Revealed… Precautions To Take Making Your Boat Less Attractive To Robbers And Thieves
We are into February and before you know it, it will be time for the boating enthusiasts to take their boats out of dry dock and get them ready for another big boating season. Now is the time of the year the boat owner should review the steps necessary to protect his boat from thieves and make this a crime free year.
Thieves are always on the lookout for easy targets. Many boat owners take a lackadaisical approach when it comes to their property. Do not make yourself and your boat an easy target. You can make your boat less of a target if you follow these simple steps:
. Never leave anything valuable on display, however small and insignificant it may seem. Thieves steal first and think about the value later.
. Don’t leave equipment or other items loose in the cockpit or on deck.
. Don’t leave your engine key in the ignition; always take it with you.
. Keep your other boat keys separate from your engine keys.
. Always keep your boat locked when no one is on board, even if it is for a short time.
. Use strong casehardened padlocks or rim locks on all your hatches, entry points and cockpit lockers.
. Consistently check and think of ways to improve the security on your boat. Do not take security for granted.
. It is a good idea to install an alarm and use a visible sticker to say that one your boat has an alarm system.
. Make sure your cockpit lockers are properly secured, and check that your main hatch and fore-hatch are strong, making it harder for thieves to get access to the interior.
. Also, think about having a strongbox or a hidden safe down below. If you don’t think something is secure, get it fixed.
IMPROVE YOUR SECURITY
Once you’ve tied up alongside, always do a quick security check before going ashore.
Always:
. Lock anything valuable out of sight in a strong locker secured by a strong casehardened padlock.
. Lock up any emergency money away from other valuables. A hidden safe can be handy here.
. Keep your curtains closed so that no-one can look in.
. Keep unused ropes, fenders and other items out of sight in your cockpit, lockers and cupboards and always lock them.
. Make sure that your life raft and outboard motor are secure, as these are valuable and attractive to boat thieves.
. When you go ashore using a dinghy, always remove your oars or paddles, row locks or pump, and secure the dinghy with a strong chain and padlock.
. If you are the victim of boat theft, call the police immediately and tell the harbor master or boatyard manager. Check to make sure that your boat is still seaworthy and hasn’t been badly damaged.
. And, if you can, check that neighboring boats haven’t been broken into as well.
Get to know other boat owners in your marina and work as a team to keep the marina secure. As a team or marina watch you can do the following:
. Keep an eye on other boats, as well as your own.
. Report any strangers at the marina to the harbor master or yardmaster.
. Don’t give your marina access card or key to other people for any reason.
. Never tell anyone else the access code to the marina.
. Don’t allow strangers into the marina, however genuine they may seem.
. Keep the marina gate closed at all times.
Don’t hesitate to act on these recommendations today. Tomorrow may be too late. Always remember that thought, planning and intentions are great but in order to accomplish anything you must take action.
Bill Wallmuller aka Mr. Merokee is the founder of Merokee Enterprises. Learn more ways to protect yourself at: http://www.personal-defense-technology.com/diversionsafes.htm
Installing A Marine Fuel Flow Meter For Your Boat
Flow meters are generally installed to measure the amount or flow rate of a specific liquid or gas, used both for residential as well as commercial purposes. This is the best way to show how much of the liquid or gas has been in use of flowed through the pipe. From one perspective this is very good because it makes you in control of the amount of medium in use, and in turn saving the medium.
A marine fuel flow meter does the same in that sense as well. Basically nowadays many American boaters are fond of installing a marine flow meter in their boats to determine the amount of fuel in use, simply to save the usage of fuel at the same time. This is actually a reaction to the price of fuel, which is soaring higher every day.
Always On Alert
This marine fuel flow meter will make sure the correct amount of fuel being flowed through the pipe to be shown to the boater, so that he would be aware of it at all times. This is especially ideal for bigger size engines. Most of the flow meters for boats do not cost more than $400, and in fact the money you would be spending would be a great investment. This is because the marine fuel flow meter will monitor the consumption of fuel at all times. It shows not only how much fuel you’ve used but how fast you’re using it as well, which in turn helps you to find your most efficient cruising rpm.
Affordable
The main reason why the price is very much affordable, compared to other contemporary methods of fuel saving is because this flow meter is basically something that is an ideal thing. Every boater who is concerned about his boat’s fuel consumption would definitely need to install this marine fuel flow meter.
Working on all types of marine fuels including diesel and gasoline, this flow meter is permanently installed on to your boat. This type of fuel flow meter is not just limited to boats; it can simply be installed and used on commercial and recreational boats, stationary industrial engines, heavy duty trucks, automobiles, general aviation aircrafts, and many more. This would mean that getting this fuel meter is not something hard at all, for all automobile and marine hardware stores would definitely have this marine fuel flow meter.
More information on this topic can be found in a number of different locations:
1) The Internet - A favorite search engine can be a very helpful tool
2) A Bookstore - Don’t forget books; and bookstores are full of them
3) A Library - Yet another location for books; and the nice thing about the library is that they are free
For more information on marine fuel flow meters visit http://www.FlowMeterBasics.com/ or http://FlowMeterBasics.blogspot.com/
Inflatable Boats are Very Popular Today
As you are probably already aware of, inflatable boats are very popular today. Each distinct group of inflatable boat is designed for a specific use and therefore equipped with different components and equipment.
If your looking for a small boat to get you from your ship to the shore, a typical inflatable boat is the best answer. If you are looking for a medium sized boat for diving or swimming, there are many choices in that area as well. For recreation or rescue work, there are large inflatable boats available as well.
Dealers
The location of a reputable dealer is very important, as you don’t want to travel too far to get an inflatable boat. Whether you need parts, repairs, or just technical support - a close dealer can also be a close friend. As a new boat owner, you may also have questions, need to claim your warranty, or just need regular servicing. No matter how you look at it, a close dealer is always better than having to travel.
Prices
Many years ago, inflatable boats were the most expensive types of boats and only a small amount of people could even afford them. The reason for this, was the use of exotic materials and the numerous hours of hand labor that went into their construction.
Today, there are machines that do a majority of the construction work. Zodiac and its sister company Sevylor, are the leading low cost producers today thanks to technology. You can even finance an inflatable boat if you need to, making them available to almost everyone now.
Warranty
You may have heard claims from all competitors, with each one promising they have the best or even the longest warranty. A few years ago, a company offered a lifetime warranty - although they soon disappeared shortly thereafter. Many manufacturers will use an attractive warranty to substitute for quality or even proper boat design.
In the back of your mind, you should be sure that the company you buy from will be around long enough to deliver on their warranty. Zodiac has been building inflatable boats for over 50 years, and offer a limited 5 year warranty on their inflatable boats. Therefore, Zodiak is one of the best you can buy today.
With all inflatable boats, you should know which type you want before you purchase. You can always look around and see what each dealer offer, then plan your purchase accordingly. An inflatable boat is great to have, especially for those who own big ships and vessels. You can’t go wrong with these boats either - as they serve many different useful purposes.
Why should you buy a boat
Many studies have shown, and many people already know that being with friends and family, relaxing in the outdoors and being close to nature are the best reasons to buy a boat and spend time on the water. Your family doesn’t need to spend a forture or travel to a theme park to have an experience that everyone will enjoy.
Boating is family
If you’ve ever felt that your family is going in different directions, a boat can help to bring things back together. When you spend time with your family on a boat, it’s all quality time. No matter if you’re fishing, tubing, swimming, or just cruising, your doing it together - as a family.
There are no distractions on the water, so you can focus your attention on each other. You can share stories, laugh, have conversations, or reconnect and create all new memories together. To put it in simple terms, a boat will make life much better.
Boating helps you relax
Being on a boat makes it easy to relax. There are no faxes, computers, or interruptions on a boat. You have the open water, fresh air, the warm sun, and adventure that you won’t be able to find anywhere else.
With a boat, a great getwaway is all but a weekend away. You may be a few miles from home in reality, although you’ll feel like your a million miles away.
Having fun
On a boat, the fun will never stop. There are always things to do, places to see, fish to catch, and new memories to create. Buying a boat is easy to do, even if you are on a budget. If your ready to start a new journey in life - a boat is something you and your family simply must have
Copyright 2006 - Ivar Rudi. Ivar suggests you find great market for less by shopping online today. For more information and resources about this subject check out: http://www.inflatable-boat-guide.com/ and also http://www.boat-builder-dealer.com/ and http://www.outboard-motor.org/
Spring Maintenance for Used Boats
The temperature is warming and its that time again and I’m sure everyone is as anxious to get back out on the water as I am. Its tempting to pull off the cover and just go, but there are 5 things you should take care of first to avoid the maiden voyage from Hades, well you get my point.
Step one on the list is the battery. I can’t stress this enough. If you make it away from the dock and your battery isn’t 100% you’re asking to be towed back. Check the water in each cell unless it is a sealed battery and add if needed. Charge fully and keep the first trip short in case you do need assistance.
Second step is changing the oil. If you didn’t do this last fall, now is the time. You can take care of this while the battery is charging. If you have never done this it may be a little different than changing it in the family car. Most of the time you need a small pump with a tube that is fed down the dipstick tube and the oil is pumped out. Make sure to warm the engine slightly to thin the oil and suspend any contaminates (but not to hot) before removing with the pump. Place rags under the oil filter and a garbage bag around it to catch any oil that might spill when you remove it. Make sure to put a film of oil on the filter gasket and tighten
Cleaning Tips for Used Boats
It is amazing how quickly how boats can become so dirty. Here are a few tips to bring back that new boat look.
Wash the outside with a mild detergent. Sometimes it’s tempting to whip out the industrial cleaner, but believe me it will only cost you more time in the future. Strong cleaners remove the wax, leaving the finish vulnerable to dirt and the harmful rays of the sun. Marine stores sell detergents that are made especially for boat finishes. These do a good job of cleaning and won’t remove so much of the wax. Some of these detergents may even contain wax for extra protection.
Wax your boat. This doesn’t have to be done each time you wash, but the more you wax the longer the finish will look new. While the surface of a fiberglass boat may appear slick and shiny, if you were to look at it under a microscope you would see that it is actually rough and has many pits and flaws. When you apply wax these microscopic pits are filled in leaving the surface smooth and glossy. Your boat should be waxed in the spring before commissioning and in the fall before storing it in the winter. This is the minimum to maintain your boat in a new looking condition.
Mold and mildew are problems that can be kept under check if you take a little time to keep the inside of your boat clean. They like to grow on surfaces that are dirty. If you already have mildew it is not so easy to remove. A mild solution of bleach and water will kill the mildew on the hard shiny surfaces, however never use these on vinyl seats or canvas boat tops. The stitching used in these products can be deteriorated causing them to fall apart. Believe me I know I just spent over $500.00 to get my canvas repaired when all the zippers and stitching started to fall apart. For use on these types of materials I suggest Amazon’s Mildew Stain Away, also available at boating supply stores. This product will not clean as well as bleach, but it does a better job of not hurting your stitching.
Keeping the upholstery looking good is simple if you keep a good leather and vinyl protectant applied after each use. These are easy to apply, take only a few minutes, and will extend the life of the upholstery these protectants penatrate and moisturize the vinyl helping to prevent drying and cracking. Some even have a type of sunblock to help prevent fading.
Don’t forget the windshield. Sometimes after a day on the water it becomes almost impossible to see through your windshield. Sand, salt spray, and tanning lotions seem to be attracted to this part of your boat like a magnet. After washing and drying clean the windshield with a good glass cleaner and then apply rain-x. Just like the fiberglass, the windshield also has microscopic pits. Rain-x fills these in and makes the surface slick so that it stays cleaner longer.
While boating is a pleasurable way to spend a summer day, it is also very exhausting and you may not feel like cleaning your boat when you get home. Just remember keeping it in a “new boat” condition will increase the resale value and shorten the time it takes to sell your boat.
Bradford Herrington is a long time boat enthusiast who currently owns a 42′ yacht. He is also a part time editor for http://www.awesomeboatdeals.com which specializes in used boats for sale.
Diary of an Ocean Passage
A true ocean passage is the ultimate sailing experience. A passage brings together all the elements of sailing - preparation, planning, boat handling, weather analysis - the ultimate challenge, but also the ultimate in fun.
This diary documents a 1000 nautical mile passage sailed in May 1006 from St Thomas, USVI to Georgetown, Bermuda.
Day One - St Thomas, USVI. Great to be back in the Caribbean! Very sunny and hot, summer here already. Boat check day - lots to do. Bought final few tools on our offshore list, replaced a few small things that built up over the season. Fluids and filters changed on the engine. Time for full boat check. Captain up the mast, everything looks great. Sea berths installed. All major systems A-OK.
Day Two - Completed provisioning list and provisioned boat for trip. Received ocean current charts from our service and plotted the course all the way to Bermuda - faster to sail 30 miles west and pick up favorable current than to follow rhumb line. Got weather forecast from our service and had weather briefing with Captain and crew - looks like favorable winds develop soon. Crew briefing is complete. Final double check of the boat, everything looks good.
15:15: off the dock and to the fuel dock for final topping of fuel and water tanks.
15:35: off the dock and away we go! Wind is light, almost calm and we are motoring but it feels great to be on the way.
18:00: sails up and motor sailing.
Day Three
02:00: late night watch. Wind has picked up as forecast and now under sail power only.
08:20: day is gorgeous. Coffee is made and wind at 12 knots on the beam, boat speed 5.6 knots. Fishing lines in the water and morning sun shots complete with sextant. Sea is flat.
13:00: Captain Alex makes homemade calzones for lunch - fantastic!! Nothing like gourmet food at sea. Fishing lines out of water, no luck today.
17:00: saw freighter on the horizon - first boat we’ve seen out here. Tracked the freighter on radar and practiced radar navigation.
Day Four - 305: miles covered first two days, progress is great. Nice sunny day, sea is such a beautiful blue color. Homemade muffins and fresh coffee for breakfast, might actually gain weight on this trip we’re eating so well.
16:00: getting daily weather briefings, very accurate thus far. Bad weather up north, but won’t affect us.
19:00: pork chops and apple sauce for dinner. Wayne got some great sunset photos!
Day Five - 01:00: shooting star! Seems so close, difficult to believe.
14:00 freighter nearby, we have nice conversation on the phone and wave as we go by. They seem happy to have a conversation with someone nearby. Freighter is dead in the water and making repairs, we ask them if they want a tow - good laugh for everyone.
18:00: picking up and so is boat speed. Fresh made cornbread with dinner, tastes like home.
23:00: Wind up to 30 knots now and seas 6-8 feet. This boat loves it like this! We’re still sailing flat and making great progress - lots of fun. About 400 miles offshore now. Everyone is catching up reading on off shifts and very relaxed.
Day Six
11:00: much cooler now, we’re definitely out of the tropics. First time put on a long sleeve shirt in days. Clouds coming in and it looks like we may get a little rain later. Still moving good and eating well.
16:00: forecast calls for showers later today as we cross a front. The SSB radio makes the world seem so small. We are still getting daily weather updates and hearing all the other boats around. Hard to believe we are in the middle of the ocean and this connected.
19:00: starting to rain, first bad weather of trip. Radar shows only light showers. Not raining hard, though and wind is steady 15-20 knots.
Day Seven
06:00: still overcast. Wind behind us, out of south and still at 25-30 - we’re flying!!
13:00: Alex bakes chocolate chip cookies, we’re really getting spoiled now!
18:00: wind now out of the west and much lighter, boat speed down to 5 knots, but sky is perfectly clear. Its going to be a pretty night.
23:00: steering due north and using polaris as guide - feels like an old time sailor steering to the north star. Sea is getting flatter and we are close. Should be in Bermuda tomorrow.
Day Eight
10:00: porpoises swimming along boat and many birds around, you can tell land is not far away. Arrived in Bermuda and cleared customs at 15:00. Off to dock. Grilled a steak and had a glass of wine to celebrate! 1000 miles complete and ready for the next leg.
Capt Dave Bello is President of Fair Wind Sailing School, (http://www.fairwindsailing.com) an ASA affiliate sailing school offering sailing instruction in the Virgin Islands, Chesapeake Bay, Florida and on Lake Erie and Lake St Clair.
You’ve Got to be Kidding Me - What’s Wrong with Yacht Manufacturers? - Part II
This article is a continuation of my previous article examining the terrible warranty service of US yacht manufacturers. As I describe in Part I, the US yacht manufacturing industry seems plagued with poor customer service. Many terrible business practices seem prevalent, including:
1. Well known design defects are not disclosed until after the purchase is complete.
2. A belief that saying “we know about that” or “it didn’t break, it’s a design issue” makes things all right.
3. The customer is blamed for design and manufacturing problems
4. A complete lack of accountability for factory mistakes and warranty service
5. A shifting of effort to the new owner who must deal directly with the manufacturer’s suppliers and act as a general contractor to get warranty work completed
My next boat was a significantly more expensive racer / cruiser purchased from an Ohio based manufacturer that builds both the racer / cruiser line and also a line of more expensive cruising vessels in the same factory. Despite going more “high end” with my purchase, the problems were worse.
After a short time sailing, I noticed the steering wheel provided no feedback and was extremely difficult to turn. I could do it with some effort and my football-playing oldest son could too, but my other children weren’t strong enough to steer the boat. I called the Dealer, but he absolutely refused to assist in any warranty related issues and forced me to work directly with the factory. The Manufacturer did not like answering the phone or returning messages, so it took weeks (and dozens of calls) to get someone. Finally, I described the problem and was told “yes, that boat has an issue with the rudder bearings. They swell when they get wet.” Huh?? You know about this? “Yes,” I was told. “Don’t worry, we’ve developed a solution.” Sure enough, the Manufacturer came out and fixed the problem in an afternoon and the boat could now be steered without weight training. Although the question remains — why not fix it before it leaves the factory?
A few months later, I was sailing some 15 miles offshore in Lake Erie (single-handing of course) when the sail track in my high tech carbon-fiber mast blew apart, dumping my mainsail all over the deck. Great fun — race over, all alone, offshore, mainsail all over the place, a day and a half motor from home. When I was able to call the Manufacturer, I spoke with an executive and questioned how a carbon-fiber mast could have this defect. He told me (you guessed it), “We know about this. It is a defect in the manufacturing process.” Turns out the sail track is NOT carbon-fiber (missed in their advertising literature). That part is plastic and it hardens and gets brittle when they bake the mast. Again, I was assured not to worry, that they were well aware of the problem and had a fix. Sure enough, they installed a new sail track system that works wonderfully. I am still left to wonder why the “fix” isn’t the standard.
I’ve saved the best for last. My roller-furler never worked. Despite dozens of calls from the first months I owned the boat, there were always excuses why it couldn’t be looked at — “the mast needs to be dropped, we’re busy with boat shows, we’re getting boats ready to launch, etc.” After 18 months, the manufacturer finally agreed to examine the unit since there was “a known issue with this furler on my model yacht.” However, upon examination, we shifted to excuse number two — it was my fault. It appears that my very presence stepping on the vessel had damaged the unit and it had to be replaced. I was forced to buy another model furling unit and a new forestay, but low and behold, this one also didn’t work on my boat. The rigger (not a factory employee) who installed the new unit noticed the forestay tang attachment to the hull was in the wrong place. Subsequent measurement showed this factory defect to be the underlying cause of the furler failure. Despite this smoking-gun, the manufacturer still refused to acknowledge the defect or reimburse me for the new forestay and furler (which was now indisputably a warranty problem) until I got an attorney involved. It’s now been more than 2 full years, I still don’t have a working furling unit. Guess how many more of their boats I’ll buy in my lifetime?
Capt Dave Bello is President of Fair Wind Sailing School, (http://www.fairwindsailing.com) an ASA affiliate sailing school offering sailing instruction in the Virgin Islands, Chesapeake Bay, Florida and on Lake Erie and Lake St Clair.
How to Buy a Sailboat - Part I
There is plenty of advice available on how to buy a sailboat. Unfortunately, much of it is written by those in the sailboat building or sailboat selling business - in other words, someone with a vested interest in steering you one way or another. If you have read those articles, you will quickly realize that this article is different. The suggestions contained in this article (and subsequent ones) are written from the perspective of a sailboat buyer and are the collective wisdom of someone who has purchased 8-10 sailboats and discussed sailboat purchases with dozens of other sailboat owners. The lessons learned apply to both new and used sailboat purchases. I hope you will learn from all our mistakes!!
There is a multi-step process that involves answering a series of questions. Successfully answering those questions will lead you to choose exactly the best boat for you. In the course of this series, I will discuss all those questions and cover the whole process. This article covers only the first step in the process because in my view, the first step is by far the most important.
The first - and again, most important step - is to answer the question “How will I use this sailboat?” When I say this, I don’t mean a general answer like “to race” or “daysail” or “to cruise.” If you can only answer the question to this level of detail, you have a very high probability of making a very large (and probably very expensive) mistake - buying the wrong boat. When I say “How will I use this sailboat?,” I mean in extensive detail. Here are some examples of questions you should be able to answer immediately and without any thought BEFORE you consider buying a sailboat:
You’ve Got to be Kidding Me - What’s Wrong with Yacht Manufacturers? - Part I
If you took delivery of a $25,000 car and found four or five manufacturing defects in the first couple of months, how would you feel? Suppose that vehicle was a $50,000 car. Now suppose it’s a $125,000 boat. Wouldn’t you expect it to work when you took delivery? And that you would supported by the manufacturer if it didn’t? I know I did. This article is a summary of issues I’ve had with brand new boats I’ve purchased — and the treatment I’ve received from the boat manufacturers. You will notice certain themes to the issues that seem to be endemic to the US yacht manufacturing industry. I just don’t understand why. All stories related in this article are true.
My first experience was a new 35 footer purchased from a production yacht manufacturer based in Florida (I proudly purchase all my vessels from US manufacturers.) I had told the Dealer that my intention was to use the yacht for family cruises, “round the cans” racing and the occasional more serious race, and was assured that this was the right boat for me. With my excitement at getting my first new keelboat, I took delivery early in the season and began putting the boat through its paces. A number of small trim issues developed immediately and the Dealer did a great job of tweaking and tuning — so far so good. But major issues occurred shortly thereafter. First, I noticed the autopilot (a very popular wheel drive mechanism) failed in any wave over 2 feet and in winds greater than 10-12 knots. The Dealer spent hours with me on the water, but all adjustments to the autopilot were futile. Something was wrong and it was time to call the Manufacturer. The call was shocking. The Manufacturer very calmly told us that “the configuration was not designed to handle those conditions.” I asked what owners do when they sail in those conditions and was told “people who buy our boats don’t sail in wind conditions greater than that.” I thought he was joking, but it was all too obvious that he was serious and was ready to let the matter drop. After much cajoling, letters, and reminders about their advertising claims, they told me it was “a design issue and I should speak with their vendor because they couldn’t do anything.” I didn’t find this suggestion satisfying. Now maybe my standards are too high, but if my new car doesn’t go faster than 35 mph, I expect if fixed. I certainly don’t expect to be told “it’s a design issue” and referred to the drive-train supplier for a re-design. I guess the yacht industry works differently. Since the yacht manufacturer wasn’t budging, I had no choice but to deal directly with the supplier tech rep in Michigan — who apparently took his customer service cues from my yacht manufacture. After several efforts, it became clear that the manufacturer was right - the boat design did not allow an autopilot to be used in winds greater than about 12 knots. Sure wish that had been disclosed prior to the purchase.
The problems continued. Every time we put the cruising spinnaker up, the halyard broke near the top of the mast. The Dealer was quick to replace the halyard, but did nothing to address the root cause of the problem. A quick look at all three halyards seemed (at least to me) to indicate that it was being sliced by something (since it was a very clean cut) near the mast top. I was assured, however, that I was the problem. “It’s the way you’re trimming.” Now, I’m not an America’s Cup racer, but I was pretty sure that I wasn’t trimming in such a way as to slice a halyard. The manufacturer disavowed any problem and the dealer would not even go up the mast to examine the issue (their rigger actually told me he was afraid of heights). The truth would come many months later when we found a defective metal lead at the mast head that had been slicing the halyard.
These issues highlighted several attitudes / problems that seem to be prevalent throughout the US yacht manufacturing industry:
1. Well known design defects are not disclosed until after the purchase is complete.
2. A belief that saying “we know about that” or “it didn’t break, it’s a design issue” makes things all right.
3. The customer is blamed for design of factory-caused problems
4. A complete lack of accountability for factory mistakes and warranty service
5. A shifting of effort to the new owner who must deal directly with the manufacturer’s suppliers and act as a general contractor to get warranty work completed
The US auto manufacturers figured out long ago (although not until significant market share was lost) what happens when you continue to ship products with known defects and take your customer for granted. I hope the US yacht manufacturers learn soon.
Capt Dave Bello is President of Fair Wind Sailing School, (http://www.fairwindsailing.com) an ASA affiliate sailing school offering sailing instruction in the Virgin Islands, Chesapeake Bay, Florida and on Lake Erie and Lake St Clair.
How to Buy a Sailboat - Part II
Once you know exactly how, where and when you will use your dream boat, the next question to answer is “what are the characteristics of a boat best suited for how I will sail the boat?” I believe this question is best answered across five dimensions: Rig type, sail plan, keel type, interior accommodations and overall hull design. Many great books are available to discuss these considerations in any level of detail you would like. Here is a quick overview.
Rig type and sail plan go hand-in-hand. Typically, there is a trade off between ease of sail handling and safety/flexibility. For example, a cat rigged boat with one large mainsail and no headsail (think Laser) is very easy to handle by one person, since there is only one sail. If you are day sailing in a small lake or close to shore where you can take cover if things heat up, this is a great rig — simple, easy to handle, quick to set up. However, it is not a very flexible design, since the sail can’t be reefed in big blows. A standard Marconi sloop is one step above in flexibility since it adds a second (head) sail that can be changed in size to accommodate wind velocity changes. In addition, these rigs today almost invariably offer roller-furling of at least the headsail, if not both sails, making on-the-fly adjustments simple and easy. This is certainly a rig with enough flexibility for stronger wind.
The tradeoff is that you have now added a second sail to handle, change, and furl. Moreover, the sloop is still pretty limited in terms of the changes you can make to sail plans. The cutter rig is the next step up in flexibility with 2 headsails and typically a much smaller mainsail. This configuration allows for significantly greater variations in sail configuration and a much wider spectrum on wind ranges within which the boat can comfortably be sailed. The tradeoff is a third sail to manage. Finally, the double-masted designs — ketchs and yawls — provide the greatest level of flexibility and therefore the greatest range of wind velocities to comfortably sail through. The obvious disadvantage is complication — 2 masts, 4-6 sails. For my money, the sloop wins for Bay, Great Lakes and Coastal sailing, while I would want at least a cutter rig for ocean passages, with the ketch and yawl being that much better.
Keels are the next consideration with two primary questions — how deep and what kind. Deep keels allow for more stability (less heel) and greater angles to weather (into the wind), but limit the places you can safely sail without running aground. For me, the depth question is easy — racers should opt for the deepest keel practical for their sailing area, the difference on windward legs can be dramatic. I would recommend deep keels to anyone else who spends a lot of time beating to windward (whoever that may be). For everyone else, the shallower the better — more cruising grounds, more safe anchorages and less chance of hitting something as you go. As for type, if you are doing offshore passages or even long coastal passages, I recommend a full keel — the boat tracks better and gets much better “holding” than a shallow keel. Alternatively, if you do a lot of close quarters maneuvering, I would NOT get a full keel and instead opt for the fin keel.
Interior accommodations range from practically nothing in race shells, to full blown luxury (microwave ovens, flat panel TV’s, DVD players). The simple rule is to match the sailing type to the interior type. My guess is for all but the hard core racer, budget will dictate here (more on this in Part III).
Finally, consider the overall hull type. I examine two dimensions: SA/D (sail area to displacement ratio) for overall speed estimate and D/L (displacement to length ratio) for overall stability and maneuverability. Neither is a perfect measure and manufacturers have a tendency to fudge the numbers (but that is a different article), but they are a good general reference point.
In summary, the first step in buying a sailboat that will make you happy is to know exactly and in great detail how you will use the boat. The second step is to identify the characteristics of a boat that will best match your usage and start looking for boats with those characteristics.
Capt Dave Bello is President of Fair Wind Sailing School, (http://www.fairwindsailing.com) an ASA affiliate sailing school offering sailing instruction in the Virgin Islands, Chesapeake Bay, Florida and on Lake Erie and Lake St Clair.
