Pisces 21 Daysailer Questions

Yes! If you have adequate draft and the appropriate permits it is possible.

Rigging the boat with sails requires 4 man hours each way (2 hours for 2 experienced people), the ideal would be a long summer day with an early start. If your launch ramp is tidal, you would need a day with a morning and an evening high tide, giving you a 12 hour window. It is a lot of work for one day but not impossible.

The cuddy cabin is a bit small for installing a USCG approved system with holding tank and the associated plumbing. We have found that a portable valise like “Potty” works best. Once used you can bring it back (or the tank part) to shore and use a sanitary pump out or clean it at home and bring it back to the boat the next time you go sailing.

Yes although it is more akin to rough camping under the boom tent. The cuddy is good for young children but too small for an adult to be comfortable, so the sleeping quarters of choice is in the cockpit (9’ long). Or, if you have the opportunity to be a member of an organization such as The Maine Island Trail coastal sailing with your Pisces combined with camping trips and the occasional Bed and Breakfast stay can be the experience of a lifetime!

It can done but very carefully with at least 2 experienced and able people . Since the mast can travel on top of the boat you can raise it using a light weight tripod with a 17 foot reach above the deck (note that this is a keel stepped mast that will drop 3 feet into the boat). It should only be done while parked on land prior to launching with the boat level and never on a windy day.

It is difficult to mount an outboard on the Pisces’s tall and steep transom. To complicate matters, the outboard motor would tangle the main sheet while sailing since the main sheet is at aft end of the boom. We recommend using our gunwhale mount outboard bracket (it clicks securely into place and then you can fasten your outboard to it). This set up is recommended for the occasional emergency need to power and if the wind dies, it is tedious to rig and unrig it every time to you sail out and then back in.

Yes, that is the most rewarding part of the job! We will deliver, rig launching and go sailing with you. We can show you how to rig your boat; how to use your trailer if you purchase one and enjoy a sea trial where we will show you everything you need to know about your new boat. All we need is a good launching ramp with ample room to park and rig the boat. We will even come back in the fall and haul your boat if you wish us to care for your boat in the off season.

Depending on our back log, the base Pisces will take about 3 months to build . We work with you closely through the building process with frequent photos and updates. Adding further options can add 2 to 6 weeks to the lead time. 

Either are wonderful choices and we have a lot of experience with both installations on the Pisces 21. The electric drive is lighter, cleaner, quiet and the ‘greenest’ choice of the two options. Both have their merits which need to be considered before deciding which is right for you. Here are fundamental issues needed to be addressed which will help you in the decision making process:

1) Do you have access to shore power, a float or town facilities at your marina for tying up overnight or at least a half day?

After reaching maximum range, batteries of the electric drive will need charging. Typical recharge time is 4 to 9 hours depending of the battery style (AGM or Lithium Ion) or charger output (20 to 40 Amps). Shore power is the most convenient way. Alternatively, a small portable generator will do the job. For example: the Honda 1000i weighs 28 pounds, is fairly quiet and can run for up to 9 hours on one quart of gasoline. Solar panels will only help maintain your batteries while on a mooring since we are limited by the amount of panels we can put on your Pisces.

2) Is there a lot of current where your boat is located?

This is another factor to consider. The high torque electric motor will push the Pisces at hull speed in most conditions (5 knots). However, running the boat at full throttle increases the hull form resistance and the higher amperage needed will reduce your range. The most efficient speed ‘Amps to Range’ ratio is 3/4 of hull speed (4.5 knots). The diesel inboard is overpowered for the Pisces giving you more thrust and much longer range in the worst situations like high head winds (above 20 knots) or a long channel with strong current (like the Cape Cod Canal)

3) How far do you need to travel under power?

Let’s look at the different Electric auxiliary options:

We offer a basic “Maneuvering Package” that will allow you to motor out, sail away and motor back to your marina slip or float plus about an hour of run time at 5 knots. It includes 2 AGM 115 Amp batteries and an overnight 20 Amp charger.

We also offer 2 AGM 150 Amp batteries with an overnight 30 Amp charger to increase your range to one and a half hours plus motoring out and back in.

For the best range we offer a single Lithium Ion Battery for a 2 hour range (or a pair of them) to extend your range to do some serious motoring of up to 4 hours (approximately 20 miles).
A simple household 12 Guage electrical extension cord plugged into a 20 amp GFIC receptacle is recommended for charging.

As an added note the Lithium Ion Battery weighs 1/3 of the equivalent (Amps/Output) of AGM batteries, they can be fully discharged without harm and the charging time is reduced by 50% or more.

The diesel auxiliary will give you as much range as fuel in the tank (about 12 hours of motoring, approximately 45 miles range).

4) Space and weight distribution:

The diesel including all water hoses, muffler, raw water strainer, battery, engine box cover and a full fuel tank is 380 lbs vs. the electric motor with two AGM batteries weighing 100 pounds less or, with a Lithium Battery -150 pounds less. The electric is much smaller and can almost be hidden under the cockpit sole along with the batteries. An appropriate place for all that weight, as low as possible for stability and performance and leaving the large and spacious cockpit unobstructed. The diesel on the other hand is much larger and stands a fair amount above the cockpit sole necessitating an engine box cover that can serve as a nice cockpit table but at the expense of cockpit space. The related systems for the diesel adds extra weight in the fuel tank located forward and the muffler with associated hoses and plumbing aft. Both auxiliaries use the same drive train, shaft, cutlass bearing, stuffing box and propeller.