[BigRed56]

Ahoy, Jeff I understand your confusion about my comments when I went back and re-read your initial reply and the question to which you put your considerable experience. Possibly its what you don''t say sometimes that got on my nerves. Sailing is not about speed or performance or money. Sailing is not about blisters or ventilation or how deep the water is. A sailor can buy the most miserable performing blister eaten rusted hulk for 100,000 dollars and be happy. All the rest is just salesmanship and egos. I poked you in the side so to speak about the Dickerson''s and the Chesapeake because I thought your comments to narrow. You have a great following here at sailnet and I thought to remind you that not everyone has to follow the pied pipers of the industry or even should. Let me ask you a question , which of the boats on your list are 2001 models of any of the companies you mentioned? My mom used to wash out my diapers in the Chesapeake in 1956 so I''d say I have as much local experience with the bay as anyone. My point about keels and water depth was that the Chesapeake is not on scale a shallow water bay . Possibly I was ignorant about the 7 foot and winged keels you mentioned which were prevelant in the industry at the time? ? I thought the original question meant new not what you can afford in the used market. My point being if you can''t buy a new sailboat with a hundred thousand dollars what is the point? My point is Dickersons were and are great crusing boats. My point is crusing is not about speed or ratings or getting what you can out of a boat. But hey thats just my opinion.