Time To Go Back To Sailing?
“Coming Full Circle”
By: Bill Parlatore
I recently got together with friends at the local café to discuss life, the world, and boats. Breakfast coffee has become one of our favorite morning rituals.
One of my friends got talking about boat projects for the new year, something we all relate to. He needs to replace four 8D batteries in his 45-foot Downeast cruiser. They are not dead yet, but he likes to stay ahead of things like that as much as possible.
His batteries are in his cramped engine room, along with two big diesel engines, a generator, fuel management plumbing, filters, control boxes, and system machinery.
An 8D marine service battery is huge and heavy. Each typically weighs between 120 and 180 lbs. These batteries must be man handled into a small space that serves as the engine room and fit around equipment also fighting for space. In other words, they are buried in the belly of the beast.
It is a job no one looks forward to, and after a certain age, it becomes impossible for one to tackle it alone or even with a couple of well-intentioned friends. It is time to hire a guy (or three) to cart the batteries down to the slip, get these monsters aboard, and wrestle them into place. Not to mention remove the existing batteries. It is a daunting task.
Most of my boating friends are seasoned boaters and cruisers…and getting older. My circle includes people in their 60s, 70s, and 80s. They don’t feel they are slowing down, well, maybe a little. But all of us are realistic. We no longer lust for a carefree life in paradise, as many of us already did that. Today there are other priorities, our spouses are inseparable from family and grandchildren, and our physical aches and pains remind us that the clock keeps ticking.
So, it was no surprise that the battery discussion soon morphed into a general discussion of the complexity and expense of cruising boats, easily justified when providing us new experiences and fabulous memories.
Truth is, though, many of us have now done what we wanted to do. We have checked off our bucket lists, trips taken to Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean, even offshore passages to faraway lands. We still have the vitality and overall health to keep going, hopefully, and most have planned things well enough to have the bucks to support whatever is next.
(Above image: Bill Parlatore in his more adventurous days steering a sailboat during a heavy downpour. )
After highlighting the fun trips on his powerboat last year, my friend made a comment that summarized the feelings of those sitting around the table.
“I still want to be on the water,” he said. “But since my wife and I have taken our powerboat to all the places we really wanted to go these past three years, I think I would like to get another sailboat.”
He was quick to clarify his thoughts. Since they have traveled extensively from Florida to Canada and back, it is enough now to be close to home and enjoy what is in our backyard. Just be on the water, harnessing the wind with a reasonable sail plan, rather than driving the boat at speed to the next stop.
The simple peace and quiet energy of wind and waves without engines. No need to go anywhere, just precious moments of now.
In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, life is a journey, not a destination. That sums it up. We no longer plan to go over the horizon, it is enough to be out sailing.
Those of us who live near Annapolis and Chesapeake Bay sometimes forget how lucky we are. With protected water and a mostly temperate climate to enjoy boating most of the year, we sometimes take it for granted.
One can easily spend a lifetime exploring Chesapeake Bay. An afternoon daysail is often enough to recharge the soul. A couple of days of sailing with an occasional overnight anchorage a few miles from home sounds fun. There is no need for extended cruising plans, or participation in sailing or yacht club cruises that tend to repeat their events year after year.
I looked around the table. Between us, we have owned well over a dozen boats, power and sail. While movie theaters consider us senior citizens interested in ticket discounts, we are also exceedingly experienced and seasoned sailors and yachtsmen.
Bermuda races, transatlantic and Pacific crossings, European canals, Alaska, tropical cruising in the Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico…my friends remind me of characters in books that captivated us in our youth. Roth, Chichester, Graham, Hiscock, and Guzzwell come to mind. We did not write books about our accomplishments, but we lived them.
I asked my friend what kind of sailboat he will consider next, knowing full well that a sailboat is in his future. The couple sold their 54-footer years ago and we thought that page had turned. But then who knows what is around the next bend…
(Above image: The new Tartan 455 is a perfect sailboat for a couple to cruise on around the Chesapeake Bay area. )
His situation is different now. His wife is no longer interested in a serious boat life. They have a vibrant family that includes grandchildren, a wonderful home, and she is quite satisfied staying in one place. She might come along for the day, on occasion, but only if the boat is large enough to be comfortable. And has a roomy enclosed head. Sound familiar?
The sailboat must be less complicated. After years of owning cruising boats, we want fewer and simpler systems. We are a hands-on lot, and we look forward to boat projects, stopping short of replacing 8D batteries, that is.
One friend said he has been looking at an Alerion 38. It has an asking price of $180,000. It is a 2006 model, with diesel saildrive. And it looks right.
The look of the boat is of paramount importance. At this stage of life, it must tug at the heart, the lines and overall profile a joy to behold. This may be the last boat, after all, so it needs to be a looker, enough to make us stop and stare as we row away in an anchorage or walk up the dock.
Over the course of several days, I canvassed other sailing friends about this idea and was not surprised that most have given it some thought.
What strikes me is that these gents are hardly the target audience for boat dealers, brokers, and manufacturers. Our segment of the population is quite valid as prospective customers, of course, but most brokers think we are interested in larger and more comfortable trawlers or motoryachts. But in this group, at least, that ship has sailed. Already been there.
One friend said he thinks of a vintage Tartan Sailboat between 36 and 40 feet. It has the look, is comfortable down below, has an enclosed head, and has lasting quality. Another friend loves the Baba 30 from the ‘70s and ‘80s. While it is a full keel boat that would hardly be competitive against a Beneteau of the same size, it has tons more character and sails reasonably well on Chesapeake Bay. And the boat can be found in okay condition for not a lot of money. It too has the look.
(Above Image: This pre-owned Tartan 1999 Tartan 3800 is listed for sale at $150,000.)
My friends think an older cruiser is ideal. A new boat will have more standard equipment than they want or need, so the used market has greater opportunity for less cost. True, most used cruising sailboats are loaded with the gear and systems of the long-distance cruiser. We will never use this stuff, and much of it is old technology or worn out anyway. A 30-year-old generator is no one’s friend, and who needs a watermaker for sailing across the Bay to Rock Hall? Custom stainless tubing contraptions over the cockpit for canvas enclosures and solar panels can come off, as will sailing and deck gear once considered necessary. We can remove the self-steering gear and sell it to the next world cruiser-in-training.
As for size, a Seattle broker told me years ago that a larger, 40-foot boat is easier to sail short handed than a small boat. Mostly I have found that to be true, especially with better sail handling management and a couple of electric winches. In addition to being more comfortable and slower to respond, it has the added safety of wider side decks and a more secure cockpit.
Really, we will take the boat back to its original design, when we did not need all that stuff to go sailing, even to go around the world. Robin Knox-Johnson would approve.
Not surprising, several of my sailing friends, including a couple of women, said the Hinckley Bermuda 40 would easily top their list. Superb construction, beautiful lines, and who cares if it is not particularly comfortable as a cruising boat? Who would not want to go out sailing for the day aboard this jewel?
I made a list of my friends’ comments. I thought it would make a nice summary to bring into my broker’s office. Crusader Yachts in Annapolis has a lot of knowledge and experience in cruising sailboats, whether it is new, a few years old, or a vintage classic. The folks at Crusader also have the unfair advantage of a long and close relationship with Tartan Yachts. They know Tartan, Pacific Seacraft, Jeanneau Yachts, and others. A brokerage company with such a background is a definite asset in the search.
(Image Above: New owners of a 2023 Excess 11 in Annapolis with the help of the Crusader Yachts team.)
Here is the list. I am sure you can add to it. They are in no particular order:
• No need to get the latest technology and features, just a quality boat that sails well, looks great, and is fun to be aboard
• Dutchman, Stack Pack, Leisure Furl or some other mainsail control system to make it easier to handle
• Enclosed roomy head
• Simple galley, although refrigeration is good
• Easy to sail short handed
• Air conditioning is fine but only for the dock. If the boat has a generator, it is likely a cantankerous beast that is old and tired. Remove it and paint the space. A good place to simplify the engine room
• No coral reefs in Chesapeake Bay, so anchor chain with nylon rode is a fine choice
• Couple of electric winches to make sailing easier
• No need for the spinnaker poles and gear found on older sailboats. Remove the clutter and simplify the mast area
• Set boat up as a sloop, ideal if self-tacking jib
• Remove complex and elaborate systems and gear. No need for a watermaker
• Minimal electronics
• Rethink electrical needs and size accordingly. Not looking for multiple days on the hook. Lithium batteries might be worth it except if they require expensive conversion of wiring, chargers, and controllers
• Simplify the engine room space as much as possible. Maybe even consider electric propulsion
• Most enjoy working on the boat rather than hiring technicians to do everything. If we can get to it, we can maintain it. One of the joys of boats is working on them
• Overall size more related to comfort than miles per day
• Really pretty, beautiful lines that speak to the heart and soul
• Sail where we avoid the crowds of powerboats and other boaters and their wakes
• No need for racing gear of any kind
• No solar panels or wind generator or generator
• No self-steering gear necessary
• No dinghy or outboard; davits, stern anchors or other cruising “essentials” not needed for a day on Chesapeake Bay.
The goal is not to reduce weight, although in some boats removing weight from the bow and stern will result in better sailing performance.
What would I choose for this project? One boat comes to mind. I loved the Valiant 40/42 since I first stepped aboard at the Lake Union Boat Show in Seattle many decades ago. Richard Worstell built the Valiant line in Texas for Valiant owners. Everything in the boat can come out of the companionway. That means a 25-year-old Valiant 42 is less likely to have mystery wires and hoses that vanish behind a bulkhead or under the cabin sole.
We might also consider a Pacific Seacraft, Hallberg-Rassy, Alden, Morris, Folkboat, Sabre, or any number of quality yachts that capture the imagination.
If this seems a worthy pursuit to you, stop in at Crusader Yachts and begin a conversation with a professional who knows sailing yachts for any season, agenda, or where you are in life. They know what is around, and have the tools to reach out and find the right boat for you…
My wife suggests I name her Epilogue. A short piece that wraps up the end of the story.
We shall see…
Crusader Yachts is your headquarters for boats for sale in Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay area. We are new boat dealers for Excess Catamarans, Jeanneau Sailboats, and Tartan Yachts, as well as offer professional yacht brokerage services. Come see us at our office located at 7350 Edgewood Road in Annapolis or give us a call at (410) 269-0939 for more information about boating in the Chesapeake Bay area!
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