But doing without sails doesn't. Sometimes when we need to motor for hours, and then the wind comes up and we sail, it's SUCH a relief to glide along silently. I would really miss that.

We had a conversation on a launch last night with a newly retired couple who bought a 37 trawler. They can cruise at 8-12 but at the low end of that range average about 4gph. They've got lots of room and all-weather steering but no joy of sailing.

Many cruising cats and kruzer- type cockpit enclosures give you the best of both worlds. Add systems like electric winches, windlasses, leisure furl and you can age and sail, so long as you can maintain sufficient agility.