft. of water
not real practical for motor cruising.You need a long slender boatwith a raised stern a boat with a displacement or semi displacement hull.
Something like a vintage cruiser or some of the older small commercial fisherman.Driven at displacement speeds they could be pretty efficient.I saw a little semidisplacement 17 ft plywood boat
with a yanmar diesel running on reclaimed vegetable oil.It got something like
28 mpg at displacement speeds.If you could find a centerboard boat even if it had a stub keel it might work.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: dare i say it.... convert sailboat to powercruiser

I think you will end up being very disappointed in the performance of your boat if you do this. There are too many compromises that will all relate to the fact that the boat was designed to do something other than what you will be doing with it. I wouldn't even recommend the hybrid boats because they tend not to be very good sailboats or very good powerboats.

As someone else mentioned, you might want to learn to sail. If all you are doing is "putt putting" around your local area, why not let the wind power you most of the time. You will still have the benefit of the family time spent together and your operating costs will be negligible compared to a power boat. You can also buy used sailboats in the length you described for very little money.

 

[j442w30]

Re: dare i say it.... convert sailboat to powercruiser

If you are looking for something with fuel efficiency you should look at a boat called the nimble nomad. Its a mini trawler that could be used as a live-aboard and its powered by a 40 hp 4 stroke outboard.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: dare i say it.... convert sailboat to powercruiser

If you are looking for something with fuel efficiency you should look at a boat called the nimble nomad. Its a mini trawler that could be used as a live-aboard and its powered by a 40 hp 4 stroke outboard.

Great post and a great idea. There are also other boats that fit within the category of "mini-trawler." Although I have no idea who makes it, I saw a boat last weekend in Lake Ponchartrain (Louisiana) that appeared to be about 18 feet long and was a trawler/pilot house design. It had an inboard diesel and, from the sound of it, was probably along the lines of the Atomic 4 or Yanmar diesels that are installed as auxillaries in sailboats. I have no idea who makes it but the stern markings indicated that the boat was homeported in the Seattle area (I forget which city it said) so it was probably trailered here. I actually have a photo of it because I was photographing a sailboat race at the time. I'll try to post it later on.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: dare i say it.... convert sailboat to powercruiser

Update:

The boat that I saw is made by a company called Ranger Tugs. The model number is "21-EC. I was off on size by a few feet but was right about the Yanmar - it has a 3 cylinder, 30hp diesel. It apparently burns about a gallon an hour and has a semi-displacement hull so it will exceed hull speed - the website says up to 10 mph. Cost is about 46,000 new. I think this is a new model so there may not be any on the used market.

 

[flwestcoastboater]

Re: dare i say it.... convert sailboat to powercruiser

Check out the mcgregor 26M , it can take up to 50 or 60 hp, and still has ample cabin room. Only downside is it does not allow for a shower or running water, only a foot pump sink and head.