AMEL - Death of the Cruising Ketch ?

[TDB1227]

Originally Posted by Mag3

well a general rule of thumb i wish was followed here (and on other forums) is that you shouldn't proffer an opinion or advice on anything you haven't had personal real world experience with.

but i suspect pigs will fly first...

MAG3

I DO own an AMEL ketch. SV AMELIT, AMEL 54 #128. Currently on the hard in COOMERA QLD AUSTRALIA.

[redhead]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

No more CQR anchors, no more manual windlass's, no more salt water pumps in galley, no more ice boxes.

I can't tell you how many people looked at my salt water pump and didn't know what it was. One guy said "Oh look, they've got a beer tap!"

[bailsout]

Unless my Herreshoff ketch sinks irretrievably I have my last boat. Should I have to to another, it will be a ketch with slab reefing and hank on sails. I might simplify and lose the cutter rig that mine has, but, never mind, I like the options that staysail provides.

[Martkimwat]

New boat owners without experience, even if they have a shiny new 'ticket' will not appreciate the versatility of the ketch rig with regards the many ways that sails can be reduced and still keep the boat perfectly balanced, nor the fact that each sail is a lot smaller (easier handling) for the same overall area. Also less stress on the vessel with shorter masts and more options if the worst case happens and a mast comes down!

[barnakiel]

But if we got limited to posting only on what we have, then we would not have this thread. I posted it and I do not have an AMEL 60.


I wish I had though (one of their ketch models).


b.

[P3sailor]

Amel, a cat, now that's sacrilege!! How could one stoop sooo low! Amels are great boats I certainly hope they don't get into the multi-hull mode....

[Maka]

As a life long Sloop Sailor I had no idea how much I would come to LOVE a Ketch until I owned this one.

[Hoodsail]

Wow, the list of "defunct" accessories on new boats mentioned earlier is like a list of items i would note if i was going to sell mine....pilot berth over the settee, ice box.
At 35.5 ft I have max'ed out my length so will never have to ponder whether to buy a ketch - I'm just too short; altho two masts can definitely be more eye-catching than one..

[barnakiel]

If we assume there will be no AMEL ketches in the future, are they not giving up their 'Unique Selling Point'.


I mean: there are so many luxury sloops around: Oysters, HR, Contests, etc.


With a single stick, there is one fewer thing that makes AMEL stand out.


b.

[waterman46]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

No more CQR anchors, no more manual windlass's, no more salt water pumps in galley, no more ice boxes.

Each of those can still be very useful to some. Even the CQR, in my case.

[Mag3]

apologies - re-reading my post i realize that may have felt pointed at you - it wasn't! my comment wasn't directed at you or those who do have that experience!

Originally Posted by TDB1227

MAG3

I DO own an AMEL ketch. SV AMELIT, AMEL 54 #128. Currently on the hard in COOMERA QLD AUSTRALIA.

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by waterman46

Each of those can still be very useful to some. Even the CQR, in my case.

I don't debate whether some or all of the items we no longer see on new boats is useful...I'm just pointing out what new builders no longer use and no one or very few buy new these days.

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

If we assume there will be no AMEL ketches in the future, are they not giving up their 'Unique Selling Point'.


I mean: there are so many luxury sloops around: Oysters, HR, Contests, etc.


With a single stick, there is one fewer thing that makes AMEL stand out.


b.

Personally I don't have a problem with ketch rigs. They do allow much lower air drafts for sneaking under bridges and under reaching conditions they can get quite a bit of sail up but you do need a real well driven hull to take full advantage of it and most of the older cruising designs dont qualify. There are negatives and positives but the biggest positive was breaking the sails down in size so they could be handled easier by a short handed crew. They do have much more rigging to contend with and when replacement time comes you are writing a fair sized cheque. These days with electric furling everything including a spinnaker it doesn't get any easier and short handed sailors are sailing 60 ft. plus monohulls which back in the day You would have thought near impossible unless the sailors were very highly skilled. Most of today's sailors are anything but highly skilled. So the world has changed and so has the buyers. Today's buyers of these top brands are usually older and don't have the physical conditioning to sail a 50 foot boat with out electric winches furlers etc.so it's just not an option not to have these assists. Anyways I'll eat my storm sail if Amel builds another ketch rig they have gone the way of the dodo bird.

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by redhead

I can't tell you how many people looked at my salt water pump and didn't know what it was. One guy said "Oh look, they've got a beer tap!"Attachment 218420

Ha ha ha yes the salt water hand or foot pumps are no longer considered as a must have but I can tell you my first 2 boats I sailed offshore with had them and they were used every day. Mostly for dishes. Those were the days!!

[barnakiel]

Arghhhhh ....


So, a beautiful new boat, but bit of a shame lingering too. I expected this.


I have sailed (limited, only locally) an earlier 54' boat I was so swept. It was so easy for me (hardly a Shrek, although perfectly fit) and my intelligent, good and sexy crew!


In my wildest and totally unrealistic (financially) dreams I have seen ourselves sailing something like AMEL 55 round the world again!


I have seen an AMEL 55 in Le Marin (on dry and at the dock, not inside) and she was so, eh, 'bespoke'?


Such a shame. I hope the boatyard will not place themselves into some impossible corner and then out of the market.


barnakiel