Stupid Question

[woundup]

The wife and I have a dream of sailing the Carribian one day on something like a 50' boat. My question- is it vesible or even possible to tow our power boat behind us. It's a 23' CC. We would love to have the best of both worlds. <br /><br />P.S. I currently know nothing about sailing but will eventually take lessons and such.<br /><br />Thanks in advance

 

[Columbia]

Re: Stupid Question

I would not consider that feasible nor desireable. It would be difficult to tow a boat like that, even a dink is often problematic. It would negatively impact your sailing and likely be dangerous at times. A sailboat, even a fifty footer, isn't an RV.

 

[flashback]

Re: Stupid Question

Hi Woundup, I have been sailing about 30 years mostly on lakes but some saltwater racing in my younger days.....anyway.....great idea you have, but I don't think you are going to be able to haul a 22' power boat around with you, it's just too heavy to be able to sail with...about the best you can hope for is a zodiac if you want to go fast. or a small dingy if fast is not that important.....in any case I think you will have your hands full with a 50' sloop if its just your wife and you...I think i would go for a ketch or yawl as the sails are smaller and more managable. If you have to have a sloop then perhaps something in the 38 to 42 might be a better choice. still a lot of boat to deal with......anywho........good luck with your dream.

 

[woundup]

Re: Stupid Question

Thanks for the input. Hopefully one day I can join the sailing ranks.

 

[flashback]

Re: Stupid Question

Hey woundup, keep in touch, not many folks on this site that get into sailing, its great to talk to someone with some good dreams.......

 

[Columbia]

Re: Stupid Question

Trying to get a photo include for practice....my Freedom 25.<br />

 

[woundup]

Re: Stupid Question

At this stage it's only a dream but you never know, I've seen quite a few nice sailboats that seem affordable. I still have 6 years before I retire. Plenty of time for boat shopping. Is a 40 something foot boat really that difficult to handle? I thought that with the right set up it would be managable. I've seen ads for controlling most of the stuff from the helm. The boat would have to be user friendly.

 

[flashback]

Re: Stupid Question

difficult to handle is relative. no a 40 footer in 8 to 10 knots breeze is not that hard, especially if you have roller furling head sail, and electric winches on the main.. If you get into 30 to 40 knot breezes those sails become very obstinate....and just 2 folk working the boat can become quite a chore...I guess what I'm saying is sailing takes a totally different approach than power boats....with a power boat, if you need to reduce speed you pull back on the throttle, On a sailboat, you have to change the amount of sail you have in the wind.....and if the wind changes rapidly, then you need to change sails rapidly......ain't nothin like it. but ya gotta love it..........

 

[Columbia]

Re: Stupid Question

If you have 6 years to retire, buy a small boat now and learn to sail, see what the parameters are in sailing that are not in powering. Maybe charter a boat once in the Caribbean, there is NO substitute for experience. I've known folks to spend ten years building a boat, sail it a few hundred miles, and sell it as the dream is not always the reality. Start small, learn, experience it, is my advice to all beginners. It is best not jumped into....I built this 22' from a 'glass hull and sailed it for ten years with no engine, sail and oar only.<br /><br />

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Stupid Question

Consider a Catameran. With davits off the stern they can haul pretty large tenders between the hulls. One day I will have a sail boat. I thinking of building one myself. After reading Sail and Cruising World for 6 or 7 years, I just have to go sailing

 

[flashback]

Re: Stupid Question

Hey soulwinner, don't want to mess you up, but there is no way a cat could carry very much weight off the stern of the boat, those hulls are very slender and not much bouyancy, they are made for speed hence very little wetted surface.... but then again, with a cat that can go 20 knots who needs a power boat.........

 

[Columbia]

Re: Stupid Question

Hey Woundup, I've thinking about this some more. Don't know where you're located but could you take a sailing class, then charter something in the in the 30' range a time or two or three...maybe join a sailing club that includes boat usage? The thing is, sailing IS different from powering. Prepare, and go, but don't plan on towing your 23 footer...

 

[woundup]

Re: Stupid Question

I live in Navarre Fl, Near Pensicola. I do plan on taking a sailing class in the near future, maybe next year. The charter is on the top of the list as well. I can live without towing the powerboat, just didn't know if it was possible. I've been doing a little research on different types of boats. I like the Cat's speed but I think it's limited on storage space and room. I would like enough storage so I'm enjoying the water instead of constantly looking for the next port. Thanks for all the info. I'll look into some charters and let everyone know how it went.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Stupid Question

Woundup, I'm in Milton I took a lesson in Gulf Breeze at the Lanier Sailing Accademy. Those folks are super nice and very patient. They are located at the foot of the Three Mile Bridge in Gulf Breeze on the west side of the hyghway in the grey buildings. They used to have a small fleet of 24' sailboats, but have added a big Beneteau.<br /><br />About catamerans, there were a couple of 50'+ Fountain Pajots at the Palaofox Marina that hung fairly large RIBs of the stern. They are a lot lighter than a fiberglass boat, but still had some size to them. Don't short cats on stowage and tankage; remember they are used heavily in charter fleets like he Moorings where they 8-10 passengers for 3-10 day charters with a captain and cook. When they release boats from charter service, there can be bargains to pick up, jus remember that while the boat has superbly maintained during it's charter carrer, there are a but load of hours on the all the systems and rigging. Still, you can get a LOT of boat for the money.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Stupid Question

P. S. Up here there is shallow water everywhere. A cat would allow access to a lot more water with it's shallow draft than a mono.

 

[flashback]

Re: Stupid Question

You might even consider a trimaran, they have some stowage in the outrigger hulls and decent sleeping quarters in the main hull and can go almost as fast as a cat..........

 

[woundup]

Re: Stupid Question

I know that Cat's make great fishing boats, but the ones I've seen have less space than a typical center console boat. I guess it would be the same for a sail. I still got a lot of reasearch to do on both. I will also take a look at the sailing class too. Do you know the price or a rough estimate? I'm not too concerned with shallow water in this area, it would only be a learning place anyway. Are the Cat's as sea worthy as a mono hull? It seems that the balast and keel are a great safety feature when in the open ocean. You never know what kinda weather you will get into. From my experience you sure can't trust NOAA. NOAA has cost me more fuel than I care to count this year on bad forcast. Of course, I would look into better weather equipment before venturing off to the south.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Stupid Question

Cat sailboats have more space than monos of similar LOA, a LOT more space on the ones I have looked at (30 to 55 feet). Cats are more stable at sea, they don't heal like monos; however, in the event a cat takes a knockdown, they do not have the self righting capabilities of a mono, they just float around upside-down. If you sail cautiosly this is not a situation you ever likely have to deal with, it takes a LOT to knock a cat over, way WAY more than a mono.