Motorsailers for Sale

Motorsailer

The motorsailer is a balancing act between sailboat and powerboat. Most of them have a displacement hull that delivers good to very good compromise performance both under sail and under engine. With modern versions, the balance between powerboat and sailing yacht keeps getting better – each means of propulsion (wind or engine) can be used relatively efficiently.

What is a motorsailer?

They're often called a compromise – and (because of that?) they're especially popular with boaters who feel at home in both «worlds». Others claim this boat type is for people who can't or won't make up their minds. Either way – the motorsailer is a mostly successful balancing act between sailboat and powerboat. And it continues to gain acceptance among cruising sailors and cruising powerboaters alike.

Advantages of a motorsailer

Motorsailers are always cabin boats and usually have a rather ponderous-looking displacement hull that can nevertheless deliver surprisingly high performance under sail as well as under engine. Compared with a standard cruising sailboat, significantly more powerful inboard engines are fitted in the hull. These in turn have noticeably less horsepower under the hood than a powerboat of the same length. The same applies to the sail plan and the rig. Designed as a pure sailboat, the equivalent of a motorsailer of the same length could handle considerably more canvas and mast height. But compromises are made here too, in order to combine the advantages of a powerboat and a sailing yacht without them getting «in each other's way». As mentioned before: motorsailers are compromises.

Below deck, motorsailers usually offer considerably more space than equivalent cruising sailing yachts, but often less comfort than a powerboat.
Once underway, the motorsailer is considered safe and less dependent on the weather.
To put it simply: when sailing conditions are ideal, you sail the motorsailer; when the wind drops off sharply or blows too hard, the engine comes into play. In strong winds and heavy seas, the combination of a small sail area (more stability in the boat than without) and engine (course stability) is considered ideal.

Motorsailer used boat tip

Used boat tip: when buying a motorsailer, pay meticulous attention to the details of BOTH boat types. Inspect the engine, propeller, electrical system and so on as if you had a pure powerboat in front of you. On the other hand, the same also applies to the condition of the sails, rig, lines, winches, clutches and so on. All electronic instruments for navigation, autopilot and the like are independent of the boat type anyway. The hull, rudder and keel should definitely be checked in dry dock or in the slings.

What license do you need for a motorsailer?

The same licenses apply to motorsailers as to sailing yachts with engines of more than 15 hp.