In a message dated 12/29/98 19:08:38, gxk@interlog.com writes: <<I do believe candidates can be great voyagers, great cruisers or great live-aboards, or a combination of the three elements.>> Georgs, I would think that you should put some sort of a top price on your top ten list. There are wonderful boats at most price levels but when you get near a megabuck most of us are way out of the running. As a for instance, we had a nice chat with Mrs. McGraw in Alaska where she was cruising on her 120 + foot Delta. A wonderful boat but just a little out of our price range. I think we should be talking about "do able" boats. There! I've put my two cents worth. 1. KK 48s, great live aboards, great sea boats, economical to run, capable of crossing and ocean and a great value for the price. 2. KK 42 same as above just smaller. 3. Willard 30 & 40 Plain brown wrapper type boats, made in US to very high standards, economical to operate, capable of anything the owner is. 4. Nordhavn line. Great sea boats, great range, internal living room not as good as Krogen of same size. More expensive. 5. Romsdahl trawlers. Wooden, great sea boats, great range, designed for the weather in the North Sea. The one I was on was a real head knocker. The owner was very happy with it. 6. Zopilote, Spirit of Zopilote and the Delta trawlers. Beautiful, great sea boats, great range, beautiful accommodations, way out of my price range. 7. Grand Banks, all sizes. Arguably the best of the coastal cruisers. Excellent construction, semidisplacement hull, good accommodations, no book shelves, range adequate for coastal cruising, especially with the Lehman powered models, good seakeeping. Our 42 classic hard a pretty good "snap" roll. Solved the book case problem. (See our article and photos in the GB magazine.) 8. DeFevers of many sizes. Semi-displacement coastal cruisers, construction quality depends on yard that built the boat, not all are equal, frequently a good value. Good living quarters, adequate range for coastal cruising. 9. Californian. Many of the older 42's and 36's are still around they are stout semi-displacemant boats with good accommodations. The boats with the smaller engines have adequate range and are economical to run. A good coastal cruiser. 10. The remainder of the Taiwan "trawlers," Frequently a good value Caveat Emperator! This list is not necessarily in my order of choice. Georgs, I have sent this to you only because of what some may construe as critisism of their boat. If you want it on the list go ahead, if not, I understand. Dolph M/V The Right Whale