Is this the greatest interior refurb ever?

[[70521]]

IKEA afloat!

That was my first thought, but I am too polite.

 

[Laser310]

Thankfully, we all like different things. That looks hideous. ?

I am shopping for a cruising boat now: 40-45ft in length.., with a view towards partial live-aboard.., say two or maybe three months at a time.

I went into it mostly thinking of X-Yachts.., and other similar boats - maybe X-43 or X-46

But the more I thought about it, the more I began to think that while the dark wood interior is fine for short stays on board.., it might get kind of depressing after a month or two.

I find myself thinking more about boats like RM..., so much brighter and cheerier.., partly because there is just more light, but also because they use less dark wood.

Obviously.., it is a matter of personal preference, but i wonder if any liveaboards have grown tired of their more traditional interiors....

 

[Poignard]

I am shopping for a cruising boat now: 40-45ft in length.., with a view towards partial live-aboard.., say two or maybe three months at a time.

I went into it mostly thinking of X-Yachts.., and other similar boats - maybe X-43 or X-46

But the more I thought about it, the more I began to think that while the dark wood interior is fine for short stays on board.., it might get kind of depressing after a month or two.

I find myself thinking more about boats like RM..., so much brighter and cheerier.., partly because there is just more light, but also because they use less dark wood.

Obviously.., it is a matter of personal preference, but i wonder if any liveaboards have grown tired of their more traditional interiors....

The thing is not too have too much of anything.

Personally I find some boats with large areas of varnished plywood unattractive; like living in a cigar box. Equally unattractive, to my eye, are large areas of shiny white GRP; like living in a clinic.

 

[Laser310]

Equally unattractive, to my eye, are large areas of shiny white GRP; like living in a clinic.

Sure.., but I think if you look at the RM-type of boat, the key is to break up the expanse of white with color; contrasting trim, cushions, small colored panels, artwork...

 

[lustyd]

I think that's one thing they've done well on Uma, there are various textures, colours, materials and all have been mixed up very well along with some book shelves and a wood burner to make a quite interesting space. I doubt any production boat producer could cope with so many materials, let alone the complex contruction which is why we effectively seem to see either light wood interior or dark wood interior. It's easy to manufacture, and that generally over rules everything else. Then, of course, you have the stereotypical yachtsman demanding "quality wood" such as on an HR. They also don't put living space first since the idea of quality overrules it for them. As such every production boat focuses on either thick wood, easy manufacture or sparse carbon to the detriment of living space with few exceptions. We only need to look how many water/fuel tanks are unable to be removed to see the priority of builders!

 

[Laser310]

here is the RM 1370 salon.

I quite like for a liveaboard boat - although I would add a bit of color; artwork for sure, and maybe brighter pillows.

I am sure that to many here it is too "Ikea".., and I agree it has a bit of that.., maybe more than a bit.

 

[[2574]]

By way of contrast to the above:


We all have to choose our poison.

 

[[70521]]

I am shopping for a cruising boat now: 40-45ft in length.., with a view towards partial live-aboard.., say two or maybe three months at a time.

I went into it mostly thinking of X-Yachts.., and other similar boats - maybe X-43 or X-46

But the more I thought about it, the more I began to think that while the dark wood interior is fine for short stays on board.., it might get kind of depressing after a month or two.

I find myself thinking more about boats like RM..., so much brighter and cheerier.., partly because there is just more light, but also because they use less dark wood.

Obviously.., it is a matter of personal preference, but i wonder if any liveaboards have grown tired of their more traditional interiors....

As posted above we all like different things. Take a look at the Boreal boats you might like they light interiors. It is a brighter interior without looking too clinical. When seeing the first post I was vaguely reminded of a mortuary, don't know why as it has been some time since I was last in one.

It would be interesting to hear from people how a white interior works on a night watch as I think it might reflect any bit of white light that escapes from anything. I can imagine the eerie glow of a smartphone or a paranoide skipper huddled round his/her tablet checking the electronic charts and WiFi instruments.

EDIT: TO read a bit better.

 

[gregcope]

That was my first thought, but I am too polite.

Re the IKEA comments. When aboard I did not feel it felt that way. The space and design worked well I thought.

 

[lustyd]

I quite like for a liveaboard boat

As a liveaboard, how often do you see yourself catering to 6+ people at the dinner table down in the saloon? Personally I'd prefer some of that sofa and dining space be used for something more worthwhile if I were living on board.

I do like the general look of that interior though! As you say it definitely needs some colour

 

[lustyd]

By way of contrast to the above:

We all have to choose our poison.

Very similar to my interior which while attractive enough feels very dated these days. It's better than the dark wood of the past, but still that much bare wood is very old fashioned now and lacks imagination in my opinion. I wouldn't consider that much wood at home in 2021 so why would I want it on my boat? That said, I don't dislike it enough to change it and it's in great condition at 21 years.

 

[robmcg]

here is the RM 1370 salon.

I quite like for a liveaboard boat - although I would add a bit of color; artwork for sure, and maybe brighter pillows.

I am sure that to many here it is too "Ikea".., and I agree it has a bit of that.., maybe more than a bit.

View attachment 126643

Storage would be my worry on that one. The longer you stay aboard, the more 'stuff' you need and consequently the space to store it. You might end up with piles of stuff on the sofa - not a good look ?.

 

[lustyd]

I just had a look at that 1370 because it looked a nice interior but WOW how did they manage to suck so much space out of a 48 foot yacht? It's like they had the opposite brief of the Uma project! Uma is 36 feet and looks twice the size in side.

 

[Laminar Flow]

It's Corian, which I don't think is particularly heavy

As someone who works with the stuff I beg to differ.

Beyong anything else, it reaffirms my experience and consequent opinion that in a traveling boat the decor is irrelevant, as long as it allows you to sleep, cook and use the facilities successfully. The rest of life happens outside.

 

[lustyd]

Not heavy is in the context of a 6 tonne boat though so worth keeping some perspective. Living aboard I think I would want a pleasant space to live in so utilitarian wouldn't be my first choice

 

[Laminar Flow]

Not heavy is in the context of a 6 tonne boat though so worth keeping some perspective. Living aboard I think I would want a pleasant space to live in so utilitarian wouldn't be my first choice

In the context of the contemporary hysteria in regards to light displacement they are. Some interiors just don't work at sea and in regards to the Uma boat I really don't care one way or the other, except that the lack of fids on all the counter surfaces probably helps keep that tidy look at sea as all ends up on the floor.

 

[lustyd]

In the context of the contemporary hysteria in regards to light displacement they are. Some interiors just don't work at sea and in regards to the Uma boat I really don't care one way or the other, except that the lack of fids on all the counter surfaces probably helps keep that tidy look at sea as all ends up on the floor.

If you'd paid any attention you'd know that's why they fitted the sink they did. I'm guessing from your reaction you've assumed they know nothing and never watched them.

 

[steve yates]

Laminarflow has a point, I love what uma have done and think its stupendous. The only change I would do would be to have some kind of fiddleson the work table, even if its just a rolly anchorage, or a powerboat blasts past, your laptop could end up flying off. But I'm also certain they made their choice deliberately, and it works for them. If they find it an uissue they will simply add some

 

[Blueboatman]

I think that irrespective of the contemporary home afloat (and it’s wood stove and lighting) and the pro quality tools carried, the boat floats at its waterline and seems to fly on all points of sail .

Respect from me , hands down an intelligent joyful adventuring couple . And they have taken those years of study of the built environment ( architecture ) and really applied it with added electricery ??
Their boat handling and Atlantic weather routing skills pretty clever too. What’s not to like ?

 

[Laminar Flow]

If you'd paid any attention you'd know that's why they fitted the sink they did. I'm guessing from your reaction you've assumed they know nothing and never watched them.

I'm not sure which part of: "I could not care less" as in I have no judgement in regards to their decor, sink placement (not that I had ever mentioned it ) that you misunderstood?

Apart from that: what Blueboatman said.