American yachts

[Fr J Hackett]

I just did. Thst is a seriously ugly boat! What's going on in boat design? It's all volume, volume volume. If you want a bigger boat, buy a longer boat. Putting a 50ft interior into a 40ft long hull doesn't make a great sailing boat, regardless of the sailing magazine reviews (that get paid to say how nice they are). Let's face it, they have never done a damming review on any boat ever launched!
There is a head to head review with an Allures on Yachting monthy that makes the Allures look pretty. And thst isn't true when you put it next to a pretty boat

No one could accuse the recent batch of French aluminium "expedition" boats of looking pretty perhaps with the exception of the Garcia 50 and 60.

I was sailing with a friend sometime ago and we were anchored a little way off from an early Onvi his comment was that it looked like a large wheel barrow.

 

[Wansworth]

The French as illustrated by their car design or Pompedue centre like to create akward shapes presumably based on functionality

 

[Laser310]

There aren't that many sailboat builders in the USA these days.

A few custom builders, turning out very high end boats - Brooklin Boatyard, and Lyman Morse in Miane, Aquidneck Composites in Rhode Island,

There are a few yards out west - i am not that familiar with them.

None of the bigger J Boats are built in the US today - all at J Composites in France. Even the smaller boats - J/88, J99 - all built in France.

No one could accuse the recent batch of French aluminium "expedition" boats of looking pretty perhaps with the exception of the Garcia 50 and 60.

the Allures yachts ate pretty conventional

here is the 45.9

 

[geem]

There aren't that many sailboat builders in the USA these days.

A few custom builders, turning out very high end boats - Brooklin Boatyard, and Lyman Morse in Miane, Aquidneck Composites in Rhode Island,

There are a few yards out west - i am not that familiar with them.

None of the bigger J Boats are built in the US today - all at J Composites in France. Even the smaller boats - J/88, J99 - all built in France.

the Allures yachts ate pretty conventional

here is the 45.9

View attachment 157890

Not that conventional. Aluminium hull with grp deck

 

[Laser310]

Not that conventional. Aluminium hull with grp deck

well, the quote i was replying to referred to the look - pretty, or not - of french aluminum boats...

whether you think they are pretty, or not, they are fairly conventional in appearance

 

[Fr J Hackett]

well, the quote i was replying to referred to the look - pretty, or not - of french aluminum boats...

whether you think they are pretty, or not, they are fairly conventional in appearance

Boreal, Alubat Onvi both take a lot of effort to love but are very capable in doing what they are designed to do.

 

[geem]

Boreal, Alubat Onvi both take a lot of effort to love but are very capable in doing what they are designed to do.

I guess somebody loves them. I am not on the list

 

[Wansworth]

I guess somebody loves them. I am not on the list

Expedition to where…….?

 

[geem]

Expedition to where…….?

What defines an expedition boat? Tankage? Space for stores? Ability to take heavy weather? I don't know, but its sounds an awful lot like the same way you would describe a bluewater water boat. Maybe it's high latitude sailing and the ability to take on ice? In which case its a high latitudes boat not an expedition boat

 

[Wansworth]

What defines an expedition boat? Tankage? Space for stores? Ability to take heavy weather? I don't know, but its sounds an awful lot like the same way you would describe a bluewater water boat. Maybe it's high latitude sailing and the ability to take on ice? In which case its a high latitudes boat not an expedition boat

Another sales gimmick……

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Expedition to where…….?

Anywhere you like but generally cold, remote and windy places.

 

[geem]

Anywhere you like but generally cold, remote and windy places.

So bluewater? Or is that only warm bluewater?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

So bluewater? Or is that only warm bluewater?

I would guess they are equally happy in warm blue water as cold blue water but they do seem to be popular for high latitude sailing and if starting from scratch with that in mind would be at the top of my list.

 

[Laser310]

I would guess they are equally happy in warm blue water as cold blue water but they do seem to be popular for high latitude sailing and if starting from scratch with that in mind would be at the top of my list.

they are very well insulated - several inches of sprayed foam i think is typical.

this supposedly makes them great not only in cold climates, but also in warm climates.

another feature is that because of the insulation, there is very little condensation - so no mildew or funny smells.

i did a transatlantic crossing on a 75ft french aluminum boat - i appreciated the robust feeling of the boat.

 

[geem]

they are very well insulated - several inches of sprayed foam i think is typical.

this supposedly makes them great not only in cold climates, but also in warm climates.

another feature is that because of the insulation, there is very little condensation - so no mildew or funny smells.

i did a transatlantic crossing on a 75ft french aluminum boat - i appreciated the robust feeling of the boat.

They normally spray 2" of foam in my experience. If you want more you normally have to do a second layer as the first one cures. It slumps if you put it on too thick initially.

 

[kof]

. Why do so many European yacht designs go for sleek aerodynamic coachroofs wheras the American produce charachterful yachts that give you a coach foot you can sit on and provide a handrail at a useable height

Because boats like this American one don’t appeal to modern owners. They are old designs from a time long past when boats were like caves and were not family friendly. there are very few U.S. boat builders and most that are left are still producing their designs from 20 years ago. Most U.S. buyers choose french monos or cats (more likely).

 

[Wansworth]

Because boats like this American one don’t appeal to modern owners. They are old designs from a time long past when boats were like caves and were not family friendly. there are very few U.S. boat builders and most that are left are still producing their designs from 20 years ago. Most U.S. buyers choose french monos or cats (more likely).

I am a Luddite

 

[kof]

I am a Luddite

And thats fine but you have to accept you are in the minority. Buyers are looking for boats that appeal to the family and not just the (usually male) solo owner. They want space to pack stuff, room on deck to lie out or have sun chairs, easy access to the dingy or water, big water tanks, lots of leccie and so on. Old trad designs just don’t cut it for these buyers.

 

[Wansworth]

And thats fine but you have to accept you are in the minority. Buyers are looking for boats that appeal to the family and not just the (usually male) solo owner. They want space to pack stuff, room on deck to lie out or have sun chairs, easy access to the dingy or water, big water tanks, lots of leccie and so on. Old trad designs just don’t cut it for these buyers.

Indeed follow the thread about curved windows in modern yachts.. I certainly don’t take your view about wide open decks being the bees knees,acá in top raises the handrail up so children can get about and older people and certainly in larger yachts the cabin side affords leaning back space especially on the lee side to have a different view of the sea.Looking at an old French design a Jouet 24 it’s all deck once you leave the cockpit it’s like captain OatsStill each to their own

 

[Laser310]

. Why do so many European yacht designs go for sleek aerodynamic coachroofs wheras the American produce charachterful yachts that give you a coach foot you can sit on and provide a handrail at a useable height

That's cool boat.

Making a good 24ft cruising boat is an accomplishment in itself, and the fact that it has appealing lines makes it even more of an accomplishment.

But, when you get up to say 40-50ft, expectations change.

I don't expect to get on the helm of that pacific seacraft and say "wow, this boat is just a joy to sail". It's going to be a bit of a tank: slow and not that responsive.

There are 40ft cruising boats that are capable of planing - but as far as I know, none are made in the USA

This type of boat, the JPK FC 39 for example, is not for everyone, but it's just right for some people. I don't think it's a bad looking boat either. Builders like RM, JPK, Pogo are building great boats, and increasingly buyers from the US are looking for these kinds of boats, not any of the boats built in the US.