"Bruce in Bangkok" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:31:53 GMT, Jere Lull wrote:

On 2008-06-25 23:24:41 -0400, Wayne.B
said:

Even with proper diesel inboard aux, most of the serious cruising
sailboats that we see are carrying 40 to 60 gallons of extra fuel on
deck. These are boats that actually go someplace of course.

OMG! That'd give Xan a conservative 1,400-2,000 mile range under power!

The idea of 3-500# of fuel up on deck, though.... I'm always surprised
that they don't just add tankage. Doubt there's a boat over about 25'
that doesn't have some out of the way place to stick another tank, and
it doesn't take much to add 40 gallons.


Imagine a couple of scenarios. (1) You plan a trip to Chagos islands
in the Indian ocean. Down and back, about a four thousand mile trip,
several months in the islands where absolutely nothing is available. A
little fuel in cans on the deck in addition to the inside tankage
might be advisable. Or (2) a trip from Phuket to Malaysia where diesel
is half the cost of Thailand. Maybe a few jerry cans on the deck to
bring some back?

Or the trip a mate of mine just made to India. Three weeks to Cochin
and no wind for the last week - motored for 160 hours.


More like a bulk carrier than a sailboat. But, whatever floats your boat . .
..

Myself, I prefer to sail. This no wind for an entire week is a load of crap.
Won't happen in that part of the world. He obviously lied. What he didn't
want to admit was the winds were light and variable and he was too lazy and
in too much of a hurry to work them. Not to mention his boat was so heavy
loaded down with huge diesel engine and huge tanks to feed its appetite.
Easier to just motor. It takes half a gale to make any decent amount of way
with any motor sailer like that.

That's the problem with carrying a lot of tankage. You quickly turn into
just another worthless motorboat. Now, I think I understand why you failed
to make it around even one time. Your tanks just weren't large enough. Some
sailor, you!



Wilbur Hubbard