I was wondering if you saw much in the way of Trawler types on your run down to Martinique?
ZERO.
But I was sailing during a furlough 1972 and I don't think Bede's book was out. So the only marine motorists were in a really! big boats.
Sure the Marne Marie had done her Atlantic crossing years before , and other small motor boats had done some ocean voyaging , but in those days a Voyager was probably in a huge 50/50 motor sailor.
Today with lighter hull construction and flyweight diesels the true 90/90 is possible to build , but like most ocean capable boats cost too much to create.
Perhaps if this admin gets its way , $10+ per gallon , the true motor sailor will again re emerge for the wealthy , and sail cruising will again be the norm for long distance cruisers..
For the masses there is certainly a huge number of old GRP hulls that are super cheap.
We have been trying to sell our Beneteau First 32 for a year , at $15.000 , a boat that sailed from Saudi to England then to the Carib and up to Canada on her own , with self steering, wind gen , and no takers.
Most of the problem is FL where lots of water is 3ft deep , so next April we will be taking her to New England (and raising the price) .
But this is only an example of how little it takes to find a world cruiser , on the cheap.
There are many cheap power boats here in FL , but most are TT and the rebuild is beyond most owners ability , and then there is the fuel bill to actually go anywhere.
FF