Alain, Are you the same Alain Durante who participated in the Transpacific race from Australia to Japan in a steel boat in the 80's If so, we met in the Japanese fishing harbour of Omosu where I kept

The French Carribean islands, as well as French Polynesia, are under the American buoyage system. It's a legacy of the American "occupation" of these French territories during the Second World War. Je

Yes, stopping the air input does work, but…it can be seriously hazardous to the palm of your hand if you do it by hand as the depression is quite strong. On the other hand (pun intended), if you use r

Yes I do, although I am not currently an active member, having been boatless for the past few years to my great regret. Jean Boucharlat Formerly SM 232

Bill, I must say that I support entirely your thinking. In my case this is based upon a very limited experience (once only) retrieving a windsurfer who had drifted away in a squall and be separated fr

Hello Danny, I could not agree more with what you write. For me also the 55 is beyond my needs and more than I can afford, as well as already somewhat engaged on that slippery “non-Amel” slope (my opi

Dear All, This is my take on the new Amel 50: I am yet to read the article in Yachting World but would agree very much with everything Pip Hare is reported to have said. She is an extremely competent

You are most likely referring to Luc Brumauld des Houlières who retired from the yard in 2011, bought a second hand somewhat derelict SM and totally refurbished her. He is the one who sold me my SM (2

James, There are entire libraries filled with heavy books, theses, knowledgeable opinions, about the respective merits of grease and oil. You can spend the upcoming winter making up your mind if you h

One more thing about turbos, which I hate as most everyone else: without a turbo you will run afoul of European emissions regulations (US, I don’t know). This might be a problem at the time of resale.

We, French people, have this saying that the only cure against mal de mer is to find a meadow where you can lie under an apple tree….! Try it. Otherwise, there is this one week program at the French N

On second reading I realize that, in my original message, inadvertently I dropped a small but significant word, thus altering the meaning of the sentence. The sentence should have read “a number of im

Bill (Rouse), Just for the record : SM hull N° 232, delivered in late July 2008, was in fact the first SM 2000, even though it did not get the label on its rubbing strake. And she was fitted with an A

To Jay Waganon You are using this group as a marketing tool. This is not acceptable. Jean Boucharlat Formerly SM 232

Daniela & Fernando, Many thanks for your very informative comments. I learned something today. So far I had never seen any two masted lateen rigged boat with a “maroccain” and I thought that it would

I am (very much) an amateur when it comes to boats and must admit that I am baffled by our use , in French, of the “marocain” word (also spelled “maroquin”) to designate a triatic stay. My bafflement

« Marocain » in French nauticalese is « triatic stay » Jean Boucharlat Formerly SM 232

James, I do not know about the Maramu hull#220 but I do know that if you are with Michel Charpentier, you are in good hands. He is the most knowledgeable broker in Europe with regard to Amel boats, an

Well, well, well ! That’s the very horse’s mouth. I was not aware of this stunning and very disappointing piece of information. Jean Boucharlat Formerly SM 232

Re Amel 55 layout et al. Kenneth, I am very much in agreement with your assessment of the 54 vs. 55 layout. If it can be of any help in forming your own opinion, or confusing you thoroughly, I am reit