Suffolk_Newbie
Active member
It was lovely to see Mah Jong on the Caledonian Canal this week, over from the US. What a beautiful yacht!
Mah Jong on the Caledonian Canal
- Thread starter Suffolk_Newbie
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jamie N
Well-known member
Heading which way?
Daydream believer
Well-known member
Might look OK at first glance but one needs to look deeper at these things.
Hate to think what the headroom up forward is like. Bet it is quite restricted inside.
less room than a modern 35 ft boat ( but more carrying capacity of course)
Try sitting in that cockpit when it is heeled. Square backs pushing one forward so unable to sit upright.
I wonder if the helmsman can actually see where he is going from the steering position.
Hate to think what the headroom up forward is like. Bet it is quite restricted inside.
less room than a modern 35 ft boat ( but more carrying capacity of course)
Try sitting in that cockpit when it is heeled. Square backs pushing one forward so unable to sit upright.
I wonder if the helmsman can actually see where he is going from the steering position.
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Motor_Sailor
Well-known member
Motor_Sailor
Well-known member
Suffolk_Newbie
Active member
Westwards. I spoke to the Skipper briefly and they’d done a crossing of the Atlantic and then up to the outer Hebrides and around the top of Scotland, and were crossing back to the West.
Suffolk_Newbie
Active member
I suppose that it’s like a Classic Car in that it’s about the spirit, history and romance of the boat, despite the fact that a modern boat might be more comfortable and outperform.
scottie
Well-known member
why no courtesy flag ?
Suffolk_Newbie
Active member
If you look at the mast carefully, he’s flying a Scottish ‘Lion Rampant’, which I think that he was using (incorrectly) in lieu of it.
I noticed that not one of the foreign Yachts had the Red Ensign as their courtesy flag, preferring to fly the Scottish Saltire or, in this case, the Rampant Lion.
scottie
Well-known member
Sorry it looked more like the scabby tea towel to me
yes but I do see what looks a rather faded flag there so he has compiled in spirit
yes but I do see what looks a rather faded flag there so he has compiled in spirit
Wandering Star
Well-known member
Probably heard DDB commenting on her as he strolled past so took it down.
Daydream believer
Well-known member
Well you have to admit that not flying the correct courtesy flag is an insult to the rest of the British isles. If they wanted to recognise Scotland in some way then fly the Scottish one under the standard courtesy ensign
jamie N
Well-known member
I don't feel insulted when they've attempted to have a courtesy flag for the country they're travelling through.
Would you fly the EU flag in France?
Would you fly the EU flag in France?
Minerva
Well-known member
What an idiot that American owner must be. Don't they realise they would have been better off buying a Bararia 36!
Daydream believer
Well-known member
The EU is not a country
Daydream believer
Well-known member
No ! he is not an idiot. It is that when people look at these boats through rose tinted glasses, they often do not realise the downsides. I just pointed out those that I feel may be an issue. If the owner is happy, then so be it. It might actually be an excellent boat in respect of sea keeping qualities. But are good looks all that all one wants from a boat. There are many designs that are superior by far. Some good looking in other ways. I would not pick that boat as my first choice by any means. Nor would a pick a type with a reputation for wobbly keels either.What an idiot that American owner must be. Don't they realise they would have been better off buying a Bararia 36!
jamie N
Well-known member
I entirely agree with DDB's sentiment here, and reckon that owning a boat which is as gorgeous, as I feel this one is, is entirely subjective. My boat isn't anything like as grand as Mah-Jong, but being an old fashioned wooden boat, she really does look good (at 1st glance from 5m. away).
This is the point of a lot of the discomfort that I endure, it's because of ego and being noticable. Any old BenJenBav is going to be a far better boat to own, but like an old Morgan in a car park, she'll draw attention and make it worthwhile to my shallowness.
A Mondeo is a wonderful car, but won't draw a 2nd glance.
I hate being as cold & wet on my boat during a Scottish summer as I get, but I wouldn't change it for something more ubiquitous, as I've bought into the other side of it as well, where I realise that the boat's looking great, and I'll soon be warm & dry, cradling a dram.
That's me though, and as DDB says, most don't realise how awful it is once the rose tinted stuff's off.
ADHD helps of course.
This is the point of a lot of the discomfort that I endure, it's because of ego and being noticable. Any old BenJenBav is going to be a far better boat to own, but like an old Morgan in a car park, she'll draw attention and make it worthwhile to my shallowness.
A Mondeo is a wonderful car, but won't draw a 2nd glance.
I hate being as cold & wet on my boat during a Scottish summer as I get, but I wouldn't change it for something more ubiquitous, as I've bought into the other side of it as well, where I realise that the boat's looking great, and I'll soon be warm & dry, cradling a dram.
That's me though, and as DDB says, most don't realise how awful it is once the rose tinted stuff's off.
ADHD helps of course.
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AntarcticPilot
Well-known member
I have two cars, a VW ID.3 and a Smart Roadster. The former is practical, the latter is fun!
And I think that's the equation that the owner of Mah Jong will recognise.
I'm afraid that when I see Mah Jong, my main mental picture is of my Hong Kong relatives playing for hours on end!
And I think that's the equation that the owner of Mah Jong will recognise.
I'm afraid that when I see Mah Jong, my main mental picture is of my Hong Kong relatives playing for hours on end!
srm
Well-known member
Lets face it, there is no logical reason for owning a boat for personal leisure. It is an emotional decision, so we as owners are free to make our choices based on our own ideas. There are no rights and no wrongs as long as the nothing essential falls off. As the saying goes, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".
I enjoy admiring well maintained wooden boats, but having owned two wood boats will remain with my fibreglass mouldings. Likewise I can appreciate sailing a modern flat bottomed wide stern marina apartment boat in the right conditions (light airs), but having had to sail one in a F7-8 in the Minch prefer my pre-IOR hull form and rig.
As to Mah Jong's lack of headroom forward, I very much doubt that. I owned a much smaller 42ft sloop of similar provenance. It had low freeboard by modern standards with full standing headroom throughout the accommodation plus large water tanks and batteries under the cabin sole. A case of a different hull form.
I enjoy admiring well maintained wooden boats, but having owned two wood boats will remain with my fibreglass mouldings. Likewise I can appreciate sailing a modern flat bottomed wide stern marina apartment boat in the right conditions (light airs), but having had to sail one in a F7-8 in the Minch prefer my pre-IOR hull form and rig.
As to Mah Jong's lack of headroom forward, I very much doubt that. I owned a much smaller 42ft sloop of similar provenance. It had low freeboard by modern standards with full standing headroom throughout the accommodation plus large water tanks and batteries under the cabin sole. A case of a different hull form.
Bajansailor
Well-known member
She was designed by Sparkman & Stephens , and built in 1957 at a cost of US$ 30,000 - apparently prices have gone up about 11 times since then, so that is 'only' US$330,000 in today's money. I think it would probably cost 2 or 3 times that now if anybody wanted to build a new version of Mah Jong today.
Sparkman & Stephens MAH JONG - Classic Sailboats
Spotlight – Mah Jong
Sparkman & Stephens MAH JONG - Classic Sailboats
Spotlight – Mah Jong
