As most on the list know, my wife and I are refitting a 54 ft. trawler with
a serious eye toward passagemakeing. Comfort is important but will not be
put ahead of safety at sea. I don't like electronic stabilization or being
dependent on electronics at all, not that we won't have any electronic
devices, just not dependent on them. As the refit goes, now would be the
time to do a lot of structural modifications that would enhance the
seakeeping ability of this boat, ballast, stabilization, anchor handleing,
things of that nature. I wouldn't say that money is no object, but it does
take a second to a lot of other things, after all, we can't take it with us
and our kids would fight over it after we're gone. I guess my ? is, what
would you do with this boat ?

RE:  I guess my ? is, what would you do with this boat ?

Bob,

Since I gather from your note that you do not plan to install hydraulic
stabilizers on your passage maker, the first thing that I would suggest is
Paravanes. This will reduce your roll at sea by in the range of 80% and
there will be long periods of time at sea that you will likely find the trip
very uncomfortable without them.

Cost will be in the range of $30K depending on how much stiffening you need
to do on the hull to support the loads from the paravanes.

You might check the SetSail site since Steve is installing paravanes as a
backup on his new passage maker now under construction.

Good luck in your refit. John Harris