On Fri, 06 Jul 2007 20:46:10 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:


I've been a slow boater for the longest time. What's the hurry?

that's a good point, too..after all, folks still go sailing!


If you like spray, noise, vibration, and general ruckus underway you
will want to get a boat that goes as fast as possible. :-)

yeah i'm past the point where 40 kts is exciting...just a nice slow
cruise is a good way to spend the day...

On Sat, 07 Jul 2007 03:44:00 -0500, wrote:

that's a good point, too..after all, folks still go sailing!

Yes, and even a slow trawler is faster than all but the biggest, fully
crewed sailboat.

We just did 1500 nautical miles in 14 days with our trawler, rarely
exceeding 8 1/2 kts. That included 4 or 5 all nighters for those
doing the math. Slow and steady wins the race every time, and after
arrival you have a nice spacious, comfortable boat to live aboard, not
a cramped express cruiser with little or no view of the world from the
main cabin. Express cruisers make great weekend party boats, not much
more.

Another point worth mentioning is that trawler hulls are designed to
run at slow speeds whereas most boats with larger gas engines are not.
Our old sportfish would wallow all over the place if run at slow
speeds, a very uncomfortable motion.

On Sat, 07 Jul 2007 15:37:48 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Sat, 07 Jul 2007 03:44:00 -0500, wrote:

that's a good point, too..after all, folks still go sailing!

Yes, and even a slow trawler is faster than all but the biggest, fully
crewed sailboat.

We just did 1500 nautical miles in 14 days with our trawler, rarely
exceeding 8 1/2 kts.

you know, alot of boating is philosophical. just compare the reasons
why people go sailing rather than powerboating

and being FORCED to go slow has alot to be said for it. being forced
to consider the sea...to spend time just cruising along...runs counter
to contemporary life...and is a pleasure!


Another point worth mentioning is that trawler hulls are designed to
run at slow speeds whereas most boats with larger gas engines are not.
Our old sportfish would wallow all over the place if run at slow
speeds, a very uncomfortable motion.

trawlers definitely have an attraction...

On Sun, 08 Jul 2007 09:43:29 -0500, wrote:

and being FORCED to go slow has alot to be said for it. being forced
to consider the sea...to spend time just cruising along...runs counter
to contemporary life...and is a pleasure!

I never look at it as "forced". It's my *choice* if I buy a boat that
is slow. I see it opposite as you do, or at least how you stated it.
If I do 8 knots in an 8 knot boat, I won't feel forced. I'll feel I
got just what I asked for.
I'm guessing you're saying that if you had, say a 24' Carolina Skiff
with a 150hp, capable of 40+ knots, you wouldn't spend much
time cruising at 8 knots. More likely you'd cruise at @25. Me too.
Hey! I ended up agreeing with you!

--Vic

On Fri, 06 Jul 2007 20:46:10 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

If you're in all that much of a darn
hurry get in your car and drive. :-)

I'll try that next time I want to head out to the Canyons for
swordfishing. :)

On Jul 7, 3:30?am, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Fri, 06 Jul 2007 20:46:10 -0700, Chuck Gould

wrote:
If you're in all that much of a darn
hurry get in your car and drive. :-)

I'll try that next time I want to head out to the Canyons for
swordfishing. :)

So how did people get out to the Canyons or go swordfishing before
20-30 kt offshore fishing boats were available?

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...

On Jul 6, 5:14?pm, wrote:

giving some thought to either a trawler or cruiser for galveston
bay/gulf of mexico. purpose would be just to tool around while not
paying huge bux for gas.


Part of the consideration, and probably an important part, has to do
with where you boat. In my neck of the country, I can draw a "two hour
circle" (16 nm diameter) anywhere on the chart and include a dozen
interesting places to visit, take photos, just kick back and sight
see, or
fish if so inclined. Contrast that with a lot of boaters in So
California who
spend every boating weekend running out to Catalina Island, and hope
to get there early enough to claim a prime moorage spot.....they have
a good reason, I guess, to go lickety split.

If you like spray, noise, vibration, and general ruckus underway you
will want to get a boat that goes as fast as possible. :-)


I would add that the selection of a boat type really depends on what your
interests are, what stage of life you are at and what, at the end of the
day, leaves you with a generally good feeling of having enjoyed the day's
experiences.

I've had 12 different boats in the last 15 years ... often having more than
one at a time.
They have included 55 mph go-fast small center consoles, gas powered express
cruisers, a high performance diesel powered sports-fish, a fairly large
diesel powered cruiser and a "trawler". Some were brand new, some were old
and needed constant work. Although we enjoyed them all, I've lost the lust
for speed and bouncing from wave top to wave top. I also have tired of the
fishing thing as a serious activity. I enjoy and respect nautical
tradition, general seamanship and the skills/knowledge required to apply it
and therefore have found myself increasingly enjoying the "trawler". Right
now, if I decide to take another winter voyage south (which is under serious
consideration) it would be a tough decision between the ultra comfortable
Navigator or the more nautical and traditional (and much slower) Grand
Banks. We took a little cruise yesterday, giving Mrs .E. some boating
handling and navigation lessons. It was totally enjoyable and relaxing.

It's interesting because although the Navigator is not a "fast" boat by any
means, it is more suited for cruising at 19 kts, 20-25 miles offshore, away
from coastal boating activity. Problem is, other than birds, airplanes and
an occasional passing boat off in the distance, there is nothing to see
except water. Running the ICW in it can be downright stressful at times
with constant attention required to the depth gauge and the channel markers
with one hand constantly resting on the throttles ready to pull back at a
moment's notice.

The GB, on the other hand, would seem to me to be ideal for a slow-paced and
relaxing cruise south on the ICW, stopping here and there to explore
interesting sites and going "out" only in the critical areas.

Plus, I could just about make it to St. Augustine, FL on one fill-up!
(green, you know)

Anyway, those are my current thoughts.

Eisboch

On Sat, 7 Jul 2007 08:24:31 -0400, "RCE" wrote:


"Chuck Gould" wro

The GB, on the other hand, would seem to me to be ideal for a slow-paced and
relaxing cruise south on the ICW, stopping here and there to explore
interesting sites and going "out" only in the critical areas.

Plus, I could just about make it to St. Augustine, FL on one fill-up!
(green, you know)

Anyway, those are my current thoughts.

Eisboch



the GB is a beautiful boat...and the economics aint bad either!

On Sat, 7 Jul 2007 08:24:31 -0400, "RCE" wrote:

Anyway, those are my current thoughts.

I don't know - maybe I just haven't found the right boat for
"cruising".

Of all the boats I've been on and seen over the past year or so, the
Grand Banks interests me a lot.

I just can't get past that whole 7 knot thing. Plus, I'm a fiddler -
I like to play with the trim buttons, tinker with the controls, adjust
this and that. Plus, going quickly (rather than flat out) keeps you
on your toes and interested in what's going on.

Putting my feet up and watching the shore line slide past isn't a
concept that I readily accept.

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Sat, 7 Jul 2007 08:24:31 -0400, "RCE" wrote:

Anyway, those are my current thoughts.

I don't know - maybe I just haven't found the right boat for
"cruising".

Of all the boats I've been on and seen over the past year or so, the
Grand Banks interests me a lot.

I just can't get past that whole 7 knot thing. Plus, I'm a fiddler -
I like to play with the trim buttons, tinker with the controls, adjust
this and that. Plus, going quickly (rather than flat out) keeps you
on your toes and interested in what's going on.

Putting my feet up and watching the shore line slide past isn't a
concept that I readily accept.



One of the local wags describes it as "Comaboating."