Ice Ducks

[T.Treffery]

Does anyone have an experience with the seahorse diesel ducks.

I see that they can be a motorsailer, I was originally looking at a steel full keel sail boat as the south pole is on my bucket list. But would spend most time chasing the sun in the Caribbean greek islands etc

What are they like as a sailboat, the reason I wanted a sailboat was because of lower running cost in using the wind. Can they still be used as a cruising sail boat, I'm not after performance so much.

Cheers

Bubbes

[goboatingnow]

Its looks to me that they are only steadying sails, ie it relies on its engine to move, even with the headsail , I cant see it being a sail only machine, But then I dont know the brand.

Dave

[Blue Stocking]

Don't know anything about them, so can't help you,. Sorry. But I did google them, and quite taken by the design. As GBN says, can't them being good sailers, but will watch this thread with interest.

[daddle]

There's a blog somewhere about one, ICE?, attempting to do simple S Seas cruising. He was on CF over a year ago with a nasty diesel issue.

The owners opinion was, as I recall, that they cannot sail without the engine because of rudder authority. And very slowly at that. He had terrible experiences with build issues. Apparently you can roll your guts out on one, too.

I saw her in Palau. Definitely not a sailboat. Questionable cruising powerboat. Kinda a boatshow queen.

[T.Treffery]

Daddle I have seen that ICE a red hulled duck is for sale. The owner is the Australian dealer for them. Interesting in seeing the article with power issues. I like the look of the boat and it does seem to be semi economical. I know that sailboat have higher maintance cost compared to a motor boat. And reading up on the costs of sails for a 15 metre boat can be quiet high. I'm in 2 minds as to go down the sailboat or motor boat way. I am pretty comfortable with diesel engines and electrical systems that can be repaired(more often than not they are just replaceable not repairable now a days). I am really looking for a rough and tumble boat that is comfortable and safe.
I'm sure I not the only looking at this so any input would be great cheers.

[daddle]

Cost of sails shouldn't be a consideration. Cruisers spend almost nothing on sails over the long term. This 15m boat has one new sail since setting out in 2006. A US$3000 headsail. That's about ten cents a mile.

That diesel duck is an abomination. We something more tried and true. Simpler. Needs more function less chrome and glitz.

[homeless]

Diesel Ducks are built for economical long range cruising. The sail is really only auxiliary for stability and in case of breakdown, not very useful. I would not want to be on one in the Southern Ocean, as the waves can get very big (15m waves crashing over the bridge of an icebreaker I was on, and the rolling was not fun)

I hope you realise you can't sail to the South Pole, only to the edge of the Antarctic continent in Summer. Not many people have the energy to ski from the coast to the pole and back, so you may want to consider flying via Punta Arenas / Patriot Hills.

Sailing in the Southern Ocean is tough and not for beginners so if you do want to go by sea and just see the coast there are cruise ships and sailing charters leaving from Ushuaia.

[T.Treffery]

The reason I mentioned running costs of a sailboat with the sail etc. Is that I recently read an article that the cost of running a motor boat verse a sailboat was a lot closer than people like to admit.
I don't actually want to go to the south pole, but I would like to see the ice and have a look down there. I have seen there are some cruises that go south and let you stay on the ice and camp the night. That's great but doing it yourself your way would be much more inline with my thinking.
And with the cost of sails, I know it comes down to the boat you choose. But I have also read on a few posts here on the costs of new sails for cruisers, some 60k or close to that. I am at this stage looking at all my options and what I believe my suit my needs in the next couple of years as I get ready to make my purchase.
I am looking for information and people's experiences and opinions of what they have done and what has suited them.
So if you know of a better slow trawler than the Seahorse range then by all means mention them. There are so many options and variables it can be very daunting.

Cheers

Bubbles

[T.Treffery]

Does anyone know it there is a boat builder that uses electric motor(s) that run off a generator. I know the germans used this system with there tanks in ww2, and thought the cost might make it cheaper to run. Especially if you have solar and wind generators as well, you might use on a gallon on hour for cruising.

[homeless]

Any boat that cruises Antarctica needs to be self sufficient, which as far as I am concerned rules out single engine trawlers and boats that can't sail to windward. The waves in the Southern Ocean are huge, which means life on a small sail boat can be very uncomfortable, and life on a small motor trawler even worse.

There is a reason why so few personal boats go down there, and that is that the conditions are extreme, and few boats or sailors can survive them. I have been down by icebreaker and charter flight, on scientific and climbing expeditions and my next trip down will be on something like :-

2000 Fair-Dinkum Antarctic Custom Sail New and Used Boats for Sale -

Yes there are electric boats, but they should be considered experimental, and not suitable for the Southern Ocean. You can search the forum for discussions.

[T.Treffery]

So if I skip going south, then the options of boat I can choose shoot up.

[Captaincees]

I read the posts here concerning Diesel Ducks but want to react that i.m.h.o. the one and only problem on a 462 Duck is that they are not available. Its hard or impossible to get more boat for your money then ordering one of those at Seahorse Marine.
They sell direct, no fees, no commissions, no salesmen with their offices and the end products cost is based on Chinese wages. (about HALF of the Nordhavn Prices but then for a solid STEEL boat !) Only problem is that their floors are full of boats that they are working on. Waiting time is probably 3 years now.

[marcoh]

Originally Posted by daddle

There's a blog somewhere about one, ICE?, attempting to do simple S Seas cruising. He was on CF over a year ago with a nasty diesel issue.

The owners opinion was, as I recall, that they cannot sail without the engine because of rudder authority. And very slowly at that. He had terrible experiences with build issues. Apparently you can roll your guts out on one, too.

I saw her in Palau. Definitely not a sailboat. Questionable cruising powerboat. Kinda a boatshow queen.

if you read his blog he actually says it is the best boat he has ever owned, nothing about build issues that I could read.

ICE has a John Deere engine that had a problem and took months to get the right parts and tools to some tiny island noone has ever heard of in the middle of the pacific.

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If you search the net there are numerous examples of these Diesel Ducks going a long way and they are probably one the cheapest trawler passagemaker that can safely cross oceans.

Here is a link to the George Buehler that designed the DD' s George Buehler Yacht Design Home Page

Seahorse the company that builds them SEAHORSE MARINE

And a dedicated forum for the boats Forums