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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My husband and I purchased Strathgowan, hull #400,
earlier this year and are living aboard for our first winter with her although
we have lived aboard larger boats since 1990. Going smaller was a deliberate
choice as twelve years beyond our originally planned departure, the smaller
boat will make the physical end of boating a lot easier on us.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>While the A-30 will be 'small' for some people we
know we have to reduce the number of non-essentials we have toted from one boat
to the other. Our cruising grounds now point to warmer climates but not
necessarily world wide. Because of the closer proximity to supplies, we do not
feel that we will 'suffer' too much because we didn't bring all the photo albums
and such.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>An acquaintance has another A-30 which he has
drastically modified, to the point that it no longer looks like the original
bird. Some of his ideas might be worth your consideration.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>First he literally moved the companionway and aft
bulkhead of the main cabin back to the edge of the bridge-deck at the forward
end of cockpit floor. Inside he added an extra foot of storage shelves and
cupboards on each side of the companionway.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Secondly, he built a rigid dodger and rigid
enclosure. Unfortunately, in our opinion, he did not elevate the extension for
the enclosure high enough as he is a tall man and still cannot stand
upright.This could have been accomplished by re-cutting the clew of the mainsail
(tapering the foot to the tack) without having to move the
goose-neck.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thirdly, he converted the port settee to a single
seater dinette (one seat on each side of a table extending inward from the
hull). </FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>The boat I am describing is currently
approaching Florida on its way to the Bahamas for the third or fourth time. It
is painted with red, white and blue stripes running the length of the cabin at
deck level and is called "Joy B". John is quite a character and not a member of
this or any other list. He is a bit of a loner but always interested is
discussing the changes he has made.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We wish to convert the starboard settee of
Strathgowan to a dinette and then build a storage unit against the forward
bulkhead to hold our sewing machine, repair fabrics and tools (no-one can sit in
this area anyway).</FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We are also considering moving the 'backs' of the
settees inward by 3 or 4 inches to improve the support for our loser back while
seated and increase the storage area next to the hull on both sides of the
cabin.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If any of you have converted from a settee to a
dinette we'd be interested in any feed-back.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Maggie & Ian Ross</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Strathgowan, #400</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"May the Lights of the Houses along the way, guide
you safely to your future destinations".</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>