Modern equivalent to an old boat

[Target9000]

If you want to buy a new or close to new boat that is very stout like a W32, I'd check into the Pacific Seacraft options. Though... I have to say... Westsail the World. Love our boat.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by oregonian

barnakiel,
Your response was expected. You chose to show everyone the "first built" year. Not the "Design" year.(...)

Yes. I fully endorse your comment. I have some aside thoughts below.

Some designs are faster than others. In my eye, the historical age of the design matters at least as much as the aim of the design. Long before W32 people designed boats much faster than W32. Long after W32 people will design boats much slower than W32.

And why will this be. Perhaps designers are trying to design boats for the job at hand. Meaning: Atkin would have designed a much different boat, if he wanted to win races in her. I think he designed W32 to what he believed to be the best choice of shapes and dimensions to do the job (and I assume the job he had in mind was a seaworthy cruising yacht).

If you look at some of Dick Zaal designs (I believe this guy is still alive) you will find lovely heavy W32 style double-enders on one vane and sleek racing machines on the other.

So to say, the age of the design counts and perhaps the aim of the design counts twice as much.

Cheers,
b.

[endoftheroad]

Originally Posted by oregonian

barnakiel,
Your response was expected. You chose to show everyone the "first built" year. Not the "Design" year. For those who don't know the Westsail 32 was the William Atkin design named "Eric" from the 1920's, taken from the lines of a Colin Archer from the 1890's. Every boat you profiled is at least 1/2 century newer in design. Does that not make them "more modern" as I said. Also, the boats I mentioned comprise a very large percentage of the cruising boats out there at this time. Many owners bought them partly because "at least they are faster than a Westsail". Would you have been more satisfied if I had also mentioned that the Westsail beat Boat for Boat an express 27 or a Catalina 309? I doubt it. Regrettably, the Westsail lost to an Olson 34 by 1 hour and 12 minutes after the 17 days. There is no need to quote Webster as to the definition of "Modern" . As it applies to sailboat design the term is extremely subjective - and you know it.
gjordan, You are completely accurate about the crew being the biggest determining factor in boat speed. So much so that the design itself is NEVER going to assure that one boat is faster than another. That includes going to weather, or in light airs, or storm conditions or etc, etc, etc.
Thankyou

Good stuff!