jspeer wrote:

Me, I'd have a custom, one-off boat built strip planked with glass
(West-like) over according to proven design. She's be small, but all
the mistakes would be yours, not someone else's.

That's an appealing idea. I saw some interesting stuff (in the Gudgeon Bros.
book?) on fatigue for WEST-type boats, and it looks really good -- better than
just about anything but steel. Also, a strip planked inner layer makes for some
really nice interior trim!

But now that people are talking Morrises, if I had that kind of money I'd
probably just order up one of those...

My preference would
be Jack Giles Virtue, or his slightly larger similar boat.

I just Googled it -- never heard of it, and it looks interesting -- at least as
interesting as a Bristol Channel Cutter. BTW, the Canadian built BCC is
practically the same boat as the Sam Morse one, for a lot less money. I just
saw one on boats.com for under $70k.

However, I'm more in the "speed is safety" school -- I'd hate to be slopping
around in the Gulf Stream in a 5 knot boat. So within the realm of proven
seaworthy designs, I'd go as big as budget allows. I think the budget mentioned
allows a pretty nice 35-40'+. But maybe that's my lack of real bluewater
experience showing. :-)

Matt O.