Perfect little yacht

[Otter]

Lustyd/SHUG...why, this particular hatred of the Nantucket Clipper's profile?

Is it the coachroof, without which her usefulness as a cruising boat would be virtually nil?

Or is it her GRP reproduction of a form that 'ought' to be wooden?

As with property ashore, granted beauty's all in the eye of the freeholder - but I'd gladly own one of these little yawls, despite the rig's reputed irrelevance.

The Nantucket is a good looker with a safe rig. But seemingly everything is compromised to achieve these looks. She must have the smallest accommodation afloat on a 31 footer; she needs to heel over to get the waterline length she needs but who wants life at 30 degrees? And the rig isn't really big enough to make it do that except in string winds. I get why you'd sacrifice sailing performance to get accommodation or displacement in big seas, but to just get looks seems like a compromise too far. However if I didn't sail with a family I could see why having one might make sense, fun rig, safe in a blow, row away factor.

 

[Nicholas123]

Lustyd/SHUG...why, this particular hatred of the Nantucket Clipper's profile?

Is it the coachroof, without which her usefulness as a cruising boat would be virtually nil?

Or is it her GRP reproduction of a form that 'ought' to be wooden?

As with property ashore, granted beauty's all in the eye of the freeholder - but I'd gladly own one of these little yawls, despite the rig's reputed irrelevance.

Gotta say I have always thought they were cracking looking boats though having been aboard one a couple of years ago there is'nt much room inside.
I think if I owned a Vivacity I'd keep quiet when it comes to commenting on other boats beauty.

 

[Nicholas123]

The Nantucket is a good looker with a safe rig. But seemingly everything is compromised to achieve these looks. She must have the smallest accommodation afloat on a 31 footer; she needs to heel over to get the waterline length she needs but who wants life at 30 degrees? And the rig isn't really big enough to make it do that except in string winds. I get why you'd sacrifice sailing performance to get accommodation or displacement in big seas, but to just get looks seems like a compromise too far. However if I didn't sail with a family I could see why having one might make sense, fun rig, safe in a blow, row away factor.

Is everything compromised to achieve these looks or is it a no compromise sea boat.I'd bet the latter & can you imagine looking back at it moored off some desert Island :encouragement:
I reckon if I were in paradise with many modern boats & looked back at them my spirits would plummet.

 

[Resolution]

Isn't it lucky that there are such widely differing views on what constitute "good looks"? If we all liked the same thing there would not be the variety of designs which make boat spotting so interesting.

 

[Even Chance]

"Gang Warily", is Shetland/Orkney speak for "Go Carefully"

 

[Greenheart]

These are interesting remarks which raise a smile.

It's undoubtedly true that many who haven't sailed beautiful yachts, are quick to lament their rarity or the fact they're no longer built, regardless of what they're like to live with...

...I do that all the time.

Just the same, I'm sincerely glad that some people put up with the downsides of boats like the Nantucket Clipper because I genuinely believe their appearance enriches the scene.

It seems that efficiency needn't necessarily be bland, angular, cheap and identical from the pencils of all designers, but if all yachts looked like most new stuff does today, I really wouldn't ever have begun sailing. I enjoy summer holidays in tents, but the appearance of caravans has powerfully deterred me from ever wanting to evolve from canvas.

I reckon to some men, some yachts are justifiable as art alone. She may be uncomfortable, poor at sailing, cramped & pricey, but like a pretty girl, everyone's glad to see her.

 

[Nicholas123]

I'd argue that beauty stems from practicality & inherent ability.If it looks right then it is right.
Many of the fashionable trend of yachts are probably outstanding for one aspect of sailing but when everything is taken into consideration?

 

[Otter]

Is everything compromised to achieve these looks or is it a no compromise sea boat.I'd bet the latter & can you imagine looking back at it moored off some desert Island :encouragement:
I reckon if I were in paradise with many modern boats & looked back at them my spirits would plummet.

I think you're right, it is a great sea boat, from an era when that really mattered. But with modern forecasts we don't need our 30 footers to be blue water capable. We've all been caught out in some rough stuff but the Nantucket makes too many compromises in order to ensure it is beautiful and very capable in a storm. The waters are enhanced by the presence of a Nantucket in a way that they're not by a Ben/Jen/Bav thirty-something. Those aren't ugly, they just aren't beautiful.

 

[Seajet]

Isn't it lucky that there are such widely differing views on what constitute "good looks"? If we all liked the same thing there would not be the variety of designs which make boat spotting so interesting.

+1 !

Resolution,

if we all agreed as to the most efficient design, the world would be a dreadfully dreary place !

I may not agree with all the Antractic Kipper's design points, but then again I don't think the Anderson 22 perfect either, ain't no such thing as the perfect boat, if I won the lottery and went to a boat show I'd still find plenty of changes to specify on Oysters, Rustlers etc...

The world would be a poorer place without Nantucket Clippers, and for that matter Bucklers, we need such boats to add a bit of levity among all the factory produced dross !