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Old 22-07-2010, 07:35   #31
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Oops, you mean I spent all my money on something that should only be used on a lake but we are doing a 135 mile channel crossing next week to France

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And were are you off to, Pete? We're off to Cherbourg on August 1 -- can't wait! But it's 65 miles from Hamble, not 135. You must be going somewhere down-channel?
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Old 22-07-2010, 08:01   #32
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DH, just looking over the charts now, but Guernsey or Jersey departing Thu pm. Tea in Yarmouth, and the first of the tide out through the Needles puts us into Alderney for breakfast and then through the Race at 1pm on Friday.

If we take the pooch (38kgs of Labradoodle) then we can't go to France unfortunately and Viv loves going sailing with the dog So if you see someone standing up in a very small wobbly inflatable, lifting a large black furry animal onto a yacht, it's us

Have a safe trip, might see you in the Channel Islands.

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Old 22-07-2010, 08:50   #33
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Sure, as long as you don't have to maneuver in really tight places, or where there are strong currents, or strong winds blowing you onto or off of pontoons.

I would never be without a bow thruster again, having experienced it, on any size boat. Ours is a 54 and I simply couldn't dock it without the thruster. We have to do a lot of springing off and springing on, even with the thruster -- we sail in an area with vicious tidal currents, very tight berthing and hence tight maneuvering, lots of rafting up, etc.

If that means someone thinks I can't drive a boat, then so be it.

i do think you can drive a boat, and no offense; but to me that sounds scary, and perhaps a bit irresponsible?!

What are your plan B? - for the day (not if, but when) your trhuster just won't work

Like everything else a personal choice, but I would not feel comfortable and even less so - prudent - skippering a boat I can't handle if some gear happens to break. ...could be I am just old fashioned...
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Old 22-07-2010, 08:53   #34
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Cal 34

In difficult circumstances at anchor, berthed or underway, a smaller boat will be easier to keep control of. This is not to say that a larger boat would be impossible to control in really bad conditions (ie Leonard & Starzinger their 47' boat or the Dashews on their 60'-70' boats,) but it will cost you a lot more in equipment and maintenance to be able to do so.

That's exactly what I believe... and well said too!
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Old 22-07-2010, 10:01   #35
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i do think you can drive a boat, and no offense; but to me that sounds scary, and perhaps a bit irresponsible?!

What are your plan B? - for the day (not if, but when) your trhuster just won't work

Like everything else a personal choice, but I would not feel comfortable and even less so - prudent - skippering a boat I can't handle if some gear happens to break. ...could be I am just old fashioned...
It's the unique location and extreme demand for moorings on the South Coast of England that has meant the Hamble a fast flowing river now has thousands of yachts moored in both marinas and on piles in quite a narrow space. Add a cross wind and a good tide running either in or out and and manourvering in the river could easily lead to a GRP on GRP contact. Then add the Sunday afternoon muppets in speed boats, the kids dinghy racing fleets tacking across the the river and you get the picture.

So it's not "can't drive a boat" but instead prudent to have and use a bow thruster to maintain control.

Driftng around the Carib with little or no tide and steady winds in the same direction would be a walk in the park in comparison. Other nearby harbours have local by laws prohibiting entry unless you have the engine running, though you may still sail, just to avoid dangerous situations.

Do have a look on Google Earth to see what I mean.

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Old 22-07-2010, 11:01   #36
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Well, I have managed a few yachts in the 40 - 45' range in close quarters and could handle bigger I am sure but I am unashamedly having a decent thruster on my 65' monohull. Thruster hole is minor issue in this boat and it is a long way from aft cockpit to bow. If it means easier single-handed manouvering, or less worry in close quarter marinas it is worth the effort. Cost is chicken***t compared with just about anything else on board.
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Old 22-07-2010, 11:04   #37
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heh.
Despite what you have been told... Yes. Size does matter... >; -}
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Old 22-07-2010, 12:23   #38
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No, I don't think that. But I have asked about some reasonably priced boats and, without looking, they have been rejected. Only because "Hunters should never go in rough water" or some other such nonsense. The manufacturer builds the boat to go wherever it can go (by the experience of the operator). Some can cross the Ocean in a 16' Hobie cat, others get caught in palces they shouldn't be in 40' ocean racers. And the Titanic did sink.
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Old 22-07-2010, 12:49   #39
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So it's not "can't drive a boat" but instead prudent to have and use a bow thruster to maintain control.
Bow thrusters and GPS are the 2 things that have done most to ruin / improve (delete according to view ) boating over the last 30 years.

And in the case of certain areas of the world bow thrusters have allowed (permitted?) berths to be created where otherwise they would not have and you end up moving from a position where what was once an optional aid is now virtually essential........whether you desired it to be or not.

Still, they do take all the fun out of docking as a spectator sport - especially the flybridge mobos
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Old 22-07-2010, 13:00   #40
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heh.
Despite what you have been told... Yes. Size does matter... >; -}
stillbuilding was talking about thruster hole size. and on that I agree with your sentiments

And in answer to OP's point the simple answer is yes. But how is a matter of personal needs and wants. I might be happy on 35'. the same boat might be too big or too small for you (or both! for differing reasons ).
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Old 22-07-2010, 14:18   #41
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n 'The Capable Cruiser' by L&L Pardey, they discuss the lessons learned following the Xmas 1982 gale in Cabo San Lucas. One of the lessons they picked up was that it was difficult unto impossible for a couple to handle the anchoring gear on a boat 37' or longer in a real blow (pg 333).

they should have been with us when we were anchoring , just the 2 of us, in 40 kts and no windlass--wasnt so difficult--just windy as hell....there is a lot of difference in kinds of boats-just as there is a lot of difference in people--the one we used was light altho heavy for her style--fin/spade..makes anchoring easier as maneuverability is easier than with fixed/attached---lol...but is not as easy in seas, as weather helm can be an issue....i have found a couple is able to handle a 41 ft ketch as easily as a 34 ft sloop. is all in the operator and ability of the TEAM sailing the boat. sailing is a team adventure--when more than 1 soul is occupying the boat.
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Old 22-07-2010, 20:21   #42
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they should have been with us when we were anchoring , just the 2 of us, in 40 kts and no windlass--wasnt so difficult--just windy as hell....there is a lot of difference in kinds of boats-just as there is a lot of difference in people--the one we used was light altho heavy for her style--fin/spade..makes anchoring easier as maneuverability is easier than with fixed/attached---lol...but is not as easy in seas, as weather helm can be an issue....i have found a couple is able to handle a 41 ft ketch as easily as a 34 ft sloop. is all in the operator and ability of the TEAM sailing the boat. sailing is a team adventure--when more than 1 soul is occupying the boat.

What was the fetch during that 40kt, unlimited or 1-2nm?
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