On Sun, 04 Mar 2007 23:46:00 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

I hate buying fuel, and I hate using it. It's possible I may end with
a sail boat, but since I've only had a tiny bit of experience crewing
sail, and I'm a bit long in the tooth, motor is probably my future.
From reading and googling this group I've begun to open my mind to
other types of boats beside the Carolina Skiff I had originally set my
sights on.
From reading the C. Skiff group on msn it's apparent that the skiffs
get very good mileage, and are all-around good near-shore fishing
boats.
But the accounts there are anecdotal, and the mileage measurements
are always done with a lot of on-plane time included.
Planing at 30+ is fine, but frankly, I'm never in a hurry. I can get
speed kicks at Great America should the urge come. It doesn't.
So I'm starting to think I might be better suited to a slow boat with
some measure of livability that slower travel requires, especially
since that boat might also afford more big water capability than a
skiff provides.
I'm pretty flexible about the comfort factor, so there's no saying
a 24-26' skiff can't be rigged for a measure of livability.
By "livability" I mean 3-4 nights. I'm not a masochist.
I found a fishing cap'n running a 24' CS out of Ft Myers and plan
to charter him next month or late this month to get a feel for
that boat and the Charlotte Harbor waters.
In the meantime, I'm going to get a bit of education on other hull
types. Googling this group hasn't provided much I can use, maybe
because the answer can't be pat, or maybe I just missed the answer.
DSK seems to know a lot about this, and maybe Chuck, though he usually
deals with more boat than I can afford.
First, let me lay down the only essential requirements for the boat
1. the boat is seaworthy of typical Gulf of Mexico offshore excursions
- non-hurricane but otherwise expected seas.
2. two people can live aboard without tripping over each other.
3. cost is no more than $30k, shipshape.
That's it.
What hull/engine combos offer the best MPG?
Anybody?

Thanks,

--Vic



It seems like you're asking a hell of a lot for $30K!
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

On Mon, 05 Mar 2007 07:15:19 -0500, JLH wrote:


First, let me lay down the only essential requirements for the boat
1. the boat is seaworthy of typical Gulf of Mexico offshore excursions
- non-hurricane but otherwise expected seas.
2. two people can live aboard without tripping over each other.
3. cost is no more than $30k, shipshape.
That's it.
What hull/engine combos offer the best MPG?
Anybody?

Thanks,

--Vic



It seems like you're asking a hell of a lot for $30K!

After some initial looking around, it appears not.
The MacGregor 26 Chuck mentioned, new and powered is $30k
I see Albin 27's around $30k, but they're pretty old and not suitable
for mileage and other reasons.
I'll keep looking, but I think $30k will do, though I'll shoot for
less.
I ran across a good review Chuck did of the Allweather that tak
mentioned, and following that thread gave me some more avenues
to search. Since I like to fish, the Allweather doesn't seem my cup
of tea, but has put me on the track of a small deisel/full
displacement
hull that will meet my requirements. If it can sail too, all the
better. Even the MacGregor isn't out of the question, though
the "real" sailors sneer at it. Hey, I might just become the Skipper
of the sailing world!

--Vic

On Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:27:35 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Mon, 05 Mar 2007 07:15:19 -0500, JLH wrote:


First, let me lay down the only essential requirements for the boat
1. the boat is seaworthy of typical Gulf of Mexico offshore excursions
- non-hurricane but otherwise expected seas.
2. two people can live aboard without tripping over each other.
3. cost is no more than $30k, shipshape.
That's it.
What hull/engine combos offer the best MPG?
Anybody?

Thanks,

--Vic



It seems like you're asking a hell of a lot for $30K!

After some initial looking around, it appears not.
The MacGregor 26 Chuck mentioned, new and powered is $30k
I see Albin 27's around $30k, but they're pretty old and not suitable
for mileage and other reasons.
I'll keep looking, but I think $30k will do, though I'll shoot for
less.
I ran across a good review Chuck did of the Allweather that tak
mentioned, and following that thread gave me some more avenues
to search. Since I like to fish, the Allweather doesn't seem my cup
of tea, but has put me on the track of a small deisel/full
displacement
hull that will meet my requirements. If it can sail too, all the
better. Even the MacGregor isn't out of the question, though
the "real" sailors sneer at it. Hey, I might just become the Skipper
of the sailing world!

One of the best fishermen I know often fishes off his 40' Beneteau and
has a ball doing it.

Hey, if that's what you want - go for it.

Just be aware that sailing is work.

On Tue, 06 Mar 2007 11:33:02 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:27:35 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

Even the MacGregor isn't out of the question, though
the "real" sailors sneer at it. Hey, I might just become the Skipper
of the sailing world!

One of the best fishermen I know often fishes off his 40' Beneteau and
has a ball doing it.

Hey, if that's what you want - go for it.

Just be aware that sailing is work.

Not really, Tom.
After wading through many past posts about the MacGregor,
among them an excellent review done by Chuck, according
to the salts I will never be sailing on the MacGregor.
Hell, I can have the motor hanging lifeless on the transom, 6 feet of
dagger board down, 300 sq ft of sail filled with air, and be clipping
along at 8 knots or so, but I won't be sailing on the MacGregor.
So that means no work! Pretty neat (-:
I'm not done thinking and learning yet, but right now that MacGregor
26 is at the top of my list, and I'm going to check
them out soon.
With the board up it drafts 18" or less, making it a skinny water
sailer, suitable for exploring the Keys among other spots, and a sight
more comfortable and economical to reach the Keys from Port Charlotte
than pounding down there in an open skiff.
But there might be something I'll like better as I continue the quest.
Did have a hankering for a little Yanmar diesel instead of an
outboard. Flip-flop warning.

--Vic

Vic Smith wrote:
On Tue, 06 Mar 2007 11:33:02 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:27:35 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

Even the MacGregor isn't out of the question, though
the "real" sailors sneer at it. Hey, I might just become the Skipper
of the sailing world!
One of the best fishermen I know often fishes off his 40' Beneteau and
has a ball doing it.

Hey, if that's what you want - go for it.

Just be aware that sailing is work.

Not really, Tom.
After wading through many past posts about the MacGregor,
among them an excellent review done by Chuck, according
to the salts I will never be sailing on the MacGregor.
Hell, I can have the motor hanging lifeless on the transom, 6 feet of
dagger board down, 300 sq ft of sail filled with air, and be clipping
along at 8 knots or so, but I won't be sailing on the MacGregor.
So that means no work! Pretty neat (-:
I'm not done thinking and learning yet, but right now that MacGregor
26 is at the top of my list, and I'm going to check
them out soon.
With the board up it drafts 18" or less, making it a skinny water
sailer, suitable for exploring the Keys among other spots, and a sight
more comfortable and economical to reach the Keys from Port Charlotte
than pounding down there in an open skiff.
But there might be something I'll like better as I continue the quest.
Did have a hankering for a little Yanmar diesel instead of an
outboard. Flip-flop warning.

--Vic


It's a terrible boat. Caveat emptor.

On Tue, 06 Mar 2007 10:05:05 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:


After wading through many past posts about the MacGregor,
among them an excellent review done by Chuck, according
to the salts I will never be sailing on the MacGregor.
Hell, I can have the motor hanging lifeless on the transom, 6 feet of
dagger board down, 300 sq ft of sail filled with air, and be clipping
along at 8 knots or so, but I won't be sailing on the MacGregor.
So that means no work! Pretty neat (-:

It's a terrible boat. Caveat emptor.

Harry, as the last sentence of the above para I had written:
MacGregors are to "sailors" as Bayliners are to "Krauses."
I snipped it.
Here you are, so that didn't work.
Anyway, thanks for the heads up. I'm far from sold on it.
But if I get one, I sure as hell ain't coming back here.

--Vic

Vic Smith wrote:
On Tue, 06 Mar 2007 10:05:05 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:


After wading through many past posts about the MacGregor,
among them an excellent review done by Chuck, according
to the salts I will never be sailing on the MacGregor.
Hell, I can have the motor hanging lifeless on the transom, 6 feet of
dagger board down, 300 sq ft of sail filled with air, and be clipping
along at 8 knots or so, but I won't be sailing on the MacGregor.
So that means no work! Pretty neat (-:
It's a terrible boat. Caveat emptor.

Harry, as the last sentence of the above para I had written:
MacGregors are to "sailors" as Bayliners are to "Krauses."
I snipped it.
Here you are, so that didn't work.
Anyway, thanks for the heads up. I'm far from sold on it.
But if I get one, I sure as hell ain't coming back here.

--Vic


You probably won't be coming back to shore, either. Make sure you file a
float plan.

On Tue, 06 Mar 2007 09:04:07 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Tue, 06 Mar 2007 11:33:02 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:27:35 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

Even the MacGregor isn't out of the question, though
the "real" sailors sneer at it. Hey, I might just become the Skipper
of the sailing world!

One of the best fishermen I know often fishes off his 40' Beneteau and
has a ball doing it.

Hey, if that's what you want - go for it.

Just be aware that sailing is work.

Not really, Tom.
After wading through many past posts about the MacGregor,
among them an excellent review done by Chuck, according
to the salts I will never be sailing on the MacGregor.
Hell, I can have the motor hanging lifeless on the transom, 6 feet of
dagger board down, 300 sq ft of sail filled with air, and be clipping
along at 8 knots or so, but I won't be sailing on the MacGregor.
So that means no work! Pretty neat (-:
I'm not done thinking and learning yet, but right now that MacGregor
26 is at the top of my list, and I'm going to check
them out soon.
With the board up it drafts 18" or less, making it a skinny water
sailer, suitable for exploring the Keys among other spots, and a sight
more comfortable and economical to reach the Keys from Port Charlotte
than pounding down there in an open skiff.
But there might be something I'll like better as I continue the quest.
Did have a hankering for a little Yanmar diesel instead of an
outboard. Flip-flop warning.

Hey - what ever floats your boat.

Get it? Floats your boat?

Um...never mind.

Hey, you are doing the right thing exploring options and what you
think you can handle.

Whatever you end up with, it will be what you want.

Good luck and have fun - let us know.

By the way, the little Yanmar diesel is a great idea.

On Tue, 06 Mar 2007 16:36:42 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

Whatever you end up with, it will be what you want.

Well, that's stretching it a bit.

Good luck and have fun - let us know.

Sure, and if it's a MacGregor, I'll going to name it Parker.

--Vic

On Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:27:35 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Mon, 05 Mar 2007 07:15:19 -0500, JLH wrote:


First, let me lay down the only essential requirements for the boat
1. the boat is seaworthy of typical Gulf of Mexico offshore excursions
- non-hurricane but otherwise expected seas.
2. two people can live aboard without tripping over each other.
3. cost is no more than $30k, shipshape.
That's it.
What hull/engine combos offer the best MPG?
Anybody?

Thanks,

--Vic



It seems like you're asking a hell of a lot for $30K!

After some initial looking around, it appears not.
The MacGregor 26 Chuck mentioned, new and powered is $30k
I see Albin 27's around $30k, but they're pretty old and not suitable
for mileage and other reasons.
I'll keep looking, but I think $30k will do, though I'll shoot for
less.
I ran across a good review Chuck did of the Allweather that tak
mentioned, and following that thread gave me some more avenues
to search. Since I like to fish, the Allweather doesn't seem my cup
of tea, but has put me on the track of a small deisel/full
displacement
hull that will meet my requirements. If it can sail too, all the
better. Even the MacGregor isn't out of the question, though
the "real" sailors sneer at it. Hey, I might just become the Skipper
of the sailing world!

--Vic

Well, whatever you end up with, I wish you good luck at it!
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."