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Written for those interested in building in Steel, Aluminum or Copper Nickel. Benefits & disadvantages of the different metals are explained in detail.  

CHOOSING A CRUISING POWER BOAT
by R. Bruce Roberts-Goodson

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INTRODUCTION

What is a Cruising powerboat? What features earn a powerboat the right to have the prefix 'cruising' used when discussing a particular make or model. Cruising motor boats (UK and Commonwealth Countries), powerboats (USA), ships (Netherlands) come in all shapes and sizes. Choosing one that fits your needs and financial abilities is what this book is all about. In the interests of consistency I will refer to the motor driven vessels we are discussing as 'powerboats'. While my US readers will be happy with this I must ask the indulgence of my readers in the UK and Commonwealth countries.

   In the past I had a few preconceived ideas on what constituted a minimum size cruising powerboat; fortunately recent experiences while cruising around Southern France have expanded my knowledge to the extent that I agree 'size is not everything'. There is a relationship between the size of your cruising powerboat and the type of cruising that may be possible or prudent for you to undertake in various sized vessels. My brief, is to explore the possibilities from the smallest, and perhaps least expensive, to the largest cruising powerboat boat that can be comfortably handled by a crew of two.  

Chapter 1. GETTING STARTED

My boat or a family boat. Where and how will you use the boat? Where will you keep it? How much boat do you need?  Using the boat to generate income. What speed RANGE do you want? What can you afford? How much will it cost? Keeping within your budget. Where to look, new or second-hand or build? Dealing with a broker. Surveys. Taxes. Chartering your boat. Trailerable cruisers. Trawler Yachts. Fishermen type.

Chapter 2. CHOOSING THE HULL TYPE
Semi-displacement or full-displacement hull types. Planing. Planing strakes. Chine or round bilge. Power Catamarans. Formulas and technical terms and what they mean. Displacement length ratios. Hull construction materials.  

Chapter 3. PASSAGEMAKERS
History. Hull Design. Engineering. Number of engines. Fuel management. Sail assistance. Stabilizing methods and equipment. Special charts and graphs. 

 Chapter 4.  ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation; number of berths. Cabin soles. How many heads? Designing and equipping a galley. Various fuels for your stove (gas, diesel, alcohol, paraffin). Placement of sink and stowage of food and other stores. Showers, hot water and pressure water. Water tankage. Waste tanks. Comfortable seating; measurements and suggestions. Chart table. Sail stowage. Refrigerators and ice boxes. Lighting. Ventilation. Heating. Air conditioning

Chapter 5. OUTSIDE LIVING
Decks. Deck Surfaces. Fly bridges, Cockpits, Outside seating. Deck areas for lounging. Swim platforms. Life rails .Pulpits and bowsprits. Handrails. Deck wash pumps and their many uses. Awnings. Hatch covers. Bimini covers. Windage.

Chapter 6. POWER OPTIONS
Single or twin. Cruising range. Diesel or petrol (gas). Single or twin. Inboard, Stern gear. Propellers. Stern drive or outboard. Other propulsion arrangements. Engineroom layout.

 Chapter 7. ENGINES AND ASSOCIATED GEAR
Engine compartments - Accessibility. Engine room insulation. Engine bearers and beds. Engine mountings, Stuffing boxes and bearings. Exhaust Systems. Understanding horsepower. Powering your motor cruiser. Powering displacement hulls. Powering semi-displacement hulls. Powering. 

Chapter 8. ENGINEERING SYSTEMS
Hydraulic-v- mechanical steering. Autopilots. Navigation systems. Alarms for all systems.  Fire control. Active Stabilizers. Passive stabilizing systems. Fuel tanks. Filtration systems. Water tanks. Waste tanks. Systems for larger vessels-reuse of lubricating oil. Spare parts. Cruising tool kit.

Chapter 9.  MARINE ELECTRICS
Glossary. Electrical Installations. Ac and DC systems. Managing you electrical supply - v - usage. Domestic batteries. Engine starting batteries. Battery chargers. Generating sets. Testing

Chapter 10 OTHER EQUIPMENT
Radar. Radios and other communications. Dinghy. Inflatable tenders. Rigid Dinghies. Davits.  Anchors and chain. Anchor winch. Cleats and bitts. Fenders. Mooring lines.  

Chapter 11.  SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Lightening protection, Bonding, Fire extinguishers, Smoke alarms, Life jackets and life vests, Harnesses and safety lines, Man overboard, Emergency steering, Air bags, Through hulls and Sea cocks. Radar reflectors, Life rafts. EPIRB. Safe sun. Guns. Things to stay away from, drugs, smuggling, pornographic literature, carrying books or videos that may offend other cultures. Dress code.  

Chapter 12. CUSTOM BUILDING IN STEEL OR ALUMINUM
Creating the design, making the calculations and preparing the cutting files. CNC Cutting, assembling the hull deck and superstructure. Several Roberts designed powerboats will be used to illustrate all of the steps in designing and building from a pre-cut steel or aluminum hull deck and superstructure package.

Chapter 13. CRUISING THE INLAND WATERWAYS OF EUROPE
Special equipment, paperwork, handling the locks, cruising fees, getting by with minimum French, where to go.

Chapter 14. POWERBOAT PLANS
This chapter shows a selection of powerboats (7 m / 24 ft to 26 m / 85 ft) that you can build from scratch in fiberglass, steel or wood /epoxy.

Chapter 20. POWERBOAT KITS AND CUTTING FILES:
This chapter shows a selection of powerboats (10 m / 32 ft to 32 m / 104 ft) that you can build in steel or aluminum for pre-cut kits.

APPENDIX 1. RECOMMENDED READING:
A selection of books that the author recommends to any person involved in building or owning a powerboat.

APPENDIX 2. RECOMMENDED SUPPLIERS:
Names and addresses of suppliers of supplies of equipment of interest to powerboat builders and owners

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