I am guessing I don't really know what it takes to qualify as a motorsailer compared to a sailboat with a motor.
I picture a "real" motorsailer to be the MacGovors who brag about being able to get up on step and tow waterskiers. They don't look like they would be any good as a ski tug nor a good sailboat. One old broker told me a motorsailer is a sailboat with a motor. . . My interest is in sailing and comfort. Not skiing. Casey --- On Thu, 8/14/08, Lee Haefele <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Lee Haefele <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] Boat Search > To: [email protected] > Date: Thursday, August 14, 2008, 2:56 AM > My 1984 Nauticat 33, shallow draft model, was a wonderful > boat, but, it wouldn't sail without the motor. Other > Nauticat models did much better and a feathering prop did > make 33s somewhat better. The indoor space was terrific, > more than many 40' boats, the dry, heated pilothouse was > super. When it rained, the sailboats read books, we turned > on the windshield wipers & heater and went on. The > computer was dry at the wheel as were my eyeglasses. > Passages were on a schedule at 7+ knots, FL-NC was one day > less than sailors normally allowed, 2.5 instead of 3.5 days. > It was somewhat of a calm water boat, which was possibly > nicer, waiting for wind to sail involves then rougher seas. > TEN TIMES more seaworthy than the unballasted trawlers that > are so popular with only slightly less speed (7.5 knots any > time, any wind or sea). The Ford Lehman 90 engine was super > reliable for the 3000 hrs of my ownership, the power, speed > and acceleration was unheard of in a sailboat. > Maneuverability was great with 5kt reverse available in a > boatlength, this avoids bumping items in a wind when > docking. > I now have a 2000 Leopard 38 catamaran. The original > quality is very good, however, caulking and plastic trim are > problems the NC never had. Space is even better, including > large shaded outdoor area. Sailing is great, average > speeds are down .5-1kt, fuel use is much less. Mine was a > used Moorings charter boat with no equipment and many very > expensive maintenance issues due to heavy charter use and > criminal covering of fiberglass damage by Moorings. (impact > damage was gelcoated and polished, never was the structure > repaired). The motor/prop combination was a joke compared > to the Nauticat, but the motors were destroyed in charter so > I was able to get improvement on replacement. So... I > have a nicer more stable living platform, reasonable > motoring of 6-7kt but less in a head sea, fun sailing and > about 3X the investment. I steer outside in a plastic > enclosure that still leaks, I use a big Garmin chartplotter > instead of a PC. The Garmin Radar SUCKS, give me my manual > 1984 Furuno (indoor only) Radar with a dedicated green CRT > any day. > I did find room for lots of solar panels and am energy self > sufficient without a generator. > I don't have any teak to varnish anymore, the NC had > about 60 hours of varnish and stain work each year. > My wife likes not heeling and I like less motion at sea and > at anchor. > Lee Haefele S/Vs Alesto, Alesto 2 > ----- Original Message ----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [email protected] > Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 3:07 PM > Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] Boat Search > > > Typically motorsailers don't sail or motor very well. > They are a compromise, and traditionally didn't do > anything well. For that reason, they went through a period > of unpopularity as sailing and power boats became more > highly developed in the US market. There has been a > resurgence in their popularity since fuel has gotten more > expensive. Nordhavan 56 is a new one as is Island > Packet's SP. They profess to be the best of both worlds > .Traditional older favorites that come to mind are Nauticat, > Fisher, and my favorite, Schucker. There are some twin > engine motorsailers out there and even some with bridge > decks. Also, you might consider a sailing catamaran with > good visibility from the salon. Motorsailers and pilot house > sailboats have always been popular in the northern colder > climates of North America and Europe. Everyone that I have > met that has one agrees that they have faults, but seems to > love their boat. > > My thoughts are that if you want comfort and are not in a > hurry, it's a great choice. > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your > budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos. > Internal Virus Database is out of date. > Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com > Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.6.0/1601 - Release > Date: 8/8/2008 9:02 AM > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > _______________________________________________ > Liveaboard mailing list > [email protected] > To adjust your membership settings over the web > http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard > To subscribe send an email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe send an email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > The archives are at > http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ > > To search the archives > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > The Mailman Users Guide can be found here > http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html_______________________________________________ > Liveaboard mailing list > [email protected] > To adjust your membership settings over the web > http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard > To subscribe send an email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe send an email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > The archives are at > http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ > > To search the archives > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > The Mailman Users Guide can be found here > http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list [email protected] To adjust your membership settings over the web http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
