Understanding Boats Through Design and Experience
I began boating shortly before turning 60, starting with a Jeanneau Merry Fisher 895 Sport and subsequently learning to sail a 31-foot yacht.
Operating these vessels has raised questions about boat design, propulsion, equipment, handling, safety, and the practical realities of ownership.
The articles collected here combine independent learning, hands-on experience, and an interest in the engineering behind the way boats behave.
They are organized into four areas: selecting and designing boats, propulsion and efficiency, seamanship, and owner experience.
1. Choosing a Boat & Understanding Its Design
Selecting a boat involves understanding both its physical characteristics and the activities for which it will be used.
Hull form, layout, weather protection, propulsion, and operating costs all influence the experience of ownership.
Choosing and comparing boats
- What Makes a Good Boat for Beginners? ★ Choosing One That Keeps Up with Your Changing Interests
- Why Are Used Boats So Cheap? ★ Before You Celebrate a “Bargain Find”…
- Targa vs Sargo vs Nord Star ★ Which Finnish All-Weather Pilothouse Boat Should You Choose?
- How an Industry Grew Around Boats With Wheels in New Zealand ★ StabiX, Sealegs and the Amphibious-Boat Ecosystem
Hull form and design priorities
- Choosing Your First Boat ★ Monohull vs. Catamaran — Pros and Cons
- Reading a Pleasure Boat’s Design Intent from Hull Shape ★ Deadrise at Three Locations, Speed, and Running Attitude
- Why Do Some Boats Have Reverse-Raked Windshields? ★ Benefits, Drawbacks, and Design Priorities
- Flybridge Boats: Pros and Cons ★ What to Consider Before Buying
These articles examine how apparently separate design choices combine to determine a boat’s suitability for its intended use.
2. Marine Propulsion, Performance & Fuel Economy
Propulsion systems affect far more than maximum speed.
They influence maintenance, maneuverability, reliability, fuel consumption, available space, and how a boat can be operated.
- Choosing Your First Boat ★ Outboard vs Inboard vs Sterndrive Pros and Cons Explained
- Twin vs Single Outboards ★ Safety, Maneuverability, Performance, Fuel Economy, and Cost Compared
- Mercury Verado V12 600hp ★ The Outboard That Broke the Rules—and Where It Stands Today
- Pleasure Boat Fuel Economy and Cruising Speed ★ How I Find Efficient Cruising Speeds and Choose Between Them
The aim is to understand how propulsion design and real operating conditions shape a boat’s performance and ownership experience.
3. Seamanship, Waves & Learning to Operate a Boat
Handling a boat requires an understanding of how the vessel responds to waves, speed, steering, and changing conditions.
Experience at sea also involves judging one’s own skills, anticipating difficulties, and making decisions with sufficient room for recovery.
- Is It Technically Possible for a Middle-Aged or Older Person to Start Boating With a 30-Foot-Class Boat Right Away?
- Can You Teach Yourself to Sail Later in Life? ★ My Experience Starting Just Before 60
- Surfing vs. Broaching ★ Riding the Same Wave, Keeping—or Losing—Control
- Was It Broaching? ★ A Frightening Experience on My First Solo Voyage to Izu Oshima
These articles include both theoretical considerations and actual experiences from learning to operate boats independently.
4. My Jeanneau Merry Fisher 895 Sport & Seakeeper Ride
Long-term ownership creates opportunities to understand a boat beyond its published specifications.
I have written about my Jeanneau Merry Fisher 895 Sport and the changes I observed after replacing its conventional trim tabs with Seakeeper Ride.
The boat
Seakeeper Ride: observations over time
The following articles form a series of observations, from the first outing to 16 months of experience.
- First Ride with Seakeeper Ride ★ What Changed on My Jeanneau Merry Fisher 895 Sport
- Seakeeper Ride ★ After Two Weeks on a Jeanneau Merry Fisher 895 Sport
- Seakeeper Ride ★ After Two Months on a Jeanneau Merry Fisher 895 Sport
- Does Seakeeper Ride Really Work? ★ What I Learned After 16 Months
Reading the series in order makes it possible to follow how initial impressions developed through repeated use.
Explore Other Subjects
Boating connects naturally with other interests on this site, including fishing, photography, practical equipment, and decision-making under uncertainty.
