Greetings, we are new to the game. Vicki and I are planning to do the Great Loop starting in mid 2004. We have been reading your antics on this site and various logs for about a year and would like to request the council of your all your experience. If we get any input like the one engine vs two discussion it will be great (I like two). I am retiring early in 2004 plan to dot the "I's" cross the "T's" and take of for an undetermined amount of time on the inland cruse. We have been boating for over 30 years around the New England area in cruiser type boats. Our 32 Ft, 1996, Maxum is for sale. We hope to sell or trade it on a trawler this season (good-by speed). We will get used to the new boat during the 2003 season in our waters and be gone the following year. I am planning to get a captain and let Vic and the teacher take the new boat for a week to teach her how to handle it. I could not teach her how to drive either. We have been looking for a trawler for the last 8 months and have not yet stood on the deck of the boat we must have. Looking has been fun but very frustrating, we have done Newport, Westbrook, went to Annapolis to look at the Great Harbors among others, many private and broker boats. Not there yet. We are planning to go to the Miami Beach show. The symbol 42 has twixed our interest. Lots of bucks. Our thinking so far is the 40 foot range, two engines, bow thruster (yea I know), 12 to 15 knots, galley up, walk around deck, easy access to all area of the deck, high railings, large masters sweet, large head (we are a wee bit large), electric galley no gas, lager refrigerator, oven, 3 burner cook top, (storage, storage, storage) and on. Again we will be in no rush to complete the trip. We like to stop for at least two nights at points of interest. A roomy comfortable, livable boat is a must (the new Cruiser 4050 is nice too). Please any and all comments and suggestions, what we should look for, what would be nice, what is absolutely necessary are welcome. Electronics what the users found best, every article one reads in different publications has everything absolutely "wonderful". We have a clean slate to start with. Vicki and I would like the voices of experience to help us fill in the slate and build a really great boat. If you would rather not comment on the site our e-mail is, MIDLIFEMADNESS@aol.com. Yes that's the name of our current boat and will be the name of the new one. Thanks in advance and "keep the shinny side up". Phil and Vicki Stein