my reply to Justin in post; http://cruising.sailboatowners.com/csbb/index.cgi/page/1/md/read/id/186012/sbj/i-am-not-sure/

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I am not sure how many of the new autopilots he has seen. It may be that the crowd he sees are in the lower funded group. Or a group that just keep on going and are of the older school.

some time in the future the many new autopilots will find there way into the main stream of the boats "out there".

I was just relaying what he said as he is the furthest boat I have regular contact with.

I thought the part about boats not from the USA was interesting.

AND, as I said before, none of this will change what I am doing, and I am not trying to change any one eases mind, so it's all just interesting.

Greg
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I am not making any claims to how good or bad his reply is. I do not know what may have influenced his statements in the short or long term. I simply passed on what he said.

On to your statements...

* You said, "And who designated the Pacific milk run as the definition of "real cruising" and "being out there"? What makes that relatively benign cruising ground the breaking and proving yard for equipment?"

Please see my post that states they have made many Atlantic crossings, one in conditions that saw MANY boats with massive broken gear and break downs. They said if that had been there first crossing, they would have quit cruising. And if any one questions it, I SAY that with there experience they ARE OUT THERE! Take a look at there web page and try to tell me differently. It's at; http://www.enezacko.com/

* Your statement... "Hawk doesn't spend much time in the South Pacific"

I know. We spent time with them in the Sea of Cortez. I would point out that what is talked about over a morning coffee at Club Cruceros in La Paz, or over a beer, lunch or dinner in town may give one a different perspective than the one on the web or in the books. NOT BETTER OR WORSE, just slightly different. As you pointed out in one of your posts, "I don't understand your post", many times people read into written items different ideas than what you would understand over a beer.

Greg

Photo of Ed & Ellen aboard Entr'acte.....