totally SAIL

Posted By: pehr jansson (Harpoon 5.2)
Date: 10/17/07 7:20a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: motor (link) (WAYNE, '79 5.2, OCALA, FL)

Wayne The idea that one can travel to any corner of the world powered solely by canvas and wind has a powerful influence on my love for sailing. The romance of sailing for me is ruined by having any propulsion other than wind (or in the event of a lull, perhaps a paddle or an oar). For the longest time I have resisted putting any motor on my Harpoon. My brother can attest to how last summer we sat for hours on Lake Somerville baking in the Texas sun as I mocked his insinuation that we would not have found ourselves in that pickle if only I would break down and have a motor. Being from Florida, surely you appreciate the challenges of sailing in the shallow waters around the Gulf. We will be on Follets island for a week on a shallow canal. Behind it is Christmas Bay, which on the charts maxes out at a depth of 4 feet. Between us and West Galveston bay lies San Luis Pass which has been described to me as ever shifting shoals ("surely you don't intend to sail through the ever shifting shoals of San Luis Pass"). Channels go from 6 feet to 1 foot before entering the bay. To get to boat ramps from the bay to Galveston Island we will have to travel long stretches of shallows (likely against the wind) into canals. It is with the greatest reluctance that I am violating my Harpoon by putting a motor on her. However, my interest in exploring the relatively unspoiled bays near San Luis Pass and giving us a chance for getting to the relatively deep West Galveston bay (6 feet on the chart) where the sailing is reputed to be great and there is some chance of sailing with a Dolphin or two, in this instance, outweighed the desire for purity. Conversely, sailing where we are going without having a motor would probably be rather ill-advised. And, after all, the boat does have a motor mount (perhaps you have had yours removed?). So, the simple reason for my inquiry, is that I have obtained a motor and would like to know from someone else who similarly deflowered his or her boat whether it would be prudent for me to carry an extra gallon of fuel. When I return to Austin, I give you my Harpooner-promise that I will put the motor on a stand in the back of the garage; no doubt, I will wonder what in the world possessed me to drop that kind of money on something so vile. That is until the next time, I take my SAILING boat to a place where even her 3.5 foot draft might be 2.5 feet too much. Jenny suggested that I only go with the wind so that I can sail with the CB up. However, that seems rather impractical. Or have you perhaps figured out a solution for that? Please forgive me if I have upset your sensibilities by making this line of inquiry. I shall now withdraw into my shell in utter embarrassment for having caused even one person to think that I might would have considered the Harpoon a motor boat. Namaste, Pehr P.S. I would also like to let you know that I have ordered the auto-release cleats for the CB as I anticipate that we will in fact try to sail in may places where prudence may dictate otherwise. After all, who wants to experience nature while being fumigated by some smelly stinkpot?