Mic wrote:

On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 15:10:40 -0400, "Glenn Ashmore"
wrote:

I am not sure you exactly grasp the forces that act on boats at sea.

I am aware of "the forces that (can) act on boats at sea". I readily
can not give you the ref. for the following, but am willing to accept
them as reasonable:

It was stated that about 93% of the time the winds are between 13-17
knots and for the remaining 7% of the time - 97% of that time they are
between 17-21 knots.

Its not the wind (for the most part) that does damage it the waves, as
you suggest.

I can not reasonably recall the force of a breaking wave on the deck
of a boat but I do recall I was amazed at figure of that force.

I do like the "cork" theory of a boat though...

Forget the wind and the waves. The problem with biminis and like structures is
they're inevitably used as handholds, to support 200 LB people being tossed
about in a seaway. This takes a toll even on the sturdy stainless steel ones.

Matt O.