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Old 10-18-2007, 03:18 AM   #14
FF
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Join Date: Oct 2007
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A good reason to give up the sailboat for a trawler?

, there have been Carvers, SeaRays, Mainships, heck even waverunners that have done the same thing.

Sure , but how many did a relaxed UNEVENTFULL trip?

We were in the Rideau and were horrified to watch a senior couple (75 a guess)with a Mainship , purchased NEW specifically for the Loop. They were swinging wildly in the lock hanging onto the lines BY HAND! The factory "sales rep" had sold them a dreamboat , that could NOT be secured in a lock, for the Loop!

Aft were pretty SS hawse holes that could not be fed a lock line , forward the cleat was so tiny the lock line couldnt be wrapped , even a half turn.

Midships , where a big generous cleat would have saved the day , the rep claimed the hull was not set up for a cleat , so could not be installed. They were heading home , to dump the boat , their dream crushed by reality.

Their cruising life will be really UNEVENTFULL , sitting home by the fire.

We had a Carver 45 or so come by , again a new boat run from Canada to FL, the hassle and danger of running down , with thin water and crap in all the rivers had this captain swop boats (no more exposed twin props) as soon as he got to a dealer in Kent. .

THink of the hit of purchasing 2 new boats in a 3 year period!

We prefer a military or commercial hull as most are built to scantlings and outfitted with marine gear many steps over "yacht grade" .

One example on our own boat are heavy duty MONEL fuel tanks , with proper filtering in the tank, and a bottom drain.
No biggie , but nice that once a year a pail will get the asphault particles and condensation. So fuel failure is not on the fun list , even after almost 40 years.

Thank goodness for taxpayers that can afford this level of construction.I sure couldnt new!





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