Trawlers are where old sailors go today

Bill Coleman

On Tue, Sep 30, 2025, 09:27 Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List <
[email protected]> wrote:

> Another thought:
>
> When I was in the boat fixing business I saw this scenario more than once:
>
> An aging couple sold their 30-something foot fin keel racer cruiser. This
> is a boat they had forever and was easy to handle around the marina and
> fast enough to be a lazy sailor with some jib rolled out and still get
> where you wanted to go.
>
> The next boat was a 40-something foot heavier cruising boat with all the
> mod cons. Now they had all kinds of systems to maintain they never had
> before. This much heavier and less agile boat was much more of a challenge
> to get in and out of a slip. A big heavy boat needs big sails to move,
> there was no more rolling a bit of job out and being on your way.
>
> The next step after that was a power boat once they realized they had more
> boat then they could handle.
>
>
>
> *Joe Della Barba*
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Richard Bush <[email protected]>
> *Sent:* Monday, September 29, 2025 1:35 PM
> *To:* Stus-List <[email protected]>
> *Cc:* Riley Anderson <[email protected]>; Della Barba, Joe <
> [email protected]>
> *Subject:* Re: Stus-List Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: Is there a new boat in my
> future?
>
>
>
> Joe, well said!
>
>
>
> Richard
>
> 1985 37 CB: Ohio River, Mile 596
>
>
>
> Richard N. Bush Law Offices
>
> 2950 Breckenridge Lane
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/2950+Breckenridge+Lane?entry=gmail&source=g>,
> Suite Nine
>
> Louisville, Kentucky 40220
>
> (502) 584-7255
>
>
>
>
>
> On Monday, September 29, 2025 at 01:22:27 PM EDT, Della Barba, Joe via
> CnC-List <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> There are a LOT of different factors in play here.
>
> My C&C 35 MK I is very narrow by modern standards. My initial stability is
> not all that good, the boat heels easily to a gust. My AVS (Angle of
> Vanishing Stability) is pretty good, I think it is about 125.
>
> Think about a fat-a55 BeneHunt type boat. Their initial stability is much
> higher, not to mention space below. Their AVS is likely lower and their
> behaviour when well-heeled likely quite a bit worse. I have taken 20+ foot
> breaking waves on the beam that rolled us nearly 90 degrees. This was wet
> and annoying, but the boat popped right back up to keep sailing. A boat 5
> feet wider…….I am thinking not so much.
>
> There are also various moments of inertia. A heavier boat doesn’t jump
> around like a lighter boat. It may be slower, but the ride may be a lot
> more comfortable. Rolling inertia is a big factor in capsize resistance. A
> bigger heavier boat is harder to get rolling, so unlike her lighter sisters
> she won’t have rolled as far before the wave has past. The C&C 30 MK I
> probably has the highest AVS of any C&C made, but that does not necessarily
> mean one is harder to capsize than a C&C 40.
>
> Another form of stability is steering or course-keeping. For a shorthanded
> crew, a 35 would be a challenge in heavy air offshore. My boat is fast in
> heavy air, but she does not come remotely close to steering herself. A lot
> of helm input is needed, especially if getting into double-digit speeds
> down a wave and this input needs muscle. A boat that maybe doesn’t turn on
> a dime like our boats but is easy to keep straight would be a lot less work
> for 2 people alternating watches.
>
> ( this does not always translate into an old design, our old wood
> Dickerson Ketch was a total biatch to keep straight in a quartering sea
> with the mizzen trying to shove the stern around)
>
>
>
> *Joe Della Barba*
>
> Coquina
>
>
>
> Your contributions help pay the fees associated with this list and help to
> keep it active.  Please help by making a small contribution using PayPal
> at:  https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/stumurray  All contributions are
> greatly appreciated.
> Your contributions help pay the fees associated with this list and help to
> keep it active.  Please help by making a small contribution using PayPal
> at:  https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/stumurray  All contributions are
> greatly appreciated.
Your contributions help pay the fees associated with this list and help to keep 
it active.  Please help by making a small contribution using PayPal at:  
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/stumurray  All contributions are greatly 
appreciated.

Reply via email to