|
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
From: (no name) (no email)
Date: Tue Aug 03 2004 - 10:22:00 EDT
At a recent bull session at the Newport Trawlerfest, I participated in a
discussion about the "ideal" boat in which to do coastal cruising. I mentioned
that one of my favorites was the Linssen Grand Sturdy. Not that I've ever owned
one or even cruised more than a few hours in one. It just looked like an
appropriate design. A couple of days ago I received a private e-mail from one of the
bull session participants saying that he had investigated the Linssen line of
boats and found them exorbitantly priced compared to other boats of like
specification. What did I think?
Here is my response. I urge TWL members who actually know something about
Linssen boats to chime in with some real information. How about it Marge?
----------
I agree with your observation that the Linssen boats are exorbitantly priced
but it is probably justified by the labor content of their manufacture. While
I was living in Europe I visited a number of boatbuilders, including Linssen.
Their pleasure boat lines are literally armatures of steel over which are
layered what seem to be a dozen coatings of fairing compound and paint, carefully
hand finished to present a seamless glossy surface. All this in the most
expensive labor market in the world. I asked the production manager "Why not just
mold the boat of fibreglass?" He made a face that looked like I had impeached
the honor of the Queen and said, "That's not the way we do it." Curiously, in
an adjoining building there is a production line for harbor police boats and
workboats. These are rough and ready craft, devoid of most of the finishing
touches of the pleasure boats.
Despite the inherent strength of the steel hull, Linssen boats may be
expensive to maintain in pristine condition. One of the principles of the Mallory
Line, in nearby Troy, NY, who intend to charter out Linssen boats for Erie canal
cruises told me that he will retain a full time auto bodywork mechanic. Any
docking ding that dents the hull, cracks the applied fairing coats. Restoration
of the factory finish takes the services of an expert body shop.
Still, the Linssen boats are wonderfully appropriate for coastal and inshore
cruising. The Dutch have had a lot of experience with thin water and their
boats show it. The blunt bow, shallow draft, and flat bottom would probably make
an ocean crossing hell, but would be just the thing for worry free grounding
in a tidal harbor. Although may be unwilling to spring for a Linssen, I would
like a good aluminum (or even steel) care free coastal cruising boat fashioned
on the same lines. What an untapped market for an enterprising designer.
This points out the difference between East and West coast cruising. On the
right coast we have many thousands of miles of shallow bays, rivers and inlets
on the ICW and on the US and Canadian canal systems. New York State alone has
well over 2000 miles of navigable shoreline, canals, and rivers. It would take
the rest of my life just to explore them. Sure I know that the far Northwest
is an exception - but who wants to spend all that time peering though fog and
rain while you stoke the heating furnace to keep warm.
Frankly, as I age, I become less and less enamored about long stints on open
water. And I don't want to get anywhere fast. I get frustrated by publicity
campaigns that feature the extreme edges of sport that suggest that you are not
really a sailor or a skier unless you attempt a circumnavigation, a la
Nordhavn, or do the triple black diamond run at Tuckerman's Ravine blindfolded. I
just want to lean back and smell the water lilies.
I guess I'm becoming an old curmudgeon,
Larry Z
_______________________________________________
http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers-and-trawlering
To Unsubscribe send email to
Include the word Unsubscribe (and nothing else) in the subject or body of the message.
|