Blog | Top 10 Yachting Myths Busted

At 26 North Yachts, we pride ourselves at providing accurate information about boats, yachts, and the yachting lifestyle. Over the years we have tried our best to debunk many of the common boating myths and misconceptions, but there are several that just seem to persist. Here are 10 of the most popular boating myths busted.

Lakes can never be “rough”

There is a common misconception that you can only run into “rough seas” on the open ocean. Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, the very fact that an inland lake is not as vast or limitless as the ocean, is exactly what can make them more hazardous to boaters! Not only do lakes have waves and currents, they are shallower than the oceans and surrounded by close shoreline on all sides, which makes the waves “bounce” and ricochet from shoreline to shoreline, often intensifying one another. Anyone that thinks a lake is always calm, needs only ask any skipper of a freighter on the Great Lakes during Nor’easter season!

6 – 8 foots swells on Lake Michigan!

The more blades on a propeller, the faster your boat goes

The purpose of more blades on a propeller is actually to minimize vibration, and provide a smoother ride, but they have nothing to do with increasing speed. In fact, the fastest boats on the water, hydrofoils, have props with only two blades.

Sailboats Always Have the Right of Way

I have heard even many sailboat captains say that a motor yacht, must always yield the right of way to a sailing vessel. This is simply not true! That is only the case if the sailboat is traveling under full sail. If she is using her engines, she is just another “powerboat.” However, even under power, she is likely running a lot slower than you are, so best to steer clear to avoid a collision or confrontation!

“Go Fast” or high-performance boats are the most dangerous boats on the water

When you see a high-performance boat zipping by, it’s easy to say, “Wow, if they don’t slow down they are going to kill someone.” But, the truth is, the cause of most recreational boating accidents, is not speed, but alcohol or drug use, and that can involve any kind of boat, and usually more conventional boats. In fact, statistically speaking, conventional inboard and outboard boats are actually involved in a greater number of accidents, than their high performance cousins.

Don’t let your fuel tank dip below half full

There is a common misconception that if you allow your gas tank to drain lower than a half tank, you will begin to draw fuel from the bottom of the tank, and pick up sediment and dirt that can foul your engines. Not true! Your fuel system draws from the bottom and all parts of your fuel tank equally, no matter how much gasoline or diesel is in there.

Boating is prohibitively expensive

Sure you have a lot of expenses when you own a boat, particularly a luxury motor yacht. However, when compared to the season fees for a family at a high-end resort, or golf club, owning a boat starts to stack up nicely. Plus there are many ways to offset your ownership expenses, from tax breaks to earning charter income.

Waxing the Bottom of a Boat Increases Performance

What may be true for surfboards, is simply a myth when it comes to your boat. ‘Waxing down,” the bottom of a boat does nothing to improve speed or performance. In fact, just the opposite is true. A rougher keel is better for speed than a smooth one because the uneven surface lets in air to help break adhesion with the water.

Do not store marine batteries on a concrete surface

There was once some “truth,” to this myth, when batteries were incased in rubber. The rubber cases were porous and could leak due to a ground loop caused by moisture trapped in the concrete surface. However, modern marine batteries are all encased in non-porous plastic, so this is no longer a problem.

You can see 5 miles to the horizon from your deck

I still hear this one a lot, that on a clear day you can see 5 miles to the horizon from the deck of your yacht. Nope! I won’t bore you with the math, but using a simple trigonometric equation based on your height and the height of your deck, and the curvature of the earth, you will find that the most you could see is about 2-3 miles from the deck or flydeck of most boats.

Your boat is safer in a slip than a mooring

A boat in a slip is subject to many more variables and potential damage, than a boat that is on a mooring — such as the skill of the driver docking in the next slip, and waves potentially pushing it into the finger. A boat on a mooring on the other hand is subject to only one variable, the weather. As long as the mooring tackle is secure, the boat will ride out waves and swing with the wind, never encountering another boat or the dock.

 

Reliable Information on Yacht and Yachting

Now that you know the truth about some of the most popular boat myths out there, you also know where you can turn for some of the most reliable information on motor yachts, anywhere on the internet. Whether you are interested in market intel, tips on buying or selling your yacht, or the latest info on yacht charters, you can find it all right here at 26 North Yachts!

 

 

It’s not always easy to stay on top of what’s new in motor yachts. If you would like to benefit from our expertise in these areas, or if you have any questions or comments about this blog post, do not hesitate to contact our Sales Specialists, or call us at 954-900-9988.