Trawler Lifestyle | PassageMaker Magazine & Events

Last year, PDQ Yachts took a flotilla of six boats from its yard in Whitby, Ontario, to Annapolis, Maryland, and it was an eyeopening experience for everyone involved. Initially a boatbuilder's effort to deliver six new catamarans south after the ice and snow of winter cleared, it took on all the characteristics of a major sponsored adventure. Those who took part did it all-crossing the open water of Lake Ontario, locking through New York's Erie Canal system, and running down the Hudson River and the New Jersey coast with occasional heavy pleasure boat and commercial traffic.

We get lots of tips and real-world ways cruisers cope with the issues of maintenance and repair when they are out there enjoying this lifestyle. Resourcefulness is often a key to getting things done when traditional methods are either unavailable or financially excessive.

The following article does not portray the typical approach to solving a shaft problem, but it is a resounding example of the self-reliance and creative ingenuity that defines the successful cruiser. We would not recommend most people attempt this at home, but it is nice to know it can be done.-BillP.