[PUP] PPM in general - what should it be ?

[Ross Anderson]

Hey Hannu, you want to go without radar when coastal? After cruising
now for 60 years gunkholing and passaging for months on end I can tell
you that radar is the one item I do not leave behind. Yep, the
computers, nav programs, stabilizers, water makers, refrigerators,etc
you can chuck over the rail but radar with all that traffic and fog
along the coast - no thanks my hearing ain't what it used to be and I
remember as a boy sailing off the Maine coast the "thump thump thump"
of an old fish trawler crossing our bow in a fog you couldn't see the
bow through.  I agree with you on your assessment of most production
"Passage makers" but  depart on items that improve safety and ones
sense of humor. Yep, I even receive AIS now. God Bless - Ross 10&2

On Sun, Dec 7, 2008 at 2:43 AM, hannu venermo <hanermo at a2002sl.com> wrote:
> John M -
> great post about the sales tactics.
> And I agree on the sales and also on the value aspect.
>
> I have never disparaged the business model or products of these
> builders, on the contrary.
> The boats are good, and represent value for money, for their target market.
>
> Their target market is obviously older, wealthy, inexperiecned people
> who want to "try trawlering" and value seemingly important things like
> sub-zero refrigerators and "apparent safety" and "systems" - here,some
> irony is intended.
> Apparently, they have sold well, and retain their value well - good for
> them !
>
> Builders build what the market wants. The market does not want safe,
> reliable, dependable, cheap-to-maintain items. It *does not*. This is in
> contrast to what many are saying, but not what people are buying.
> What the market wants is what people are buying-
> gizmos, "systems", "looks", "Danfoss compressors" ie trademarks etc.
> (like "lewmar winches" in sailboats) and other similar stuff.
> Therefore, this is what people are sold.
>
> It is not hard, in engineering terms, to build reliable cheap to
> maintain stuff.
> And, in contrast to what you might think, it4s not expensive. Yachty
> stuff is grossly overpriced, but on looks not performance, in general.
> About the 1 thing that is reliable and dependable are the transmissions
> and engines.
>
> Just read a post from a gentleman who says would not go to sea without
> some $$ gizmo (Iridium sat phone)
> Some have said the same for radars.
> I disagree, so does the commercial world (most coastal trawlers do not
> have radar), but let everyone buy whatever they want.
>
> Defining what You want to do, where and how, is the nr1 issue I believe.
> If we are going to continue on the PPM thread we should have a consensus
> on what we are trying to do;
> When this was proposed, few suggestions appeared.
>
> As I prefer to do, I will make suggestions, even though they may not
> sometimes by appreciated - or so it seems at times.. (grin)
>
> To cap;
> This is a PPM
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 1. I believe the PPM should be cheap, safe, reliable, rugged, economical
> to operate.
> 2. I believe it should have all the household comforts, or the provision
> of easily and cheaply installing and or adding them.
> 3. I believe it should be easy and cheap to maintain and keep running.
>
> How to do this, I will comment on later.
> This affects systems, looks, materials, engineering. Everything stems
> from the goal, the mission statement if you will.
>
> Please define what you want in the PPM.
> If, and by all means define Your preferences for 1-3, these goals are
> accepted, these are my conclusions.
>
> This makes a PPM;
> -------------------------------------------------
> 6:1 L/W ratio
> Heavy
> Standardisation in mechanical engineering.
> Steel
> Redundancy in mechanical aspects as much as practical
> All components are extremely fit for purpose and chosen for long-term
> reliability and capacity
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