My Admiral, Sonaia, told me to read the exchanges on building the ideal passage maker for a couple over 50 to cruise extensively with the maximum security, comfort at an economical price. Having read many of the postings, I have the following comments:The observation that steel is the strongest material is true but it also has its drawbacks. Personally, I would avoid aluminum because anyone who has bashed into a head sea on an aluminum boat will not want to repeat the experience. As much as I appreciate wood, I don't want to be a slave to maintenance. I simply don't like ferrocement. I would not eliminate fiberglass because there is the option to choose an existing hull and deck that can be fitted out to one's own design. I would choose a Fisher 46 hull and deck, still available today. 14 of these robust and excellent sea boats were built in the UK and the hulls were used for fishing and workboats. John Glenn, astronaut and Senator, owned a Fisher 46 and was caught in a bad storm between California and Hawaii and never felt so safe. Another 46, Griffyn, circumnavigated the world in a "cruise in company" group some 8 years ago with only sailing boats as other participants. Her crew had easily the safest and most comfortable voyage and finished first in 75% of the legs. The Fisher 46 is a heavy displacement motorsailer but I would make some significant alterations to the original design. I would choose a 165 hp Lugger main engine and carry 5,000 liters of fuel. The easily driven hull motors very well. Wind would be my second power source but not the conventional Bermuda ketch but a cat ketch rig like the original Freedom 40 with two free standing carbon fiber masts with wishbone booms and all controls led to the after cockpit, well protected behind the pilothouse. The foremast would be as far forward as possible. The mizzenmast would be immediately behind the wheelhouse. This self tacking rig is infinitely more efficient than the Bermudan, self-tacking and easily controlled by a small crew. Best point of sailing is reaching (which is comfortable sailing). In light airs, one would forget the sails as one would in any head wind situation. Paravanes would be the stabilizers. Bowsprit would hold two anchors, there would be two windlasses, and a stern pushpit would hold the dinghy with extendable davits to launch her. The Fisher 46 is actually 52 ft with bowsprit and has voluminous accommodation. My background is financial but I started sailing at an early age, have owned a variety of boats over the years (we have a Nordhavn 57 presently on which we have voyaged about 27,000 miles) and I spent nearly four years as CEO of a UK boat builder that made pleasure and commercial boats - I bought the maker of Fishers from the receiver, and introduced and built Freedoms to the European markets. I very nearly bought Pekka Koskenkyla's Voyager, the 70 ft passage maker that he designed and built for himself. She could sail slowly downwind, had a 6,000 mile range and was designed for two people with occasional guests. Pekka founded Nautor, the Finnish yard that built Swans. I had just bought another boat when he confirmed that he would accept my offer of $500,000. She was an absolute bargain! On Sun, Nov 2, 2008 at 6:35 AM, L. Bruce Jones <bruce@ussubmarines.com>wrote: > Trying to design a passagemaker by committee is an interesting > exercise but it is far beyond the structure of a forum like this. > > My suggestion is to establish a criteria for a contest and then let > individuals or groups come up with designs that are then voted upon. > -- > ======================================================================= > L. Bruce Jones U.S. SUBMARINES, INC. > CEO POSEIDON UNDERSEA RESORTS LLC > U.S. SUBMARINE STRUCTURES LLC TRITON SUBMARINES LLC > Tel: 208/687-9057 Fax: 208/441-7478 > E-mail: bruce@ussubmarines.com http://ussubs.com > http://tritonsubs.com http://poseidonresorts.com > > Design and construction of the world's best submarines and submersibles > Developing the world's first sea floor resorts & residences > ======================================================================= > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/passagemaking-under-power > > To unsubscribe send email to > passagemaking-under-power-request@lists.samurai.com with the word > UNSUBSCRIBE and nothing else in the subject or body of the message. > > Passagemaking Under Power and PUP are trademarks of Water World > Productions, formerly known as Trawler World Productions.