Scott: I see that your post was to Mike but I would like to say a few words as well. I understand your point well in that you may not have the ability or time to be self sufficient and would have to rely somewhat on "luck" that serious things do not breakdown at the wrong time. In a previous post I mentioned that if this is the case then travel in a convoy is really the best way to go (such as NAR). This can be organized so that someone in the convoy has the expertise. What you lose is flexibility of time and being alone but that is more acceptable to losing ones boat or worse. Now that new boats are being made in quantity for ocean passage and these boats are complex enough so you are not able to keep to the KISS principle I think we will see more of the concept of convoys. Regards. Leonard Stern, Indifference.