Dick and Patrick have written: > > Challenged and motivated by Dick Schroeder to come up with some ideas for > a passagemaker under $200K, I submit the following: > > I know that you can buy a good used Willard 30 for way under > $100K.....when you can find them. Adding in the $40K for modifications, > I think it is feasible to have a "real" passagemaker for right at $100K. > > > Dick you can do it. There are other examples out there too. Somebody > else give us an example of a good full displacement used trawler under > $200K. If we put our collective heads together, we can satisfy the needs > of every member on this list. Some time ago on the list we discussed Philip C Bolgers "Solution 48". Now the prototype for this design was assembled to a bare hull in 282 man hours. The cost of the steel required would be about $7500 using pre-primed sheet. George Beuhler designs boats that are not dis-similar in terms of construction or complexity and estimates a cost of around $15000 for a home-built "Pligrim 40". Each of these boats could be professionally built and fitted out for under $50,000 if "teak" isn't the sole abiter of the boats effectiveness. Max Gunning (now deceased) also designed a number of very modest ocean going designs that would be suitiable for conversion to power (eg Alcyone) $30K isn't going to get you the electronics and whizz bits that many on this list talk about however unless these guys have a better than average understanding of how to fix things when the nice bits fail (and don't we spend half the list's time discussing such failures) then they'll end up in the shit. The sea doesn't differentiate between $30K boats and $200K boats, the key is and always will be the crew. Honesty of purpose and resolve will win hands down every time over a technological approach when dealing with the sea. An example, many of you will be aware of the so-called "Pacific Bomb" storm of 1994 that gave rise to many dramatic rescues in the area to the north of New Zealand. More than 60 boats were hit by the storm. One boat was lost (yes only one). The rest of the resuces were necesary because the crews "lost it", in most cases the boats of those rescued were later found, having not sunk. One common factor with the crews that had to be rescued was their contact with Kerikeri Radio, and my opinion is that access to technology actually weakened the mental resolve of these crews to fend for themselves. ( Kerikeri Radio do a fine job and my point here is not to detract from what they do.) So IMHO spending $200k on a boat will bring you lots creature comforts (and pleasure if you have the right attitude) but it doesn't mean you can cross oceans with impunity. $30k can get you a boat that will take you anywhere you care to go if you really want. Regards - Foster Price, Southland, New Zealand

Foster: You said it better than anyone else has yet, including yours truly. I agree. Thanks. www