While the mast-fall-down-go-boom-splash has put the new bikes planned for "So It Goes" on hold for the moment, I am still keeping an eye out for the perfect bike...
My preference in bike frames has always been steel and while I have built and used both carbon and alloy frames, when it comes to utility and ride comfort, steel kicks some serious ass and will always be my first choice.
Reynolds, mega-purveyor of frame materials has had a stainless frame tubing (953) for a while now and to say it would make all kinds of sense for a ocean-going bike would be some kind of understatement.
Bob Brown is one of the few frame builders around who is rolling with the Reynold's 953 and for more information on what makes for a successful 953 frame, you should check out his site...