We are Byron & Lynn Nelson from Manhattan Beach CA, however Voyager 

is currently based in Dania Beach FL.  The two of us have been boating
45 plus years with most of that in racing offshore sailboats,  but of
late in powerboats.  We enjoy most things in and around the ocean.  Lynn
likes being in the place and I like the getting to the place.

We purchased Voyager three years ago after looking for close to three
years.  This was due to the normal issues of budget, time, design and
compromise.  Voyager is a ten year old full displacement pilothouse
vessel at 90 tons displacement, from fiberglass, single screw with wing
engine, thruster, paravanes, 4,500 US gallons of fuel tankage.  She has
been through the Med and across the Atlantic once with the PO.  Why we
chose Voyager in a nutshell was budget, tried vessel,  pilothouse,
single, minimum of 3,000 miles of range with accommodations for only two
couples.  Fiberglass vs steel entered in, however for us the compromise
of safety and maintenance had the long term maintenance come up the
winner.  Besides the hull plug cut out for the thruster was impressive
in its weight and workmanship of layup.

So far the only passages we've made with her is one outside trip from
Port Everglade to Solomon MD with a crew of four and the return trip on
the ICW to Thunderbolt GA with three, then outside to Port Everglade
with just the two of us.  Both legs were comfortable and exciting
learning experiences.  From there just a couple of quick trips around
South Florida and the Bahamas.  Future plans include longer time in the
Caribbean, through the Canal, Alaska, Mexico and southern Europe.

My hope is to learn from the list and contribute when possible.

Byron & Lynn Nelson
M/V Voyager 70' LRC

OK, this is the economical solution to the KK42's desire for stabilizers and
insuring that my dogs enjoy comfortable passages. This will give new meaning
to "buddy" cruises. We just get in your lee and go wherever you go.
Actually, I did this for the dogs coming up the normally mild Chesapeake. We
had an out-going tide and a 20 knot (True) tailwind opposing it. With
permission, we got behind a tug pushing two barges side-by-side at 3.2
knots. Not a ripple. After 45 minutes the dogs were asleep and I thanked him
and nosed out and went back to 8 knots. The boyze (two Golden Retrievers)
never woke up until it really got bad two hours later.

Ron Rogers
Willard 40 AIRBORNE
Lying Annapolis

----- Original Message -----
From: "Byron Nelson" bdnelson@earthlink.net
|
| Voyager is a ten year old full displacement pilothouse
| vessel at 90 tons displacement, from fiberglass, single screw with wing
| engine, thruster, paravanes, 4,500 US gallons of fuel tankage.  She has
| been through the Med and across the Atlantic once with the PO.  Why we
| chose Voyager in a nutshell was budget, tried vessel,  pilothouse,
| single, minimum of 3,000 miles of range with accommodations for only two
| couples.Future plans include longer time in the
| Caribbean, through the Canal, Alaska, Mexico and southern Europe.