NG Challenge
 

Skipper wrote:
Harry Krause wrote:


Seriously. If I want to go to Alaska, I'm going there on a commercial
jet. If I want to go boating or fishing while I am there, the old
plastic fantastic in my wallet gets me whatever I want. I enjoy the
destinations, not the trials or tribulations of getting there.


Nothing is as mindless and boring as days at sea.


I couldn't disagree more. A good interesting passage can be the
highlight of the trip. You'll see and experience things those flying 5
miles above will never know.

--
Skipper


Those that have never had a boat of their own always make excuses about
why they can't have & certainly those that have never been offshore can
never appreciate the experience.

The usual defense is that they're so clever they don't "want" a boat nor
need the ability to take one somewhere worth while.

It can be scary, wet, cold & plain bloody hard work at times but those
that do it keep coming back for more.

In my younger days I crewed/partnered on many cruising yachts & they
were the best days of a life for me. There were times when I would have
given literally anything to be off the boat "now", other times when
rolling along under a clear starlit night sky, or standing in the
cockpit clapping & cheering as the dolphins do tricks within feet, you
truly feel alive.

Some passages when weather of other all manner of things go wrong you
swear to yourself you'll never ever do it again but ............. within
hours of getting into port you're itching to set off again.

Probably doesn't apply to you Skip but I describe it as like
childbirth:-) it's just astounding how quickly your mind can erase the
bad things if the outcome is overwhelmingly good.

Whatever Skip use a well found sail boat not overly large (35' is
plenty), if it's a slow old girl just take more suppliers, the adventure
will last longer & believe it or not, before you set off you'll be
nervous even scared but that quickly passes till the boat becomes your
complete safe world & as you approach landfall the exact same fears
return at the thought of the trip ending & going ashore.

Don't drive for a couple of days you get attuned to 6kts & it's much
more dangerous than anything on the voyage:-)

K

NG Challenge
 

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 15:50:34 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

Nothing is as mindless and boring as days at sea.

Different strokes for different folks but I beg to disagree.

Moderation (and good weather) in all things of course, but for me I
never tire of the constantly changing view, the routine of watch
standing, the marine life, sunset at sea, countless stars against a
perfectly dark sky, sunrise, and eventually landfall.

We did a number of one and two day offshore passages last summer on
our north/south trip and I never tired of any of them. There were
days when we saw so many whales we lost count, and nights with
literally dozens of shooting stars.

To me it just doesn't get any better.

NG Challenge
 

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 12:21:37 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing
wrote:

even better - with twelve, you could make a catamaran by tying five
per sponson bow to stern, then use some telephone poles to seperate
them, tie the two remaining together - attach to the sponsons -
voila!!

Heck, you could probably rig up a mast for something like that.

a cheap 110' catamaran.

Yeah but what would you do with the extra $179,000 in the budget?

NG Challenge
 

On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 22:24:58 -0600, Skipper wrote:

The requirement: Spec is for a boat (power OR sail) capable of safe and
comfortable passage from Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska to Mazatlan, Mexico
with return via Hawaii. Boat budget is $180,000. Buyer is 6'3". What
boat would YOU recommend for such usage?

http://tinyurl.com/duyhe

(with suitable additional flotation)

NG Challenge
 

Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:

yeah, but if you had a beautiful gb like wayne has, you would probably
change your mind.

And if you had one of those overly expensive GBs, you'd probably take
the position that it couldn't be done also. The one problem here...is
that it's done all the time.

--
Skipper

NG Challenge
 

Skipper wrote:

Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:


yeah, but if you had a beautiful gb like wayne has, you would probably
change your mind.


And if you had one of those overly expensive GBs, you'd probably take
the position that it couldn't be done also. The one problem here...is
that it's done all the time.

--
Skipper

What makes a GB "overly expensive"? YOU can't afford it? Ever heard of
"you get what you pay for"? It applies in this case.

Dan

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"K. Smith" wrote:

Skipper wrote:

Harry Krause wrote:

Nothing is as mindless and boring as days at sea.

I couldn't disagree more. A good interesting passage can be the
highlight of the trip. You'll see and experience things those flying 5
miles above will never know.

those that have never been offshore can never appreciate the experience.

In my younger days I crewed/partnered on many cruising yachts & they
were the best days of a life for me.

I too understand the flamers here simply lack the experience or
understanding of the subject and have nothing constructive to add. It's
best just to ignore these trolls.

--
Skipper

NG Challenge
 

Harry Krause wrote:

And if you had one of those overly expensive GBs, you'd probably take
the position that it couldn't be done also. The one problem here...is
that it's done all the time.

Translation: Skipper can't afford a GB like Wayne's, so to make himself
feel better, he'll knock Wayne's boat as being "overly expensive."

Actually, many builders make similar boats to the ones GB markets. Those
who really know boats know you pay for the name with GBs.

--
Skipper

NG Challenge
 

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 15:50:34 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

Nothing is as mindless and boring as days at sea.


Like WayneB, I also disagree.

It may not be your cup of tea, but piloting your own boat, with full
responsibility for navigation, weather watching and decision making plus the
sense of accomplishment for an accurate and safe voyage is far from mindless
and boring.

Plus, there's a serenity yet a mystery to the ocean that's hard to describe
if you are always in sight of land.

Eisboch

NG Challenge
 

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 18:53:50 -0600, Skipper wrote:

Actually, many builders make similar boats to the ones GB markets. Those
who really know boats know you pay for the name with GBs.

==============================================

With used boats or used anything, price is all about supply and
demand. There are always plenty of GBs for sale so we can conclude
the supply is good.

Is it possible that prices are higher because the demand is high?

Take a look at some 20 year old GBs and then take a look at some of
the 20 y/o brand X competition and you will get some inkling of why
that is so. You will need to leave Kansas for this comparison, but
either coast will do.

The GBs are not perfect by any means but the basic structural
components are very high quality and that is why they have outlasted
the others. The appearance and overall design is timeless and very
well balanced also. They turn heads everywhere.

Since mine is parked in front of my office window all week when I'm at
home, appearance definitely counts.