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Old 23-01-2013, 11:10   #31
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pirate Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser

If your gonna be hacking at the keel maybe centre boarders or drop keelers would be the way to go...
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Old 23-01-2013, 11:44   #32
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser

I did 3800 miles last year with my mast down and let me say some of you are very confused about what happens. In any sort of seas, if your not going into the waves a trawler rolls the same or more than a mastless sail hull. Maybe try this stuff out before claiming that NAs will agree with you. Its pretty much as simple as removig the mast. Some cruisers dont give a rats ass about sailing. Ever looked at Beebes hull forms?
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Old 23-01-2013, 12:20   #33
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser

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Originally Posted by David M View Post
It's pretty easy. All it takes is a pair of wire cutters, a Sawzall and five minutes to convert it from a sailboat into a motor cruiser.
Actually, cutting the shrouds is a bad idea if they're under tension. A buddy of mine did this on a Erikson 36, and the force was so great when it released that it cracked a lexan window.

Use the turnbuckles.
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Old 23-01-2013, 12:46   #34
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Re: ah . . . heck

Just do the simplest thing . . .

. . . buy a sailboat, of about the size you want, for a lot less than you have to buy it with. To start with, I wouldn't offer much more than half of what anyone is asking for the kind of boat you're looking for. Just make sure you have the money to hand over . . . hands stop itching for money after a few minutes.

then . . . just leave the mast on . . . it has more uses than just to hold a sail up . . .

That mast will mean you will get 20+ tv stations more than anyone else.

The mast shrouds and stays can be used for your Christmas lighting.

You can send a gawd-awful colored light up the mast as a beacon so people can find you.

The boom has other uses too . . .
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Old 23-01-2013, 15:09   #35
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser

I would go for the trawler - more room for the length. and as OP suggests he is decent with the spanners then getting something older and with a knackered engine would be the dirt cheap option, most of their value is in the engine. (as long as rest of the boat not completely knackered! - but that same as for a no mast yacht, unlikely that something cheap will be all good except no mast).
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Old 23-01-2013, 15:23   #36
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser

FWIW,

Real experience with an N of one:

Dismasted at sea in our previous boat (old IOR one tonner), with residual seas from full gale. Motion was TERRIBLE! Difficult to move about boat, stove nearly jumping off gimbals, extremely fatiguing. This yacht, BTW, was no lightweight flyer, displacement neat 20,000 lbs on a LWL of 29 feet, beamy admidships, pinched ends, lots of rocker, 7'2" draft).

I can not believe that the average trawler yacht could have such a motion, for no one would ever go to sea in one voluntarily!

It is possible that one could substitute some mass above decks to compensate for the loss of the mast, and perhaps by reducing the ballast one could change the roll characteristics, but this seems a fairly risky adventure to undertake when there are good motor vessel designs available.

But, as I say, this was only one specific example. Other hull shapes may be less disadvantaged without their masts.

Cheers,

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Old 23-01-2013, 15:24   #37
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser

Really good discussion so far guys...better than I thought really!

2 things I can speak to directly...I have done many miles in a sail boat without a mast and the same boat with...(but I'm NOT comparing with the main up). The rolling was worse w/o the mast, but not like "OMG we're gonna" die worse. This was a centerboarder and the board was down both times so idk what would have happened if I'd have raised it.

The whole discussion of fuel efficiency is simply moot. A sailboat hull offers less resistance to the water, period. It's SLOWER by far, but the MPG will always be higher for a sailboat hull. Examples: Irwin 28 w/Atomic 4 (very old and tired) used 3/4 gallon per hr at about 5kts (roughly 7nm/gal). Current 32' cat w/9.9hp outboard (brand new) uses <1/2 gph and 5.5kts (11nm/gal) or just over 3/4gph at 6.8kts (9nm/gal). What I've heard, read, and seen has never led me to believe there is a power boat in this size range that would come very close to that. Educate me if I'm mistaken???

BUT, BUT, BUTTTTTTTTTTTT...WTH are you thinking man?????? You've got MONEY? $35K???????????????????????

This type of conversion or otherwise severely compromising ideas are for people like me with NO MONEY! Even with $20K as your ceiling there are simply THOUSANDS of boats that will do WAY better for you than this idea. I was picturing you totally broke, picking up a trashed 25 footer for $100 and going on your merry poor man's way (my revenge on the world for being lower middle class is sharing the anchorage with $1Mil super yachts). I mean seriously...I have $8K in my self-built 32' cat, including a brand new engine. If you've got that kind of money, don't take the route with the least comfort and most work...buy yourself a nice small power cruiser and GO!

IMHO of course
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Old 23-01-2013, 15:26   #38
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser

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im just a poor Florida country boy.
Using English/Australian slang?

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Old 23-01-2013, 15:29   #39
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser

Oh, and I'll say it again...WHO???? doesn't like sailing?? It's SOOOOOOOOO cool!!!
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Old 23-01-2013, 15:30   #40
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser

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Using English/Australian slang?
I'm from Texas and I say Wanker!
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Old 23-01-2013, 15:36   #41
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser

how about this one? At Torresen Marine in Muskegon Michigan. I think its a steel home-built; owner died, ran out of money, wife divorced him, reality set in etc. I'd be glad to see you haul it away.
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Old 23-01-2013, 15:39   #42
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser

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how about this one? At Torresen Marine in Muskegon Michigan. I think its a steel home-built; owner died, ran out of money, wife divorced him, reality set in etc. I'd be glad to see you haul it away.
See THAT'S what I was picturing! But who in their right mind, if the have money, would want to work that hard?

Now send me that address, I'm already looking for my next project! (J/K)
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Old 23-01-2013, 15:41   #43
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser

You know seriously looking at that boat...i looks pretty cool. Do you have more pics? If that was nearer I'd love a closer look. I love odd-ball stuff.
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Old 23-01-2013, 16:01   #44
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Cate View Post
FWIW,

Real experience with an N of one:

Dismasted at sea in our previous boat (old IOR one tonner), with residual seas from full gale. Motion was TERRIBLE! Difficult to move about boat, stove nearly jumping off gimbals, extremely fatiguing.
To true
Same with a de - masted cray boat I delivered a while back, ok in the calm but rolled like a drunken pig in any sort of seaway and this was a 46 tonne boat.

If I was considering converting a de-masted keel boat into a powered vessel I would seriously consider stabilising hulls along this line.
Not actually sailing would reduce loads considerably

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Old 23-01-2013, 16:03   #45
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser

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I'm from Texas and I say Wanker!
Wow, reverse Americanism, that'd be a first.
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