David, I have only been reading this list for about 2 months and I already
know you are a great source of VW and other arcane knowledge, creative
thinker, and most generous with your time (as are many others).  But where
do you come up with these fascinating tidbits, like the no. of ships lost in
storms?  Is this stuff in your head?  I am concurrently impressed,
entertained, and edified.  At some point in time we should consider a
manageable way to share brief bio's among list members - would be
interesting I think.

Thanks,
Jim Creech
87 Westy too recently owned to name
Winchester VA

----- Original Message -----
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2000 2:02 PM
Subject: Re: Tiico conversion

> At 13:49 10/26/2000, David Marshall wrote:
> >I guess this could be true - but there is there fair share of storms on
the
> >Pacific and crossing the Atlantic as well.  The sea container ships that
I
> >have seen look pretty sturdy to me!  Who knows what reason it might be -
> >this is all speculation as we aren't there! :)
>
> Ships are sturdy indeed, mostly anyway.  But the amount of free energy
> floating around at the air/water interface is potentially so enormous that
> no vessel can withstand it.  Completely aside from mechanical troubles,
> shipping companies pay good money to outfits who attempt to predict
weather
> and sea conditions and generate routes for a given trip that finds the
best
> or avoids the worst.  When a hurricane or typhoon comes, the prudent ship
> runs away, early and often.  Many ships have survived hurricanes; many
have
> not.  On average over the last 50 years or so, one ship of 100 tons or
> greater has been lost at sea from all cause *about every day and a half.*
>
> david
>
> David Beierl - Providence, RI
>   http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
> '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
> '85 GL "Poor Relation"