Hi Mike: Go figure. We purchased new our MarineTrader in 1979. My  intro
summarized our efforts to equipe her for ocean passage. We have twin  Lehmans
120hp with the infamous BW drives. For our budget that is the way it  was. After 5
years of training and preparation we took off to the Med in 1984
(Bermuda/Azores/Madiera/Med. We were gone for 1 1/2 yrs returning to Montreal,  Canada.
Previous posts have mentioned the careful maintenance we gave our  propulsion
systems as well as all else. Our boat I consider to be the ultimate  KISS. We
kept it that way so that my wife and I could manage. Today and after  1990
there are much better options than what was available to us back in the  80's. We
were successful in our passagemaking but I do agree with you that if we  were
to do it again we would be much more selective in ensuring that our systems
(propulsion,etc.) included newer ones with reliable track record. However even
with that it still behooves me to state that you have to ready with knowledge
to  jury rig systems that could breakdown. With the newer boats being built
today  this is getting to be more and more difficult in terms of training,
knowledge  time and money. I firmly believe that those who are now planning these
long  passages have great decisions to make on how they will do their dream
cruise and  arrive home safe and sound. Regards. Leonard Stern,  Indifference.

Leonard,

When you first posted, I should have asked if you did any kind of weather routing or was it come what may?

Also, are the negative comments on BW gears applicable to all models or just the drop center ones?

Ron Rogers
1985 Willard 40
----- Original Message -----
From: PRINTMORE1@aol.com

With the newer boats being built today this is getting to be more and more difficult in terms of training, knowledge time and money. I firmly believe that those who are now planning these long passages have great decisions to make on how they will do their dream cruise and arrive home safe and sound. Regards. Leonard Stern, Indifference.