Per the comment below, it would be interesting if creating a list
that more than one person would agree to was a doable task. But don't
hold your breath.

IMHO, unless you are vastly experienced in passagemaking, a new
participant can't possibly make any headway in this discussion until
they exhaustively research the current production boats, whether you
are buying new or a boat a couple of years old or less. (Note: It's
routine for some customers of these volume mfg to put their boats up
for sale with only a few hundred to a thousand hours on the engine.
You'll find plenty of them out there. That's another topic.)

Interesting story... recently, I had my Nordhavn 55 in Anacortes, WA
when Steve and Linda Dashew came in for a few days on their way south
from Prince William Sound. We started talking. He was clearly
thinking about what it would take to volume produce a practically
priced boat. He spent a lot of time roaming around my N55. Then asked
a lot of questions. Roll and pitch moments, stability curves, etc.
Most of which I wasn't smart enough to answer. Also my observations
in handling boat in head seas, beam and following seas. But I got the
drift. Then he gave me a long tour of Sea Horse. Which was a
different world. Bottom line... I learned more about passagemakers
that day than I had during all my previous research and experience.

I now better understand the difference between a boat whose natural
element is the middle of the big blue sea, and a boat designed to
occasionally venture into the big blue sea.

That said, my wife and I live aboard and we want the luxuries of a
high-end home. We consider it a really big adventure to travel north
to Anchorage or from Seattle down to Mexico, maybe to the Caribbean
some day, with our travel timing completely dictated by comfortable
weather and season. Part of that time is on the hook, part in
marinas. I'm very happy with my N55 for that kind of use, and if I do
get caught out in something unexpected, I know I'm just going to be
uncomfortable but still safe.

But if I was buying a boat primarily to circumnavigate, or live for
long periods in very remote places, even places where concern for
safety is a worry, live exclusively on the hook, cross the hurricane/
typhoon tracks (hard to avoid that if you circumnavigate),  I'd put
Steve's boat at the very, very top of my list. It's ugly on the
outside (doesn't look like it's a yacht, so it won't attract thieves)
but beautiful inside, if you like the great room concept. There is no
exterior washing or waxing required, and if you ding it against
something, just hit it with the grinder. But its really hard to find
a marina that can handle the length.

That said, for my cruising plans, and my far smaller budget, the N55
suits me far better. Number two on my list was the Krogen 58, but we
couldn't quite stretch that far financially. Third was the Krogen 48
Whaleback (few really good examples were on the market -- its out of
production). Fourth was the Nordhavn 47, of which there were several
nearly new ones in brokerage when I bought. If I hadn't fallen into
an unusual deal on the N55, I'd own a used N47 today.

John Marshall
N55-Serendipity
Sequim Bay, WA

On Oct 22, 2007, at 8:37 AM, Tommy Terrific wrote:

Thanks John,

Nordhavn has been at the top of our list since we started looking.  I
believe I am getting the response that I needed from folks that have
journeyed down this road before me.  All the information that I have rec'd
has been good and positive.  Sonya and I look forward to meeting some of you
in the near future.  Thank you for your input.

Kindest Regards,

Robert Miller

Imagecom, Inc.
3729 East 82nd Place
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74137
robert@imagecominc.com
918-704-8233
918-494-0012  FAX

Robert,
My wife Deb and I went the same way during our research over a
period of three years... TrawlerFests, etc.

Personally, one of our mistakes at those shows was spending too much
time around marketing/sales types, not to mention enthusiastic owners
of the same brand (who often become unpaid salesmen). The wine and
dines and owner's dinners, etc. etc.

I mean, sure, they'll all tell you that their trawler can
circumnavigate (heck... rowboats have crossed oceans).

My recommendation is to try to spend as little time as possible with
salesmen and as much time as possible with other owners.  Most
importantly, seek out owners of boats that AREN'T on the top of your
current list. Also owners of your preferred brand who are willing to
tell you the things they don't like about their boats.  Ask them both
to list their top five requirements (not top five boats) and find out
how well their boat achieved those.

Worst case, the conversation will be lively. Best case, you'll learn
some new stuff.

Deb and I will probably be in Stuart for Trawler Fest Florida,
although not with our boat. If so, hope to see you there.

John Marshall
N55-Serendipity
Sequim Bay, WA
johnamar@mac.com

On Oct 22, 2007, at 11:56 AM, Robert Miller wrote:

Thanks John.  Great information to have.  I have been hit up by a lot of
salesman when I call for information about their boats.  The only one that I
have spent anytime with was Ray Danet from Nordhavn.  He keeps me up to date
on used Nordhavn's on the market.  We would love to meet you and your wife
so I can pick your brain for awhile and my wife can get a better idea of
live onboard.

Robert