On 11/15/10 8:33 PM, Bob wrote:

You can make them seaworthy but very difficult to make them a yacht.
If it looks like a derelict rust bucket you will be a target for the
coast guard everywhere you go and find it difficult to get a slip at a
marina.

Humm, actually I have put some thought into the shrimper conversion. I
talked to two west coast shipyards and a Louisana yard each
specialized in boats under 120' each yard also hauled several
shrimpers monthly. Each said, it would take $10-20K to bring a typical
boat back into shape given $100,000 - $120,000 price. Yes, the power
is a problem. Most have a single Cat 3412 and consume 24 gallons per
hour under 100% load (Cat website spec sheets) with 18 g/hr at 75%.
The skipper on the anchor boat I worked was a former shrimper and
suggested just change out the marine gear hang a cruising wheel and
added just about any used Cat would last a recreational user years
longer than its working conterparts.

Humm what to do with that huge hold................ shop?? storage??
fab another state room.

Its very doable. The gulf shrimpers in Oregon are well kept, look
sharp and a reasonalbly capable design even for PNW operation.


Personally Id much rather have a boat designed and built for
commercical work than some $500,000 floating plastic Howard Johnsons.

Hell cut fire wood in Maine and haul cord wood to NY and sell off the
boat for $400/cord.... humm
Just another knuckle head idea to compliment Coffee Joe's fiasco.

Yeah, and an old city bus makes a great camper if only you rebuild it,
tear out the seats, put in carpeting and visit the local trash dump for
bedding, furniture and used plumbing.