For some complex and expensive works because they can afford it. For others like me complex and expensive is preventing us from getting enough free time to actually go sailing.

I'm heading the other way from the herd that's for sure. The only way I'll ever get out and do the kind of sailing you guys are doing is to tear everything off the boat and just go with what I have. Generating enough electricity for 24/7 autopilot use is out of the question. Keeping the refrigerator on for the whole trip just isn't going to happen. If I'm ever going to sail distances it will have to get done the old fashioned way.

Had I to do it over I'd have bought an Alberg 30 put a wind vane on it and gone sailing. Now I'm in too deep in a bunch of other stuff to get out that easily.

In the old days cruising was sort of a vagabonds thing and people did whatever it took to get out and do things. They were tough and resourceful people, boat builders, sail makers, and radio technicians that were able to make it on their wits and luck since they didn't have money. Now it seems like cruising is something for older retired people who have done well enough to get a big boat and take time off. If you look at the list of people in Lat 38 doing this years puddle jump you'll see what I mean. All of them are in huge boats and don't look like they're in the best physical shape, certainly not enough to handle that 47 footer when something goes wrong. Most of those folks really don't look like they could handle spelunking into the transom area to deal with a finicky autopilot let alone set up a boat like a Beneteau 47 to balance well enough for self steering. To be honest, and I know some of you'll hate me for saying it, but a lot of those folks look like they are one failure away from setting off the EPIRB.