Boat Wars: Zen vs. Flash
by L.A. DiNardi

If you stop and ask a sailor how he feels about a power boater, the response will more than likely be filled with disdain. Asking a power boater how he feels about a sailor and you will get the same reaction. Boaters are split into two groups, sailors and power boaters, with very few sitting on the fence between the two. It is fascinating from a psychological stand point because personality types tend to land on either side as well.

If you stop and ask a sailor how he feels about a power boater, the response will more than likely be filled with disdain. Asking a power boater how he feels about a sailor and you will get the same reaction. Boaters are split into two groups, sailors and power boaters, with very few sitting on the fence between the two. It is fascinating from a psychological stand point because personality types tend to land on either side as well.

While this may be somewhat stereotyping, however any boater will tell you it’s true. Most power boaters are fast-pace, flashy types with very little spare time. They are the “Corvette” drivers. Power boats are fast, growl and rumble like a motorcycle, and offer a considerable amount of below deck space. They can travel as far as they have fuel for, and with twin engines, can get there in a fraction of the time a sailboat can travel the same distance. Because powerboats don’t have a deep belly that sits well below the waterline, they don’t have the danger of running aground, and can maneuver around beaches more easily than a sailboat.

Though all of these positive things about powerboats are great reasons to own one, there are some drawbacks. The engines are very expensive to maintain, and the fuel to keep them going adds up quickly. The bigger the speedboat, the higher cost of gas to go anywhere. While the growl and rumble may appeal to some, the noise can be a drawback. When driving a powerboat, you are often towards the front of the boat, away from your passengers and the social scene, especially if they are below deck.

On the flip-side, most power boaters put sailors into two categories: the first being the stuffy blue blazer, yacht club type who don’t like the loud racket powerboats make, or in the hippie-tree hugging group because sailboats are environmentally friendly. Sailboats are calm and serene compared to powerboats, offering a Zen-like experience. They are much less expensive to get moving, as they run on wind, a free commodity. As the captain, you can be much more social, as you are at the heart of the deck, which has the most space to socialize.

Operating a sailboat is a physically demanding hobby, working the masts and the rigging is much more difficult than just driving a speedboat. They require a significant amount of spare time, which is a challenge for many families find in between work, kid’s activities, etc. While the cost of fuel isn’t an issue for sailors, the maintenance of masts and rigging can be expensive.

All of these pros and cons aside, it all depends on what you want out of a boat, and what suits your lifestyle. In the end, it is the love of the water that unites both sides of the boat war, and a good watering hole after a beautiful day at sea puts the debate to rest.