ChatGPT Comes to Small Boating
Proving Again That Some Intelligence Is Truly Artificial
Are you sick of the daily news assault about artificial intelligence (AI), ChatGPT and whatever smarty-pants brainbuster Microsoft is coming up with? Do you dread listening as some audio version of Wikipedia drones on endlessly, reciting details nobody really needs?
Me, too.
Although personally equipped with limited, non-artificial intelligence, and little interest in AI, we found ourselves snowbound this morning. Twitchy and bored, finished with emails and Wordle, we downloaded one of the ChatGPT apps…just to see if the artificial-intelligence machine can disgorge good stuff on our favorite subject—small-boats.
The results? ChatGPT proved erratic in accuracy, generally okay in handling softball questions, but the poor thing often seemed tone deaf in its understanding of our questions.
Just for fun, here are some of our actual questions to ChatGPT, and the app’s answers:
Why do sailors love small boats?
“Sailors love small boats because they are easier to maneuver, require less maintenance, and are more affordable than larger boats. Additionally, small boats provide a more intimate experience on the water, allowing sailors to explore and enjoy the beauty of the ocean in a more personal way.”
(Comment: A decent, succinct answer.)
How do you define “small boat”?
“A small boat is generally defined as a vessel that is less than 25 feet in length and is used for recreational or commercial purposes.”
(Comment: Our focus tends to be on boats under about 22 feet on deck, and few are used for commercial purposes…but hey, let’s not nitpick.)
I want to buy a 12-foot wooden kit sailboat for overnight cruises. Please recommend a model.
“The Catalina 12.2 in an excellent choice for overnight cruises. It is a 12-foot wooden kit sailboat that is designed for easy assembly and is perfect for weekend getaways. It features a spacious cockpit, comfortable seating, and plenty of storage space. It also has a shallow draft, making it ideal for navigating shallow waters.”
(Comment: OMG…the only Catalina 12.2 Google could find is a 12.2-INCH-long model of a late-1800s Dutch sailing barge—the real boat being 36-50 feet in length. So a D-Minus on this one, Chatty.)
Please name favorite U.S. cruising areas for small boats.
“Some of the most popular cruising areas for small boats in the United States include the Great Lakes, the Gulf Coast, the Chesapeake Bay, the Florida Keys, the San Juan Islands, the Pacific Northwest and the New England coast.”
(Comment: Okay, fine, but in other words, “most everywhere.”)
Can you please name the best camp-cruising, trailerable small sailboat models?
“Some of the best camp-cruising, trailerable small sailboat models include the Hobie 16, the Laser, the Sunfish, the J/70, the J/80, the J/22, the J/24, the J/105, the J/109, and the J/120.”
(Comment: Whoa, Nellie! It’s hard to imagine the Laser and Sunfish as camp-cruising winners, and of course boats like the 40-foot J/120 hardly qualify in the “small sailboat” category.)
Please name 10 famous small-boat sailors.
1. Sir Francis Chichester
2. Joshua Slocum
3. Ellen MacArthur
4. Robin Knox-Johnston
5. Eric Tabarly
6. Bernard Moitessier
7. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
8. Sir Peter Blake
9. Sir Francis Drake
10. Sir Thomas Coville
(Comment: The intelligence here is totally artificial. Chichester’s Gipsy Moth was 53 feet in length; Slocum’s Spray was 37 feet and the Golden Hind of Sir Francis Drake was, uh, 102 feet long…hardly “small boats.”)
What is your favorite 17-foot sailboat for overnight cruising?
“My favorite 17-foot sailboat for overnight cruising is the Hunter 17. It is a great boat for cruising with its spacious interior, comfortable cockpit, and easy handling. It is also lightweight and easy to trailer, making it a great choice for weekend getaways.”
(Comment: Where, exactly, is the “spacious interior…?”)
Can you recommend a sleep-aboard rowboat that is suitable for overnight cruises?
“The Sea Eagle SE370 Sport Kayak is a great sleep-aboard rowboat for overnight cruises. It is made of heavy-duty puncture-resistant material and features a removable skeg for improved tracking and stability. It also has a large, open cockpit with adjustable foot braces and a comfortable inflatable seat. It can accommodate up to three people and has plenty of storage space for camping gear.”
(Comment: We asked about ROWING, not paddling. And is this tub toy really a comfortable sleep-aboard??)
Do you understand the difference between rowing and paddling
“Yes…Rowing involves using oars to propel a boat through the water, while paddling involves using a paddle to move the boat.”
(Comment: Very good, smartypants. Now double-check your response to the previous question.)
Are you familiar with Small Craft Advisor magazine?
“Yes, I am familiar with Small Craft Advisor magazine. It is a magazine that focuses on small boats and sailing.”
(Comment: Correct answer!)
Please compare two small-boat sailing rigs: The lugsail rig and spritsail rig.
“The lugsail rig is a traditional sailboat rig that consists of a single square sail attached to a yard that is suspended from a mast. The spritsail rig is a more modern sailboat rig that consists of a triangular sail attached to a sprit that is suspended from a mast. Both rigs are suitable for small boats, but the lugsail rig is more efficient in light winds, while the spritsail rig is more efficient in strong winds.”
(Comment: Not sure how “modern” the spritsail rig is, or that its sail is exactly “triangular,” but otherwise this was a semi-reasonable response.)
Can you predict which small-boat design will win Small Craft Advisor magazine’s Mini-Cruiser Madness competition?
“Unfortunately, I cannot…The winner of the contest is determined by a public vote, so it is impossible to predict the outcome.”
(Comment: Boy, no kidding!)
Which small boat is better overall—the Montgomery 15 or the Montgomery 17?
“It depends on your needs and preferences. The Montgomery 15 is a great choice for those who want a smaller, more maneuverable boat, while the Montgomery 17 is a great choice for those who need more space and stability. Consider your needs and preferences, and then decide which boat is the best fit for you.”
(Comment: ChatGPT should run for office—this was a perfectly political non-answer.)
Do you recommend purchase of a used fiberglass sailboat under 20 feet in length, built in the 1970s or 1980s?
“No…There are many potential risks associated with purchasing a used boat of this age, including structural damage, outdated technology, and potential safety issues. It is best to consult a professional boat surveyor before making a purchase.”
(Comment: What a weenie. Clearly, ChatGPT has spent too much time staring at its own monitor, and he/she didn’t grow up happily scrounging and refurbishing rotten old boats, like us.)
I love small sailboats under 16 feet in length. Am I crazy?
“No, you’re not crazy. Many people enjoy sailing small sailboats and it can be a great way to relax and enjoy the outdoors.”
(Comment: Thank you. Can you please say that to my big-boat-owning friends?)
I’m 80 years old and somewhat challenged when it comes to mobility. Can you recommend the most comfortable small cruising sailboat under 17 feet in length?
“The Hunter 17…It has a large cockpit, comfortable seating, and a spacious cabin. It also has a shallow draft, making it easy to maneuver in shallow waters. Additionally, it has a self-tacking jib and a roller furling main sail, making it easy to sail even for those with limited mobility.”
(Comment: Clearly, ChatGPT is getting kickbacks from Hunter, pushing a “comfortable small cruising sailboat” that’s missing its cabin.)
I am 8 years old and 4’ 6” tall. Can you recommend the most comfortable small camp-cruising sailboat under 12 feet in length?
“The Laser Pico is a great choice for a small cruising sailboat under 12 feet in length. It is lightweight and easy to maneuver, making it comfortable for an 8-year-old to sail. It also has a large cockpit and plenty of storage space, making it a great choice for a family outing.”
(Comment: Not sure I’d send my grandkids out for an overnighter aboard the Pico, which is hardly what we’d normally call a “cruising sailboat.”)
To conclude, Chat GPT is probably okay if you’re in the 7th grade, desperately mashing together an assignment on Sir Francis Drake, but please don’t rely on artificial intelligence when selecting your next camp-cruising sailboat. You can do better the old-fashioned way—by asking friends for their marginal opinions, then doing the opposite. -SCA
Marty,
I’ve been thinking about ChatGPT and its competitors from Google and Microsoft. In fact I did a post/rant on facebook and LinkedIn about them.
Because all these tools use machine learning and rely on databases of existing content, think about what will happen if/when more and more content providers of all sorts utilize ChatGPT and publish straight to the net without editorial oversight. Over time, the net will become more and more populated with stuff that sounds reasonable at first glance but is clearly nonsense to anyone that can actually think. The ChatGPTs and their ilk will be then referring back to an ever-increasing fraction of the database populated with the nonsense they just generated, and perpetuating it in a recursive loop, with no ability to discriminate. With the speed of these tools, I can foresee a time when publishing content from them will be automated, and the net will mostly be eventually filled with nonsense, and original content will be a vanishingly small fraction.
I think it will happen at an accelerating pace and become a kind of singularity of meaninglessness .
Hilarious commentary Marty. Thank you for your "shallow draft"!