Motorsailers
trip, I had a firsthand appreciation for the style and grace
of cruising on a proper motorsailer. (Visit the Web Extras
for this issue at passagemaker.com to read an article
describing our experience on Burma.)
Bill Jacobs
The canoe-style stern seen on Spindra is utilized on all Fisher
motorsailers to combat the motion of a following sea.
Johnson. She charters in New England in the summer
and in the Caribbean in the winter.
Interestingly, I also found two excellent examples of
motorsailer history and tradition, both designed by the
previously discussed R.O. Davis. Argosy, at 101 feet LOA,
is the largest charter boat available in the San Francisco
Bay area. The yacht is owned by Bill Belmont, a noted
sound engineer for many musicians, including the
Grateful Dead. Argosy, built in 1947 by the Henry Nevins
yard, is an ideal vessel for a party of six to cruise the
windy bay waters in comfort and style. “In a sense,” says
Belmont, “we are forced to be caretakers of this historic
item, since it really is the logical development of the
Hand motorsailer and is the prototype for almost all of
the Rhodes motorsailers of the ’50s, ’60s, and onwards.”
Burma, built in 1950 and mentioned earlier in this
article, is in charter in Maine. I found her advertised in a
magazine and contacted her owners, Michael and
Debbie McMenemy. Their knowledge of motorsailers
and infectious enthusiasm resulted in an overnight cruise
aboard this outstanding example of a classic motorsailer.
My wife, Sue, and I joined them on two of the finest
days that summer in Maine can offer. After making this
PUSHING THE ENVELOPE
As our dependence on fossil fuels continues to
challenge the designers and builders of power-driven
vessels, what is the future of sail assistance to supplement
range and stability and to lower costs? I digress from the
traditional motorsailer, its history, and its current design
to delve further into the topic of wind power.
SkySails ( skysails.info) is a German company that
produces kite-like sails for use on ocean-going cargo
carriers. According to the company, the sails can reduce
fuel consumption by 10–35 percent, depending on the
route and weather conditions. After a recent two-month
maiden voyage on Beluga Skysail, Capt. Lutz Heldt said,
“We can once again actually sail with cargo ships, thus
opening a new chapter in the history of commercial
shipping.” Further development of the technology is
planned for application to pleasure boats.
Another company, Kite For Sail LLC of Maui, Hawaii,
has developed smaller kite power kits for lighter vessels.
This company also has achieved remarkable results with
the kite, supplementing power on a 24-foot Corsair
trimaran. Kite For Sail, which uses the boat for charter
fishing, spends almost nothing on fuel. Dan Tracy, one
of the company partners, says, “The kite has advantages
over conventional sails. It catches stronger, cleaner
wind higher up. It also can be retrofitted on an existing
hull with minimal modification.” Dan also reports that
development is under way for kites that generate
20–50hp, for use with displacement-hull powerboats.
WINDS OF CHANGE
There is little doubt that the designers, manufacturers,
and custom builders of boats and yachting equipment
will be introducing new technology to address many
of the concerns that have arisen in the past few years,
be it environmental impact, engine efficiency, alternative
power sources, or ease of operation. We are just
beginning to peek over the horizon.
As we look toward the future, it will be interesting
to evaluate the contributions of the motorsailer, its
unique development over the last 75 years, and its
ongoing impact on potential solutions to these
complex problems.
Visit the Web Extras for this issue at passagemaker.com
to view additional photos and to read more about cruising
aboard Burma.
