Some food for thought, a movie I want to see, and in the “Death’s an equal opportunity event” department…
I keep reading about how we have not seen anything yet as far as gas, diesel, and propane prices are concerned. Throw in the spin off that higher prices for fuel are coming and it’s a sure bet that it’s going to get ugly.
Good thing I have a sailboat. Right?
That said, it’s not just about oil. For example, the failed stewardship of the economy has crappy, tasteless tomatoes selling for $5.99 a pound. Is that crazy or what?
Living in hard times…
So, my pet peeve, where boats are concerned, is using more power than needful. As it happens, Tom Colvin had the right idea when he opined that 1 HP/ton is all that’s needed for auxiliary power on a boat. Since the Islander displaces almost seven tons, I could get by with a 7HP motor. The current engine, a 37 HP Yanmar, is 30HP more than needed. In a perfect world I’d have a Saab 10HP engine. I have been keeping an eye out for one on sale.
I digress…
What I really wanted to do was compare the sail HP to engine HP.
The sail area of our Islander is 576 sq ft, which works out to 8.64HP at 10 knots of wind. I only use an engine in low/no wind or maneuvering in tight places at low speed. My experience says a 6-10HP propulsion system would be just fine. For the foreseeable future, we’ll use a side-mounted 6HP outboard along the lines of the Jean du Sud side mount.
The real advantage is we won’t be using much in the way of fuel which, in these hard times, is going to be important.
Non of my cruising boats had any more than 2hp-per ton. Old Sabb, Lister and Bukh can throw big props, and i never felt underpowered, even in tidal waters.
I dont think most Americans, despite slamming anything smelling remotely like Communism, understand just how subsidised their gas costs are. But again, your government gives huge tax breaks for running massive SUV where low double figure MPG is considered “normal”.
When many people laugh at a 2.5hp outboard, it is the human equivalent of 16 people rowing, even if it is being put through a small prop. Need to bolt a Seagull lower leg onto my Suzuki powerhead! I think someone did something like 63MPG with one on an inflatable (Suz 2.5)