Posted in
Power boats but thought this forum might be a better fit. Please forgive the double post.
Im new to the Forum. I have lived in
Miami and had several
power boats up to an including a 26ft
motor sailer (Renell) stubby
keel. I then moved to south
Alabama land locked and in 2008 moved to the bluff overlooking the Tennessee river across from Scottsboro Al. Near Guntersville dam. 30 miles.
We have done the
motor home thing, we now own a class B 21ft and have spent 6 weeks at a time in it, and are now ready to tackle some river cruising. I have been looking at boats 25-30ft with a wide beam approx 10ft and decided sailing trawlers are the best fit with a small 20-30hp
diesel. I read approx 0.5gph at 6 knots.
Our plans are to eventually cruse down to
Florida and up to the
great lakes some day. I
work at home testing
electronics, which is feast of famine so I get 2-3 months without
work at a time and start SS this month. I'm looking to invest no more than 20k, which makes trawlers hard to come by. My dream would be a motor sailer
trawler I have seen an Alpin 25 which may work. I like the trawlers because they sit higher and the
cabin is mostly above the
water, and generally bigger and more roomer cabins than a motor sailer. The wife gets seasick in the ocean and I would prefer to keep her above the
water.
If I cant find a
trawler that fills the bill I would conceder a motor sailer if the
cabin is big. I like the looks of the S2 9.2A but most only come with a 12hp
diesel I think its too small to fight up
current on the river. I am currently remodeling the house so some fix up would not kill me but I don't want a
project boat. I can do
plumbing and
electric and woodwork and have done some
fiberglass repair but not gel coat.
I have also thought about a motor trawler without
sails and adding a small sail to it, mostly for sailing downwind with the
wind when its blowing at our back to save gas. I saw one at a
boat show many years ago. Another thought was a motor sailer with a cut down
mast and smaller
sails (if it could be done) for the same reason. I once sailed a 21ft
power boat across Gasprillia Bay at night with a sheet,
boat hook and ore when the
outboard went out.
The most important item would be living space 1-2 months at a time, the second would be gph at 5-6 knots and the 3rd would be sail all this under $20k. The boat would remain in the river system unless we go to Fla which would see very little if any open water.
So I am asking for ideas, recommendations, and criticism.
I have yet to finish reading all the posts so any help would be appreciated.
Thank you
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