Appearance

[Sunspot Baby]

It is funny how we are affected by the style and/or appearance of our craft.

In another thread, Coyotewrw is looking for an “old fashion” style boat as opposed to a sleek, streamline sloop.

I have personal foibles in the appearance of a particular boat. Some trigger an internal vibration that makes it exhilarating just to look at them. Others I find just plain offensive. Many are somewhere between.

Some modern power yachts, even mega yachts are gone to a style of swooping lines, teardrop windows, etc. that remind me of trendy tennis shoes.

I can’t get past the buttress windows on newer Lagoon catamarans. It looks OK on the power cat, but it just doesn’t say sail boat to me. The older Lagoons were so smooth.

One mans meat is another mans poison I know.

What turns you on or off, or are you one of those concerned only with function?

George

[David_Old_Jersey]

Although I do own a kinda staid looking boat and love traditional boats, I do kinda like the look of the Lagoons and also most Trimarans make me go mmmmmmm ..........but doubt if I could ever afford a Lagoon or live with a Trimaran.

[Raven]

Among sailors, the attraction to the form of a boat is probably a close second to the attraction to those of the opposite sex. Perhaps it's genetically ingrained .

Every time I'm headed ashore I find myself looking back at Raven. I feel the tug on the heartstrings. My young sons refer to her as "the prettiest girl at the dance." Of course, that feeling is accentuated by the fact that she sails well and keeps us safe and secure in a storm.

To each, their own, but, for me, that tug at the heartstrings is central to the reasons why I've chosen a life afloat.

[PBzeer]

Boats are too expensive to have one you don't enjoy looking at. (Racers excepted) It doesn't really matter "what" about it that grabs you, just that something does. And that will certainly be different things to different people.

[swagman]

Originally Posted by PBzeer

Boats are too expensive to have one you don't enjoy looking at. (Racers excepted) It doesn't really matter "what" about it that grabs you, just that something does. And that will certainly be different things to different people.

Amen to that one
JOHN

[Tnflakbait]

I don't like all the "plumb bows" on monos and multis these days. They all look the same. The flat shear is kinda boring too.

[swagman]

Originally Posted by Tnflakbait

I don't like all the "plumb bows" on monos and multis these days. They all look the same. The flat shear is kinda boring too.

OUCH! Now this close to personal.

I loved plumb bows on first world war warships - and loved it when they returned to fashion on faster yachts. It's why we have one.

But I'd agree if every yacht had one - maybe I'd find them boring - as they truly would look all the same.

IMHO we should all have issues with those old fashioned wooden clunkers who usually leave a long bowsprit overhanging the walkways.

Might look pretty as they sail along, but they can cause a serious headache when one's stumbling back in the dark late Friday night.

What's great is that most places we'll see a huge variety of styles - and for sure - thats better than seeing them all alike.

Have a good weekend

JOHN

[Raven]

Originally Posted by swagman

Whats great is that most places let you view a huge variety of styles - and for sure - thats better than seeing them all alike.

Haveagoodweekend

JOHN

On a similar note, imagine if every woman (or man) seen walking down the streets of a busy city looked alike. We all fall in love (or lust) for different reasons. Boats are no different. What matters is that we are in love - no matter what kind of bow she's got.

[GordMay]

Notwithstanding the best efforts of ”benehuntalina”, the sailboat market is very fragmented.

Nautic Expo, for one, lists 372 Cruising Sailboats:
Sailboats, Catamarans, Trimarans - NauticExpo

More sailboat manufacturer lists:
Sail Boats
Don Robertson's Marine Marketplace - Sailboat Manufacturers
Production and Custom Monohull Sailboat Manufacturers : the Boat Design and Boatbuilding Directory

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Raven

What matters is that we are in love - no matter what kind of bow she's got.

I am more of a "Stern" man myself

[Alan Wheeler]

Among sailors, the attraction to the form of a boat is probably a close second to the attraction to those of the opposite sex.

So what are saying?? my wife has nice lines but is heavey and slow??? ;-) :-)

[hellosailor]

George, I must confess that I will yield right of way to a beautifully varnished classic all-wood hull every time, even while racing, so I can sit back and enjoy the view.

That doesn't mean I'd want to own, ergh, be enslaved, to one though.<G>

I suppose if I was rich enough to buy everything PLUS beauty, I'd worry about it. Until then, I'd rather be on the boat that just does thing right.

I'd be embarrassed about Plain Butt Ugly, or Hideously Unkempt, but how does that song go? "If you want a happy life, make an ugly woman to marry you" ?

Pretty boats are nice on post cards. Warm, dry, secure, fast, seakindly, blanaced, many other things more important for sailing on 'em though.

[Cruisingdad]

Wait a second, are you saying there is a manufacturer other than Catalina?? Crap. Knew I should have gone to the boat shows! (smile).

- CD

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Hello,
Well put!!
Thanks,
JohnL

[Amgine]

I'll agree that bowsprits (or anchors, or pulpits, or over-size dock boxes, or dinghies, or...) over the dock are a harmful menace, but to hate bowsprits themselves?

I love a plumb bowed hooker, with a reasonable bowsprit and boom well over the transom. And I'm equally in love with a graceful knockabout with long overhangs and tiny transom whose purpose, really, is to be a beautiful place to paint the name. A robust workmanlike sloop in fibreglass is a warm spot in my heart, no more or less than than the frighteningly tall racing-racing-dinghies-on-steroids.

I even like a lot of the stinkpots, though I admit to a prejudice against metalic flake and actively oppose the PWCs which are specifically designed to be loud and offensive. But a Trawler, or (a favourite description plagiarised from a friend) a Darth Vader boat, or some of the less ugly winneboatos are all fine in my book.

What is least aesthetic for me is huge expanses of topsides, especially in sailboats. And there are certain modern designs which really over do this, but everyone has a different level of tolerance. I can forgive chromed wind-swept roll bars more than I can 5' of topsides on a sailboat.