Hi Gang, Back in my Big Boat days, the "ideal cruising boat" was a 50 footer for a couple. Lots of living space; lots of storage.
When I moved up to a 38 footer, we found: the extra interior space was unusable because of the layout. Dropping the main with a 17 foot long solid spruce roller reefing boom meant that if I didn't hit the boom crutch, there was no way my wife could lift up the end and drop it in place. It was too heavy. It also had wheel steering, .....all the way at the aft end of the cockpit. If I, sitting behind the wheel playing Captain, desired a cup of coffee, or a beer, my poor Admirable, had to get the drink in the galley, climb the companionway steps and walk the length of the cockpit to be able to give me what I had requested. By comparison: our 29 foot Tripp-Lentsch had tiller steering. This put you, the Captain, Watch Holder, Course Steerer, or what-have-you at the forward end of the cockpit. When I needed something, the Admirable could make a sandwich, open a beer, or hand out a cup of coffee, or give me a screwdriver (tool not drink) and place it in my hand. Nah, Bigger ain't better. M15s are ideal for two! Connie & Katrina _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
