Recent content by Madeo

I bought a Highfield* in the West Indies (after having greatly underestimated the importance of a good dinghy!) and have found it excellent. *Exchanged by the chandlery for a Caribe which started to disintegrate after a few weeks' use!

A re-conditioned Toughbook, Open CPN and the 'well-known' C-map charts proved very satisfactory on a recent Atlantic circuit... But i do like paper charts... :-)

Yesss - many thanks for that! :-)

Good morning, I wonder if someone could help me with the name for the groove cut into the sheer strake of a wooden boat, usually painted in a contrasting colour to the hull. Memory failing with age!! :-) Brian

Yes, I also have a Sailrite aboard. Wouldn't say it's essential, but it's very useful!

There was a Dutch guy next catway to us in Guadeloupe who had signs on his guardwires to the effect that they were electrified. 'Are they really?' 'Nah, but I tell anyone coming aboard to wait while I switch them off, and it works, they believe me...' :-)

...and in the West Indies. :-)

It's a no brainer; keep the two stroke Tohatsu :-)

My experience, limited to one occasion, when I bought my present boat, is that the survey I commissioned was only of use for insurance purposes. It was the first time I'd had a boat surveyed, and I was amazed at the lack of detail in the report and the fact that the surveyor took the boatyard's...

Do it! :-) Have fun...

I made some very similar steps for my last boat, and found that they eventually started to move fore and aft, leading to a couple actually failing. Present boat's steps have a three point fixing and are as solid as a rock.

And for when you get to where you're going... Don't underestimate the importance of a good dinghy + outboard (I did and had to invest!), especially if you'll be living at anchor. Brian

I remember a few of them... :-) As for the spaces - fer yer stash, maaan!

La Rochelle's got a slightly better climate (I was based there for 16 years), but depends if you like big marinas (limited space in the Vieux Port) - there are over 4,000 boats there now. Second the comments about the 'accueil' at Les Minimes... Of the two, I'd go to Lorient! :-) Brian.

Don't bother with the water Steve, just stick in another couple of bottles of Talisker... :-)