I'd also like to second the estimable Mr. Meyers opinion that corrosion isn't nearly the concern in steel construction that it once was. Steel construction techniques and modern coatings have advanced to the point that maintaining a steel hull shouldn't be any more difficult than with any other material. Metallically yours, Alex

Mark R. asked to estimate amp hour use for a bread maker. When I figured my Panisonic I disregarded mixing and beating phase as it draws so litttle. For the baking it was a 40 min. cycle. I guessed that it had a 50% + or - duty cycle. 800 watt heating elliment. With inverter losses and all I guessed about 30-40 amp hours.

This same fuse has been in operation for three years 11 months...I estimate current draw at 19 amps and plan to measure it...Meantime, To cut current draw a bit, I shut off two fan heaters...there is still plenty of heater capacity. Question: Have any listees had suspicious AGC fuse "failures"??

Photographer Lijour estimated that the mean sea (i.e., average wave height) at the time was about 15-30 feet. The only way to judge the height of the rogue wave in the picture, which approached the ship from abaft the starboard beam and broke on the foredeck, is to compare it to an object of known height.

I changed course to ensure we were out of its path.Through the fog came a 50-60' Navy patrol boat of some sort moving along at what I'd estimate to be 15+ knots in 1/4 mile visibility. Yes, they have good radars. Yes, they have somebody dedicated to watching the radar and nothing else. Yes, they are practiced and skilled at it.

Southern Cross Yacht Repair gives you a detailed estimate prior to commencing work. They stick to it. There work is essentially perfect, which is why I told you offline that they might be hard to engage. They installed my windlass and a new head in a hurry - no complaints and they let me watch and help, a little.

Listees, I have a 56 custom trawler that I purchased uncompleted, I estimate her present weight at 38 tons. I have completed the major systems and have put about 100 hours on the boat. She has a wineglass transom, a very rounded hull form and a tendency to roll pretty dramatically in moderate conditions.

Incidentally, with the sextant, the watch and a calender you can make a reasonable estimate of position by sun sights alone. No almanac needed. That is if your criterion of "reasonable" is about 100 miles. The polished up Heath "Hezzanth" sextant is now a fine mantel display. Larry Z

At its top speed the Fountain 47 burns an estimated 2.88 gallons per MINUTE or 258 gallons per hour. The range on a 314 gallon tank is 213 miles at a mere 60 mph. This works out to 1.44 gal/mile or 129 gal/hr at this admittedly high cruising speed.

I estimate that you have about 600 amp/hrs of capacity so you need to supply about 12 amp/hrs per month. A 10 watt solar cell should do the job nicely. With that much ampere hour capacity, you do not need a controller. Connect the cell directly to the batteries through a simple diode. Now a real electrician can tell me I'm all wrong.