To help discussion develop, how about a few lines of introduction about
yourself in a post to the list? What is your background in boating, under
sail and under power? What boat do you currently own, and/or what boat are
you looking to acquire? Where is your home port? What are your cruising
plans? To post a message to the list, address it to
trawler-world-list@samurai.com.

If you are new to interactive mailing lists, you may want to monitor
conversations--lurk, in Net lingo--for a while before joining the
discussions.

--Listmeister Georgs

Hello to all, I do intend to "lurk" for a while, because I am sure I will have
no contribution to make. You see, I do not own a boat, nor do I have any
boating experience (other than ski boats). I joined the TWL to learn about
trawlers and life aboard them.

I am a small business owner, 49 years old, who would like to be "semi-retired"
within a few years. I hope to live in Central or South America, y si, puedo
hablar espanol. My thought is that living on a trawler will give me the
freedom to move when I choose. I have two friends who are also interested,
also business owners, so our thinking has naturally gravitated towards making
our retirement into a low key business ( we just can't help it...).

We have been told that we can convert a Gulf Shrimper ( we are located in the
Houston, TX area) into a liveaboard trawler. Between our three businesses, we
have the personnel and equipment to do the conversion ourselves. I'm sure
there are some TWL members who will have some input on this idea.

Personally, although I have no boating experience, I am an experienced
wilderness traveler. I am a rock climber, backpacker, mountain climber, caver,
and paddler and I believe that I have the decision making skills that will be
necessary on a trawler.

I guess I am looking for a new adventure and for an active and enjoyable
retirement.

Jay Botter

Jay:

Converting a Gulf shrimper into a pleasure boat, liveaboard or not, is
not a highly recommended idea, according to all the yacht/boat designers
I've talked to and read.  If nothing else, those boats go out to sea
loaded with ice and return hopefully loaded with shrimp and ice.  That's
a lot of weight that you wouldn't be hauling around, and that would not
be good for your side in terms of stability/comfort.

Suggestion:  Discuss this with the design staff at one or more of the
larger commercial builders.  Bender Shipbuilding in Mobile would be a
good start.  Talk to John Logan there.  Another good source would be Cy
Hamlin, a designer well versed with these boats, and has done extensive
yacht work, also  He has a web site.

I am posting this to you and the list, as it seems to be an area of
general interest.  At least, I hope that's what I'm doing.

Good luck

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