Phil wrote "if you plan
to cruise, run, don't walk away from the wide body boats."

Oh contraire, Phil.  Our Manatee is a wide body and we find it a great
compromise in a cruising boat.  The upper deck is set up for running the boat,
even docking,  and the downstairs" is set up for living.  Actually, the
hardest thing about the wide body is planning ahead when docking, so you can
get on and off the boat.  I think the best compromise is wide body on one side
only.
Regards,
Randy Pickelmann
MORNING STAR

I looked at a 50' wide body back in the late 70s but I saw problems rafting
with other boats, docking, picking up moorings and picking up things dropped
overboard (including people).  Admittedly, I single hand my boat a lot so
the walk-around is more essential.

                                      Regards....

Phil Rosch

Old Harbor Consulting

M/V "Curmudgeon" MT44 TC

Currently lying Bond Creek, NC

-----Original Message-----
From: rwp48@verizon.net [mailto:rwp48@verizon.net]
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 8:51 AM
To: trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com
Cc: trawlerphil@earthlink.net
Subject: Walkaround deck vs. widebody

Phil wrote "if you plan
to cruise, run, don't walk away from the wide body boats."

Oh contraire, Phil.  Our Manatee is a wide body and we find it a great
compromise in a cruising boat.  The upper deck is set up for running the
boat, even docking,  and the downstairs" is set up for living.  Actually,
the hardest thing about the wide body is planning ahead when docking, so you
can get on and off the boat.  I think the best compromise is wide body on
one side only.

Regards,

Randy Pickelmann

MORNING STAR

Were getting a new KK44 with the wide body option  The boat we are picking up is one that owner financing fell through on so our only other choice was to order one and wait.

My thoughts echo many of those heard here.. I think you have to still look at your accessibility for getting off onto the finger piers, pilings for tying up etc..  I know the whaleback had cleats up on top that you could tie up with at least temporarily.  I really don't know if the KK44 has cleats up on top but that would be nice..  The KK44's wide body option leaves a walk around on one side and on the other there is not even a little perch for you stand on at all.  I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to clean those windows or really wash that side of the boat..  I GUESS I could turn the boat around so I can stand on the finger but thats kind of a pain in the.. Well you know..

But on the positive sides.. I have a nephew who is handicapped and is pretty much bound to a chair.  The KK44 has a double door in the back and the added room(about 2 ft) I believe will allow him to be on the boat and not feel like he's in the way.  A couple of shelves turn into bars which is always nice and now there are some nice steps to walk up to go from the pilot house to up top.  So I guess you have to take your situation into consideration when making the decision..

John