> Ben Owen wrote: I gradually moved up to larger boats as my skill and Confidence improved and settled on a Pearson Vanguard, a 32' Yawl that was begging to be converted to a Cutter Yawl, which I did and loved it. With the larger sailboats came longer trips; to Canada, Vancouver island, to Alaska and a trip around Vancouver island. With that under my belt I was ready to cross Oceans. I flew to > Holland and oversaw the final fitting out of a 75ft Ketch, the mono hull "Orcella" and brought her back to Seattle via four months in the Med. across the Atlantic, through the Canal and up the west Coast to Vashon Island. Total time on the trip was 18 months! > I moved to Alabama, bought a house on a 23 mile lake, got a power boat > and did deliveries down the east coast including a 40 ft Catalac from Ft> Lauderdale to Choctawhatchie bay Fl. That was probably my most > "Interesting trip" of all I have taken. I was impressed with the > sturdiness of the Cat and decided I wanted one. > Because this lake is landlocked, I am confined to Trailerable > boats and want it to do the great loop trip and voyages from Puget Sound to Alaska. I need one about 30ft long with 10 ft and no more than 12 ft beam to take us around the great loop, up the Arkansas to visit my Sister near ____________________________________________________ Brian responded: Interesting backgrd Ben. Since you have been bitten by the cat bug and have sailed several different split rigs, I thought you might find my 'single-masted ketch' rig of interest at <www.RunningTideYachts.com> Any comments on this sailing subject are probably best made off this list. I have a couple of powercat projects in mind, but they are larger than you need. I might be interested in tapping into your knowledge about a trip from Seattle up to Alaska next summer, being planned by a very good friend of mine who just got back from buying a very neat 44 steel Dutch poweryacht out in Seattle for such a trip. Brian Eiland beiland@usa.net www.RunningTideYachts.com distinctive expedition yachts