Well, being on the training boat while the Coast
Guard 'coptors practiced their SAR missions was quite
an experience!  Thanks to Capt. Bill Hall and his two
crewmates for allowing four of us to be guests on
board.
Gary, on a 26' sailboat, left Mobile an hour or so
before us last week.  He's now over on Dog River
having some work done on Andale before moving on.
When he entered the Dog River channel, he ran aground
and was stuck in the mud for 12 hours!  He said that a
couple of boats offered to pull him off, but for at
least $500.  He waited for the rising tide.
The Miss Happ's new heat exchanger is just about
installed and we plan to cast of from Fairhope this
morning.  Weather looks good today and we don't
anticipate any problems.
Next stop: Florida.

Wade Ehlen
Albin 36 Miss Happ
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

I recently found this site and have been reading the interesting emails
(Thanks!).

I am thinking it would be fun to buy a boat appropriate for the loop, get
some training and prepare to do it sometime in the future.

My kids are now 10 and 13 so it makes sense to plan on doing this trip in
several years.

However, I would like to think about what boat to buy now, and look into the
necessary training for myself. I have been around boats all my life, but
they have been small ones and I need experience and training with a larger
boat.

I would appreciate any guidance and suggestions for a good boat, in terms of
size and make. I am thinking of a used one, but knowing my personality, I
would want a very good capable boat, seaworthy and safe, equipped
appropriately.

I have been reading the magazine "Passage Maker" but do not anticipate
having a million dollars+ for many of the boats they profile. Actually a big
boat would be intimidating for me as I have poor depth perception due to my
eyes. So a smaller boat (36"?) might appeal to me.
(I have too frequently backed my Suburban into something :-(    as I am a
poor judge of distance.

My hobby up until now has been motorcycling, all over the US and traveling a
little (not enough!)  in a few other countries, on BMWs.  This has been
great fun, but maybe traveling by boat would be a good next adventure.

I live west of Philadelphia just west of Valley Forge.

Any guidance as to the type, model and length of boat would be appreciated.
I am not a buyer now, but want to plan and read about my perfect boat.

I guess I should go to the Annapolis boat show?

Thanks.

Best,

Mac Kirkpatrick
drbeemer@snip.net
Glenmoore, PA