Peter Wiley wrote:

... I don't have any problems with people owning lightweight plastic boats
- they do go fast and point high, plus you get lots of exercise
changing headsails with each 5 knot wind change. Just that nobody
should think they're good for much else.

Agreed, but with reservations. You mention a friend who just bought a
ferrocement cruiser on the cheap, what would you think if instead, he'd
bought a newer former racing of the same capacity, for half the price he paid
for the FC job? DOn't know about over there, but in the US there is no market
at all for retired racers and they are going begging. Some are cheesy junk,
true, but some have great potential as cruisers IMHO. It just requires some
knowledge & judgement to pick among them, as with anything else (cars, women,
power tools, etc etc).

Fresh Breezes- Doug King