I, like many, have been lurking since the 1998 Stuart TrawlerFest, answering a few letters, especially to Georgs. I enjoy the communications, albeit they sometimes take longer to read than I have time to spare, but keep them coming. It is now time to formally introduce myself. I am Howard Evirs of North Palm Beach, FL, formerly of Weymouth and Fitchburg, MA. I have been boating since 1937, when, at the age of 12, I became a junior member of Wessagusett Yacht Club, No. Weymouth, MA and raced a Sprite. I was hooked on sailing, but for convenience in cruising bought power boats until 1964, when I imported my first sailboat from Spain, a Puma 26. She was a well built, fast and stiff keel boat, but, like so many European boats, lacked headroom. So, we kept her for only two years, then bought a Tartan 34, a great boat, too, with more amenities, but lacking some amenities needed for long distance sailing. So, in 1982, we bought a Bristol 40, and after sailing it along the coast of Maine for one season, headed for Florida. While living aboard the first winter, we found our present home on a canal in North Palm Breach. After sailing the Bahamas and then spending 3 1/2 years in Belize, we found Florida sailing not what it was like in New England, so we decided to go back to power. Hearing that "Old Sailors never die, they just go to Trawlers", that's where we started our search. It took more than two years to find the trawler that would suit our needs and give us all the comforts of home. We found it in Charleston, South Carolina, in a Sea Ranger 46, built in Taiwan by King Industries. It is an enclosed sun deck trawler with an enclosed cockpit large enough to command a destroyer. It is powered by twin 175 Volvos and cruises comfortably and economically at 8 to 10 knots, just a hair faster than my Bristol. (However, I used more fuel coming from Charleston to Florida than I had used in the fifteen years I owned the Bristol) To respond to the teak questions being raised on the "list", I have always had too much teak on all boats I've owned, and have tried everything to preserve it and keep its beauty. Until we bought the trawler, I had found All Guard, "guaranteed for one year", to give me the best service, about six months under Florida's sun. White Squall has teak side decks and sun deck - a mass of teak. The side decks were left natural and grimy when we bought her; the sun deck was covered wall-to-wall with carpet. I was going to leave them that way until I was introduced to Cetol (non gloss) by a neighbor. So, up came the carpet and a power washer on the side decks; I couldn't believe the black scum that was lifted. I used four coats of Cetol nearly a year ago, and the finish still looks like new. And, the beauty of this chemical is that you can add coats to it without removal of the old. The rails had been done with Cetol plus Cetol Gloss. I have not yet done anything to them in more than a year, but they now need some touching up. In response to the inquirer about wood boats, if you are going to stay in cold waters, fine. But don't plan to bring it to Florida. I have seen boats here sink after being left in the water and worms eating their way through. I know, as my Brother-In-Law used to tell me before he went to glass, "If God intended Fibre Glass Boats, HE would have planted Fibre Glass trees!" But, I think you are getting some good advice. Keeping a glass boat up in the sunny south is work enough; don't become a slave with wood. I owned wooden power boats - all mahogany decks - and dreaded every Spring readying. Regards,. Capt. Howard W. Evirs, Jr.