When do you motorsail?

[Aquah0lic]

A couple of times along the way I thought, if I didn't have a bunch of stuff in the way, it would be nice to roll out the jib and see if I could go any faster. I believe I'm allready making hull speed under power so can't see the benifit, but figure there must be some advantage or people wouldn't do it. So, when do you decide to roll out the jib?

[btrayfors]

Each boat is a bit different, and each captain has to decide when it's beneficial.

On passages with my 42' sloop, I tend to motorsail whenever I can AND where I can't make decent time under sail alone. When to turn on the motor is determined by conditions and, yes, schedule. Generally, on long passages if my speed under sail alone falls below about 4 knots for very long, I tend to crank up the iron genny. Then, I leave the sails up so long as they are adding anything to boat speed and/or reducing unpleasant motion.

I find that the genoa alone can add considerable speed when motoring, depending of course on wind and sea conditions. My boat doesn't motor particularly well, with cruising speed well under hull speed (6.5 knots motoring vs. about 8.2 knots hull speed). The addition of any sail area tends to get me up closer to hull speed and, of course, reduces fuel consumption.

Bill

[Hud3]

Like Bill, my cut-off level is about 4 knots. I use any and all sails that can remain filled without luffing. It definitely cuts fuel consumption and can add stability and comfort if there are cross-waves. The staysail can be used much closer to the wind than the genoa, so it stays up after I roll in the genny.

[BadFish]

I motor ALL the time.... She be a little light on the sails.





Cheers

Bill

[JHJensen]

]I motor ALL the time.... She be a little light on the sails.




Yes Badfish you do motor all the time, but when those motors decide they are on strike and a good cross wind.... you are probably over canvased at that point Can you put a reef in that flying bridge sail???
Sorry I could not resist...... Badfish next time I am in P'burgh on business I will be more than happy to give you free sailing lessons.

Prepare to take a tuck in the sails!
John

Then again Badfish I would be more than happy to accept a tow from you when the wind is down and my engine won't start.....

Like Hud and Btrayfors I use 4 kts as my bottom point. You will be amazed at how slow you can run your engine to get hull speed. Very fast and cheap on fuel in the long run.

[evilskier]

this beauty stopped into my marina. i cannot recall what it is? any leads? would like to check out the MFG website.

[Christian Van H]

Maybe a Fales Navigator...

[Tempest245]

Wow!...very handsome!

[fastfilm]

I was going to say a Fisher. A beauty from Cape Cod moved into my marina in December.

[Sandero]

I do EXACLTY what Bill Trayfors does.

If I am into lolly gogging about I might just drive along less than 3 knots, but usually when we are sailing we are trying to get somewhere in a reasonable time.

I almost never move without the main up -motor on or not. I find it stabilizes the boat and can add a tad of boat speed.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Aquah0lic

. So, when do you decide to roll out the jib?

I don't understand your post.

If you mean you motor your boat, tehn even at hull speed there is a good use for your jib. Stability. Power boats and sailing boats under power really benefit from a stabiliser. And a sail is the cheapest


If your post asks when we put the engine on: I don't. Normally our passages are too long and we don't have the fuel anyway. Also its a siling boat and I like to sail Being becalmed is all part of it! The challenge to get the boat moving is fantastic! And great fun! Doing half a knot and I can sit there and concentrate and get the boat doing 1 kt, then 1.5! Then 2! Yippee!

The only times I cheat is when I can see some clouds or a squall and I put the donk on and motor over.

As for extra time in the ocean that sailing in light winds gives.... well so what? We're cruisers! Sailing at sea is what its all about We will get to port sometime and do the touristy things

It all works out interestingly... we have a good, fast boat, a beneteau and we beat the heavy old cruisers on a long passage anyway, even when they motor! Thats fun!

Mark

[Christian Van H]

Originally Posted by fastfilm

I was going to say a Fisher. A beauty from Cape Cod moved into my marina in December.

FastFilm wins!!! Its a Fisher: 1976 Fisher Pilothouse - Boats.com

[evilskier]

wow. that's it. nice work, that was quick. doing more research now...i think it's a 37...trying to confirm.

[skipmac]

Generally I motorsail under three conditions.

- Dead upwind. If I want to get there in reasonable time I crank the diesel to a little over idle speed, hoist the main and sheet in it real tight. The main adds a good bit of drive and stability on that point of sail.

- Any other point of sail if I need to make time (get to a harbor in daylight, etc) and the speed drops below the average needed to make the schedule.

[Aquah0lic]

I guess I should have specified. I was talking about if your motoring then decide to add sail. Stability seems to be the best answer. Thanks for the replies.