It seems this thread is starting to wander, but I'll continue anyway.
Motor - I can't remember meeting anyone cruising without a motor,
at least on purpose. It really limits places you can go like the in the
south pacific or even Mexico. Mazatlan harbor is one example. There
is a dog-leg getting in that requires motoring and it's especially
dangerous with the swell that normally runs. Not to mention the low
wind conditions you find in many places of the world.
It's more than convenience, it's a matter of safety.
Here are three real world examples examples;
1. We left Cedros island and a freighter came out later and made a large
circle, heading right for us. We were under sail and had to start the
motor to drop behind. They wouldn't answer ch. 16
2. Our friends E&e would have lost their boat in the S.P. The weather report
was wrong in the wind direction and that night they had to drop the chain
and motor out. The whole story was really harry.
3. The vessel Sarana, on a recent passage to Hawaii had a freighter pass
within 1/4 mi of their stern without answering the radio. They were glad
they had AIS.
Dodger- I too have been dodger-less and it was miserable. It's as much
a necessity in the tropics as it is here on the Pacific coast. I can never
remember thinking I wish I didn't have a dodger, but have been grateful
many times for one. A young couple we met came down the coast without
a dodger and although on an austere budget it was the first thing
they got when they arrived in La Paz.
It has never hindered our sailing ability. The new hard dodger we built last
summer has rock solid hand holds and makes going forward much easier.
There's a reason virtually everyone cruising has a motor and a dodger.
It has built in stereo speakers, red/white entry lights and a track for the Bimini.
The hard dodger was one of the four things we had to do before we left on
another cruise.
