Re: [Paddlewise] A Personal Kayak MotherShip

On 11/5/07, Paul Montgomery <paul_at_paddleandoar.com> wrote:
>
> On Nov 5, 2007, at 8:22 AM, Bernerts wrote:
>
> > Since we're in the Portland area we need something large enough to
> > go from here up to the San Juan's and beyond.
> > Minimum 50ft, twin screw, diesel and enough accomodations for two
> > adults and two kids.
> > Oh and did I mention cheap? And not a hunk of junk?
> > We're still looking.
> >
> > Melinda
>
> Even if that kind of boat were GIVEN to you, it would be far from
> cheap! It might be more economical to rent than buy.
>
> Paul Montgomery


This is very true. Everything about a boat gets more expensive as the square
of the extra length. A $100 anchor becomes a $1000 anchor and requires a
$4000 windlass to hoist it; a bottom paint job you can do yourself for $400
becomes a $3000 (or more) ordeal; and so on. It is also true that two
engines mean twice the number of problems. Double the oil changes, valve
jobs, new starters, etc. And double the fuel consumption too.

Moorage for a 50-foot boat (if you can find it) is at least $500 and more
like $750 per month; even more for covered (and if it's a wooden boat you DO
want covered moorage).  What would be a quick trip to Anacortes by car
becomes a two-week ordeal interrupted by adverse winds and unexpected
breakdowns. And visiting moorage? Think in the range of $50 per day *if* you
can find 50 feet of empty space at the visitor's dock.

Take a week and charter a 40-foot boat out of Anacortes or Friday Harbor and
see how that goes. Take the kayaks along. I suspect the two kids in the
forepeak (with a blanket between them if they are boy/girl) and you and your
husband in the after stateroom would seem like heaven compared to a cold
sleeping bag on a rainy beach.

When we were cruising down the west coast we were always surprised at the
number of potential cruisers who were going home because they discovered
that, for them, it wasn't fun. Not one of them had chartered a boat prior to
investing their life savings in one.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
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