[PUP] Alvin 32-35, or other options

[Al Rodriguez]

> Thanks again for your input.  The two boats are definitely
> different, although price wise, the Alvin 35 and GH 37 used,
> are not as far apart.
  
> The significant differences are going to help me make a
> decision, not just on these two models but others that might
> be available between the two extremes.  I know I don't
> want anything much over 40 feet.  
> 
> There is one boat I looked at during a recent USPW boat
> gathering in Boca Chica Key:  the Ricker 42 Performance
> Trawler.  It has low draft, twin engines two state rooms,
> and open walkaround deck.  Any comments on this model's
> performance (or similar designs) for Caribbean cruising
> would be appreciated.
> 
> As far as my use, I won't be a full time live aboard,
> and will probably leave the boat moored at times in
> supervised remote locations for significant periods of time.
>  On the other hand, I want some comfort for the times we do
> spend on board.  The length we'll spend on the boat will
> be months as we will be retiring soon and have plenty of
> time.  
> 
> With the boat market in disarray and prices dropping, this
> is a great opportunity to buy, even if the boat has to sit
> for a short while til our retirement.  
> 
> Recently, I visited a boat foreclosure "yard"
> here in Fort Lauderdale, and you wouldn't believe the
> number of boats rafted next to each other that have been
> repossessed across the country and brought here, including
> trawlers.  You can literally walk from boat to boat in what
> is roughly a square block marina.  Granted, most of the
> boats are cruisers, but there are some nice teak interior
> trawlers.  I was told by a sales agent they are adding
> inventory at the rate of four hundred repossessed boats
> every month increasing.  It makes one feel bad for the boat
> owners.  Some of the trawlers in particular still have the
> owners clothes and some refrigerators can be seen with
> rotting food as they don't have the manpower to clean
> them all.
> 
> If one is flexible, and can put up with the displeasure of
> buying a repossessed item, one can walk away with a really
> good deal.  I want to clarify that neither of the boats
> I'm asing to compare above were seen at this place
> during my visit.
> 
> Any more suggestions are appreciated.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Al    
> 
> 
> --- On Thu, 2/19/09, Ron Rogers
> <rcrogers6 at kennett.net> wrote:
> 
> > From: Ron Rogers <rcrogers6 at kennett.net>
> > Subject: RE: [PUP] Alvin 32-35, or other options
> > To: alrod333 at yahoo.com,
> passagemaking-under-power at lists.samurai.com
> > Date: Thursday, February 19, 2009, 6:26 PM
> > Al,
> > 
> > Your concerns, except for speed, are all valid and are
> > frequently the ones
> > articulated by prospective buyers of vessels with high
> > freeboard. The very
> > best way to answer these concerns is to charter a GH37
> from
> > Mirage. They
> > probably offer some instruction.
> > 
> > 
> > But let's get something straight; there are times
> when
> > most boats become
> > hard to control. My 20T Willard 40 with single engine
> and
> > bow thruster was
> > extremely difficult to dock bow in (!) during a severe
> > thunderstorm with
> > horizontal rain. Although I got her in, it might have
> been
> > much wiser to
> > anchor until the storm had passed. You make choices.
> In my
> > case, the dogs
> > wanted to go to the bathroom very sincerely.
> > 
> > Could I have moored in those conditions with a GH37? I
> > don't know, I would
> > have to try. They have twin screws and a bow thruster
> and
> > that combination
> > would help, but she has more windage. If I
> couldn't,
> > I'd drop the anchor the
> > same as with my boat. In either boat, I would have
> been
> > safe. In this
> > situation, I was often standing still and being blown
> > sideways. Just before
> > that we were making 7 knots into 5-6 foot seas on the
> nose
> > with 34 knots of
> > wind with the stabilizers off - it was very pleasant.
> When
> > you have way on,
> > things are different.
> > 
> > Now about speed. Vessels in the 40 foot class making
> 10
> > knots are not true
> > full-displacement trawlers. They look like trawlers,
> but
> > they have hard
> > chines aft and flatten-out aft. They are
> semi-displacement
> > designs more
> > closely resembling a Downeast lobster boat than a
> trawler.
> > And, these hulls
> > are not sipping diesel at 10 knots. At 7.5 knots, with
> the
> > generator
> > powering the A/C, and the main driving the hydraulic
> > stabilizers, my 40 foot
> > true trawler is consuming 2.5gph. With a more modern
> engine
> > (John Deere
> > turbo) that would drop below 2gph. The Willard 40 can
> > exceed hull speed with
> > the factory prop and reach 8.54 knots in a glassy calm
> > while gulping fuel at
> > perhaps 6gph or more. The Albin does not have a true
> > trawler hull. BTW,
> > running in a pack of companion boats is not easy owing
> to
> > the differing
> > characteristics of the boats and the inclinations of
> the
> > owners.
> > 
> > The boats that you have chosen to compare are apples
> and
> > cumquats. The GH37
> > offers the liveaboard comfort of a large condo with
> great
> > views. The prices
> > do not compare either. I'd set my dollar limit
> first
> > and then look for a
> > boat.
> > 
> > Ron Rogers