Disposable Yachts

[quidam]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Me, that's who! Unfortunately, there are some places that nature has placed to windward of where I was at the time... like New Caledonia and Vanuatu when I was in Australia. That is some 800 or 1000 miles upwind in the trades, and having done this trip around 10 times now, I'm really glad that I have one of those unsuitable boats that go well to windward! And this past year on the return trip we had days of light airs from well aft of the beam... I was really glad that I had a dangerously tall mast and a big kite so that I didn't have to motor the whole bloody way like some other voyagers did.
I may have to reef sooner than the chap in a traditional boat, but that seems like a pretty good trade-off to me.

Cheers,

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lying Gladstone, Qld, Oz

Jim, as we all know with boats, everything is a tradeoff. When your reefed down in a bad blow all that extra rig is not helping you. A heavier boat with a shorter rig will survive heavier conditions and be alot more comfortable. Once again everything is a tradeoff and we were discussing abadoning boats in heavy wheather.

[Pblais]

Once again everything is a tradeoff and we were discussing abadoning boats in heavy wheather.

Even the discussion is a trade off. Proves the point well enough. I'm not sure anyone abondoned a boat yet. I may have missed it along with the point.

[orion1]

David, surely you must be mistaken about the Coasties and towing limitations. It simply cannot be due to government competing with private industry. If it is the reason than they must be the only agency with those restrictions. Government all over this country is now competing daily with private industry. Socialism for sure. Mommy will save you mentality is alive and well. Does BAIL OUT ring a bell. Save a Boat, Save a Bank, all the same attitude.

[David M]

Originally Posted by orion1

David, surely you must be mistaken about the Coasties and towing limitations. It simply cannot be due to government competing with private industry. If it is the reason than they must be the only agency with those restrictions. Government all over this country is now competing daily with private industry. Socialism for sure. Mommy will save you mentality is alive and well. Does BAIL OUT ring a bell. Save a Boat, Save a Bank, all the same attitude.

I'm not the one to argue with. I'm not the one who writes Coast Guard policy. I'm just telling you what I have read, what I see and what I hear on the VHF.

On an almost daily basis I hear some guy who is having one problem or another out on the water who calls the Coasties on Ch 16. The first thing the Coasties ask is the basic information (Name, color, registration, POB's etc) and then tell everyone to get in lifejackets. The second thing they do is assess their situation. If they are not in immediate danger they offer to call a towing company. Quite often a towing company is already monitoring 16 and offers their assistance.

Personally, I don't think that the cost of towing people who are not in immediate danger should be on the backs of the taxpayers. In fact, maybe people will be a little better prepared if they know that its going to cost them hundreds of dollars to get towed by a commercial tow boat as opposed to getting towed by the Coasties for "free".

[James S]

Originally Posted by David M

I'm not the one to argue with. I'm not the one who writes Coast Guard policy. I'm just telling you what I have read, what I see and what I hear on the VHF.

On an almost daily basis I hear some guy who is having one problem or another out on the water who calls the Coasties on Ch 16. The first thing the Coasties ask is the basic information (Name, color, registration, POB's etc) and then tell everyone to get in lifejackets. The second thing they do is assess their situation. If they are not in immediate danger they offer to call a towing company. Quite often a towing company is already monitoring 16 and offers their assistance.

Personally, I don't think that the cost of towing people who are not in immediate danger should be on the backs of the taxpayers. In fact, maybe people will be a little better prepared if they know that its going to cost them hundreds of dollars to get towed by a commercial tow boat as opposed to getting towed by the Coasties for "free".

I'll second that!

[Cheechako]

Gee, I thought you were going to go somewhere else with this thread! I was once considering buying a sturdy older boat... like a non pristeen westsail 32 etc.... Maybe put $50k total in it max and sail it through the soPac to NZ/Austrailia. When tired of the whole thing, my theory was just to give it away and fly home! I know it sounds crazy, but for instance, I spent $50k refurbishing and outfitting my Passport 47. When it came time to sell, it took a year to sell it at the original price I bought it at. So I lost $50k, plus the loss of the other 200K that was in the boat instead of invested, plus the loss of cruising time "outfitting". Giving the Westsail away would have been a bargain!... and I wouldnt have to worry how to get it back from OZ. hmmm... I guess this is a different thread. Sorry

[highseas]

Probably the reason the Coasties dont want to tow is because it ties them up,making them slower to respond to more serious calls elsewhere.If no real present danger ,why would they tow?I was out winter sailing the other day in 30kn. ,practicing heaving to and getting familiar with cold and unpleasant factor.It was below freezing,and alot of fun!I carry a new EPIRB ,but would never use it unless a true life threatening situation arose.Sailing for 20 years with my Dad,never did a situation arise we couldnt handle on our own.(no GPS,radar,epirb,only Ham and liferaft.)Preparation is the key.

[James S]

Originally Posted by quidam

Jim, the boat is still in the construction phase but I'll try to post some pics that will give you an idea what she's like.

I've always wanted to go to Yemen ever since I read "Motoring with Muhommed" by Eric Hansen.

I like pictures of "still under construction", in fact I prefer them that way!

Are you building her your self?

Yemen is very interesting….. in a time warp sort of way.
15min out of town and you're back 2000 years.

We live in the mountains and don’t need heat or AC in our house.....An easy place to visit.