We have recently found this website because of our plans to become
trawler owners.  I posted a question about seasickness and never dreamed
I would get so much information.  Thanks to all of you who responded.  I
will take all the tips to heart, mostly I know I will have to continue
wearing my patches ( they really work well except for the dry mouth)

The replies I appreciated most were from people who suffer the same as I
do, and expressed a great amount of sympathy.  Those lucky people who
don't get seasick aren't usually too sympathetic, or think it is 'in
one's head'.  I really believe mine is an inner ear/ brain thing.  If I
face forward and keep constant watch on the waves and my brain can
anticipate the next movement I'm OK, but if I try to do something else
or move about and my brain can't anticipate the next motion that's when
I get real scrambled.  Does anyone else have this feeling?

Anyway, thanks to everyone and I really appreciate this great forum to
exchange information.

The thread on seasickness was very interesting as I, too, get motion sick
if I try to read in the boat's cabin underway. I'm usually OK at the helm.
My wife is immune to the adverse effects of motion.  She, however, has very
poor balance and has some trouble getting on and off the boat if the dock
is shaky or inconvenient.  Is there a connection?  Poor balance due to
insensitive inner ear, hence less susceptibility to motion sickness?

Frank Timpano
ftimpano@richmond.infi.net

George Buehler's book, The Troller Yacht Book, was back ordered from Amazon.com for 6 months and finally arrived.  I am 1/2 way through it.  This book has already changed my live as much as Voyaging Under Power! (if not more).

As many of you know, although we have a 1985 Wellcraft Californian with twin Cat 3208's we want to cruise with our 2 kids aboard for 2 years and go throughout the Carribean and the ICW.  We are actively planning this.  I think we could do it, but not in comfort.  So there is the possibility of getting another boat.

Also, I promised that if we bought another boat, it would have the capability to cross the Atlantic.  Once we have left land, if the weather window is open, I want to cross over and go through the Med.  I will not buy a boat that does not have the capability to go from San Diego to Greece (etc.)

I thought we could never do it because a Nordhavn 46 is $600,000 used and that is too much.  Loan payments on that amount would chain us to the land forever.

We are not yacht club types, we intend to go cruising.  I don't want to polish stainless, much less teak.  I don't mind bow rails made out of galvinized pipe and painted black.  I like the idea!    I want to take a 14 foot whaler, bikes, and have room for the 4 of us to live in comfort.  I want utter simplicity, reliability, total seaworthiness and cost effectiveness in a boat we can afford.  I don't care at all about cosmetics, I will eat from a plywood table.

George Buehler has shown us how to do it!  I started looking for boats like the Diesel Duck and they are out there, even for $50K to $60K.  I told my wife even if it's a wood boat for $50K as long as it carries us for 2 or 3 years we could sink her and walk away and we would have our money's worth at that point.  (Although I'm sure we would love her too much to ever do that!)

Most people don't want a boat like this.  They don't really want to go for a year at a top speed of 6 or 7 knots.  They want to buzz around the harbor for a weekend.  That's why we may be able to find and buy such a boat.

And pay for it in cash, for less than the downpayment on the Nordhavn.  (Don't get me wrong, PAE makes a lovely product).

Anyways, you can sense my excitement and if you have not read the book, order it, since it is in stock now.

If anyone knows where to buy used boats like the Diesel Duck, please let me know.

-JimB

Jim Baumgart

<color><param>0000,0000,ffff</param><<")))>><<

</color><color><param>8080,0000,0000</param>(847)782-2132
Telehub/Chicago

</color>(<color><param>0000,8080,0000</param>760)749-4257 San
Diego</color>