Larry W4CSC wrote:
I know someone who bought a 40' dismasted sloop really cheap. The yard
tore off all the sailing equipment left and cut down the keel by about
half, increasing their load capacity by a lot! He installed a 4 cylinder
Yanmar in his new "trawler" and off they went in their shallow-draft
trawler. They still have it many years later.....(c;

He always tells everyone diesel fuel and engines are LOTS cheaper than new
sails and rigging!


I think I know that guy... are his initials MR and the boat named after
a popular children's storybook character? If so, that's a great
conversion.... a better looking & more practical boat as a trawler than
it was as a sailboat!

People ask us if it's much more expensive cruising in a trawler
(actually I prefer to call ours a "tugboat") buying all that fuel... the
truth is that it's one of our lowest line-item budget entries. Insurance
and dockage are much much more, and would cost just as much (or more)
for a sailboat.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King