Well that was interesting. We proposed a theoretical—5 popular trailerable sailboats getting caught out in rough weather—and asked you to vote and tell us which of the boats you thought would most likely be in trouble first.
I don't know why I feel compelled to comment on theoretical situations in this forum. I looked at the list of boats and realized I had no experience with any of them in 40 kts+, and was therefore not qualified to comment. Maybe the better question would be; have you experienced 40kts+ in your small boat and how confident were you in the boats ability to handle such conditions. I do sail with a Potter 19 frequently and it seems to handle 30kts+ well.
Sorry if I ruffled feathers with my previous comment. In the print days, there was an editor between submissions and publication. Now, everything is out there in its raw form.
Better to keep quiet and have them think you a fool....
Two points in response to your comment Rusty, as has been said it’s the the level of seamanship that has a major impact on how safe a vessel is (Frank Dye and the Wayfarer as another example) but to attribute Webb’s getting most of the way around the planet sailing his Drascombe to only luck is demeaning to someone who is in another universe as to skill and courage compared to us normies.
I was tempted to vote against the Potter... mainly because the construction quality is pretty poor compared to a Catalina, Siren, or Drascombe. But ultimately, they are very stable, underpowered, easy to reef, and provide a sheltered cabin when the weather goes bad.
However, the MacGregor was similarly built to a fairly low price point, has more windage, and frankly, with a 50hp engine on the fantail, should never dare to be caught out in a blow. They should be gunning it for port at the first dark cloud.
Interesting poll but if one considers that Webb Chiles sailed a Drascombe Lugger most of the way around the world and having owned a WWP 19 and I believe at least one has sailed to Hawaii I’d say putting a Catalina 22 above either boats is off base.
Just because one person with questionable judgement, and EXTREME luck did it doesn’t make an open boat like the Drascombe a good choice for everybody in the conditions described. Those are survival conditions for most anybody, and I think virtually everyone reading this would be calling the coast guard for rescue in that scenario, in that boat. Easy to sit in an armchair and say, “He did it, so could I”. Well, nope...most couldn’t.
It’s not surprising that the only one of the 5 that’s unsinkable is viewed as unseaworthy! With that in mind, I once persuaded a crusty old keel boater to go out with me in 20+ knots of wind. After putting the Mac through a few points of sail on the otherwise deserted lake his comment was “it’s not half bad!”
I'll take a Montgomery17 over any of these boats. SCA seems to have a bias against the Montgomery17, so I'm not surprised that it was left out of the comparison.
A bias against the M-17? One of our favorite boats of all time—been on multiple covers, two full-length feature reviews over the years, countless articles on adventures and mods, the designer had a regular column in SCA for years, etc. You lost me there :-)
First time reading the magazine? The M17 is one of the most popular boats in the history of the freakin magazine! A bias AGAINST?!?! Wtf? Sounds like someone has a chip on their shoulder. 🤦♂️🤡
I don't know why I feel compelled to comment on theoretical situations in this forum. I looked at the list of boats and realized I had no experience with any of them in 40 kts+, and was therefore not qualified to comment. Maybe the better question would be; have you experienced 40kts+ in your small boat and how confident were you in the boats ability to handle such conditions. I do sail with a Potter 19 frequently and it seems to handle 30kts+ well.
Sorry if I ruffled feathers with my previous comment. In the print days, there was an editor between submissions and publication. Now, everything is out there in its raw form.
Better to keep quiet and have them think you a fool....
Two points in response to your comment Rusty, as has been said it’s the the level of seamanship that has a major impact on how safe a vessel is (Frank Dye and the Wayfarer as another example) but to attribute Webb’s getting most of the way around the planet sailing his Drascombe to only luck is demeaning to someone who is in another universe as to skill and courage compared to us normies.
I was tempted to vote against the Potter... mainly because the construction quality is pretty poor compared to a Catalina, Siren, or Drascombe. But ultimately, they are very stable, underpowered, easy to reef, and provide a sheltered cabin when the weather goes bad.
However, the MacGregor was similarly built to a fairly low price point, has more windage, and frankly, with a 50hp engine on the fantail, should never dare to be caught out in a blow. They should be gunning it for port at the first dark cloud.
Interesting poll but if one considers that Webb Chiles sailed a Drascombe Lugger most of the way around the world and having owned a WWP 19 and I believe at least one has sailed to Hawaii I’d say putting a Catalina 22 above either boats is off base.
Just because one person with questionable judgement, and EXTREME luck did it doesn’t make an open boat like the Drascombe a good choice for everybody in the conditions described. Those are survival conditions for most anybody, and I think virtually everyone reading this would be calling the coast guard for rescue in that scenario, in that boat. Easy to sit in an armchair and say, “He did it, so could I”. Well, nope...most couldn’t.
It’s not surprising that the only one of the 5 that’s unsinkable is viewed as unseaworthy! With that in mind, I once persuaded a crusty old keel boater to go out with me in 20+ knots of wind. After putting the Mac through a few points of sail on the otherwise deserted lake his comment was “it’s not half bad!”
I'll take a Montgomery17 over any of these boats. SCA seems to have a bias against the Montgomery17, so I'm not surprised that it was left out of the comparison.
A bias against the M-17? One of our favorite boats of all time—been on multiple covers, two full-length feature reviews over the years, countless articles on adventures and mods, the designer had a regular column in SCA for years, etc. You lost me there :-)
First time reading the magazine? The M17 is one of the most popular boats in the history of the freakin magazine! A bias AGAINST?!?! Wtf? Sounds like someone has a chip on their shoulder. 🤦♂️🤡