[bolger] Re: Atlantic crossings and offshore ambitions
Hello David Ryan,
This is not a particularly cheap possibility but it is a Bolger boat
and
one that I plan to build. I refer to plan #649 that PCB called
Schorpioen.
This design was written about in Volume 16 numbers 19 and 20 of MAIB.
It is intended as a coastal cruiser, is ocean capable, but does not
have a
great load capacity as it is a TRIMARAN. However, I think that a crew
of
two could store enough stuff aboard to make it across the Atlantic if
good
choices were made. Advertised displacement is just under 5000 lbs. The
load question becomes a question of what the bare boat will weigh. My
target range is between 2500 and 3000 lbs. Only time will tell but if
achieved would allow for a 2000 to 2500 lb load. Seems enough to me.
The boat is 30'5" LOA, has a beam of 20' when "open" and a beam of 8'6"
wnen closed (street leagal for trailering). The 1st requirement of the
"wish list" was safety. Others were comfort (but no luxury) and ease of
operation, launching and retrieving by one man. It has 532 sq. ft. of
sail
in one (cat rigged) Chinese Gaffer. Steering is from inside a spacious
cabin that can sleep four and offers a galley and head. Aux power is
from
an outboard in a well. The mast is in a tabernacle and just cranks up
and
down with a stout but inexpensive winch.
This boat is basically unsinkable and proper construction, planning and
some flotation around the cabin top could make it operator rightable in
case of capsize. At the very least it could be a first class survival
raft.
With the addition of a parachute sea anchor, "Baileysuit"
flotation/thermal
protection, a manual water maker and food I would feel reasonably safe.
Regards
Ed Medalis
This is not a particularly cheap possibility but it is a Bolger boat
and
one that I plan to build. I refer to plan #649 that PCB called
Schorpioen.
This design was written about in Volume 16 numbers 19 and 20 of MAIB.
It is intended as a coastal cruiser, is ocean capable, but does not
have a
great load capacity as it is a TRIMARAN. However, I think that a crew
of
two could store enough stuff aboard to make it across the Atlantic if
good
choices were made. Advertised displacement is just under 5000 lbs. The
load question becomes a question of what the bare boat will weigh. My
target range is between 2500 and 3000 lbs. Only time will tell but if
achieved would allow for a 2000 to 2500 lb load. Seems enough to me.
The boat is 30'5" LOA, has a beam of 20' when "open" and a beam of 8'6"
wnen closed (street leagal for trailering). The 1st requirement of the
"wish list" was safety. Others were comfort (but no luxury) and ease of
operation, launching and retrieving by one man. It has 532 sq. ft. of
sail
in one (cat rigged) Chinese Gaffer. Steering is from inside a spacious
cabin that can sleep four and offers a galley and head. Aux power is
from
an outboard in a well. The mast is in a tabernacle and just cranks up
and
down with a stout but inexpensive winch.
This boat is basically unsinkable and proper construction, planning and
some flotation around the cabin top could make it operator rightable in
case of capsize. At the very least it could be a first class survival
raft.
With the addition of a parachute sea anchor, "Baileysuit"
flotation/thermal
protection, a manual water maker and food I would feel reasonably safe.
Regards
Ed Medalis
> One of the main things to evaluate in the selection of the "right"boat is the physical and mental toughness of the proposed crew.
> Certainly, with the Hiscocks, Pardeys, and the exploits of manyVirtues
> as examples, it's clear that a length in the upper 20's should beAn excellent point. I accept it as read.
> enough.
The friend of Laurent Giles (was it Barton Humphrey or Humphries
Barton?) who sailed a Virture all over took a hellava beating in
mid-Atlantic, but he was, by all accounts, really, really tough. - Peter
hwa-@...wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/bolger/?start=2955
Bolger had column on a couple of medium sized ocean cruising powerboats
in MAIB a while back.
I think I'd jump off in midocean after the unending noise drove me
nuts. (Maybe heel would have same effect?)
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/bolger/?start=2955
> In a message dated 2/18/2000 8:29:44 AM Eastern Standard Time,buehler
>pakam@...writes:
>
> << No one has mentioned a power boat. You can see a George Buehler
> design, a fairly simple ocean-going power boat, "Pilgrim"--
>http://www.pilgrimboat.com. Are all the voyagers on this group
> sailors?
>
> Phil Lea
> Russellville, Arkansas >>
> I checked out the site - mostly to see if it provided links to other
> sites - but had to chuckle when I read that the builder thinks he isgoing to
> build that big boat engine included for 15 grand. No way. Steve (landroval)
Bolger had column on a couple of medium sized ocean cruising powerboats
in MAIB a while back.
I think I'd jump off in midocean after the unending noise drove me
nuts. (Maybe heel would have same effect?)
In a message dated 2/18/2000 8:29:44 AM Eastern Standard Time,
pakam@...writes:
<< No one has mentioned a power boat. You can see a George Buehler
design, a fairly simple ocean-going power boat, "Pilgrim"--
http://www.pilgrimboat.com. Are all the voyagers on this group
sailors?
Phil Lea
Russellville, Arkansas >>
I checked out the site - mostly to see if it provided links to other buehler
sites - but had to chuckle when I read that the builder thinks he is going to
build that big boat engine included for 15 grand. No way. Steve ( landroval)
pakam@...writes:
<< No one has mentioned a power boat. You can see a George Buehler
design, a fairly simple ocean-going power boat, "Pilgrim"--
http://www.pilgrimboat.com. Are all the voyagers on this group
sailors?
Phil Lea
Russellville, Arkansas >>
I checked out the site - mostly to see if it provided links to other buehler
sites - but had to chuckle when I read that the builder thinks he is going to
build that big boat engine included for 15 grand. No way. Steve ( landroval)
No one has mentioned a power boat. You can see a George Buehler
design, a fairly simple ocean-going power boat, "Pilgrim"--
http://www.pilgrimboat.com. Are all the voyagers on this group
sailors?
Phil Lea
Russellville, Arkansas
design, a fairly simple ocean-going power boat, "Pilgrim"--
http://www.pilgrimboat.com. Are all the voyagers on this group
sailors?
Phil Lea
Russellville, Arkansas
david ryan <davi-@...> wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/bolger/?start=2919
The owner/skipper was a fellow from Chicago whom I met while he
had a lay-over in Montreal.He had run into all sorts of delays in
out-fitting his boat hence the late departure.Also,he was very
relunctant to unstep his mast(a 73'monster) in order to take the canal
system to New York and so found himself having to go the"long way"
around,ie;down the St.Lawrence and through the Gulf.
We were very much aware of Mitch and in fact waited a couple of
weeks in Halifax until we recieved a 6 day weather window from a
private weather service
which he subscribed to.They blew their call and a few of us who left
Halifax together had our as*** reamed.End of story.
I have no regrets about this mis-adventure especially as it
allowed me to get first hand experience with some of todays
gizmos,things I will NOT have on my next boat.For example,roller-furlin
g mainsail and head sails,electric winches,CD-Rom charts with GPS
pluggins to name a few!
I am now also inclined to use 30' as the upper limit for a boat as
things start to quickly get out of the human scale(that is,what one
person can successfully manhandle without assistance) once you go much
beyond that.Also,I can now say without any reservations that Murphy's
Law is alive and well as far as I am concerned having seen it work
like clock-work on that boat!
Finally,human fatigue sets in quickly when you are wet,cold and
unable to get warm food into your gut but you do not recognize it's
presence right away since the events happening all around you are
terrifying and you are operating on adrenelin.Yes,this was my first
experience on the wide ocean blue and I had never seen so much bloody
water in all my life!I think the gravity of it all finally sunk in when
I found out that we were 3 whole days(72 hours) from the nearest land
and not the 20 minites I am accustomed to where I normally sail.You can
run,but you can't hide!
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,marvelling at that 83cm of freshly fallen snow and
wondering when the hell is it going to end,on the buried frozen shores
of the St.Lawrence......
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/bolger/?start=2919
> >In October 1998,I had the dudious pleasure of crewing on board anAlden
> >55.We were to take the boat from Halifax down to St.Marrten.Well,justHello David Ryan,
> >three days out of Halifax we ran into a late fall storm.Winds
> >registered at 69kts and waves 35'+.
>
> I don't much about about being off-shore, but I do know enough to
> know that the about intinerary put you right in "the lane" for nearly
> the whole voyage during the second busiest month of North Atlantic
> tropical storm season. To my recollection, that blow was an early
> Nor'easter, but it could have as easily been the remains of Hurricane
> Mitch, the Cat.5 that killed thousands in Honduras before plowing
> across the Gulf, the South East, and then heading back out to sea at
> tropical storm force. There were two named tropical storms in October
> that year, and one in November. Then there's always the chance of a
> nasty little early Nor'Easter. In fact, conventional wisdom in the
> East Coast surfing community is that there is *always* a good
> Nor'Easter around Halloween.I'm sure your skipper knew this even
> better than I, so what prompted this trip?
>
> On the other hand, October is *the* month for surfing on the East
> coast. The water is still warm, and between the tropical juice and a
> good Halloween blow, we get plenty of waves. I'm waiting on Amazon to
> send me my "Ocean Passages for the World," I'm very curious to cross
> reference it's advice about weather with what I know about where you
> need to go to find waves what time of the year.
>
> >In brief it is this;before undertaking any serious
> >off-shore/ocean crossings in your own homebuilt boat,I would humbly
> >suggest that those who have yet to go off-shore in a small boat try
> >chartering a boat or better yet,crewing on an ocean sailer.
>
> The thought has certainly crossed my mind more than once. One of the
> things I hope to learn is where and when I have to get myself to find
> a crewing position. I'm not particularly interest in helping people
> get their boats down the East Coast during hurricane season, so that
> may limit my options ;-)
>
> As to home built vs. stock, I think that is a matter of philosophy as
> much as fact. Whom are you more willing to trust with your life?
> Yourself, or someone else. I think you only know the answer when
> *everything* goes wrong, and it's time to pass out blame.
>
> YIBB,
>
> David Ryan
> Minister of Information and Culture
> Crumbling Empire Productions
> (212) 247-0296
The owner/skipper was a fellow from Chicago whom I met while he
had a lay-over in Montreal.He had run into all sorts of delays in
out-fitting his boat hence the late departure.Also,he was very
relunctant to unstep his mast(a 73'monster) in order to take the canal
system to New York and so found himself having to go the"long way"
around,ie;down the St.Lawrence and through the Gulf.
We were very much aware of Mitch and in fact waited a couple of
weeks in Halifax until we recieved a 6 day weather window from a
private weather service
which he subscribed to.They blew their call and a few of us who left
Halifax together had our as*** reamed.End of story.
I have no regrets about this mis-adventure especially as it
allowed me to get first hand experience with some of todays
gizmos,things I will NOT have on my next boat.For example,roller-furlin
g mainsail and head sails,electric winches,CD-Rom charts with GPS
pluggins to name a few!
I am now also inclined to use 30' as the upper limit for a boat as
things start to quickly get out of the human scale(that is,what one
person can successfully manhandle without assistance) once you go much
beyond that.Also,I can now say without any reservations that Murphy's
Law is alive and well as far as I am concerned having seen it work
like clock-work on that boat!
Finally,human fatigue sets in quickly when you are wet,cold and
unable to get warm food into your gut but you do not recognize it's
presence right away since the events happening all around you are
terrifying and you are operating on adrenelin.Yes,this was my first
experience on the wide ocean blue and I had never seen so much bloody
water in all my life!I think the gravity of it all finally sunk in when
I found out that we were 3 whole days(72 hours) from the nearest land
and not the 20 minites I am accustomed to where I normally sail.You can
run,but you can't hide!
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,marvelling at that 83cm of freshly fallen snow and
wondering when the hell is it going to end,on the buried frozen shores
of the St.Lawrence......
Hello Guys
One of the main things to evaluate in the selection of the "right" boat is the physical and mental toughness of the proposed crew. The empasis on mental toughness, which can be either carried over from some other experience or aquired through getting out sailing in progressively more challenging conditions.
Very few boats fail totally and drown their crew. Most problems arise because the crew find themselves "out of their depth" and make silly mistakes (usually several in a compounding series) or give-up.
Countless numbers of dreams are dashed because the person had unrealistic expectations or ignored the necessity to gain experience gradually. Books and forums provide lots of ideas and allow shortcuts to be taken but they aren't a subsitute for some of the real thing. I find it very sad to hear of the person who has spent years planning a voyage, either building or fitting out a boat, only to have the plan go to pieces on the first major passage.
Regards from one who is learning slowly,
Foster Price
I think that this was a generally accepted thought at one time. The
Hiscocks' boats were about this size and they were very influential. I
personally think, based on no particularly relevent experience, that a
minimum of about 8000 pounds is required to get out of the 'stunt'
category and into the 'prudent.' Remember that the 'cargo capacity' is
about 15% of the displacement - 1200lbs.
Certainly, with the Hiscocks, Pardeys, and the exploits of many Virtues
as examples, it's clear that a length in the upper 20's should be
enough. Contessa 26's always seem to be advertised as ocean capable,
but it seems to me to be in the gray area between 'stunt' and
'prudent'; tough enough, but really enough capacity for all the gear
you would want to take.
Peter
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One of the main things to evaluate in the selection of the "right" boat is the physical and mental toughness of the proposed crew. The empasis on mental toughness, which can be either carried over from some other experience or aquired through getting out sailing in progressively more challenging conditions.
Very few boats fail totally and drown their crew. Most problems arise because the crew find themselves "out of their depth" and make silly mistakes (usually several in a compounding series) or give-up.
Countless numbers of dreams are dashed because the person had unrealistic expectations or ignored the necessity to gain experience gradually. Books and forums provide lots of ideas and allow shortcuts to be taken but they aren't a subsitute for some of the real thing. I find it very sad to hear of the person who has spent years planning a voyage, either building or fitting out a boat, only to have the plan go to pieces on the first major passage.
Regards from one who is learning slowly,
Foster Price
> That the best size for this undertaking was 30' andone.
> under. The reason being the average swell is just over 30' and with a
> larger boat, as your coming off one wave your plowing into the next
I think that this was a generally accepted thought at one time. The
Hiscocks' boats were about this size and they were very influential. I
personally think, based on no particularly relevent experience, that a
minimum of about 8000 pounds is required to get out of the 'stunt'
category and into the 'prudent.' Remember that the 'cargo capacity' is
about 15% of the displacement - 1200lbs.
Certainly, with the Hiscocks, Pardeys, and the exploits of many Virtues
as examples, it's clear that a length in the upper 20's should be
enough. Contessa 26's always seem to be advertised as ocean capable,
but it seems to me to be in the gray area between 'stunt' and
'prudent'; tough enough, but really enough capacity for all the gear
you would want to take.
Peter
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR, online balance transfers, Rewards Points,
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> That the best size for this undertaking was 30' andone.
> under. The reason being the average swell is just over 30' and with a
> larger boat, as your coming off one wave your plowing into the next
I think that this was a generally accepted thought at one time. The
Hiscocks' boats were about this size and they were very influential. I
personally think, based on no particularly relevent experience, that a
minimum of about 8000 pounds is required to get out of the 'stunt'
category and into the 'prudent.' Remember that the 'cargo capacity' is
about 15% of the displacement - 1200lbs.
Certainly, with the Hiscocks, Pardeys, and the exploits of many Virtues
as examples, it's clear that a length in the upper 20's should be
enough. Contessa 26's always seem to be advertised as ocean capable,
but it seems to me to be in the gray area between 'stunt' and
'prudent'; tough enough, but really enough capacity for all the gear
you would want to take.
Peter
As to do with crossing the big blue; Years ago, I was told by Fritz
Citroen (solo circumnavigator 1949 - 1950 in the yacht Magnum, a double
ended Dutch, drop lea boards, cat rigged boat that looked like a
lighthouse tender). That the best size for this undertaking was 30' and
under. The reason being the average swell is just over 30' and with a
larger boat, as your coming off one wave your plowing into the next one.
That's all I know on the subject, and have no idea of how correct it
is, you decide.
Stan & SG
Citroen (solo circumnavigator 1949 - 1950 in the yacht Magnum, a double
ended Dutch, drop lea boards, cat rigged boat that looked like a
lighthouse tender). That the best size for this undertaking was 30' and
under. The reason being the average swell is just over 30' and with a
larger boat, as your coming off one wave your plowing into the next one.
That's all I know on the subject, and have no idea of how correct it
is, you decide.
Stan & SG
David Ryan,
Last evening I dug up a list of small, cheap fiberglass production
boats approprate for ocean passages that I have been assembling over the
past two decades. I was going to send that to you, but I had another thought
this morning. Now I find that Peter Lanihan gave the advice that I thought
of only after a good night's sleep. I sense from your tone that you do not
agree. Ah, well, you asked....
Here are a couple of links for finding crew positions on blue water
boats throughout the world:
<http://www.cruiser.co.za/crewfinder.asp>
<http://www.searoom.com/current.htm>
Also, you can post an inquiry at: rec.boats.cruising.
Both _Ocean Navigator_ and _Cruising World_ magazines carry "crew
wanted" and "crew seeking position" ads in their classifieds (at least they
did the last time I looked). There are other resources out there, if you but
seek them. I located all of the above in about one hour's time. Btw, I own
_Ocean Passages for the World_. It is an interesting document, imho, good
for dreaming and historical research, and a fine guide for navigating your
100' freighter from Ras Asir to the Sunda Strait, but if you want to travel
in a small sailboat, you should get _World Cruising Routes_ by Jimmy
Cornell. The fourth edition (updated to October 1998) is available at
<http://www.amazon.com/> for $34.97. They've also got the _World Cruising
Handbook_ by Jimmy and Doina Cornell for $48.97. Good, useful information
can be found in both of these books. I paid retail of about $110 for the two
of them, dammit.
I have no advice to offer you as to whom you should trust your life. If
I needed surgery, I would prefer it be done by someone who has done it
before, rather than an ambitious neophyte with lots of book larnin' and no
experience. But, hell, that's just me....
david
David Ryan wrote:
Last evening I dug up a list of small, cheap fiberglass production
boats approprate for ocean passages that I have been assembling over the
past two decades. I was going to send that to you, but I had another thought
this morning. Now I find that Peter Lanihan gave the advice that I thought
of only after a good night's sleep. I sense from your tone that you do not
agree. Ah, well, you asked....
Here are a couple of links for finding crew positions on blue water
boats throughout the world:
<http://www.cruiser.co.za/crewfinder.asp>
<http://www.searoom.com/current.htm>
Also, you can post an inquiry at: rec.boats.cruising.
Both _Ocean Navigator_ and _Cruising World_ magazines carry "crew
wanted" and "crew seeking position" ads in their classifieds (at least they
did the last time I looked). There are other resources out there, if you but
seek them. I located all of the above in about one hour's time. Btw, I own
_Ocean Passages for the World_. It is an interesting document, imho, good
for dreaming and historical research, and a fine guide for navigating your
100' freighter from Ras Asir to the Sunda Strait, but if you want to travel
in a small sailboat, you should get _World Cruising Routes_ by Jimmy
Cornell. The fourth edition (updated to October 1998) is available at
<http://www.amazon.com/> for $34.97. They've also got the _World Cruising
Handbook_ by Jimmy and Doina Cornell for $48.97. Good, useful information
can be found in both of these books. I paid retail of about $110 for the two
of them, dammit.
I have no advice to offer you as to whom you should trust your life. If
I needed surgery, I would prefer it be done by someone who has done it
before, rather than an ambitious neophyte with lots of book larnin' and no
experience. But, hell, that's just me....
david
David Ryan wrote:
> ....I'm waiting on Amazon to
> send me my "Ocean Passages for the World," I'm very curious to cross
> reference it's advice about weather with what I know about where you
> need to go to find waves what time of the year.
>
> >In brief it is this;before undertaking any serious
> >off-shore/ocean crossings in your own homebuilt boat,I would humbly
> >suggest that those who have yet to go off-shore in a small boat try
> >chartering a boat or better yet,crewing on an ocean sailer.
>
> The thought has certainly crossed my mind more than once. One of the
> things I hope to learn is where and when I have to get myself to find
> a crewing position. I'm not particularly interest in helping people
> get their boats down the East Coast during hurricane season, so that
> may limit my options ;-)
>
> As to home built vs. stock, I think that is a matter of philosophy as
> much as fact. Whom are you more willing to trust with your life?
> Yourself, or someone else. I think you only know the answer when
> *everything* goes wrong, and it's time to pass out blame.
>
> YIBB,
>
> David Ryan
> Minister of Information and Culture
> Crumbling Empire Productions
> (212) 247-0296
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> GET A NEXTCARD VISA, in 30 seconds! Get rates as low as 0.0%
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>David Ryan,Please do send it. A boat of my own making is indeed the ideal, but
> Last evening I dug up a list of small, cheap fiberglass production
>boats approprate for ocean passages that I have been assembling over the
>past two decades.
all things are qualified by the "passage/no passage" parameter. If it
makes making the journey more likely it's in; if not, it's out.
>Actually, the postman brought all of the above to my house yesterday.
>_Ocean Passages for the World_. It is an interesting document, imho, good
>for dreaming and historical research, and a fine guide for navigating your
>100' freighter from Ras Asir to the Sunda Strait, but if you want to travel
>in a small sailboat, you should get _World Cruising Routes_ by Jimmy
>Cornell. The fourth edition (updated to October 1998) is available at
><http://www.amazon.com/> for $34.97. They've also got the _World Cruising
>Handbook_ by Jimmy and Doina Cornell for $48.97. Good, useful information
>can be found in both of these books. I paid retail of about $110 for the two
>of them, dammit.
Now if I can just get out of the city and back to the house to enjoy
them!
> I have no advice to offer you as to whom you should trust your life. IfAh yes, now there's the rub. Is crossing the Atlantic in a small boat
>I needed surgery, I would prefer it be done by someone who has done it
>before, rather than an ambitious neophyte with lots of book larnin' and no
>experience. But, hell, that's just me....
more or less difficult and dangerous than undergoing heart surgery?
As an expert on neither, I couldn't say.
I don't think anyone goes in for heart surgery for fun, either as a
doctor or a patient. I don't think people went to sea for their
health until very recently either. Certainly both, regardless of the
reasons they are undertaken, can result in equally undesired results.
I do know this: I have heard from more than one person whom I believe
to be credible that, given a prudent choice of season and craft, that
sailing across the Atlantic is really no big deal. I have also heard
from more than one person whom I believe to be credible that the same
voyage is risky as best, and would require more luck than they're
willing to depend on.
Given that, I'm most interested in hearing from the doubters how they
would do if they had to, and from the believers what the one thing(s)
they'd be sure to watch out for.
YIBB,
David Ryan
Minister of Information and Culture
Crumbling Empire Productions
(212) 247-0296
>In October 1998,I had the dudious pleasure of crewing on board an AldenI don't much about about being off-shore, but I do know enough to
>55.We were to take the boat from Halifax down to St.Marrten.Well,just
>three days out of Halifax we ran into a late fall storm.Winds
>registered at 69kts and waves 35'+.
know that the about intinerary put you right in "the lane" for nearly
the whole voyage during the second busiest month of North Atlantic
tropical storm season. To my recollection, that blow was an early
Nor'easter, but it could have as easily been the remains of Hurricane
Mitch, the Cat.5 that killed thousands in Honduras before plowing
across the Gulf, the South East, and then heading back out to sea at
tropical storm force. There were two named tropical storms in October
that year, and one in November. Then there's always the chance of a
nasty little early Nor'Easter. In fact, conventional wisdom in the
East Coast surfing community is that there is *always* a good
Nor'Easter around Halloween.I'm sure your skipper knew this even
better than I, so what prompted this trip?
On the other hand, October is *the* month for surfing on the East
coast. The water is still warm, and between the tropical juice and a
good Halloween blow, we get plenty of waves. I'm waiting on Amazon to
send me my "Ocean Passages for the World," I'm very curious to cross
reference it's advice about weather with what I know about where you
need to go to find waves what time of the year.
>In brief it is this;before undertaking any seriousThe thought has certainly crossed my mind more than once. One of the
>off-shore/ocean crossings in your own homebuilt boat,I would humbly
>suggest that those who have yet to go off-shore in a small boat try
>chartering a boat or better yet,crewing on an ocean sailer.
things I hope to learn is where and when I have to get myself to find
a crewing position. I'm not particularly interest in helping people
get their boats down the East Coast during hurricane season, so that
may limit my options ;-)
As to home built vs. stock, I think that is a matter of philosophy as
much as fact. Whom are you more willing to trust with your life?
Yourself, or someone else. I think you only know the answer when
*everything* goes wrong, and it's time to pass out blame.
YIBB,
David Ryan
Minister of Information and Culture
Crumbling Empire Productions
(212) 247-0296
In October 1998,I had the dudious pleasure of crewing on board an Alden
55.We were to take the boat from Halifax down to St.Marrten.Well,just
three days out of Halifax we ran into a late fall storm.Winds
registered at 69kts and waves 35'+.The boat was broached three
times.One of those broaches found three of us in the cocpit and were it
not for our life-lines I would not be writing this now.Over night lows
were 37 degress and daytime highs in the mid 40's.
This boat was as wide as my MICRO is long and weighed 21 tons yet was
tossed about like a Laser on a gusty day out on the lake.
Whats my point?In brief it is this;before undertaking any serious
off-shore/ocean crossings in your own homebuilt boat,I would humbly
suggest that those who have yet to go off-shore in a small boat try
chartering a boat or better yet,crewing on an ocean sailer.It can be
such an eye-opener!!At the very least,it will certainly assist you in
finding new focus vis-a-vis any future plans for serious voyaging,bring
new realism to that latest sea-story book and allow you to discover
whether or not seasickness will raise it's ugly,green and shrivalled
little head when you least expect it.Besides,you really do not want to
be wondering whether or not you used enough screws,if
that"discount"epoxy is going to hold up or if that deal you got on some
wood of unknown species is going to start fallin apart while your
universe of water appears to be trying really hard to toss you out of
it!
Sincerely,
Peter,two feet planted firmly in 83cm of fresh snow,on the banks of the
ice ckoked St.Lawrence,pondering another Bolger boat.........
55.We were to take the boat from Halifax down to St.Marrten.Well,just
three days out of Halifax we ran into a late fall storm.Winds
registered at 69kts and waves 35'+.The boat was broached three
times.One of those broaches found three of us in the cocpit and were it
not for our life-lines I would not be writing this now.Over night lows
were 37 degress and daytime highs in the mid 40's.
This boat was as wide as my MICRO is long and weighed 21 tons yet was
tossed about like a Laser on a gusty day out on the lake.
Whats my point?In brief it is this;before undertaking any serious
off-shore/ocean crossings in your own homebuilt boat,I would humbly
suggest that those who have yet to go off-shore in a small boat try
chartering a boat or better yet,crewing on an ocean sailer.It can be
such an eye-opener!!At the very least,it will certainly assist you in
finding new focus vis-a-vis any future plans for serious voyaging,bring
new realism to that latest sea-story book and allow you to discover
whether or not seasickness will raise it's ugly,green and shrivalled
little head when you least expect it.Besides,you really do not want to
be wondering whether or not you used enough screws,if
that"discount"epoxy is going to hold up or if that deal you got on some
wood of unknown species is going to start fallin apart while your
universe of water appears to be trying really hard to toss you out of
it!
Sincerely,
Peter,two feet planted firmly in 83cm of fresh snow,on the banks of the
ice ckoked St.Lawrence,pondering another Bolger boat.........