Alvin 32-35, or other options
Thanks again for your input. The two boats are definitely
different, although price wise, the Alvin 35 and GH 37 used,
are not as far apart.
The significant differences are going to help me make a
decision, not just on these two models but others that might
be available between the two extremes. I know I don't
want anything much over 40 feet.
There is one boat I looked at during a recent USPW boat
gathering in Boca Chica Key: the Ricker 42 Performance
Trawler. It has low draft, twin engines two state rooms,
and open walkaround deck. Any comments on this model's
performance (or similar designs) for Caribbean cruising
would be appreciated.
As far as my use, I won't be a full time live aboard,
and will probably leave the boat moored at times in
supervised remote locations for significant periods of time.
On the other hand, I want some comfort for the times we do
spend on board. The length we'll spend on the boat will
be months as we will be retiring soon and have plenty of
time.
With the boat market in disarray and prices dropping, this
is a great opportunity to buy, even if the boat has to sit
for a short while til our retirement.
Recently, I visited a boat foreclosure "yard"
here in Fort Lauderdale, and you wouldn't believe the
number of boats rafted next to each other that have been
repossessed across the country and brought here, including
trawlers. You can literally walk from boat to boat in what
is roughly a square block marina. Granted, most of the
boats are cruisers, but there are some nice teak interior
trawlers. I was told by a sales agent they are adding
inventory at the rate of four hundred repossessed boats
every month increasing. It makes one feel bad for the boat
owners. Some of the trawlers in particular still have the
owners clothes and some refrigerators can be seen with
rotting food as they don't have the manpower to clean
them all.
If one is flexible, and can put up with the displeasure of
buying a repossessed item, one can walk away with a really
good deal. I want to clarify that neither of the boats
I'm asing to compare above were seen at this place
during my visit.
Any more suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks,
Al
--- On Thu, 2/19/09, Ron Rogers
rcrogers6@kennett.net wrote:
From: Ron Rogers rcrogers6@kennett.net
Subject: RE: [PUP] Alvin 32-35, or other options
To: alrod333@yahoo.com,
Date: Thursday, February 19, 2009, 6:26 PM
Al,
Your concerns, except for speed, are all valid and are
frequently the ones
articulated by prospective buyers of vessels with high
freeboard. The very
best way to answer these concerns is to charter a GH37
from
Mirage. They
probably offer some instruction.
But let's get something straight; there are times
when
most boats become
hard to control. My 20T Willard 40 with single engine
and
bow thruster was
extremely difficult to dock bow in (!) during a severe
thunderstorm with
horizontal rain. Although I got her in, it might have
been
much wiser to
anchor until the storm had passed. You make choices.
In my
case, the dogs
wanted to go to the bathroom very sincerely.
Could I have moored in those conditions with a GH37? I
don't know, I would
have to try. They have twin screws and a bow thruster
and
that combination
would help, but she has more windage. If I
couldn't,
I'd drop the anchor the
same as with my boat. In either boat, I would have
been
safe. In this
situation, I was often standing still and being blown
sideways. Just before
that we were making 7 knots into 5-6 foot seas on the
nose
with 34 knots of
wind with the stabilizers off - it was very pleasant.
When
you have way on,
things are different.
Now about speed. Vessels in the 40 foot class making
10
knots are not true
full-displacement trawlers. They look like trawlers,
but
they have hard
chines aft and flatten-out aft. They are
semi-displacement
designs more
closely resembling a Downeast lobster boat than a
trawler.
And, these hulls
are not sipping diesel at 10 knots. At 7.5 knots, with
the
generator
powering the A/C, and the main driving the hydraulic
stabilizers, my 40 foot
true trawler is consuming 2.5gph. With a more modern
engine
(John Deere
turbo) that would drop below 2gph. The Willard 40 can
exceed hull speed with
the factory prop and reach 8.54 knots in a glassy calm
while gulping fuel at
perhaps 6gph or more. The Albin does not have a true
trawler hull. BTW,
running in a pack of companion boats is not easy owing
to
the differing
characteristics of the boats and the inclinations of
the
owners.
The boats that you have chosen to compare are apples
and
cumquats. The GH37
offers the liveaboard comfort of a large condo with
great
views. The prices
do not compare either. I'd set my dollar limit
first
and then look for a
boat.
Ron Rogers