T R A W L E R   N E W S 

IN THIS ISSUE #112

WILL THE NEW MAINSHIP 34 SUCCEED AS WELL AS THE ORIGINAL?

NEW E-NAV PROGRAM TO USE FREE DOWNLOADABLE CHARTS

BAHAMAS RELAXES CRUISING FEE TO ALLOW MULTIPLE ENTRIES

CATALOG OF BEEBE DESIGNS AGAIN AVAILABLE

MV PASSAGEMAKER ON THE HARD

NEWS IN BRIEF

IF YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE TRIAL COPY OF POWER CRUISING . . .

HOW TO REACH US

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ T R A W L E R N E W S  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Broadcast on the Internet 02/11/04 Read this edition online with photos and additional text at http://members.rogers.com/waterworld/tnews_temp.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IN THIS ISSUE #112 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Will the new Mainship 34 succeed as well as the original? New e-nav program to use free downloadable charts Bahamas relaxes cruising permit fee Catalog of Beebe designs again available MV Passagemaker on the hard News in brief If you would like a free trial copy of Power Cruising How to reach us How to unsubscribe ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WILL THE NEW MAINSHIP 34 SUCCEED AS WELL AS THE ORIGINAL? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By Blake August The original Mainship 34, launched in 1978, has been one of the most popular vessels in recreational trawlering, what with 1,200 boats launched in three different configurations before production ceased in 1987. Twenty-six years later, Mainship is introducing a new 34 based on the same premise: Build an economical and comfortable cruiser at an affordable price and it will sell well. The question is, what is an affordable price? We asked the Mainship owners group on Yahoo and here is a sampling of what they said: "You are correct in that pricing is what made the old 34 such a success. As an ex-sailor, we bought one to use as training wheels to see if we could live with a vessel without sails. Our prerequisite included: Nice lines, not much bigger than our 30 sailboat, economical (single engine and limited systems), and cheap. The Mainship 34 hit the target. Now we are looking for something with another stateroom to accommodate guests and grandchildren, so the new Mainship 340 doesn't appear to fit the bill. However, we have been comparing prices of 32-36 foot boats to see how things stack up. We find ourselves looking at the Mainship 34 Pilot and the Albin 35 command bridge as possible alternatives. Both of these boats are in the $225K-$250K price range. The new 34 would have to fit in the middle or below these prices to be reasonably attractive. To achieve the success of the older model, it would have to be well below the $225K number and reasonably well equipped. --Gerry Etzold "I'd like to see a price around $175,000 . . . although that may be naive." --Joe Weinbrecht "A boat dealer recently complained to me, 'Everybody wants something for nothing.' Well, he's right. The challenge for the new Mainship 34 is to do all the good things and none of the bad things-and offer it for a competitive price. Under $200K, nicely equipped, comes to my mind. I don't know if that is possible, but if it is, Mainship will do it. And be successful again. --Russ McAden "Two years ago at our winter rendezvous in St. Augustine, Jim Krueger (of Mainship) gave us a first glimpse at the new 34. He stated that they would try to bring it in at $175K. Last year at our winter rendezvous in Savannah, it was up to $200K. Since I see new 34 Pilots posted for $225K-$236K, I don't imagine that the new 34 could be less. Anywhere in the vicinity of 225K, equipped, would probably be successful. Don't foresee a cruise-equipped boat for much less than $250K, however. Probably would be successful at that price point, as it seems that all new boats are increasing in price at an alarming rate, maybe due to low interest rates as a come on. I know two other cruising boats I'm looking-the Camano 31 and the Endeavour 36 TrawlerCat-are both escalating in price currently. It also makes a newer, used 39 Mainship to be a good value, I would think. I image the 39 would be discontinued shortly, due to the success of the new 40, but Mainship does not acknowledge this yet. Since most of the Yahoo group are dedicated Mainship 34 I, II, and III owners, I think the price of the new 34 will make them happy to keep updating their older 34s. --Tom Clare Mainship will announce the price when the new 34 is introduced at the Miami International Boat Show this week. The new 34 is packed with the features likely to have wide appeal, especially among those in the market for a semi-displacement cruiser capable of speed in the 10-to-15-knot range in coastal and inland waters. Mainship engineers and designers have utilized every available space in the new 34 to offer a centerline queen berth in the master stateroom, a full head with stall shower and a saloon quite spacious for a boat 34-feet on deck. (Overall, it's 36 feet 1 inch.) The galley includes a two-burner stove, microwave oven, coffee maker and dual voltage refrigerator and freezer. Countertops are genuine Corian. The covered aft deck includes molded steps to the bridge for safe and easy access. The upper helm station carries full instrumentation, and there is plenty of room for electronics. An optional lower station is available as well. The proven hull design is easily driven by the standard single diesel or by twins. A sand shoe protects the single screw model, while twin screws are recessed into efficient tunnels for shallow water operation. Preliminary specifications: Length overall 36' 1" Length less pulpit & platform: 34' 0" Beam 13' 3" Draft 3' 3" Headroom 6' 4" Displacement (dry) 20,000 lb Fuel capacity 250 gal Water capacity 70 gal Waste capacity 14 gal Air draft @ DWL 16' 5" Power: Single Yanmar or Cummins diesel rated at 200-370 hp Twin Yanmar diesel to 240 hp each http://www.mainship.com/whatsnew/34traw.html http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mainship/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEW E-NAV PROGRAM TO USE FREE DOWNLOADABLE CHARTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By Milt Baker If you use Windows XP and like the Windows interface, an all-new electronic navigation program in development named Coastal Explorer may be just what you're looking for. The good news is that it is expected to use free S-57 vector charts downloadable directly from NOAA, but the bad news is that the program won't be on the market until late spring. The new software, first shown at the Seattle Boat Show in last month, is being developed by Rose Point Navigation Systems. Owner Brad Christian tells Trawler News that he started the business, designed the Coastal Explorer product, wrote the code and documentation, and even runs the new company's website: <http://rosepointnav.com>. He's a one-man show. Christian is a 17-year Microsoft veteran where he wrote software and lead development teams. Nowadays, however, when not working on Coastal Explorer, he spends time enjoying his third boat, a Bayliner 5788 in the Pacific Northwest. Christian reports that he tried several off-the-shelf plotter and navigation software solutions but found them all wanting. After retiring from Microsoft, he spent about two years creating a system he calls "the prototype." "It was a program that I could use on my boat and had all sorts of things that ensured that it would only be useful to me on my boat," he said. "I showed it to a lot of other boaters, however, and they all told me their woes about their software. Finally, I decided to get back to work, form Rose Point Navigation Systems, and create navigation software that any boater could use. The result is Coastal Explorer, which is essentially a brand new product that has already been through the 1.0 stage for about two years." "The program really is a well-designed Windows program that happens to be a chart plotter, rather than a chart plotter that happens to run on Windows," according to Christian. "The distinction is important, as all other navigation software ignores standard Windows user-interface practices and tries to work much like a dedicated chart plotter, while Coastal Explorer acts like a 'normal' Windows application." "I've found that most recreational boaters don't have the time or patience to learn how their dedicated chart plotters work, but they spend much of their non-boating time using and learning how to use other Windows applications for work, e-mail, or other things," he said. "We are planning on continuing to allow users to download and install 'raw' S-57 charts (from NOAA), and will also sell a subscription service to keep their chart portfolio up to date automatically." Coastal Navigator is also expected to be able to run charts from established electronic charting vendors including raster charts from Maptech, SoftChart and NDI and vector charts from NDI as well as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' vector charts of U.S. inland rivers. Rose Point is current working towards being able to use British Admiralty's ARCS raster charts of the world. The software is not compatible with NIMA's digital electronic charts. Price point for the new Coastal Explorer package is expected to be about $300 when the software is released in May or June 2004. A beta test copy may be purchased from the company now; check the company's website for details or contact: <support@rosepointnav.com>. http://rosepointnav.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BAHAMAS RELAXES CRUISING FEE TO ALLOW MULTIPLE ENTRIES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In a move seen as a positive sign for Bahamas-bound cruisers, the Bahamas government has announced a change in its cruising permit fee structure to allow for two entries within a 90-day period rather than only one entry, BoatU.S. reports. The fee scale announced in 2003, remains: $150 for boats up to 35 feet and $300 for boats over 35 feet. However, by allowing two entries for the same fee, the rate is cut in half for those who choose to frequent the islands more than once in a 90-day period. Keith Gomez, boating and fishing specialist with the Bahamas Tourism Centre, acknowledged that complaints from boaters and the U.S. and Bahamas boating industries were having an impact. Further changes could take place in June 2004 when the government's new budget year commences. BoatU.S. has been encouraging it's members to contact Bahamian officials since the fee increase was announced without warning last summer, and continues to urge boaters to voice their concerns by e-mailing Gomez at <kgomez@bahamas.com> or the Bahamian Comptroller of Customs, John Rolle, at <cofrolle@batelnet.bs>. Please copy BoatU.S. Government Affairs at <govtaffairs@BoatUS.com>. http://www.BoatUS.com/news/releases.asp ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CATALOG OF BEEBE DESIGNS AGAIN AVAILABLE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mystic Seaport Museum has published a revised edition of Exploring the Design Principles of Captain Robert P. Beebe's Ocean-Going Passagemakers. The second printing of the catalog, originally published by Steve Doherty in 1996, contains new photos as well as all material available in the first edition. Forty years after Passagemaker was launched, introducing the concept of a motorboat capable of crossing oceans, Beebe's theories on passagemaking have stood the test of time. This catalog of 19 designs-illustrated with sample plans and photographs-contains Beebe's famous Passagemaker, as well as designs developed since the publication of Beebe's influential Voyaging Under Power in 1975. The cost is $13.99 plus shipping and handling. Orders can be placed through Mystic Seaport Museum Bookstore. http://www.mysticseaport.org toll-free: 800.331.2665 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MV PASSAGEMAKER ON THE HARD ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bob Beebe first wrote about the concept of passagemaking under power in 1946 in an article in Rudder, a leading boating magazine of the time. It was then that he coined the word "passagemaker" as the term for ocean-crossing vessels. The original Passagemaker was built in Singapore and launched in 1963. The 50,000 sea miles that Beebe put under her keel over the next five years was unheard of in a day when sailboats were the only recreational vessels venturing out of sight of land. After Beebe sold the 50-foot trawler yacht, Passagemaker went through several owners, actively cruised the East Coast and Caribbean, and underwent several upgrades to equipment. Circumstances have conspired to keep the old girl on the hard since early 2001. A non-profit foundation to purchase and preserve Passagemaker has been discussed by admirers. For information, e-mail Friends of Passagemaker: <passagemaker@trawlerworld.com>. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEWS IN BRIEF ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -- Construction of the new flagship of the Nordhavn line of displacement trawler yachts is proceeding at Ta Shing Yacht Building Company with the launch of the 72-footer expected later this year. Upon his return from the Taiwan factory, Dan Streech, president of Pacific Asian Enterprises, who is 6 feet 1 inch tall, remarked on the size of the boat: "I was able to walk a distance of over 20 feet-in the bilge!-with nearly full standing headroom." http://www.nordhavn.com tel: 949.496.4848 --The just-released sixth edition of Claiborne Young's Cruising Guide to Western Florida, covering coastal waters from Cape Sable to the Panhandle, features: Detailing of all navigational changes, including critical changes on both of Sarasota Bay's inlets. A rating system for overnight transient dockage fees at marinas. For the first time, Lat/Lon positions of all marinas and anchorages, and URLs for all marinas along the western Florida coastline that have web sites. Extensive accounts of the area's many new and expanded marinas and reviews of recently opened restaurants in all coastal communities An extensive selection of local telephone numbers including rental car agencies, taxi services and marine supply firms A pre-publication discount price of $30 per book (plus shipping and handling), will be honored on all orders received prior to March 1. The regular price will be $34. http://www.cruisingguide.com toll-free: 800.803.0809 -- Trawler enthusiast and retired pediatrician Tom Zavelson has been appointed director of customer relations for Mirage Manufacturing of Gainesville, Florida. Having lived in Gainesville for 35 years, Zavelson has witnessed the growth of Mirage, from a builder of skiffs and sailboats, to a leader in trawler and sportfish boat design and construction focused on the Great Harbour line of yachts. http://www.mirage-mfg.com tel: 352.377.4146 -- Cruising guide authors and publishers Don Douglass and Reanne Hemingway-Douglass have sold their publishing business to Mark and Leslie Bunzel who will operate it as FineEdge.com. The Douglasses will continue to write and do research on their Nordhavn 40, Baidarka. Authors and publishers of the finest cruising guides for the waters from Puget Sound to the Gulf Alaska, the Douglasses started Fine Edge Productions specializing in guides and maps for mountain bikers. http://www.fineedge.com tel: 360.299.8500 -- Captains Rick and Karen Miles are planning a 21-day Iceberg Cruise for guests aboard Wanderbird, a 90-foot, Dutch-built beam trawler converted to expedition yacht. The 2005 cruise will visit the fjords of Newfoundland and the coast of Labrador where encounters with icebergs and polar bears are likely. Wanderbird will also visit the Basque Islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon south of Newfoundland. This summer, Wanderbird offers shorter cruises in waters closer to her home port of Winterport, Maine. http://www.wanderbirdcruises.com toll-free: 866.SEA.BIRD or 866.732.2473 -- According to BoatU.S., the 10 most popular names for boats are: 1) Happy Hours 2) Carpe Diem 3) Reel Time 4) Sea Biscuit 5) Freedom 6) Summer Wind 7) Aquaholic 8) Serenity 9) No Worries 10) Mental Floss. If you see news in the making anywhere in the world of trawlers, please let Trawler News know via <mailto:editorial@trawlersandtrawlering.com>. Items are selected for publication on the basis of the newsiness and interest to the readership. No payment is required or accepted. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IF YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE TRIAL COPY OF POWER CRUISING . . . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you would like to receive a free trial issue of the new magazine Power Cruising, please e-mail your full name and complete mailing address via <mailto:circulation@trawlersandtrawlering.com> or go https://secure.palmcoastd.com/pcd/document?ikey=0897ZHAAA If you had requested a trial edition of Trawler World, or subscribed to Trawler World, there is no need to also request Power Cruising. You will be sent the premiere edition of Power Cruising in late February. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOW TO REACH US ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Trawler News, an e-newsletter about voyaging, cruising and living aboard under power, is distributed free of charge by TrawlersAndTrawlering.com as a public service to the trawler community. To subscribe, or unsubscribe, go <http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawler-world-news>. We do not sell, rent or trade addresses of our subscribers without their permission. Editor: Georgs Kolesnikovs E-mail: georgs@trawlering.com Telephone: 866-865-2628 Facsimile: 866-865-2729 Web: <http://www.TrawlersAndTrawlering.com>. This edition was broadcast to 6,013 subscribers and posted on the Web. You can read earlier editions beginning at <http://www.trawlerworld.com/twnews_101.htm>. Water World Productions, formerly known as Trawler World Productions, respects your time and privacy. If you prefer not to receive further communications, please hit the reply button and send the word "remove." T R A W L E R N E W S  Powered by Apple Macintosh IBook G4 © 2004 Water World Productions. All rights reserved.