An estimated 100 CASPIAN TERNS were seen on Saturday. There was an interesting report of two or three FORSTER'S TERNS, a species that is quite rare at Presqu'ile. By this date, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS have normally shown up but none has been reported yet. GREAT HORNED OWLS are apparently regular on High Bluff Island.

Counting over several minutes we got an average of 500 per minute and given they continued at that pace for the first 3 1/2 hours we estimate over 11,000 passed the hawkwatch area this morning! It was a real treat for the visitors. Other species observed included a late male Yellow Warbler that landed in a shrub right next to us and began feeding.

Up one step from the galley/head/cabin deck is the spacious full width salon with what seemed like about seven foot headroom, a wrap around settee to port converts to a double guest berth which I estimated to be seven feet long. To starboard, a TV cabinet, shelves, and icemaker.

<estimate the window area that you are demisting?>> The pilot house has 3 windows in the front, each about 30" wide by 28" high. <> don't know for sure, I recently observed it being used in South Carolina in a new house.

I would estimate that 85% of the time, the auto-pilot is coupled to the ENS. Are there times when you absolutely shouldn't be running coupled?

Joseph PS Get as many estimates as you can, I found prices to vary by the thousands between companies. Most of the time the cheapest price will be from a company that has a truck nearby getting ready to head home empty anyway. _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!?

I estimated the swells as being 12 footers on the day we were out near Plovers Reef. > >As for harsh. I have been talking to an investigator for the Coast Guard >here in the US and he is in agreement with some of my complaints. REPLY I didn't say they were perfect.

THE WARNING INTENSITY OF 75 KT IS BASED ON DVORAK SATELLITE INTENSITY ESTIMATES OF 77 KT (T4.5) FROM JTWC AND 90 KT (T5.0) FROM AFWA. THE INTENSITY WAS HELD DOWN SLIGHTLY SINCE IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME FOR THE WIND FIELD TO CATCH UP WITH THE RAPIDLY CHANGING CONVECTIVE PATTERN.

Next week I will see the boat, motor around with the owner, talk to him and make zillions of digital pics (would be nice to make some sound recording while underway to estimate loudness relative to other boats). I will then post all the stuff on the net and come back to you guys.

(In a couple of boats where the surveyor had noted deck delamination, I also had a yard come in to make an independent evaluation and estimate the repair cost. Lots.) Salt water eats away at internal engine parts, but condensation can do a real number on fuel tanks. Replacing tanks is one of the more awful repair jobs on a boat, and is priced accordingly.