Sailors Say the Darnedest Things . . .

[otherthan]

he was the guy everyone thold me to see...so I did!

my question was simple enough, can I do with a 5hp outboard on my 28ft and sailing here on the st laurence (trois rivieres erea)

Reply is NO you need at least 30hp because we have 3 to 6kn courents...also consider that your main sail develops 400hp alone, so a 30hp engine is still small.

my first impresion was wow my main sail is 400hp? I need a V8.

Then I realised all this made no sens at all...a storm jib can deliver 400hp or more in a storm and the largest genoa will produce nada in no wind...therfore hp from sails is determed from wind force and trim alone, no one can say exactly how much hp they deliver???

also a wise sailor will not try to go up river in 6kn courents (this is hull speed for most boats)
so what is it? just pulling the new guys leg time??

I feel so stupid driving to meet this guy, asking for information he obviously knew beter then this, from now on I will be carfull to who I ask, and sure as hell will not drive 2h to meet a stranger.

just venting a little, no wory