What Makes A Sailboat, A Sailboat?

[Tony B]

Sailboats are designed to handle the stresses of the rigging, keel and the mast. Power boats are not.
To convert a powerboat to a sailboat the costs would probably be more than if you scrapped the powerboat and bought a sailboat. Of course you can do it for much less and have a powerboat with a sail on top of it that would be almost useless as a sailboat because it is not.
A sailboat is a boat propelled by wind in the sails. Somewhere in the definition it is assumed that there is a particular efficiency involved. Industry and the buying public are aware of this that is why there is something called a motorsailer. The sails assist, but in normal conditions they would be poor sailboats. A converted powerboat would perform much worse.
Why not convert a trawler into a cigarette boat? There may be a time when piracy could be common and you would have to out run them. Otherwise, the trawler might have to be scrapped. Same principal.

[scoobert]

why run, when you can use a gun! lol

[frank_f]

Originally Posted by scoobert

because someday fuel will cost so much, that either powerboats will be worthless, or modified to sail.
what would you do with a 55' aluminum Chris craft if fuel was $14 a gallon in the US? scrap it, but then whats left?

Do what everybody else who owns one (or something similar) is doing when fuel is $5.00 a gallon. Tie it to the dock and make a floating cottage out of it.

In the present economy, it might become your primary residence.

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by frank_f

In the present economy, it might become your primary residence.

i am making the transition to water from land now. no need to scare me off land.