Cost of power vs. sail

[Kanani]

Cat man do,

Are you in a hurry??

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Kanani

Cat man do,

Are you in a hurry??

To get out and see a bit more of the world before I die?

Absolutely

Have a look at this bit of video for an idea of anchorages I want to go to
Nomad Sportfishing Bugatti Reefs
200 miles out and I don't want to be there when it's 20+ knots, but if sailing, I would have to.

Snip taken from an earlier post.
These places only have a 1 to 2 week window of opportunity to be enjoyed. I don't want to spend half of that time in travelling there and I don't want to be there when its blowing it's ring out.

Anyway, I hardly call 8 to 10 knots fast.

You might

Dave

[Kanani]

Originally Posted by cat man do

To get out and see a bit more of the world before I die?

Absolutely



Snip taken from an earlier post.
These places only have a 1 to 2 week window of opportunity to be enjoyed. I don't want to spend half of that time in travelling there and I don't want to be there when its blowing it's ring out.

Anyway, I hardly call 8 to 10 knots fast.

You might

Dave

Look into Middleton Reef. It's unreal. Best diving, fishing snorkeling that I have ever seen. Pristene at it's best. I've never seen another vessel there. (You know what that means.....).

Great holding in a comfortable anchorage. I've stayed there twice, 10 days each time. Anchorage flat & comfortable in 30kts of wind in anything but NW (it rarely blows (NW). If it does, it's east to get out.

[shadow]

I think the cost is irrelevant when considering lifestyle, personal preferences and just plain dumb luck if you happen to get a lemon as a boat and/or equipment.

I'm planning on getting a Sailing Cat for the purpose of being able to go to remote places without having to worry about trying to locate the nearest fueling station. In my opinion, sail just gives you that extra sense of freedom to go anywhere without having to equate every liter of fuel.

Again, purely my opinion and it just goes back to peoples needs and preferences. I believe as long as you're on the water, who cares!!

[Ex-Calif]

I have a friend with a power boat and we "swap" rides. The guest brings the beer. Owner pays operating costs. I am "way" ahead...

The best power boat to spend time on is someone else's.

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

The best power boat to spend time on is someone else's.

Arguably

In my example

Powercat cost to build about $120,000 AUD (65hp X 2 no rig )

Sailcat cost to build about $180,000 AUD (40hp X 2 Plus rig and sails)

Difference $60,000, invested in a fund paying approx 10% = $6000/annum

Diesel in Malaysia @ 55cents/liter = 10,909 litres of diesel = 10,000 miles

Thats in year one.

Add in cost of new sails and rigging wire @ $21,000 div by 7(years)
= $3000.

In year 2 we have $63000 invested @ 10% = $6300

Out to year 7 where we have $81,000 invested @10% paying a div of $8100/year.

Free fuel anyone?

Dave

[Ex-Calif]

As long as you buy all your subsidized fuel in Malaysia. Keep an eye on that one. The fuel subsidy is a pretty contentious issue and is primarily in place to appease the truckers.

Also last I checked there is no inflation on wind...

Also if you can stay invested at 10% over 8+ years you are in the wrong business...

Not being picky but in order to accept your conclusions I have to be able to accept your assumptions ;-)

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

As long as you buy all your subsidized fuel in Malaysia. Keep an eye on that one. The fuel subsidy is a pretty contentious issue and is primarily in place to appease the truckers.

you are correct, though even if un subsidised it'll still be cheap in comparison to Oz. Living cost or lack of will more than subsidise the fuel cost IMO

Also if you can stay invested at 10% over 8+ years you are in the wrong business...

What, a bit low you reckon?

Banks are paying 7.6% on cash term deposits now, so 10% sounded reasonably conservative compared to some funds

Not being picky but in order to accept your conclusions I have to be able to accept your assumptions ;-)

Fair enough, not after acceptance, just putting forward some other views.

Dave

[Hubec]

I drive a mono hull but I've observed many cats and their cruising behavior. I can tell you that while the average mono hull may be under sail only half the time while cruising, the average cat's sails are up less than a quarter of the time. Why? I'm not sure but here are some guesses:

• Cats are fast under power, they have two engines and thin hulls.
• Cats tend to be driven by older couples who's emphasis is on comfort.
• Cats have relatively aggressive rigs that are harder to manage, i.e.; tall mainsails with lots of roach and full battens. While the average new monohull has a conservative main with no battens and inmast furling.

If you're looking at a cat the logical arguments for sail seem to be even more tenuous than those for monohulls.

Of course if you don't get a sailboat, all you've got is a barge with thrusters bolted to the back. - just one sailor's opinion of course.

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Hubec

I drive a mono hull but I've observed many cats and their cruising behavior. I can tell you that while the average mono hull may be under sail only half the time while cruising, the average cat's sails are up less than a quarter of the time. Why? I'm not sure but here are some guesses:

How about they don't need the sails up as often as a Mono because they sail faster, so cover the same ground in less time.

Dave

[Hubec]

Ooh original, thanks for contributing.

[cat man do]

Well how about going the other way,

You say this

Originally Posted by Hubec
I drive a mono hull but I've observed many cats and their cruising behavior. I can tell you that while the average mono hull may be under sail only half the time while cruising, the average cat's sails are up less than a quarter of the time. Why? I'm not sure but here are some guesses:

could this be that most American multihulls are poor performers?

I say

I have owned both mono and multihull and have observed on numerous passages , (read ALL), the majority of monohulls MOTORING in winds that multihulls sail in.

Could this be because we have no American multi's in Australia (honestly havent seen one)

Dave

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Hubec

Ooh original, thanks for contributing.

..................

[shadow]

Not to sound like a total noob, which I am. I only know of CATS made in the UK, France, OZ, NZ and SA. Which ones are made in the US?? Maybe I have seen them and just didn't know that they were US.

Cheers.

[44'cruisingcat]

There are a few. As Dave said we don't see many of them in Aus. There's Gemini, PDQ, (Maybe Canadian though) Mainecat, and there are plenty of others.

I think the motoring vs sailing thing is related to where you sail - if it's an area where there's lots of charter boats then you'll see a lot of them motoring when they could be sailing.

Hey Dave, maybe it's just that Aussie monohulls don't sail very well?