junktin wrote:

Does anyone have practical experience using a consumer grade digital
camera with high zoom and Image Stabilization on a sailboat (taking
shots of distant scenery or other boats)?
....
If anyone has used such a camera on a boat, I would love to hear your
comments.

No experience, so take it with a grain of salt, but the rocking
and rolling of a sail boat is fairly low frequency, compared to
hand-held shaking. The motion from the boat should be catered
for by shutter speed, while the IS will cater for anything that
isn't helped by a (e.g.) 1/125 shutter. I'd say it will help.

--
Ken Tough