GL: loop boat

[Rob Dorsey]

 David,

If money is no object you are right. But - and a rather large but it is -
that "well found heavy trawler" will cost about 5 times the Catalina. Unless
you are prepared to convert a working boat - lobsterman, fishing trawler,
etc. - then $250 Large is the entry level. We are learning that rather hard
lesson ourselves as we look for an affordable trawler. The Mainship comes
closest (the cheapest asking price about $150 thousand) but it is arguable
whether its hull is up to "big water." We have a Carver 3607 of 1982
vintage. We KNOW it can do the loop because "After Tuition" is sitting in
Solomons, MD, having left Chicago in May. She is identical to our boat and
skippered by quite nice and normal people, house, cars, kids, grand-kids,
jobs, the whole enchilada, but they have the fire in their gut to see the
waters pass by and America with it.

If you can afford a heavy trawler, then you should have one. "Afford" to us
does not mean selling the house, cars, furniture and toys to invest all in a
boat as a home. I admire that if someone so chooses but it's not for us, not
right now. Baring great wealth - and we spent Trawler Fest in Solomons
touring million+ boats learning that we are not wealthy - it seems that a
grand choice is the only option.

But then, life is mostly about choices ian't it? We all make our own.

Best and Good Luck in Your Quest,
Rob & Robin Dorsey
"Best Revenge" lying in Aurora, IN on the Oh-Hi-Oh
http://BestRevenge.us

-----Original Message-----
From: great-loop-bounces at lists.samurai.com
[mailto:great-loop-bounces at lists.samurai.com] On Behalf Of David H Sorenson
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 7:43 PM
To: great-loop at lists.samurai.com
Subject: GL: loop boat

We as yet are to buy the boat on which we will do the loop. In a recent
post, someone said that only 5% of the loop is open water and the rest is
sheltered. I would disagree and it has a significant bearing on the boat we
will buy.
Where we live we will have to cross
Lake Superior both ways 400 miles each way  800 miles Then the length of
Lake Michigan  400 miles Later cross the gulf of Mexico  200 miles
Probably go outside of New Jersey  approx 100 miles Then cross Lake Ontario
 approx 60 miles Then open water of Georgian Bay  maybe 100 miles That
totals 1,660 miles of open water on a 6,800 mile loop. That is about 24%.
When discounting the Lake Superior portion which most will not have to do,
still 860 miles or 14% of the loop will be on big water. Living and boating
on Lake Superior, we know what big water and high seas mean.
We want a boat that can handle big water and the seas it will generate in
safety AND comfort. Hence, we probably will be buying a heavy, well found
trawler. The one we are looking at is actively stabilized There is a 42
Chris Craft Catalina for sale here locally that is a very nicely maintained
boat. But we think it is not heavy enough for the heavy seas we will
undoubtedly encounter. My preference is a diesel trawler that will displace
40,000 lbs and is stabilized.
David Sorenson
Duluth
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