[PCW] New PDQ 41 just launched

[HClews@aol.com]

Bob,

The layout of the new 41 is in direct  response to feedback from PDQ 34
customers - or potential customers.  Bob  Poirier has told me they've received
countless requests from  people who want a walk-around queen bed.  As I
understand
it, this was  pretty much the starting point for the new design.
Unfortunately,  boats are sold at boat shows and many people judge them as
they would a
condo!

As for the inside helm station - I can say  on the 34, it works just fine.
We have just completed a trip down the East  Coast from New Hampshire to
Florida and I can attest to the workably and comfort  of the inside helm.
When it's
rough, cold and/or raining it's a great  place to be.  Visibility is fine,
but when the weather is nice, there's no  substitute for the unobstructed 3600
view from above.  On our recent  24-day, 1400-mile trip, I'd say we were about
70/30% up/down.

I'll be posting photos and commentary on our  most recent adventures on the
SnoDogLog website in a few days.   All-in-all, it was a great trip, no major
problems.  Average fuel  consumption was just over 4 gal/hour, cruising speed
was 15-16 knots  whenever possible. (I can't think of any other boat with this
much  comfort that can match this performance.)

Henry
aboard Sno' Dog in Jacksonville,  FL
www.geocities.com/snodoglog


PS: Galley arrangement is just fine.   Although it's down, it has the
openness of a galley-up layout.  My wife  likes to cook and has found it
entirely
workable.  It's true, there may not  be room for me down there at the same
time,
but that's fine by  me!


In a message dated 10/29/2006 11:39:48 A.M.  Eastern Standard Time,
deering@ak.net writes:

Georgs,

I haven't looked at any PDQ's yet (being in Alaska), but  the photos look
interesting.  The 41 looks like a beautiful boat, but  considering the layout
I have to say that I don't quite get who this is  marketed to.

The master berth on the main deck is puzzling.  When  I go out on my boat the
goal isn't to lounge in a big bedroom (I can do  that at home)... it's to DO
things.  A berth is just a place to sleep  in between doing fun stuff.  At
first I though the cabin layout was  intended to accommodate
mobility-impaired people, a smart design strategy  given our aging
population, but since the head and dressing area are still  down in the hulls
that shoots down that theory.  I have to assume that  this obsession with
huge master cabins (Lagoon 42 as well) is intended to  appease some spouses
who have no interest in sleeping in some dark little  hole... and if that's
the price that must be paid to get permission to  acquire a boat, so be it.

One of the other prices to be paid for that  on-deck master cabin is that the
aft deck is almost nonexistent.   Probably OK for people who just cruise, but
if the boat is to be a platform  to play off of, like catch a fish or pull a
crab pot for instance, then  this boat isn't really a contender.

It also forces the galley  down.  Given a choice I'd rather have the galley
up so the cook(s) are  up in the action (and the sleepers aren't).  From the
photos, the  galley looks pretty tight for two cooks.

Up here where beautiful  weather is the exception, most boats' fly bridges
either are abandoned or  are enclosed and used as the main helm.  I'd
probably lean toward the  latter though it would give this boat a very
top-heavy  appearance.

I'm also curious about the interior helm position.  I  notice that the 32's
have that aft location too.  I can see the  advantage is that you're part of
the crowd with everyone around the settee,  and the passengers have great
visibility forward, but how's the visibility  for the pilot sitting so far
back?  I can't tell from the photos but  it seems as if he's kind of removed
from what's coming forward.  How  does that work for you folks with the 32's?

Another new boat on the  near horizon with a more traditional layout is the
Maine Cat 38 - I'm  looking forward to seeing how that shapes up.

Bob  Deering
Juneau, Alaska