Boating and Sailing.pdf - Moja ladja

Chapter 1: Welcome to the Wet and Wonderful World of Boating!
Powerboats generally have large engines and depend entirely on fossil fuels for propulsion.
Sailboats may or may not have auxiliary engines, but they always carry a mast and
sails that allow them to harness the wind. Sailboats are not quite “turn-key” rigs like
powerboats; it takes considerable instruction to learn the basics, but those who take the
time to learn are treated to a lifetime of wonderful recreation—and no noisy exhausts.
Power to the People—Boats with Motors
For most families, that first boat is a powerboat that is 14 to 16 feet long and powered by
a two-cycle outboard motor of 50 to 90 horsepower. Powerboating takes less study and
requires less physical work than sailing, so it’s a quick, easy way to get started.
Powerboats range from slow as a turtle to fast as a flying fish. They can be broken into
many subclasses, including the following:
◆ Runabouts, ski boats, and performance boats
◆ Fishing boats
◆ Live-aboards—cruisers, trawlers, and houseboats
◆ Pontoon and deck boats
◆ Personal watercraft (PWCs)
◆ Inflatable boats
Powerboat prices range from under $2,000 to millions of dollars, and sizes range from
diminutive 8-footers powered by 1-horse electric motors to stately 150-footers driven by
multiple diesels with thousands of horsepower.
Many powerboats in the popular 14- to 17-foot class are available at prices from $5,000 to
$14,000, including a trailer that allows you to “dock” them in your garage and tow them
to the ramp each weekend. These are great starter boats.
One Model Fits All: The Runabout
This range includes the ubiquitous runabout, which is what most of us think of when we
think of a one-model-fits-all family boat. It has a closed bow, a windshield, back-to-back
seats that fold down into a sun lounge, and space to store water skis and life jackets under
the sole or main deck.
A variation on the runabout is the bow-rider, which has the same hull and aft layout, but
with seats replacing the closed bow and a walk-through door in the windshield to allow
passage forward. An advantage of the bow-rider is that there’s more seating space—you
can carry six or eight passengers, depending on the depth and beam of the boat and your
tolerance for close company.
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