A few small sailboats
Boating is a great way to get in touch with nature in an insect-free environment. But powerboats are loud, obnoxious, and get mileage that’s measured in gallons per mile. (No, really — a 48 foot yacht will suck up about 2 gallons for every mile of cruising.) If you don’t have to get anywhere in a hurry, there’s nothing better than a sail. Once you’re out of the harbor, you can hoist the main and turn off the little motor, and the only sounds are the wind and the water and the gentle clinking of various little metal doodads.
But even sailboats can be cumbersome, and marinas charge by the foot. So here’s some of the smallest models — called “pocket cruisers” by those in the know — that won’t get your ass wet.
The West Wight Potter comes in two varieties: a 15″ and a 19″. The 19″ can include a Porta Potty, although it’s not clear exactly where you go to use it, since it’s stowed in a cardboard box under one of the cushions. They get bonus points for actually being in production and having a nicely designed website with a FAQ. A community website also exists, here.
Not in production anymore, the Flicka 20 comes out on top of this website’s short list. It actually has a head (that’s maritime-talk for bathroom), unlike the West Wight above.
The Guppy 13 is the original pocket yacht, and it has a posse. With its two little round portholes on each side, it looks like a cartoon boat. This one’s definitely for the minimalist, as it won’t take an outboard engine without some modifications. But you can, theoretically, sleep two on it.
And for the very adventurous, you could always build your own, like the guys at microcruising.com. Or take it around the world, like the Trekka.
March 23rd, 2007 at 1:22 am
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