Classic Boat Design / Style

[CoastalCowboy]

As I said before in some other posts, I'm planning to retire and cruise full time in 14 years when my daughter grows up and moves out and the annuities start to pay. But, aside from impatience for the 14 years to pass, I've got another BIG concern. Noone is making boats in a style that warms my soul anymore. When I look at boats and try to narrow down the desgins I like, they just arn't making them anymore. I love the classic Formosa, William Garden, Carl Alberg styles. Beutiful designs with old world charm. Everything they are making now just looks so .... modern and cold in comparrison. And let's face it, by the time I retire in 2025 all those boats I love are going to be 50 or more years old. I just gotta hope in the next 14 years someone starts making the kind designs I love again. Otherwise, its gonna be alwfully expensive to have someone do a custom build on an old Formose design.

[DutchTreat]

Originally Posted by CoastalCowboy

Beutiful designs with old world charm. Everything they are making now just looks so .... modern and cold in comparrison.

The boat in my avatar is still made today. It's a classic style Dutch sailboat.

[captain58sailin]

While you are waiting for the 14 years to pass, you could always spend it building a classic designed yacht. Every thing would be just how you want it with regards to features and cabin layout, any you could probably engineer out any weaknesses the production vessels have. Just a thought.

[Amapola]

We definitely prefer the "Classic" lines to the sleek new sailboats and "Clorox bottle" power boats.

[wizard1_us]

I have a nicely restored Cape Dory 27 for sale if you are interested. Carl Alberg design, about as classic as you can get, lol.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by CoastalCowboy

(...) And let's face it, by the time I retire in 2025 all those boats I love are going to be 50 or more years old.(...)

Let's face it: you are way wrong.

There are boats made right now that look absolutely classic and gorgeous. It is 2011, the boats will be only 14 years old (ours is 30 right now!).

You can always have a one-off built as long as the molds of your fave design are available. Or have the design built in strip-foam-composite, as long as the drawings are available.

spirit yachts
mystery yachts
cherubini yachts

C'mon.

b.

[sabray]

My favorite traditional looking hull.Joel white design one built.love this boat. http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...oat_id=2264521.

[vintageray]

If your wife, if you have one is on board with the plan, why not if you have the room, decide what you want, buy one and start working on it. I would guess that you could stay pretty busy in your spare time and maybe have it ready to sail when you're ready to push the button. You'd have the advantage of knowing every system on the boat. The work never ends anyway. Why not get a jump on it. There are lots of classic style ketches for sale that are ready for complete refit and 14 yrs would fly by.

[sabray]

Could also do this. http://pagetraditionalboats.com/mimirose.htmJoe was freat at sweeping a bow and tucking the cabin sides into the line.. I'm partial. Just realized that in photos of forthright I am pictured standing next to the builder Swifty. while the owners wife slams a good bottle of vino into the bobstay fitting.years ago. Good times so cool to see this years later. I lost all my photos in a fire so to see these shots is really cool. Swifty is a early pleasure sailor, adventurer, builder. When quality was described in websters swifty should have his picture front most before they describe anything. A joy of a person with qualities and values that are timeless. Not only does he build great boats but he is passing on great qualities. Most unrecognized great people. Yes also there is a great wife voice of reason Doris behind the operation. Wonderful people good memories.

[Sonrisa]

Here are some classic designs still being built today:

ChannelCutterYachts

Cape George Cutters § Port Townsend § Blue Water Boats § Cruising Custom Boat Building

[hummingway]

Originally Posted by captain58sailin

While you are waiting for the 14 years to pass, you could always spend it building a classic designed yacht. Every thing would be just how you want it with regards to features and cabin layout, any you could probably engineer out any weaknesses the production vessels have. Just a thought.

What did this guy do to you?

(I confess I had the same thought)

[SkiprJohn]

Just keep your eye open for the right boat at the right price and buy it. Rent some space in a boatyard and start redoing it a little at a time. Anything Bill Garden (check the photo in my profile) is ok in my books but you have to watch which yard originally built the boat. Some used inferior grade plywood and cored the cabin tops and sides with stuff prone to rot and delamination. You'll also want to get rid of the teak decks which are prone to leaking. If you buy one in good condition and start to do the things you'll want to do to get it ready for cruising a little at a time it'll make that 14 years go by in a hurry.
I'm not certain what the boat market will be like in a few years but right now its a buyers market for those old classics.
kind regards,

[SkiprJohn]

The trouble with what I just suggested is that we don't know what technology will change in 14 years and what propulsion systems or the condition of the oceans or politics will be in 14 years. It may all change drastically and what you purchase today may not be what you would want in the future.

[Curmudgeon]

Save up for a Cherubini 44 ketch. They're still being made.