GL: What's the Difference?

[Bob Austin]

Hopefully Mark Richter will chime in, since he has a converted
sailboat/tr-awler. Generally the sailboat hull will be lower powered and more
effeciently driven up to 1.34 x sq rt LWL.  It will be rare that it can be
driven faster.  There is also less reserve for heavy waves and wind.

My personal feeling is that with a single screw--there are some sailboats
which are easier to maneuver than most single screw power boats.  The prop is
better protected in most sailboats.

The negitive will be peroid of roll--that is without the mast, the roll will
be much snappier--if possiable take out ballast--and consider adding bilge
keels.  You cannot just cut off the keel--although some have.  The better boat
would be a long keel boat which is already shoal draft.

The biggest difference will be visablity and usability from the helm--unless
you find a micro motorsailer, the cockpit in a sail boat will be open (there
are some exceptions--such as the Shucker 44, which is a pilot house boat.
You can build a hard dodger--but this often makes accessability to the decks a
bit more difficult.

Also the "Cave" atmosphere of the sailboat cabin is a factor.  After I was
thru racing sailboats, I went to pilot house boats with the galley up--and
both foreward and aft staterooms--so I had almost as much room as a comperable
trawler--these type of sail boats tend to also be roomier than the
conventional boats---but many sailboats will have a significant draft.

Running a quick check on Yacht World.com, the boat which jumped out at me as
ideal is the Mainship, Mainship 34--there is a 1980 in Tennessee, apparently a
fresh water boat, kept under cover and looks to be in nice shape for less than
40K.

The other option is a smaller trailerable boat--I have always admired the C
Dory and Rosoborough 246.  These are gas engine boats--but the C Dory 25 and
the Rosobrough with displacement speeds will be right there with the trawlers
as far as fuel consumption.

I think that your budget is quite do-able--as long as you watch what you are
doing.  But, don't forget inflation--and although $30,000 may be enough
currently--I can assure you that in 10 years it will not be.  (A bit of
philosphy of retirement--step your investments so that your income will
increase as you age--you will need more for medical care and even personal
care at some point)

Go for it NOW.

Regards,

Bob Austin