Are modern boats up to it?

E39mad, the post was not aimed at you in particular. Why I am amused is that in my experience sailing in the Med, its far from glassy smooth, and if boats were being designed with the Med in mind, then the designers have got it wrong.

Whilst I agree that a lot of boats do enter the Med charter market, I doubt that it is as large a segment as one might imagine. Might try and find some stats on that.
 
No problem galadriel - yep they can be poorly designed with inadequate engine power and protection when the Med gets nasty!

I was lucky enough to help deliver a 70ft Jongert in May 1995 from Monaco all the way round Italy up to Venice and we got hit very hard up the Adriatic - 50 knots from no-where and not forecast - had to steam into it as couldn't head for Croatia at the time due to war - we passed HMS Invincible hours earlier - would not have liked to have been in a much smaller boat for that part of the trip not because the boats can't it but the crew probably couldn't!!
 
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I have not read the thread as I could see the usual rubbish and prejudices about old vs new. Anyway, FWIW and going back to the OP, my observations suggest that there are loads of modern boats out on the water every weekend in the Clyde area. That might be different elsewhere, but that's certainly what I see here. Then again we have stunning places to sail to!!!
 
it seems to me that many boats of all three generic types don't go out at weekends because their owners arrive late on Friday night after a week in the office and a fraught drive from God knows where - Derbyshire to Plymouth and back FFS - so are simply too knackered to start the engine and untie the warps, not to say already dreading the return trip and the coming week.

also, iMHO, some manky old boats, however aged, have withstood the passing of the years rather better than their enthusiasts.
 
I have just clocked the "Made in China" thread; in ten years time we can all moan about the old days together.
Only the bright young things will be left to say: "of course the new boats are better the materials and design are first rate, who wants a manky old Swan anyway?"
 
Grumpybear said:
it seems to me that many boats of all three generic types don't go out at weekends because their owners arrive late on Friday night after a week in the office and a fraught drive from God knows where - Derbyshire to Plymouth and back FFS - so are simply too knackered to start the engine and untie the warps, not to say already dreading the return trip and the coming week.

also, iMHO, some manky old boats, however aged, have withstood the passing of the years rather better than their enthusiasts.
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Excellent!
 
doug748 said:
I have just clocked the "Made in China" thread; in ten years time we can all moan about the old days together.
Only the bright young things will be left to say: "of course the new boats are better the materials and design are first rate, who wants a manky old Swan anyway?"
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Lots of 'American' boats have been made in China orTaiwan for a long time. We are currently in the market for our new 'home' to be, a trawler style motor yacht to live aboard in the USA and pretty well all of the makes we are looking at were made in China or Taiwan. Makers include such household names as Grand Banks, Defever, Nordhavn. They have had some build problems in the early days, especialy in the late '70s/early '80s, like using poor quality metals in props, poor quality plywood cores hidden under grp, leaky windows etc, but since the mid-late '80s they are producing much better stuff.

Swans too are really lovely and most peoples dream, but IMO are not actually ideal cruising boats unless you have plenty of crew and like it dark and stuffy down below. Most Swans were not set up for two handed cruising or for warmer climes. Once again one of those bubbles that sadly burst when you look more closely at them and reality takes over.
 
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Nostrodamus said:
At one time boats were built to the designer’s specification and then a price was decided upon. Now it seems that a price is decided upon and a boat is built to those specifications.
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I think that originally boats were built one off for customers, and as such the customer would come along and say I have X amount, whta can you build for me. Now that boats are more of a consumer item, the customer gets to browse what is available, and make judgments on what they see, rather than seeing it paper and having it built.

Good thing or not? The customer gets a broader selection and what they want, whether it's cabins and living space, or heavy weather integrity. If you want both, then it's Oysters and Rassey's etc
 
rotrax said:
....There will always be comparison between craft of different types and some sailors get VERY uptight about the pro's and cons of the type they own or covet. This weekend First Mate and I were so much slower than UWB.s in the light flukey winds we found.Our heavy long keeler has other virtues though and it suits us. That is all that really matters-its a compromise.
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You are very new to this debate rotrax and I don't want to patronise you, but this will not do.

Please understand that one type or the other is BETTER, full stop. Using such terms as: In my opinion and: for my type of sailing or your wishy washy "it suits us" just will not do.

Any more balanced and urbane contributions and I will report you for moderation.
 
Age and design makes little difference, it's how you drive it that decides if you get there.

Vasa big boat (ship) flat sea = sank
James Caird small open boat southern ocean = they got there.
 
doug748 said:
Beware Snowleopard, I still bear the scar of you branding my teak interior fittings as "like the inside of Miss Marple's library" Hurumph.
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What a delightful compliment, it is something that I aspire to. You must have been really proud, I would be. It has a real ring of confidence & seamanship about it. Beats the ass off plastic & vinyl or glass & chrome. Lovely, and a load of books to read too, excellent.
 
doug748 said:
You are very new to this debate rotrax and I don't want to patronise you, but this will not do.

Please understand that one type or the other is BETTER, full stop. Using such terms as: In my opinion and: for my type of sailing or your wishy washy "it suits us" just will not do.

Any more balanced and urbane contributions and I will report you for moderation.
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Hi Doug748, I have just looked at my post and none of the terms that offend you are there.I did say that "it suits us" and " its a compromise" and I feel sure that if I could be bothered to debate this I would have a fair chance of carrying the vote. A serious blue water cruiser will be good at some things,exellent at others and pretty awfull in other areas-and it was ever thus. Why should what suits me suit you-I would not expect it to. However, the good points of my chosen vessel outweigh the bad IN MY OPINION and that is all that interests me. I think upon re-reading the last line of your reply there is a little humour in it-I hope so!
 
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Searush said:
What a delightful compliment, it is something that I aspire to. You must have been really proud, I would be. It has a real ring of confidence & seamanship about it. Beats the ass off plastic & vinyl or glass & chrome. Lovely, and a load of books to read too, excellent.
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However the headroom is compromised by having to step over bodies all the time.
 
Searush said:
What a delightful compliment, it is something that I aspire to. You must have been really proud, I would be. It has a real ring of confidence & seamanship about it. Beats the ass off plastic & vinyl or glass & chrome. Lovely, and a load of books to read too, excellent.
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To be fair it was a generic observation and an amusing turn of phrase by Snowleopard.

Maybe we should go in for pipes and tweed hacking jackets as well.
 
doug748 said:
To be fair it was a generic observation and an amusing turn of phrase by Snowleopard.

Maybe we should go in for pipes and tweed hacking jackets as well.
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Damn you've been looking in my wardrobe too!


Good point, Lakey & one I had completely overlooked. However, I could take a tip from our Merry Can cousins & bury them at sea from time to time.
 
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