Brad wrote:
Now I know that normally a sailboat would use a lot less than a
powerboat, and maybe that's not the right heading to use, but I am
currently looking at the possibility of buying one or the other type
of boat (used), and I am trying to get some info on boating long-term
on the Atlantic.

Although a powerboat would use oodles of fuel at a fast clip, any idea
of how much that would drop if traveling at the rate of a sailboat
(say 7 or 8 knots)?

Depends on the boat. A powerboat designed to go fast (twin engines,
planing hull, wide transom, etc etc) is going to use less fuel when
going slowly than when going fast, but it is never going to achieve
sailboat type fuel consumption even if you slow it to a crawl. Plus it's
going to leave more wake, be hard to steer, etc etc.

However there are many power boats that are not designed to go fast, and
usually they use only slightly (if any) more fuel than a sailboat would
over the same distance.


.... My thought (and I have never done much serious boating) is
that a powerboat would be easier on me physically, but I am concerned
about the comsumption of fuel while traveling.

Yes, the powerboat is much easier to operate physically, and also much
easier to get around on. Typically on sailboats the gear used for
sailing, and the deck layout, controls how one can move around the deck.
Also, on sailboats, you go through a hatch and down a steep narrow
stairway into the cabin and on many boats this is somewhat awkward.

This is the boat my wife and I cruise on.

http://community.webshots.com/album/63279185YQtgSA

It is roomier and more comfortable than some apartments I've lived in,
and the scenery is *much* better. We typically cruise at 7 (burn ~ 7
gallong per hour) to 8 knots ( ~2.25 gph).

BTW I agree with most of Steven S's post, except that I never argue with
sailors and that fuel is not a major cost of owning such a boat. If we
cruised full time, we'd *still* spend more on slips & insurance, much
less the boat itself. The fuel expense is not *nothing* but it's way
down the list of "what's the biggest bite." For example we went from New
Bern NC to Charleston SC, and back, earlier this year and spent $135 on
fuel.

Hope this helps.
Doug King