On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 14:29:56 +0000, BllFs6 wrote:

Hi all....

This past summer I got to use a friends inflatable avon with a 4 hp
motor....and I really had a blast spending all day cruising around at about 4
knots in relative peace and quite and only using a few gallons of gas doing
it...of course that thing was about as hydrodynamic as cinder block....

It sure was the opposite of when I was a kid when and my Dad would take us on a
planing powered fishing boat, where we got beat to hell, went nearly deaf, got
soaked always, and burned gas/money like the Rockefellers.....

So, from my recent "cruising" experience, I've realized that slow and easy
could be pretty darn fun....and I could actually stand going so slow....so I
could cruise just for the sake of cruising on a nice day....or if I wanted to
dive or fish I could stand taking ALL day doing it (because of the slow
speed)...might as well since after a half day of fishing or diving Im so wiped
out anyway I spend the rest of day just vegging out.....so might as well vegg
out putting back to port in the boat....

Now, lets say I get the typical mostly enclosed small sailboat. Say 18 to 22
footer.

How many HP would I need to push such a vessel at hull speed? And say for
example that it calculates at 4HP, how much more power should I have in reserve
to fight wind, waves, bad weather, avoiding running the engine at max power etc
etc....


That's a Really Good Idea. All other things considered (such as being able
to "run" to safe water) a small sailboat is MUCH safer and more
comfortable in rough seas. Even little 22-footers are capable of being
turned completely upside-down and they will right themselves.

As others have mentioned, start out with sails down as a powerboat. Then,
slowly, work your way into sailing: raise the main and get the advantage
of increased stability (and, if you trim it right, an auto-helm!) Pull out
the genny downwind and enjoy silent cruising.

Or, go completely power and remove the mast and have a swing-keel,
retracted.

7.5 should be enough, 9.9 plenty.

The McGreggor is an option, but for what they are, they're EXPENSIVE!
$30K CDN for a "bare-bones" 26-ft boat?? You can get a nice Catalina 22
for 1/2 that, and they sail better!

My Favourites in that size are the Cal/Crown line (as long as you're not
going to trailer them). Cal20, Crown 23, Cal 25. Not that great for room,
but they sail well, INCREDIBLY seaworthy, and you can pick up a used one
for $5K.

Or, you can try to find a Folkboat 25 with an inboard diesel, or a
Bayfield...

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36 - powerboat with new 26hp diesel