Sorry I don't know your name, because you didn't sign your post so ...
Huh?
"Great reply John Bortner" ... but!!
What is the complete story? I didn't know I was telling a story, I thought I was
expressing an opinion.
I appreciate Captain Mike. I read his posts here and I also read his blog. But
what does his decision to electrify his boat have to do my or anyone else's decision
not to?
I have no idea where you got the impression that I "have a 'motor boat", that just
happens to have a sail on board" or is that just a way to denigrate my opinion by
questioning my sailing purity? I have a motor on my boat because it was there when
I bought it and because it is a damn site easier to get out of the marina and out onto
the bay under power than it is under sail, especially when you have to share a relatively
narrow channel with multi-million dollar yachts. Why do any of us have an engine or a
motor on a sailboat? Convenience and safety. I know there are people who measure
their seamanship on how little they use their engine. Hell there is a whole group that
refuses to even have an engine on their boat. (check out the "Furled Sails" podcasts, they
did an interview with a guy like that) To them I say, "Great! Have at it. If that's what you
enjoy do it, but it's not for me." Me, I see an engine or a motor on a sailboat as progress.
It allows you to maximize your sailing time by minimizing the time you spend navigating
a busy marina. It allows you to keep a relatively set schedule when you only have a
narrow window of time. It allows you to get yourself out of a jam when something goes
wrong. And it allows you to move when there is no wind. So, yes I have a motor on
my boat. In fact, like I said in my post, I have two, a thirty+ year old atomic four and a
Honda 9.9 outboard. I guess I could lose the atomic 4 but it gives me something to do
on a rainy day when the sailing sucks. As for the outboard ... it's like a life preserver. If
I really need it because of a problem with the inboard, it is there. (see narrow channel and
multi-million dollar yachts above).
And now the last part ... I re-read my post a couple times and can't find where I said anything
about experiencing difficulties with electric propulsion. In fact, what I did say was, "I'd love to
lose the inboard and outboard and go with electric drive but frankly I can't justify it either
practically or financially." Re-read my post. The topic was ICE vs. electric and the point
I was trying to make is that people that elevate electric propulsion to an almost religious
level and consider anything ICE as being dirty, evil, mean and nasty can turn off as many
people to electric propulsion as vendors who make exaggerated claims about performance
and end up disappointing the purchaser. I also tried to make the point (obviously unsuccessfully)
that ICE bashing ignores history and the contributions the internal combustion engine has made to
modern society.
So, in conclusion, (bet you never thought I get there did you?) if you want to dismiss me as a
pseudo sailor whose opinion isn't really worth the electrons it takes to put it on your screen, fine
with me. I'll just motor out into the bay, have a nice sail and motor back to the marina. If and
when it makes sense practically and financially to convert my boat to coal, wood, nuclear, electric
or whatever, I'll do it. Until then, ask yourself this. If Joshua Slocum had the money, do you think
he might have put an engine in his boat? and If he did, would the fact that he had an engine make
his accomplishments any less significant?
John Bortner
O'Day 27 "Circe"
From: GNHBus@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2011 7:48 AM
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] re ICE versus Electric
Great Reply John Bortner,
You are not telling the complete story.
My best example continues to be Captn Mike of the BIANKA.
Im sure there are others, but his blog convinced me that there is a better way for propulsion of a sailboat.
Your reply gave me the sense that you have a "motor boat" that just happens to have a sail on board.
If you in fact tried the alternative,(electric) and experienced the difficulties you claim with it, then that would be interesting
and require some thought.
You are not telling the complete story.
My best example continues to be Captn Mike of the BIANKA.
Im sure there are others, but his blog convinced me that there is a better way for propulsion of a sailboat.
Your reply gave me the sense that you have a "motor boat" that just happens to have a sail on board.
If you in fact tried the alternative,(electric) and experienced the difficulties you claim with it, then that would be interesting
and require some thought.
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MARKETPLACE
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