Thread: A serious question

Howdy DD,

A survivor for what? If the answer to that question changes then the boat choice would change too.

Plenty of boats have cruised without sails. Plenty without motors.

In my book not worth having sails at all unless they can push the boat along pretty well in any direction it has to go in even difficult conditions. In the end I just don't trust motors enough - so the answer will change according to who you ask as well.

Which is your point of asking - of course.

MIK

What you need is a boat big enough to handle the open ocean and store enough food and guff on but not too big to handle yourself.

If you want a stinkpot you need fuel. If you go sail ... you'll need wind .. I know which costs less

Oh and features ... if you want a stinkpot I'd go look for one with a motor and if you want a wind-powered vessel I'd look for a boat with a mast and preferably a sail or two.

I think this vague answer is suitable for such a vague question ... like your idea but I think I'd make a few decisions before firing off a question as the answers you get may be too vague ... now what was I saying

Bilge keel motor sailer with plenty of power for electric winches and the bar fridge.

In reading Ramps' reply, I counsell you to look to his avatar, which shows a wee vessel, powered by human sweat only, beached solidly on the beach

Richard

All depends on YOUR answer to two questions

1) "Survive what?"

2) What type of boat would you prefer?

The choices can be quite eclectic by the way and not quite as straight forward as you would imagine

Answer those two small questions and I think we can offer up a quite a selection of designs to choose from

aaaahhh buggar ot lets star the ball rolling eh?

Paddle oar power

Wee Lassie canoes... 12 and 14fters... plans found in Mac McCarthys book building the feather weight cane
Redwing... see ramps question ramps annoy ramps pecj ramps's brain
See Mik

Kayak... Chris Kezewhatever you spell the blokes name or Ted Moores... look in the library for any book by Ted and you"ll be on the right track

small power ??- 15hp}

Small scow type
Small dinghy type

Small Sail type - 20ft (no engine or small -10hp outboard}
Stevensons weekender pilot boat or Vacationer
Goat Island Skiff
St Valery

larger sail type ??20 - 50ft inboard power}
Peterson's Schooner Susan {an as its being built photo gallery on Woodenboat.com forum now}
Petersons Coaster Schooner
Cat boats
Couta boats

20 - 30ft power
George Buellers Duck family {well theyre actually a tad bigger but me fingas sore }
Flats boats {river fishing}

River power 20 - 70ft
English river boats
American designer Phil Bolger has a couple of variations

Then theres the cats and tris... There is a massive array of design choices mate for ANY design type by an equally massive array of designers

Give us some idea of uses and intents and we could be real helpful

Cheers
Shane

Well , I've had cause to go down to Portland a couple of times , hoping to get some sailing in , but it didn't happen .
We did lots of looking at boats , and talking , but no sailing.
Then I was talking with Garry Kerr , who is turning in to a bit of a mentor , and he said that yes , we do a lot less sailing than we think we do , its always "too" something , too windy , too much this way , too much that , too hot , too still.
So , when I do get down there full time , I can see myself doing a lot of sailing on my own.
And I'm not going to be content with just going out to sea a bit , and coming home , I'll want to go somewhere ! , go to Portsea , go to Nelson , and return , and keep on stretching the boundaries.There is a lot of coast to explore. There are fishing grounds to visit.
So I need something that I could operate myself if I have to , and that is going to be able to handle rough conditions if I do get caught.
Garry cautioned me about getting an old boat to restore , saying that it can be a money sink , and cautioned me off converted fishing boats , because they are generally poorer sailers anyway.
He should know , he has had a few.
So , is it a sailboat , with an auxilery motor , or a motor boat ?.
A monohull , or a cat or tri.
And although electric powered winches etc are nice , something that can be operated easily with just "Armstrong" power.
And something that you can see out of easily , if you are on your own.
Something that I can just go down to , motor out of the harbour , and then set off up the coast , in most weathers.
I don't want to be controlled by the "too" factor.
Rob J.
Rob J.

Go to David Payne's website and buy the plans for the Yellowtail (check my avatar). She's a very seaworthy craft with both an outboard and a sail. At 14', not so small she'll suffer at sea but not so large she's hard to mess with on your own, and not so large she'll take forever to build - there is a quantum leap in effort between building a 14 footer and an 18 footer. Build the Yellowtail, get her on the water and start developing your skills. A summer on her will soon have you knowing where you want to go next ... and you'll have discovered yourself whether you use the motor or the sails more.

Richard

And sometimes... just sometimes... daddiddlydaddles actually does make sence

Originally Posted by Wild Dingo

And sometimes... just sometimes... daddiddlydaddles actually does make sence

And what's more, he can spell 'sense'

Richard

didn't think I'd let you get away with agreeing with me did you?

I'm seriously looking at the NIS (Norwalk Island Sharpies) for my next vessel ... might be worthy of a look.

BTW Daddles ... I'm on water (we have see thru water over this way ) ... how's your floating ....

Dingo ... signing off differently now??

Be wary of the NIS's Ramps. They are darned good craft but being flat bummed, only work when canted over on a chine. You may like that in which case, they are well worth looking at, but ...

I saw Charlie Fisher at Goolwa (wot 'is face's 23 NIS, the bloke who's pushing them - know his name, just can't remember it. Darned nice bloke too, given me some very good advice from time to time). Impressive boat. Floats in a thin layer of slime. Rigged so he raise and lower everything from the cockpit. Shows no real signs of the hard work she's done

Richard

Daddles
Thanks for the input, definitely haven't made up my mind as yet. Figured it would be a good thin in the many shallow bays around Oz but might be too much of a comprise in the open ocean??

Originally Posted by Ramps

Dingo ... signing off differently now??

Of course yer flamin wet bummed galah ...Didnt yer realize that Ive become the "great grouchinator" of recent times

The NIS is as good a wee boat as a flat bummed thing can be fair few people like em so cant all be bad eh sorta like a lot of boats some people have issues with

Coulda been worse eh he could have said he wanted a Wharram then the sparks would flown! I woulda had to come to his rescue which means Ive gotta remain the great grouchinator protector of the quiet so.... back friggin off

but its all good

what about a nice little Vertue 25??

Go anywhere on the coast and offshore. Simple to sail engine or not. Achievable size to build. Can be built traditional timber or modern timber. Great re-sale value. Not as fast as more modern designs but sails itself pretty well which is important for short/singlehanded.

Just imagine, huon planks, celery backbone, blue gum ribs and all that copper and gunmetal ( drool... .............).

Not an accommodationmaran but a good choice.

Apparently legend has it that on the harbourmaster's wall in Durban is a sign that says no yacht may depart in winds over force 7 unless she is a Vertue.

What sort of timber construction are you talking about?

regards,

AD