Best post title in ages, a needful read, and in the “stuck in the worst timeline” department…
A long time ago, when we were just starting our charter business, I had a cunning plan to build a half dozen Bolger Micros to use as a cheap seats, minimum bareboat alternative. What can I say but it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Fast forward almost three decades and I still think it would have been a successful enterprise. Sure it would have been a niche market but niche markets have a lot of advantages where marketing is concerned. Add to the fact that selling charters is all about selling fun and what’s more fun than a Bolger Micro?
In hindsight, if I were doing the cunning plan thing today, I’d more than likely split the initial six-pack to three Micros and three Long Micros.
The Long Micro having a bit more elbow room with a kiss more comfort.
More recently, I’ve considered the idea of building a couple of Bolger Martha Janes, simply because I thought it would be nice to see what I could do with leeboards and a balanced lug mainsail and leg-of-mutton mizzen. Plus, I love the idea of charterers being able to scandalize the various anchorages of the USVI.
Not to be, I’m sad to say. Currently, the charter business in the Caribbean and Virgin Islands is going through something of a greed-induced clusterfuck phase and it’s so bad that we’ve decided to quit doing charter business in the USVI or BVI until sanity returns…
I’m not holding my breath.
As it happens, these plans and all of Phil’s designs are available from Phil Bolger and Friends.
Nuff’ said…