Does a 'forever boat' really exist?

[charles_reed]

Had mine for nearly 25 years - carefully picked based upon a functional specification.

Have looked @ many other boats down the years and haven't found anything that improves on it all round or is worth the additional cash.

I'm afraid that many are too highly subjective about boats - they are, after all, just machine, a means to an end. Of course, for most, that end might well change as they mature.
Plus ca change...

 

[Greenheart]

I ought to like the increase in big windows in the topsides...I can't picture myself contented forever in a dark cabin, even though I like the warm feel of dark interior woodwork. But I'm constantly 20 years (or more) behind the times in terms of style, so perhaps by the time I can afford one, I'll admire big black square windows on stark white topsides.

Highly subjective, sorry about that Mr Reed. Although, what choice could (or should) be more personal than a wholly non-essential purchase like a yacht?

If I had to stick to basic qualities/characteristics I'd say:

- shoal draft (ideally, the ability to dry out upright);
- singlehandable
- at least some kind of wheel shelter
- rig includes a staysail
- not dangerously out of her depth offshore
- old-school GRP lay-up - heavier than was really necessary. "Forever" is a long time.

I dream of steel trawlers converted to brigantines and gaff schooners...but in spite of most catamarans' caravan-looks, for ease & availability I'll probably end up in a Snowgoose.

 

[Kelpie]

- shoal draft (ideally, the ability to dry out upright);
- singlehandable
- at least some kind of wheel shelter
- rig includes a staysail
- not dangerously out of her depth offshore
- old-school GRP lay-up - heavier than was really necessary. "Forever" is a long time.

We have, I hope, got some of that mix in our new- and hopefully 'forever'- boat.
1.1m draft with keel raised; yachtlegs for drying out.
At 33ft, perfectly manageable singlehanded. Freeboard not exactly low but no problems stepping off to a pontoon.
Shelter is not pilothouse standards, but the tiller is far enough forward in the cockpit that you can happily helm whilst tucked up in the shelter of the sprayhood. We rejected a very similar boat whose tiller was right at the back of the cockpit.
Inner forestay and self tacker.
Offshore pedigree with keel stepped mast, proper bridge deck, good handholds etc. Expect her to be able to go anywhere.
44yrs old, properly laid up, nothing hidden under internal mouldings, should get a few more decades out of her...

It's early days yet (we took delivery at the end of April) but we expect to hang on to her until we are too decrepit to get up and down the companionway, at which point we may have to give up and buy a cat...
(but I could also take a saw to the fibreglass and get rid of the bridge deck... hmmm...)

 

[Greenheart]

What is she, Rob? Sounds nice. Any pictures?

...we expect to hang on to her until we are too decrepit to get up and down the companionway, at which point we may have to give up and buy a cat...

Dear me...my first preference seems to be your last resort! Don't you think the advantages of a catamaran mightn't be something to discover sooner rather than later?

 

[dunedin]

I reckon most people's sailing is shoehorned into a dozen weekends per year plus three weeks of annual leave, so I have to believe that most yachts' conspicuous, unashamed unsuitability for use, October-March at 50° north, is just accepted as another inevitable, inescapable limit to the fun, which increases these vessels' effective cost-per-day of use...

...but visualising the "forever" yacht, I see myself going on board whenever I'm free to, regardless of the season; not always to journey very far, but for the pleasure of being afloat in a safe and comfortable weatherproof vessel whose designer wasn't only thinking of performance styling cues or the influence of the summer charter market.

As my boat lacks a wheelhouse i am very disappointed to learn that it is unsuitable for use in winter - particularly as we have sailed it all year round at more than 55 degrees north for the past 5 years or so In fact the area of investment I would recommend first for all year sailing is high tech clothing - notably base layers and proper Gore Windstopper fleeces. By choosing the days to sail based upon forecasts we have enjoyed lots great sunshine sails in winter - and only wore oilskins once last winter.

The one thing I would not compromise for a "forever" sailing boat is ........... well the SAILING bit. Needs to be enjoyable and fun to sail in the weather we want to sail in F2-F5 (which means Plenty of sail area & low stated surface) plus look after us safely getting back to harbour in occasional F5-8.

And in fact our current boat is looking like a Forever one - as nothing available today seems to combine the performance, safety, practicality ..... and lovely real wood interior .... without spending 5 times more for an Arcona, XC or some HR.

 

[Kelpie]

What is she, Rob? Sounds nice. Any pictures?

She's a 'Deb 33' designed by S&S and built by Deacons. Relatively uncommon, but her close cousin the Tartan 34C is popular over the pond, with about 500 built. Pic in my avatar!

Dear me...my first preference seems to be your last resort! Don't you think the advantages of a catamaran mightn't be something to discover sooner rather than later?

[Mrs Doyle] Maybe I like the heeling...[/Mrs Doyle]

 

[Storyline]

.....
The one thing I would not compromise for a "forever" sailing boat is ........... well the SAILING bit. Needs to be enjoyable and fun to sail in the weather we want to sail in F2-F5 (which means Plenty of sail area & low stated surface) plus look after us safely getting back to harbour in occasional F5-8.
.....

100‰ agree and the point you make about suitable clothing is also spot on. Musto make a very light windstopper jacket which when worn over a T - shirt, shirt & lightweight polartec fleece keeps you warm whilst feeling unencumbered.

I have always believed that it is best to dress well and then acclimatise to the current temperature (within reason) as inevitably there will be times when you would have to leave your warm cocoon for sail changes etc. The difference in temperature inside/out would be most unpleasant. Some form of heating down below is obviously essential in the evenings for out of season sailing but that is all.

The only thing that really gets me down is rain and I have an unwritten agreement with swmbo in that if she wants to sail then she does the helming in her Musto HPX whilst I shelter under the spray hood or do the nav down below. If she rejects this arrangement then we just stay put. I really, really enjoy being at anchor all snug when the rain is hammering on the coachroof. There are always jobs to be done and I confess that sometimes I think of Storyline as our floating caravan !

Edit: the ability of having the freedom NOT to sail is one of the big benefits of boat ownership imo. Regularly we can get up in an anchorage, be greeted by the sight of heavy rain and make the decision to stay where we are unless it dries up. Typically more than half the boats around in the anchorage are charter boats and we watch over our coffee as their crews, clad in oilies, lift their anchors and motor out into the torrential rain. As charterers we can only assume that they want to get their money's worth. Boat ownership is not cheap but at times like this it is worth every penny #FairWeatherSailors