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#1
sailFar.net Discussion / Re: WHY DONT FOLKS POST?
Last post by Frank - December 06, 2025, 08:17:07 PMSounds like a reasonable plan.....
Hard to believe how fast time has gone!
I think this site started 20 or 21 years ago!
Crazy isn't it?
Yes, time will slip by....
Hard to believe how fast time has gone!
I think this site started 20 or 21 years ago!
Crazy isn't it?
Yes, time will slip by....
#2
sailFar.net Discussion / Re: No words needed…
Last post by Frank - December 06, 2025, 08:13:57 PMQuote from: wolverine on December 03, 2025, 12:16:58 AMThe main sheet is connected to the backwards tiller?
Sue the cartoonist! 🤣
#3
Boat Bits / Re: Importance of hull speed.....
Last post by Godot - December 05, 2025, 10:05:42 PMHullspeed. Comfort Ratios. Capsize Screening Formula. They all seem quite theoretical and have value mostly in comparison to similar boats. I don't think I care anymore.
Regards the initial theorem about hull speed not affecting a voyage terribly much, that is subjective. That five and a half days difference is around 20% on that 4000nm voyage. That can seem like an eternity if you are tired or bad weather is heading your way, or your boat is broken, or someone is waiting for you, or you finished your last can of beer a week ago.
I commute 60 miles to work every day. At a normal average speed of around 70mph that takes around 51 minutes. At 80mph I save a whopping 6 minutes and dramatically increase the odds of getting a ticket. It's hardly worthwhile, yet, pretty much everyone on the road is going the faster speed. Even over a thousand miles it only changes the time of arrival by less than two hours. But two hours is two hours I guess.
If you are racing, of course, seconds matter.
But, how often are you at hull speed? And do you really want to be pushing the boat that hard to begin with? The conditions it takes to even get to that speed can vary drastically. My Father-in-Law's Catalina 24 is gonna get up and go in well under ten knots, but by 15 he is not having fun anymore. I'm typically somewhere around hull speed with all plane sail at 15knots (point of sail and sea conditions depending, of course). It's fun; but I find it stressful to live right at max for too long. I'll typically end up overpowered at some point, needlessly burning energy fighting the tiller, and prefer to actually sail just a little below max performance.
Anyhow, the point is that you ain't likely to spend that 4000nm at hull speed anyhow, 'cause Mother Nature has little interest in making your life convenient, and you'll probably spend as much time in weather less ideal for your boat than in ideal weather. Odds are pretty good you'd average more time in port waiting for a weather window on a long trip like that you'd actually waste at sea. Probably. I think.
Big boats with big waterlines have a lot of things going for them, including getting places faster. I've been sorely tempted to up-size into the 40ish foot range more than once. But does the speed difference matter? For many it does. Me? I don't care enough. I just enjoy being on the water.
Regards the initial theorem about hull speed not affecting a voyage terribly much, that is subjective. That five and a half days difference is around 20% on that 4000nm voyage. That can seem like an eternity if you are tired or bad weather is heading your way, or your boat is broken, or someone is waiting for you, or you finished your last can of beer a week ago.
I commute 60 miles to work every day. At a normal average speed of around 70mph that takes around 51 minutes. At 80mph I save a whopping 6 minutes and dramatically increase the odds of getting a ticket. It's hardly worthwhile, yet, pretty much everyone on the road is going the faster speed. Even over a thousand miles it only changes the time of arrival by less than two hours. But two hours is two hours I guess.
If you are racing, of course, seconds matter.
But, how often are you at hull speed? And do you really want to be pushing the boat that hard to begin with? The conditions it takes to even get to that speed can vary drastically. My Father-in-Law's Catalina 24 is gonna get up and go in well under ten knots, but by 15 he is not having fun anymore. I'm typically somewhere around hull speed with all plane sail at 15knots (point of sail and sea conditions depending, of course). It's fun; but I find it stressful to live right at max for too long. I'll typically end up overpowered at some point, needlessly burning energy fighting the tiller, and prefer to actually sail just a little below max performance.
Anyhow, the point is that you ain't likely to spend that 4000nm at hull speed anyhow, 'cause Mother Nature has little interest in making your life convenient, and you'll probably spend as much time in weather less ideal for your boat than in ideal weather. Odds are pretty good you'd average more time in port waiting for a weather window on a long trip like that you'd actually waste at sea. Probably. I think.
Big boats with big waterlines have a lot of things going for them, including getting places faster. I've been sorely tempted to up-size into the 40ish foot range more than once. But does the speed difference matter? For many it does. Me? I don't care enough. I just enjoy being on the water.
#4
sailFar.net Discussion / Re: WHY DONT FOLKS POST?
Last post by Godot - December 05, 2025, 06:53:48 PMThe forum took over from mailing lists. Facebook took over from forums. Facebook is fading away into, I dunno, Instagram or something. Blogs faded into videos/Instagram. Twitter/X is in there somewhere.
I don't really do that much social media anymore. I burned out on it a few years ago and now when I dip my toes back in I find it has lost its' appeal. I think I'm getting old.
Regards boat stuff: regular everyday life took over too much. So many plans and dreams only to have the years tick by faster than I can contemplate. New wife, new house, new job, blah blah blah. It's a trap and I stepped into it. But, the house is taking less time, I'm in negotiations with the wife (not new anymore...it's been almost ten years and I have no idea how that happened) for my time. And, with a little luck I can call a lid on my career next Fall.
Boat tasks over the past couple years: New alternator, regulator, and LFP batteries and repairing years of neglect. It's a start. Tasks over the next one or two years: New sails, standing rigging, running rigging, and gobs more basic neglected boat maintenance. Next October after I bid a not so fond fairwell to my job, I hope to take a month (or more) cruise around the Chesapeake, maybe circumnavigate the DelMarVA peninsula if circumstances are proper. Once I'm satisfied with the new rig (I'll probably get to it in 2027) and I feel the boat is again safe well offshore, I'm really thinking of taking a trip to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, or some similar trip, direct from either the Chesapeake or Beaufort, NC in maybe November 2027. I really, really want a nice offshore passage. Wifey doesn't really want me to, but I think I must.
But life has to stop throwing road blocks in my way. Or I'm going to have to just get around them somehow. Time is passing way too fast and the windows of opportunity will close in a blink if I'm not careful.
I don't really do that much social media anymore. I burned out on it a few years ago and now when I dip my toes back in I find it has lost its' appeal. I think I'm getting old.
Regards boat stuff: regular everyday life took over too much. So many plans and dreams only to have the years tick by faster than I can contemplate. New wife, new house, new job, blah blah blah. It's a trap and I stepped into it. But, the house is taking less time, I'm in negotiations with the wife (not new anymore...it's been almost ten years and I have no idea how that happened) for my time. And, with a little luck I can call a lid on my career next Fall.
Boat tasks over the past couple years: New alternator, regulator, and LFP batteries and repairing years of neglect. It's a start. Tasks over the next one or two years: New sails, standing rigging, running rigging, and gobs more basic neglected boat maintenance. Next October after I bid a not so fond fairwell to my job, I hope to take a month (or more) cruise around the Chesapeake, maybe circumnavigate the DelMarVA peninsula if circumstances are proper. Once I'm satisfied with the new rig (I'll probably get to it in 2027) and I feel the boat is again safe well offshore, I'm really thinking of taking a trip to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, or some similar trip, direct from either the Chesapeake or Beaufort, NC in maybe November 2027. I really, really want a nice offshore passage. Wifey doesn't really want me to, but I think I must.
But life has to stop throwing road blocks in my way. Or I'm going to have to just get around them somehow. Time is passing way too fast and the windows of opportunity will close in a blink if I'm not careful.
#5
sailFar.net Discussion / Re: No words needed…
Last post by wolverine - December 03, 2025, 12:16:58 AMThe main sheet is connected to the backwards tiller?
#6
sailFar.net Discussion / Re: No words needed…
Last post by Frank - December 02, 2025, 08:26:41 PMCode Select
#7
sailFar.net Discussion / Re: WHY DONT FOLKS POST?
Last post by Frank - December 02, 2025, 08:23:55 PMThat's awesome!
Sounds like a great adventure!
Small boats in skinny water are a hoot?
Look forward to updates.
You should start a thread with pics etc.
Have fun!
Sounds like a great adventure!
Small boats in skinny water are a hoot?
Look forward to updates.
You should start a thread with pics etc.
Have fun!
#8
sailFar.net Discussion / Re: WHY DONT FOLKS POST?
Last post by wolverine - December 02, 2025, 06:11:00 PMI agree. I'll contribute. For the past couple weeks I've been readying my Compac 19 for a trip to the Keys. I did some reworking, rerigging, and rebedding. Most of the prep was on the 2 outboards I'll be bringing. I try to bring a backup because of the horrible luck I have with them. My daughter works for a canvass shop and is sewing me a cover to slip over the headsail and furler when trailering. Today I ordered a second 100ah lithium battery to make sure I have enough power for the electric cooler. (Inexpensive Coleman) I went over every bolt and connection on the trailer too. I also have a 12v computer fan coming I plan on installing in the bottom drop board for ventilation. Next week comes the worst part. Shopping for provisions. I'll be leaving January 3rd, arriving in Key Largo the 5th. A fellow "Compac O naut will be joining me in his Suncat. We plan on sailing the Keys for 5 weeks. I'll post updates and pics.
#9
sailFar.net Discussion / WHY DONT FOLKS POST?
Last post by Frank - December 01, 2025, 11:45:14 PMIt's very simple question....
When I check in, there is typically over 100 and quite often over 200 people on here.
Yet nobody will post?
We have hundreds of members, no one shares what their projects are or what they are doing with their boat.
I find it baffling...
It doesn't take long to put down a few words or to attach a picture.
I understand Facebook is kind of taking over, but even on Facebook you have to put down a few words or attach a picture.
Why not here?
Honest question
When I check in, there is typically over 100 and quite often over 200 people on here.
Yet nobody will post?
We have hundreds of members, no one shares what their projects are or what they are doing with their boat.
I find it baffling...
It doesn't take long to put down a few words or to attach a picture.
I understand Facebook is kind of taking over, but even on Facebook you have to put down a few words or attach a picture.
Why not here?
Honest question
#10
sailFar.net Discussion / Re: No words needed…
Last post by jotruk - November 29, 2025, 12:26:47 PMseems like that will be me