What To Do When There's Only Zephyrs?

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

Bit off topic but.


Since one uses very little amp hours in cranking an easily started diesel and once a diesel (all those pre common rail) is started it does not require electrical power the lack of an alternator should generally not prevent one from starting the engine a number of times before the battery gets too low a voltage to crank. It's even better if the engine has valve lifters and can be spun up and started on one cylinders.

Belt tensioned by alternator also runs cooling water pump.

[sparrowhawk1]

And a fourth option is go MacGyver and take your wash down Pump if you have one or your fresh water pump if you have enough hose to go over the side and connect it to your raw water intake, obviously keeping an eye on the temperature. I've done this with an outboard and a bilge pump( when the impeller failed). It got me home , about a half-hour ride.

[thomm225]

Wow, this thread is really showing the huge differences in sailors/cruisers.

Some simply sail when the engines don't work while others feel they must fix their engine rather than simply sailing in or sailing on.

[sparrowhawk1]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Wow, this thread is really showing the huge differences in sailors/cruisers.

Some simply sail when the engines don't work while others feel they must fix their engine rather than simply sailing in or sailing on.

I thought the original poster was asking for options besides sailing

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by sparrowhawk1

I thought the original poster was asking for options besides sailing

I understood it differently, but my point was people tend to choose their own method getting from point A to B.

In this case, they sailed.

Others may have repaired or re-rigged their engine to come in.

Still others may decide to sail the last 1000 miles or so of their cruise engineless.

I believe Matt Rutherford sailed many miles engineless on his cruise around the Americas a few years ago aboard is Albin Vega 27

[sparrowhawk1]

Well the first reply was to Anchor or hove-to until the wind picks up so no need to repeat that. I only use my motor when absolutely necessary but it's good to have options.

[thomm225]

It's great to have options.

I sailed my first 15 years on Beach Cats without engines or anchors as mentioned earlier. This can be a pain during 30-100 mile distance races

I thought after I bought this old cruising boat I'd only use the engine, a 5 HP 4 Stroke Outboard, to get in and out of the slip, but I find myself using it when ever the wind gets say below 3-5 knots especially if the tide is against me.

I had many years of waiting hours for the wind to come up.

I didn't use the engine at first in low wind conditions but gradually I realized that it's OK to burn a gallon of gas to cover 18-20 miles when you need to get some place

And also, this Bristol is no beach cat that can cruise easily at 12-15 knots and sail maybe 30 degrees off the wind going to windward

[Don C L]

Oars! Yulohs! Though I think I spelled that wrong. Actually there's a new social group called "engineless" for those of us who at least think or dream of it!

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Oars! Yulohs! Though I think I spelled that wrong. Actually there's a new social group called "engineless" for those of us who at least think or dream of it!

I’m in!

Truth be told, I like my engine very much … when he works that is. I seem to spend more time battling with engines than with any other system on the boat, so at times I think of heaving it over the side and making space for more beer. But then reality strikes; I’m just not that good a sailor to manage those tight spots without Grampa Tractor (our Perkins) . And there are times when keeping to a schedule is necessary. At those times I reach for the key.

But if I wanted to go fast, or travel under specific schedules, then I would have bought a motor boat. Sailing is just about the slowest, least predictable way to go anywhere. I say embrace the slow and uncertain life .

[DeepFrz]

One of the first times out on my 30-footer, the engine failed and I had to navigate a series of narrow channels on a few zephyrs, in the dark.

This is starting to sound like my old school days. Had to walk miles in 5 ft. of snow uphill both ways.

[sparrowhawk1]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

This is starting to sound like my old school days. Had to walk miles in 5 ft. of snow uphill both ways.

Yeah but I bet YOU had shoes. 😊

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Wow, this thread is really showing the huge differences in sailors/cruisers.

Some simply sail when the engines don't work while others feel they must fix their engine rather than simply sailing in or sailing on.

There's a BIG difference between sailing a Bristol 27 into the harbor and up to the dock in light winds, than doing the same with a 51 foot Formosa or a similar full keel boat.

Back in the old days, the larger sailing ships were towed into port... they didn't sail up to the dock.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

There's a BIG difference between sailing a Bristol 27 into the harbor and up to the dock in light winds, than doing the same with a 51 foot Formosa or a similar full keel boat.

Back in the old days, the larger sailing ships were towed into port... they didn't sail up to the dock.

Aren't you the guy that's always saying how easy big boats are to sail/handle?

If not, go to one of the threads concerning boat size for the singlehanded sailor. Folks are always saying how they can singlehand sail 50'er's etc

But back to the point, when I say sail in vs motor I'm talking sailing back to the general area not docking. I sail single handed most all the time and wouldn't take a chance sailing into my slip and chance damaging another boat

How you dock it is your business and there are lots of variables not the least of which are neighboring boats.

You can be a really good sailor, but if your slip isn't easy to get into or the wind is wrong, it's just not smart to try and sail into it

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Aren't you the guy that's always saying how easy big boats are to sail/handle?

If not, go to one of the threads concerning boat size for the singlehanded sailor. Folks are always saying how they can singlehand sail 50'er's etc

But back to the point, when I say sail in vs motor I'm talking sailing back to the general area not docking. I sail single handed most all the time and wouldn't take a chance sailing into my slip and chance damaging another boat

How you dock it is your business and there are lots of variables not the least of which are neighboring boats.

You can be a really good sailor, but if your slip isn't easy to get into or the wind is wrong, it's just not smart to try and sail into it

You need to read more carefully. My post compared sailing your "Bristol 27" to sailing a "Formosa 51" back into a harbor in "light winds." I don't own a Formosa or a full keel boat.

Yes, I am the guy who occasionally sails my boat back into port and up to the dock without an engine, have done it several times successfully without problems, but only when the engine has let us down.

[tenchiki]

I specifically picked a slip that I could sail into if I needed to. I needed to a couple of times when the engine wouldn't start.
I like to sail, and tend to sail, even if it is a 4-nm beat (usually) dead to windward to get anyplace...