Fan of watersports?

1. The classic mistake on a sailboat is to be hit in the head by the sail's boom (the bottom-most horizontal rod that keeps the sail straight) when the boat "tacks" - moves so that the wind comes from a different quarter, causing the boom to swing across the boat. I was also once on a badly maintained sailboat that just...lost its rudder. Screws rusted out, and the rudder plunged to the bottom.

Can't really help as much with the other questions.

People running boats with motors must be aware of shoals (shallow areas that can damage the motor's lower unit). Charts (navigation maps) are also a must on larger navigable waterways to avoid running into problems. If a boat loses its navigation lights, it could be hit by another craft in darkness. Fires on boats can also be very dangerous.

1. What could go wrong on a sailboat? If there was an unexpected storm on the water, what would you do technically to save yourself and hopefully your boat?

Sailboats tend to be safer in high waters because of the keel which runs deep. If the people onboard are skilled sailors I would say that it is a very safe sea vehicle, even when caught in unexpected bad weather. That said, without knowing where you are even the most skilled navigator is at a loss and can run into trouble. So in conclusion the most important parts of any vessel at sea are the navigational ones; compass, charts and the ability to read them.

2. Other than running out of fuel, what could go wrong on a motorboat?

Everything. In short; a motorboat has a very shallow keel. In high waters it could turn over. The engine can have other failiours, it could die for several reasons. You could stear into shallow waters and get a hole in the hull. You could have placed the compass in the wrong place and stear out to the sea instead of towards land. The list can be made endless.

3. Which is more dangerous - sailboat or a motorboat?

The are both equally dangerous depending on who is onboard. More often than not; every accident at sea is because of the 'human factor'.

4. Out of waterskiing and parasailing, which is more difficult and why?

Honestly - wouldn't know. Never tried neither.

5. When sailing, what are your main concerns? Do these concerns take away from the fun of sailing?

I would say that it is entirely depending on which waters you are in. Without details that is an impossible question to answer.

6. If you want, share any experiences you've had out on the water - personal triumphs, failures, attempts...whatever. Anything and everything you'd like to share would be great!

I'd love to, but I don't wish to bore the board. Been at sea all my life; in small motorboats, sailingboats, large ships and what have you. Wish you luck with your story, though.

Hi ACEnders - On power boats - there are different keel depths, some (deeper keels) are much better in rough water than the shallow ones. Almost thirty years ago I was out with my husband and a friend fishing on a lake near our home in a shallow keeled fiberglass boat. A sudden violent storm came up with terrific wind that blew the rain across the lake almost horizontal. The fishing boat pitched up and down over the wind-driven waves so high up and down that I would have sworn we came close to having the bow of the boat impale itself in the lake bottom. With every swell, water poured over the bow or stern of the boat. We were bailing for all we were worth and losing. The wind was so strong our friend (who has hams for arms) was not able to steer the boat where he wanted to go - we were at the mercy of the storm. We were lucky - we were driven across the lake and made it into a thicket of willows along the shore where we were able to tie up to ride out the storm. Others were not so lucky and lost everything out of capsized boats including members of their fishing parties. As the storm ended we heard one cry for help and pulled an old man and his dog out of the water (his son drowned). Not an experience I'd like to go through again. Part of the reason we and others had so much trouble in that storm was because there was a horsepower limit on the size of boat motors - with a bigger motor we could have made it shore ahead of the storm, with the smaller motors we were all stuck.

I've also done a fair amount of canoeing - fun but also scary in rougher water. And I've done a lot of water skiing - lots of fun and requires a lot of energy and agility (especially for being able to come up out of the water on one ski.) But, there's nothing like slaloming across the surface of a glassy lake.

But, for real thrills and adventure, there's nothing like hard plastic rafts. It is possible to work your way up from a prone position to a standing position and ski on them - but, you have to let them slow down gradually - can't cut the engine on the pulling boat quickly like you do on skiis. If you cut fast on a raft you end up falling flat on your face on the raft and it hurts like hell (I know). And falls off a raft at high speed - you go one way and the raft goes another. One of our friends ended up de-pants on one of those falls.

Hope those stories give you some helps. Puma

1. What could go wrong on a sailboat?

Slack wind--can't move. Run aground--same. Hit a bouy and breach the hull. Break your rudder--major bad. Broken compass. Have acracked mast. Get twisted in someone's net lines. Get hit by another boater or by an idiot on a jetski. Tangled stays/lines, rotting sheets/sails--less with the new poly-plastic ones vs the old duckcloth, heel over too far due to bad turn and take on water or capsize altogether.

>If there was an unexpected storm on the water, what would you do technically to save yourself and hopefully your boat?

Depends on the type of boat but if you're close to shore you try to run for port ahead of a storm. If you're in open water you cut most sail so it doesn't get shredded, batten the hatches, tie down everything lose, tack into the wind, take the waves at an angle, set the pumps to auto, tie yourself to something so you don't get washed over board. Always wear a lifepreserver. If you have a radio, let the Coast Gaurd know where you are. If there's a hurricane and you're ashore--either get the boat to dry dock asap, or open all the hatches and sink it with anchors out to keep it in one place. Water acts as a cushion. Below the waterline it will be safer than having wind batter it and being hit with debris.

2. Other than running out of fuel, what could go wrong on a motorboat?

Dead battery, running aground, hit a bouy, broken engine cables, rusted contacts in engine, broken compass, capsize due to improper maneuvering, get hit by another boater or by an idiot on a jetski.

3. Which is more dangerous - sailboat or a motorboat?
The water is dangerous, even more so drinking and boating. A loose boom on a sailboat can knock you overboard, an improper tied off line can tangle your feet and do the same. Either boat--bad maneuvering can make you tip over. Gas explosion can happen with a motor boat when the fumes accumulate in the lower deck due to lack of venting and a spark can set them off.

4. Out of waterskiing and parasailing, which is more difficult and why? Never did either.

5. When sailing, what are your main concerns? Do these concerns take away from the fun of sailing?

You appreciate the way the boat responds and treat her and the sea with respect. Having the wind carry you is amazing. If you're smart you have a small GH motor and gas (get home mtor) in case the wind dies or your sails/lines/mast gets furked.

6. If you want, share any experiences you've had out on the water - personal triumphs, failures, attempts...whatever. Anything and everything you'd like to share would be great!

My dad built two wooden boats, a 12' rowboat and a 15' minicruiser. I loved both of them, ran in a squall in the minicruiser with waves washing over the windshield soaking me at the wheel and I loved it. Also learned to navigate in fog with the compass off Long Island sound between Connecticut and LI NY. And that the anchor doesn't hold well in a smooth channel bottom so we drifted into the path of an incoming barge! Yikes!

hello

ACEnders said:

2. Other than running out of fuel, what could go wrong on a motorboat? You could do like my sister and flip the boat (16 foot boston whaler). She was in a small pond, so it was pretty impressive that she managed it (she hit her own wake and paniced). She was towing two people in an innertube, and luckily no one was hurt. She did Not attach the safety kill switch, so the motor was still running after the flip (until it flooded). Very very lucky no one was hurt.


4. Out of waterskiing and parasailing, which is more difficult and why? well, I've managed to parasail, but never waterski... (prolly cuz we used a boat with not-enough-power. Hard to get out of the water on skis when you are getting dragged slowly)

5. When sailing, what are your main concerns? Do these concerns take away from the fun of sailing? getting knocked out is definitely possible. When parasailing I over turned (into the wind) and had the sail push me back into the water and then come crashing down next to my head. I paid MUCH more attention after that.

6. If you want, share any experiences you've had out on the water - personal triumphs, failures, attempts...whatever. Anything and everything you'd like to share would be great! see above

If you think there's something important I should know when putting my characters out on the water, please tell me. have you considered adding alcohol to make things more challenging for your character?

I think you all in advance!

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When I was a kid, I was a passenger on a small sailboat which capsized in a good-sized motorboat's big wake, dumping everyone. (The motorboat operator was probably unaware, and certainly didn't stop.) No injuries, thanks to life vests all around, but the adults could not get her right-side-up again, and even in summer, deep water is cold only a few feet below the surface.

Maryn, who rarely remembers this