was to stop every day and to experience the sort of Americana not generally found in east coast metropolises, anymore.

I'd like to do the Great Circle, too. Unfortunately the boat I am looking at is taller than the 20' vertical clearance limit on the Erie. If I can pull it off, I may end up going the long way and using the St. Lawrence. Which wouldn't suck either as far as I can see. It's just a function of more time and more money...

A friend of mine has a glass hull with wooden decks and coachwork. He ended up re-building his entire foredeck in teak, a few years back. I would imagine that in some respects, that might have been easier than dealing with the sandwich layer thing going on with cored decks. I can't help you with any hints other than something I have learned over the years, doing projects. Most projects that have seemed overwhelming in the learning curve required, have turned out to be just another project, once I got underway. Just dig in and go.

Congratulations on the new home and the new set of projects you have acquired...