Can a 30-40 foot cruiser reach speeds of 18 knots w/ engine?

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by Grith

I am going to call out that speed in a Macgregor 27 as rubbish! 70 hp outboard and 30 knots! I think you need to check the log or gps for serious errors! LOL A friend has a Macgregors 26 with a 90hp and completely empty and at wide open throttle in perfect conditions barely cracks 20 knots. LOL

70hp Suzuki should be able to cruise at 20 and top out at 24mph.

http://www.bwyachts.com/Engine%20Choices.htm

[Grith]

I agree with both Littlewing77 about newbies and pirates and Adelie about the limits of speed under engine of Macgreggors which is generally exaggerated by those who haven’t actually stepped foot on them. By the way those who denigrate the Macgregors sailing performance (which is not that’s boats key reason for being) how about a little forgiveness. Their best use in my view is an on water (and occasionally on land) sail and motor powered Trailable camping platform and you are just looking at them in the wrong way in my view. I wonder how you feel in your less overnight comfortable, less versatile conventional yachts when a trimaran or new foiling yacht sails past you like you are standing still or a hybrid like mine powers up and escapes either the brewing bad weather or total loss of wind or grabs that best spot in the seclude bay or last spot in a regulated mooring area. Don’t knock it until you have tried a craft for its best purpose. I have sailed trailer sailers for 50 years but for about 30 have now used them as remote area on water camping/exploring platforms and when the mood takes me sailed something really fast.
Just chipped into to this thread as it was partially about yachts being made to go silly fast with big engines ( for the wrong reasons) and have one of those! LOL

[skenn_ie]

Not if you want to be comfortable ! Pirates boats are often capable of a lot more than that anyway.

[mitiempo]

Forget speed. This is how you protect your vessel from pirates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrrYjuoz7no

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by Adelie

70hp Suzuki should be able to cruise at 20 and top out at 24mph.

Macgregor 26 Engine Choices

Here's a way to make yer boat exceed its hull speed.... you'll need a little jet power

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjyM-Pd5g5Y

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Kd9truck

I have herd a full sail plan up and working and the motor running is more intimidating to them, as most pirates are poor and we all know that.... sailing is for the rich.



I would never Cruze where there is the potential, I worked the neighborhoods of NYC as a firefighter and have seen enough people in desperate conditions, they do desperate things.



To me my safety and my family’s safety is paramount.

There is "potential" everywhere, even normally sedate destinations like Panama, Belize, etc have had their unexpected ugly events.

[captivacapt]

No reason not to carry a few cans of bear repellent
(pepper spray). Alittle peace of mind.

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by captivacapt

No reason not to carry a few cans of bear repellent
(pepper spray). A little peace of mind.

one reason i can think of is if it is illegal...like it is here

carry anything like this and you'll need to check carefully at any / all destination countries.

cheers,

[sea2ocean]

Originally Posted by Scraphound

I'm dreaming of a circumnavigation in the distant future. One thing that worries me is piracy. It's scary today and I can only imagine it will be worse 10 years from now.

I've read that one of the best defenses against piracy is maintaining a speed of 18 or more knots.

Is that possible to achieve with a cruiser? Could a Valiant 40 (or modern equivalent) be refitted with a new engine and be capable of reaching those speeds? Not for prolonged travel, but in an emergency.

Essentially, you just avoid heavily muslim countries like Indonesia, Somalia and Yemen. You'd have to sail around Cape Horn where you deal with strong shift currents and crazy weather but it can be done safely. Alternatively, you could pay someone to sail your boat through the straight of Yemen or ship it.

You can carry guns with you but you need to follow local laws and declare them. it's possible in a lot of areas. In australia, you can take a small armory with you. You just declare it, they take that armory when you get there and return it when you leave. It's highly complicated though and violating country's laws on firearms can easily mean jail.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by sea2ocean

Essentially, you just avoid heavily muslim countries like Indonesia, Somalia and Yemen.

That claim could be interpreted as a bit prejudiced.

You do know that there are serious security problems in several areas that are not in any way Muslim. One that comes to mind is the coast of Venezuela. I think it's commonly agreed that sailors should avoid that area as well.

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by sea2ocean

You'd have to sail around Cape Horn where you deal with strong shift currents and crazy weather but it can be done safely. Alternatively, you could pay someone to sail your boat through the straight of Yemen or ship it.

cape horn is a long way from yemen...wondering what's the connection here ??

cheers,

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Scraphound

I've read that one of the best defenses against piracy is maintaining a speed of 18 or more knots.

Is that possible to achieve with a cruiser?

I was on this one when it hit 23 knots. I heard later that Derek had hit close to 35 in the Vendee but I can't confirm that.

[LargeMarge]

a)
If speed is your primary goal, I think you might benefit from looking at some catamaran designs.
Long and narrow hulls help avoid parasitic drag... up to a point.
Unfortunately, speed tends to come with a decrease in cargo capacity... the opposite of the cruising ideal.

Of course, a sustained powered sprint consumes limited/precious petroleum-based fuel, so there is that.

b)
For a sustained 18-knots, I like the Dashew-designed 115' power-boat.
Although the single functioning example is stretched to 130', the duration is in the neighborhood of 4-5,000 miles with multiple fridges and freezers, so it certainly fits the 'cruising' definition.

Another plus for this design:
* it is engineered with massively over-built doors and windows to survive a 'hundred-year sneaker wave'.
Undesirable boarders would probably get tired of banging on stuff as they watch their home-port shrink in the rear-view.

c)
I trained with some phenomenal Martial Artists.

All recommend being someplace else instead of going to battle.

And yet, pirates can drop by in Noplace Alaska as well as downtown Detroit or Baltimore.

[sea2ocean]

Originally Posted by chrisr

cape horn is a long way from yemen...wondering what's the connection here ??

cheers,

There’s no way to really avoid piracy risk in the straight of Yemen. That leads you going around Africa or shipping your boat though the straight of Yemen.

[Muaddib1116]

Originally Posted by sea2ocean

There’s no way to really avoid piracy risk in the straight of Yemen. That leads you going around Africa or shipping your boat though the straight of Yemen.

I think the confusion is that Cape Horn is the bottom tip of South America, a good distance from Yemen. I'm guessing you meant the Cape of Good Hope, perhaps mentally mixing it up with the Horn of Africa, which is next to the Gulf of Aden.