I see that when you look at buying a sailboat it says what kind of fuel it uses. What is that fuel for? I thought I could be on a boat and not use any fuel at all. Is that true?
2007-02-28 07:57:18 · 8 answers · asked by answermaster 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Boats & Boating
We would love to just sail, but the marinas do not allow you to come in or go out except under motor. At times there is no wind. At times there is too much wind and sails come down, except for a steadying sail and we motor . Sometimes we need to go a direction that is directly into the wind. Except for a small boat, you need an auxillary motor. We use very little fuel and have traveled the East Coast and Great Lakes.
2007-02-28 09:23:23 · answer #1 · answered by science teacher 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yoou could just use sails on a sailboat, but getting in and out of a dock with other boats all around you would be very, very difficult, and expensive if you happened to run into someone else's expensive toy!
Most sailboats use a small gas or deisel engine to manuever in ports.
2007-02-28 08:06:52 · answer #2 · answered by glenn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wind is not a constant source for power, It will usually be present but not allways with enough volicity to propel your boat. It can also be blowing from the wrong direction to be effictive for propulsion. The majority of sail boats will have some sort of backup, usually a small outboard motor. Think of it as a backup generator for your home in case of a power outtage.
2007-02-28 12:46:00 · answer #3 · answered by Hillabee Creek Redneck 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An "alternate means of propulsion" is also quite helpful if you run out of wind in the middle of commercial shipping lanes. If the boat is operated on a lake it is less of a concern but still pretty handy to have another means of maneuvering without wind.
2007-02-28 23:31:21 · answer #4 · answered by Jacob W 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in case the wind stops blowing and your out in the middle of the ocean and your forced to eat you children and your dog so you can stay alive long enough to have coast guard find you, and maybe you will get lucky and get picked up by Russian fisherman who will make you there slave for the next 30 years cutting up fish heads with a ball and chain then yes i would recommend a sail boat without fuel.
2007-02-28 08:07:52 · answer #5 · answered by Jack H 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some sailboats (larger than say a sunfish) have small outboards to maneuver in and out of the dock.
2007-02-28 08:03:46 · answer #6 · answered by DUCKBILL 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not really needed for docking (though it is helpful) an engine is a great backup for light or no wind and if something happens to the sail at sea.
2007-03-01 04:53:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Besides the small motors used for manuvering, many have onboard gas or diesel powered generators to run electrical equipment and charge batteries.
2007-02-28 09:14:37 · answer #8 · answered by exert-7 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋