The hull is conventionally constructed for type (inland service) with approx. 3" x 2" angle frames on about 24" to 28"" centers, with estimated 5/16" shell plating. New Paint stem to stern... pure white.

I'm starting by estimating my retirement income, then how I want to live & travel (exclusive of the cost of the boat), and then deciding how much I'm willing to spend of my probable income to do that. Then I'm adding in a boat mortgage for 5-8 years.

The way to estimate the maximum thrust is to use the table in the archives from my anchoring series. You enter the table with the shaft horse power and propeller diameter. You get the thrust. You can take the engine bhp from the engine, speed curve which will come with your engine. If you don't get one, the manufacturer can provide one.

The news article quoted one of them (a commercial airline pilot) saying he estimated he was a good 20 feet in the air at the apex.... Mark Miles "Gavia" Tradewinds 33

I once heard the estimate that one should budget about 20% of the value of a wood boat for annual maintenance to the hull as a rule of thumb. Is this close to reality? Obviously wood-challenged, Frank Timpano Hatteras 38 DCMY, "Discovery" Deltaville, Virginia on Chesapeake Bay.

All I know is multiply estimated hours by a factor of at least 2 or 3 and if I do a job mysel it seems this factor needs to be between 3 and 5 or so Alastair and Rosemary Bayne Nelson's Lady Lord Nelson 49 Victory Tug

I think I'll go with the 10 gauge wire to help insure against voltage drop in a hot engine room environment, and just in case the run is longer than I estimate. Maybe this is how it starts... a small inverter so we can watch TV quietly.

They explained all the alternatives and provided good estimates even before I bought the boat. They also were willing to do the "tough part" of the job and let me, the boat owner, do the easier stuff (saved me big $). I had the bottom gel coat pealed and replaced it with 7 coats of a vinyl ester resin. They also installed a bow thruster tube.

I am not looking for exact prices for any possible system, more like a range of prices for the following catagories: +/-150 hp diesel engine/gear reduction/ shaft/prop/steering 12 kv genset with asso. inverter/ battery banks/panels navigation setup including a GPS/plotter/auto pilot I have been able to get estimates for the other systems like painting, interior

Since his wife doesn't care for boating, he's going to do it mostly alone, and estimates the trip will take 17 months all-in. That means he will be ~74 years old by the time he makes home port. Wow. Cheers, Garrett