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22-01-2013, 21:46
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Florida
Boat: no i do not need finacing
Posts: 33
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Turning a Sailboat Into a Motor Cruiser
hey y'all, i guess i should list my basic intention first eh? i intend to buy a used or salvaged sailboat on the hard for as cheap as i can get it. to use as a cruiser/live-aboard, i,m looking a a length of 40 plus feet.
the pluses on my side
my abilities= a better than average mech, i know how to do quality electrical wiring, i already recognize the cost a budget that would include the cost of up-keeping a sailboat in tip/top sailing condition, i have already made sure this is a life style that myself and wife would be more than comfortable with, im a fair hand with fiberglass repair, and i already know that yes i can learn to be a better sailor, i just don't want to be one. and yes my monthly budget is not very large. and NO this is not a rushed idea, ive been waiting 56 years to do this
so i need help and ideas of where to find such a boat on the hard. that would be salvageable for this project, i also welcome any tips or hints
( now i feel as if i have stepped into a pile of dog crap ) i really hope i managed to find the right forum for this
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22-01-2013, 22:54
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: La Marque, TX
Boat: Mac 26X
Posts: 713
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser
Welcome to CF...and yeah, you're about to get trashed Not by me mind you...but someone will
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Gordo
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22-01-2013, 22:57
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: La Marque, TX
Boat: Mac 26X
Posts: 713
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser
Here is an example. This guy had a great time
Duckworks - Strawlering
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Gordo
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22-01-2013, 22:59
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: NSW Australia
Boat: Traditional 30
Posts: 1,980
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser
Blasphemer !!!!!!! You speak Sacrilege!!!!! murderer!!!! and all those other horrible terms sailors are busting to call you.
However, Keep and eye on yachtworld.com. Also talk to insurance Cos and ask them where and how they sell the right offs.
You may even get a few dollars for the old sailing gear if you are just going to keep the hull and motor.
There is a pile of performance things I could go into. But Meh, It wont matter for what you are thinking about.
__________________
Cheers
Oz
...............
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22-01-2013, 23:00
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: NSW Australia
Boat: Traditional 30
Posts: 1,980
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElGatoGordo
Welcome to CF...and yeah, you're about to get trashed Not by me mind you...but someone will
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Ooooh..I started to. Then thought better of it.
__________________
Cheers
Oz
...............
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22-01-2013, 23:11
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 267
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser
All marinas have a couple. Most of them are owed money for storage. Pick one out you like and make an offer.
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22-01-2013, 23:13
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: La Marque, TX
Boat: Mac 26X
Posts: 713
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser
If they don't have them in FL, we sure do here in TX...
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Gordo
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22-01-2013, 23:28
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#8
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cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Key West FL - Burlington VT
Boat: O'day 32 CC Ketch
Posts: 493
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser
Ever thought about a trawler? Cheap project trawlers exist as well and you could skip the sail junk right off the bat. One point though and I have some first hand experience. The sail conversion with no mast is going to get odd looks and little respect, sail hulls with no mast are the Rodney Dangerfield of the sea, they get no respect. At least with a trawler, sail cruisers will not snub you or assume your a broke weirdo transient. If you want a sail hull why not sail just a bit, you may grow to like it.
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22-01-2013, 23:32
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: La Marque, TX
Boat: Mac 26X
Posts: 713
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser
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Gordo
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22-01-2013, 23:35
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: on board, Australia
Boat: 11meter Power catamaran
Posts: 3,648
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser
Aren't there stability issues with a mono sail vessel (roll periods, etc) without a mast? Consider a small motor trawler.
Cheers
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22-01-2013, 23:40
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: La Marque, TX
Boat: Mac 26X
Posts: 713
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser
Quote:
Originally Posted by downunder
Aren't there stability issues with a mono sail vessel (roll periods, etc) without a mast? Consider a small motor trawler.
Cheers
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The above articles explain the issues related to the keel and mast relationship and cutting both down. Not that I've done it, but it can and has been done. I like sailing too much to ruin a boat.
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Gordo
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22-01-2013, 23:51
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Philippines in the winters
Boat: It’s in French Polynesia now
Posts: 11,368
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser
There are a couple around here in Seattle. One of which is a 50'er. I'd suggest you find one that has been de-masted (lost their mast) and go from there. It would be less expensive due to the cost of replacing the rigging (in the 10's of thousands).
As well find one that has EZ access to the motor so it can be easily pulled for rebuild &/or clean up. Also I'd go with a fin keeled boat and whack half of it off. Your going to need some of it to stabilize the rounded bilge. A twin keeler would even be better but large ones are rare here in the USA.
Sailboats are basically narrow trawlers and just doesn't have the capacity as one. Some sailers spend more time motoring then sailing as it is. The down fall to a modified sailboat is they aren't as stable in the rough. Even some trawlers have a steading sail.
If you look at the old time trawlers/fishers (pre 1950) they look like a sailboat hull.
Just stay away from the old woodies that have been ignored, unless you have experience with them. Choose wisely, theses are just suggestions!
__________________
Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend, but the Kisses of the Enemy are Deceitful! ........
The measure of a man is how he navigates to a proper shore in the midst of a storm!
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23-01-2013, 00:15
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Philippines in the winters
Boat: It’s in French Polynesia now
Posts: 11,368
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser
One more thing. You might look at some of the auctioned boat from the Sandy storm.
__________________
Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend, but the Kisses of the Enemy are Deceitful! ........
The measure of a man is how he navigates to a proper shore in the midst of a storm!
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23-01-2013, 02:01
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Marco Island
Boat: 28 ft Intrepid, hull #13
Posts: 102
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser
[QUOTE=Oogie;1136927]hey y'all, i guess i should list my basic intention first eh? i intend to buy a used or salvaged sailboat on the hard for as cheap as i can get it. to use as a cruiser/live-aboard, i,m looking a a length of 40 plus feet.
It's a good thing dat' ya' ain't aboard a pirate ship for otherwise you'd surely be walking the plank by now... I'm jest' sayin'.
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23-01-2013, 05:37
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 5,009
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Re: turning a sailboat into a motor cruiser
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElGatoGordo
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The article claims that a sailboat gets better fuel economy than a trawler. I call BS on that. Yes, it will burn less per hour, but it will also move a whole lot slower. Your miles per gallon are almost certainly going to be worse, not better.
And then you will have A LOT less living space in a 40' sailboat than you will in a 40' trawler. Space that you give up in exchange for what advantage? None. Not to mention the draft issues.
If you want to sail, get a boat that was made to sail. If you want to motor, get a boat that was made to motor. It's your money, your life, and you can do what you want. But personally, I find the idea of buying a boat that was designed for sailing, and then deluding yourself into thinking that it will make a better motor boat than a boat that was designed for motoring, to be pretty ridiculous.
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