Downeast-style boats

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Sunday, January 31. 2021

Mrs. BD and I have a disagreement about boats. Maybe readers can offer us some marital help.

She wants a Great Loop boat, a trawler with a couple of staterooms, galley, head, shower, etc. She prefers these Beneteau Swift Trawlers to the Grand Banks trawlers. She wants to do the Great Loop (in bits) but I'd rather do the Appalachian Trail (in pieces, of course) as an adventure, since travel is sort-of out this year. Those big trawlers, I feel, are just too much boat for my comfort and skill (even with bow and stern thrusters). I could learn for sure, but do I want to? In fact, I am more comfortable with sail than power even though most sail has accessory power too.

I've had boats much of my life, and thought I was done with them. Less things to worry about makes me happy. Kayaks are great fun and good exercise, and zero worries. But when it comes to real boats, my preference is for jaunty Downeast-style boats. I can handle them just fine. They are ok for overnights, but not for lengthy cruises.

I kinda like this old Dyer 29

Pics of a couple of Downeast boats -

Posted by Bird Dog in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 17:08 | Comments (15) | Trackbacks (0)

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Why? WHY? Why would you want to cruise up or down the Mississippi?

#1 Apple Pie on 2021-01-31 17:33 (Reply)

Seconded. The Mississippi, particularly south of St. Louis, would be way more work than fun.

#1.1 RJ on 2021-01-31 17:55 (Reply)

That Hinckley picnic boat will not require any work - apart from opening your wallet wide...

Boats are holes in the water - you know the rest.

Take a motorcycle and ride down the Mississippi - take your time.

c.v. 30,000 offshore miles - own/ed 14 boats

#2 John on 2021-01-31 18:03 (Reply)

The best boat to sail on? Somebody else's.

#3 Stargazer on 2021-01-31 18:11 (Reply)

If you're gonna go, go Sea Ray:
https://www.searay.com/us/en.html

#4 Mark Matis on 2021-01-31 18:39 (Reply)

I admire that you and your wife find each other's company so interesting that you seek so much more of each other. My wife is brilliant and I am fascinating, but Covid has pushed us about as far as we want to go on togetherness.

We rejected the idea of canal boat vacations in England for exactly that reason. Oh great! For dinner we can pull off and sit with some strangers in a pub on the 1-in-3 chance they're interesting, then go back to our boat for the next 23 hours. And we can take pictures that look pretty much the same for days as well!

#5 Assistant Village Idiot on 2021-01-31 20:06 (Reply)

I'll ask a likely stupid question.

Can you not do the loop with a fast center console, spending nights at various hotels/resorts/marinas?

A big CC and a couple of electric bikes would be very enjoyable way to do the loop as long as you could find places to stay.

#6 Mike (Link) on 2021-01-31 21:36 (Reply)

"She wants to do the Great Loop (in bits) but I'd rather do the Appalachian Trail (in pieces, of course)"

I know the drill of Appalachian trail in bits - start and end the bit in places with accessible public transport, or arrange drop-off and pickup. I've arranged drop-off and pickup for the same location, and found the return trip after hiking half my time just as interesting as the outbound first half.

The "Great Loop" in bits with presents a logistical hurdle -- you can pick your start and end points, but you have to get the boat there too.

In my young childhood I overheard a conversation that I didn't really understand where my rich uncle said "Oh, I sold the Yacht, for what it cost to put it up for winter each year we could fly to the Caribbean and rent an equivalent Yacht there. I'd rather spend my money cruising in the winter someplace warm than spend another day on the great-lakes!"

I'm not a boater save for attaining every boating merit badge as a scout, but I'm thinking that the craft which would be most appealing for the northeast section with New York and Ontario canals would not necessarily be the same craft as for rivers south of Chicago, and that the Gulf and Atlantic portions might want a third style of craft also.

Rent a trawler (efficiency hotel suite that floats) for a week on the slow parts of northeast canals, and maybe you'll find it is not that bad? I'd guess that 240 miles on the Trent-Severn Waterway with 44 locks to operate might still give sufficient exercise.

#7 Douglas2 on 2021-01-31 22:06 (Reply)

check out AGLCA. Americas Great Loop Cruisers Assoc.
I might suggest down east style 32 ft. - 36 ft. stand alone shower for comfort. big enough that you don't feel you are camping. Small enough to fit under most bridges, single diesel, reasonably economical. best of both worlds. Huge misconception about second stateroom; kids and friends won't be there as often as you may like. 3 days max. they can camp on the cabin bench. (they will still love it!) enjoy!

#8 dave Vind (Link) on 2021-01-31 22:16 (Reply)

There’s a problem with those boats. There’s no sails.

#9 DavesNotHere on 2021-01-31 23:06 (Reply)

When your older the Swift 41 is the way to go! COMFORT!

#10 Dennis Lukas on 2021-01-31 23:28 (Reply)

My wife and I did a reverse 3/4 loop from southern Lake Michigan to Key West and up to Tampa in a 45' sailboat. If one tackles the traditional loop (counter clockwise and down the Mississippi) 1/4 to 1/3 is on big rivers man made water ways - YUCK. Having lived in St. Louis, I can tell you the rivers are something to avoid. Most of the towns along the way are dead or dying. Few nice or comfortable marinas to stop and enjoy. Other loopers I know all say they just want to get the Chicago to Gulf of Mexico part done as fast as possible; nothing to see & nothing to do.

#11 Al Chemy on 2021-02-01 07:54 (Reply)

Compromise -- Get a lobster boat hull finished out as a cruiser, or pick up a used one. Nice down east lines and with a single diesel they are efficient, and the modern ones can scoot, (18 - 20kts), when you need to.

I"m prejudiced: have a 38' downeast hull finished as a cruiser.

#12 RIV on 2021-02-01 09:55 (Reply)

Saving my bottle caps and odd change for a Hunt Harrier

#13 Tonyp on 2021-02-01 12:33 (Reply)

We got the book about the great loop and talked about getting a trawler over the years. We’d definitely partner with you if you do it. Perhaps different Maggie’s readers would sponsor a leg of the journey and buy fuel and wine for a ride along.

Also I’d be glad to meet in Georgia or Maine or anywhere between if you want a Sherpa for the Appalachian trail

#14 Jon from Illinois on 2021-02-07 13:09 (Reply)

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Sunday, January 31. 2021

Downeast-style boats