From: Timechick <timechick@gmail.com>
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, 14 May, 2010 5:51:49 AM
Subject: RE: [Electric Boats] Looking for Advice on a Electric Drive System Supplier
| For one, lets not get into a flame war, but yea, I have seen the motor culture has really gotten a bit out of hand out there. I one time mentioned to my harbormaster how I wanted to move my boat to a slip that would be a little easier to sail off the doc from and he looked at me in horror. Sad that less than 100 years ago, everyone sailed without engines and never thought anything wrong with it. That being said. Most sailors knew what to do in a storm or other situations that these days would have them calling the coast guard. I wouldn't call it being lazy, I would call it inexperienced in just what to do in a dangerous situation and not have the motor option. There is a lot of very good literature out there about emergency sailing situations and just what to do if it gets a little too rough out there for you. Most people however, are not that ocd about sailing and use their sails for just looking pretty on the water while out for the day. Sailing is dangerous, but no more than driving a car IMHO. We however, drive cars every day all the time and I would say most of us know what to do in most emergencies just from all the experience we rack up though our driving lives. Most people can't say they have those kind of sailing hours, even the most avid of sailors out there. I don't have remotely enough sailing hours and I would never call myself an expert or even experienced enough to go solo. (Not for a lack of trying however.) But I do have a few books, a lot of well experienced friends a collection of storm sails and gear. I would like to think I could weather a good storm on my anchor for a few hours, but you never know and you have to be prepared for the worst. I would ask this though, go up to your local "Sea tow" guy and ask him/her what is the most common reason he gets a call for a tow. He will probably tell you "engine trouble." Penelope L. McFadin lux libertas et caritas http://chaosbutterfly.com/ http://www.cafepress.com/chaosbutterfly 29N32'32.45" 95W2'12.58"
|
Here , the coastguard is the "sea tow".
Yes , the biggest problem is outboards , running the batteries flat , or fuel problems.
And that leads to my point , they had no backup !.
They don't have a "plan B" , except call the coastguard.
I have the good fortune to sail in with a group of traditional sailers , and yes , as often as possible , we sail off and on our moorings.
But all of them , all of them , have had the horror of being overpowered by the conditions , and their underpowered engines being unable to get them out of trouble , immediately.
They have avoided wrecking , by dent of their vast experience.
And all of them upgraded away from petrol inboards , to compact diesels years ago , for the safety , and more sustained power.
Last year I did some research in regard to the wreck of the Admella , which was 150 years before.
And that wreck , and a number of others were caused simply because the conditions overpowered the ships , and they had no alternative power.
Two things stood out for me.
Firstly , these lifeboards , that got out the survivors then had an efficient lug sail , that propels them pretty well , I have been on a 50NM escort of one , they do well.
And of course , they had 10 oarsmen.
And secondly , to get the lifeboard to the wreck relatively quickly , it was towed in to the wind to the site by what could be termed a "motor sailer" , a sailing ship that also was powered by a steam engine.
All I'm saying as that despite their abilities , and experience , a lot of old time sailers died because they had no real "plan B".
Next time you go down to the water , go over all of the boats , and work out what their backup systems are .
Some will have no effective backup systems.
I for one , won't be among them.
Regards Rob J.
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