sailboat v. trawler

[Rustyf]

I am considering my first large boat-32-36 ft- that I would moor in the Seattle area and sail/motor to the San Juan islands. There are a lot of things that I like about sailboats. However I have reservations about somethings that I would appreciate hearing from the forum about. One thing to keep in mind is that my wife and daughters have never sailed and it is important that they want to go out on the boat on a regular basis. Also my sailing experience is limited to very small day sailers.

1. What I have learned is that in the PS area much of a sailboats time underway is on the engine not the sails.

2. Being in the cabin while underway can be claustrophobic with virtually no ability to enjoy the sights especially if the weather is wet or cold.

3. Being at the helm in cold wet weather is not fun.

4. Manning the sails for changing winds or direction can take a lot of time and make the time on the water much less fun and relaxing.

5. Finally any thoughts on a sailboat compared with a trawler wouldbe appreciated.

Many thanks.

[jgbpa]

I'm also very interested in everyones opinion.

[SLObrett]

[k1vsk]

Sounds like you are a "boater" which is to say you want to enjoy yourselves comfortably with minimal effort while on the water. Contrast this with being a "sailor" who wants to manage sails, likes quiet , manage the weather while in the cockpit and is there for the journey, not the destination. Regardless of anyone's opinion, only your preference matters.

[arf145]

Originally Posted by k1vsk

Sounds like you are a "boater" which is to say you want to enjoy yourselves comfortably with minimal effort while on the water. Contrast this with being a "sailor" who wants to manage sails, likes quiet , manage the weather while in the cockpit and is there for the journey, not the destination. Regardless of anyone's opinion, only your preference matters.

Well said, k1vsk! The things that recommend a sailboat are things one has to appreciate first. But they won't win a contest for practicality unless one values fuel savings over all else.

[jrd22]

We end up motoring about 50% of the time during the summer, and I sail whenever there is wind. So you are right, unless you enjoy going backwards against the current you will motor quite a bit unless just out daysailing. Your option to all of your concerns is a pilot house sailboat. With inside and outside steering and roller furling headsail and main you can enjoy the best of both worlds IMHO. I've owned PH's for about 20 years here and wouldn't consider anything else. You have 360 degree views from the main salon for those that don't want to be out in the cockpit, good sailing qualities, economical motoring at only a slightly slower speed than a trawler and the ability to sail when you want to. The big difference is in space between a PH and a trawler. For the same length, a trawler must have twice the room of any sailboat so you need to look at some and see which appeals to you more (and the family). I was just on a Nordhavn 62(?) motorsailor and that thing had more room in it than my house, it was enormous (and absolutely beautiful - inside at least ). The only drawback to a PH is that there aren't that many around so your choices are limited. Good luck on your decision, let us know what you do.

[CalypsoP35]

If you just want to see the course get a golf cart. If you want to play the course get a golf cart and clubs. Sailing is a sport, driving a boat is not.

If you have limited crew you will have to work getting underway and putting the boat to bed, in addition to the time you spend sailing.

As K1 points out what you need to ask yourself, is it about the journey or the destination? A power boater says I can get to point x in 40 minutes and point y in 50 minutes. The sailor just looks at the powerboater and says when I'm on my sailboat I'm already where I want to be.

[cormeum]

Originally Posted by CalypsoP35

As K1 points out what you need to ask yourself, is it about the journey or the destination? A power boater says I can get to point x in 40 minutes and point y in 50 minutes. The sailor just looks at the powerboater and says when I'm on my sailboat I'm already where I want to be.

That's really it in a nutshell. if you want the boat to be a platform for your sightseeing activities, you'd be happier with a trawler. If you like the activity of sailing a boat and the scenery is a nice-to-have bonus on top of sailing the boat, get a sailboat.

[bljones]

Trawler advantages- arguably more room. Arguably higher speed. Arguably simpler to operate. Shallower draft.

Sailboat advantages- lower running cost. More comfortable motion. The silence of sailing.

The higher speed aspect of running a trawler is quickly mitigated by the fact that most trawlers see HUGE increases in fuel consumption if you try to go faster than 8-10 knots. Really, if you're looking at gunkholing, the difference between a sailboat travelling at 6 knots and a trawler travelling at 8 knots is minimal

A pilothouse is a great way to travel in the NW.

[Boasun]

I work on power boats and relax on sailboats.... Any questions??