Why Sailboats Are NOT More Popular - Ep 291 - Lady K Sailing

Are you trying to decide between a sailboat vs a power boat? Why are sailboats less popular? It is becuase sailboats are slow? Or sailing is hard? Are you worried about learning to sail? How does someone get started sailing? Which sailboat do you buy? Today we look at why people don't like sailboats and discuss the pros and cons of buying a sailboat.

[jameskiehm]

Surfing over 20 knots with a spinnaker is more thrilling than motorcycles and skiing. I also love singlehanded sailing probably more than any other sailing. The challenge of self reliance is both thrilling and peaceful.

[mathieut]

"The most expensive and unpredictable way to travel for free"

[petervanderwaart]

How to sail: 1. Point the boat in the direction you want to go. 2. Pull in the sail until it stops flapping. 3. If the sail is all the way in and still flapping, choose a different direction.

[SailSmileReDo]

When you’re sailing you’re one with nature. You’re not making a horrible wake, you’re not polluting the environment and yes, you are enjoying the sun, quietly gliding through blue water and being enchanted by the huge wing above your head called Sail)

No wonder humpbacks are surfacing next to your sailboat leaving you in awe 😊

[peteambrose]

Many years ago, a sailing friend at a New Jersey marina was being abused by a power boater about how slow his sailboat is. He said “lets race for $100”. The power boater said “you’re ON! Where to?”. My friend said “Bermuda”. The powerboater said “I don’t carry enough fuel to go that far”. My friend said “pay up!”

[PyeGuySailing]

I've never sailed at 7 knots and thought "this is slow and boring " but I've done 3X that in a power boat and thought that. Lol

[Alex-cwrz]

Sailing is the most exhilarating and fun experience anyone has ever had in a vehicle going under 10mph

[bssdragon]

I've owned both power and sail. Sailboats are far more comfortable in rough seas. Sailboats don't blow up at fuel docks. When bad weather approaches an anchorage, it's the sailors who know it's coming. Sailors live longer, and we need to because we go so slow!!

[svdreamsfloat]

I just bought my first sailboat with absolutely no experience. My advice, if you want it, just do it. See everyone in the Bahamas

[FrankZambaras]

Most of us long distance cruisers will admit that we use the engines a lot more than we would like. Even running my engine sipping .75 gallons of diesel per hour for days at a time a sailboat is still an incredibly economical way to travel long distances.

[matthewkaras]

Sailing is a primordial pleasure. It's magic. It is the original "the journey is the destination".

[MikeDQB]

I have been around power boats my whole life - my father was in the US Navy.

One day out of the blue randomly I decided I wanted to learn to sail. I am in the Indianapolis area - so landlocked. I assumed there would be no good way for me to actually learn without having to take a trip to a shore - and plan weeks or months.

A quick Google search revealed a sailing school near - about a 50 minute drive - on a reservoir.

The first time I was at the helm and we killed the motor and heeled over in the wind - I was hooked. I spent the next 6 months researching sail boats and looking at them online. I spent many many hours driving to look at boats - sometimes 8 hours one-way. Eventually I bought my boat and while it's a lot of work - I've enjoyed every minute of it.

You're absolutely right about the racing - we do races on our lake every Wednesday and Sunday during the season - me and my kids - and we have a blast.

Don't get me wrong - power boats can be fun - but it's an entirely different kind of fun from sailing. Until someone has sailed - it can be hard for them to understand.

[davidmalone]

Funny that you showed a clip from "Miami Boat Ramps." Okay, so the reason to buy a sailboat first: you'll learn how to come into a dock and tie it off properly. You'll learn the physics of pulling the bow or stern in using the momentum of the boat. You'll learn how to tie a proper cleat hitch. You'll learn proper speeds for approaching docks. You[ll learn rules of the road. And tons of other transferrable skills that, obviously, 90% of power boaters don't seem to pick up. 😂

Oh, and you'll quickly realize the best time on a boat is when the engine is turned off.

[davidressler]

Since I started sailing, our power boat sits idle and our enjoyment of life on the water has gone up immeasurably. My wife and I both agree that our spontaneous purchase of a 26 foot Pearson and consequent lake racing has been the best investment with the most ROI we ever spent on anything for our family.

[RestlessMule]

I’ve been a subscriber for several months and can’t count how many of your videos I’ve watched to this point….and this is the first time for me to comment on one of your videos. I’m in my early 40’s and have been around powerboats my entire life, but I have always been fascinated by sailing. About two months ago my 10 year old son said he would like to learn how to sail. I bought a “how to” book on sailing, watched several tutorial videos, and a month later I bought a sailing dinghy for my son and I to start sailing. The first month has been a lot of fun and my son and I talk about what we would like in our first “real” sailboat and what we want to do with it. We both love going across the lake and looking back at how far we traveled without any motor and without paddling. Hopefully by Spring we will have upgraded to our next sail boat. At this point I’m still a bit apprehensive about buying a “real” boat because of the fear of what I don’t know. Lol

[billbergquist]

Perfectly trimmed sails, feeling the boat slice through the waves, and sound of the wind and water. Challenge of finding the shortest path upwind.

[sailingabroad]

I'm self thought dropping a 23 ft cutter rig in the lake. Going on 8 years now. Far as the lingo if we all agree a sail is called a coconut then a coconut it will be called. That was 3 sailboats ago. Now I cruise full time now still no lessons just stuff I try by trial and error. I'm the first in any family or friends to sail.

[mitchellsmith]

Get a small sailboat as your first boat, for the same reason the Navy teaches sailing at the Naval Academy: it teaches you the effects of wind, tide, currents and vessel trim in ways a powerboat wont.

[quadg]

When you trim her right and the hull and rigging starts to sing to the thrum of the ocean.
Pure bliss.

[gocanada]

This year i bought my first sailboat hughes 35 i knew nothing about sailing just what i have learned from your videos and a couple other creators, but your videos made me make the jump from power to sail, sailed my first time from erieau where i bought the boat, to port dover marina, i am still learning and the sailing community in port dover and i am sure everywhere is more then willing to teach and help all new sailors with everything they don't know, the people you meet and the peace on the water worth much more then you pay for the boat.