Prettiest production sailboat?

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Ask and ye shall receive! CO26 Gallery

Jeremy_Rogers_helming_ROSINA.jpg


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Fantastic, and its the builder helming the popular round the Island winner, taken by Jo, thank you!
 
1) Fjord 33 MS Such sweet lines and practical too.
http://www.bateau-fifty-occasion.com/offres/site_fjord_pi/img0.html

2) Nathaniel Herreshoff's favourite boat :
http://bullhouseboatworks.com/project2.shtml

He sailed it with his brother from Italy to Sweden via Gibraltar

3) An 8-metre class boat.

4) A Strangford Lough River Class one design. (I believe that each boat sold has a restrictive covenant which obliges the owner to race it. Consequently there is a full turn-out twice a week.)

http://www.strangford-lough-yacht-club.com/Fleets/fleets-RIVER.html


John
 
One from last century....

Mylne's beautiful Scottish Island Class...

DSCN0016.jpg


This one is 'Gigha'

Donald
 
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Saga/Saltram 40, folkboat, more recently some of the big Oysters and Moodys. Vic 34, and Francis, agree on the Shes, and S&S 34, probably go for a Saga 40 if I had to choose a production boat..

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A man after my own heart.
I like the tayana 37 too nearly bought one but the flush deck of the Saga 34 won me over.
Rob
 
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all are obsolete.

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!!!

Presumably you mean not still being mass produced.

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Exactly. An E type Jag is a very pretty car but its an obsolete model. Same with the Contessa 32.

There's an irony in this thread. Everybody seems to think the old boats were prettier but they went out of production because no one was buying them. Had a huntin / shootin guy working for me once, and one of his favourite sayings was "all the good dogs are dead". I think that way of thinking applies to many yotties.
 
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Exactly. An E type Jag is a very pretty car but its an obsolete model. Same with the Contessa 32.


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Except that Jeremy Rogers will build you a brand spanking new Contessa 32 if you ask nicely (and can afford it). You just have to balance the cost, the looks, the accomodation space, the sailing ability etc. against the rest of the market. Incidentally, I believe you can buy a new replica "E Type", again for a lot of dosh, if you really want one, and obviously some people do.

To my eye, very few boats that rely on form stability are pretty but what do I know? I do know that when I row away from my boat, she looks a lot better than many others.
 
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all are obsolete.

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!!!

Presumably you mean not still being mass produced.

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Exactly. An E type Jag is a very pretty car but its an obsolete model. Same with the Contessa 32.

There's an irony in this thread. Everybody seems to think the old boats were prettier but they went out of production because no one was buying them. Had a huntin / shootin guy working for me once, and one of his favourite sayings was "all the good dogs are dead". I think that way of thinking applies to many yotties.

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Check your facts better, Jeramy Rogers still builds Contessa 32s, and they are highly sought after.
The reason for many of these boats no longer being produced is because of the quality, the build quality is so much higher (and more expensive) than more modern conveyor built boats, which have been designed to be built under mass production systems.
The prices that the older and more beautiful boats command, even at 40 years old is testament to how desirable they are.

So tell us, what to you is the most beuatiful boat, that you would have if money were no object?
 
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Exactly. An E type Jag is a very pretty car but its an obsolete model. Same with the Contessa 32.

There's an irony in this thread. Everybody seems to think the old boats were prettier but they went out of production because no one was buying them. Had a huntin / shootin guy working for me once, and one of his favourite sayings was "all the good dogs are dead". I think that way of thinking applies to many yotties.

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I think most of the boats in this thread would be better described as seaworthy rather than old.

Older prettier designs will never fade away they are just not as popular at the moment Partly because of space.

The canoe stern of the saga has fallen out of favor because people like to see an aft cabin in a 40 footer.
The same applies to the pinched stern of the contessa and the rivals.

If you look at the Saltram Saga 40 for instance a second hand one will cost you £100k? for not a massive amount more you can buy a new bav.
I know if i took SWMBO to look at a second hand Saga and a new Bav.
Which do you think she would pick?
She would pick the Bav even though the Saga is 100x the boat
Why?
Because the bav is new, massive inside and light and airy.

If the Saga 40 was still made today what do you think it would cost?
£150-£200k? no one is going to spend that when they can get the brand new bav for a lot less unless your planing some serious sailing.

The thing is as much as we all slag off the AWB its the ideal boat for thousands of people. Those that have no desire to sail away, those that are happy sailing from marina to marina and have a floating caravan when they get there.
But if you do desire to sail away you would be looking more at the Saga.

Boats are different for everyone one person will look at it as a potting shed to get away from the mrs others will see it as a dream of sailing to distance lands
Some will use it to race around the cans and some as a stress break on the weekend to sail up the coast and relax.
It dosent matter how you do it it just matters that you do.

rob
 
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Exactly. An E type Jag is a very pretty car but its an obsolete model. Same with the Contessa 32.

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Funny how people always start talking about cars when they want to spout bollox about boats. Next thing we'll be getting Jeremy Clarkson doing reviews for YM comparing relative acceleration and miles to the gallon. Boats are the floaty things with white flappy sails. Cars are the things that wizz along motorways.
 
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Exactly. An E type Jag is a very pretty car but its an obsolete model. Same with the Contessa 32.

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Funny how people always start talking about cars when they want to spout bollox about boats. Next thing we'll be getting Jeremy Clarkson doing reviews for YM comparing relative acceleration and miles to the gallon. Boats are the floaty things with white flappy sails. Cars are the things that wizz along motorways.

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You wouldnt have a Contessa 32 by any chance, would you? Dont let it upset you if you have - I have an obsolete Moody!
 
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Except that Jeremy Rogers will build you a brand spanking new Contessa 32 if you ask nicely (and can afford it). You just have to balance the cost, the looks, the accomodation space, the sailing ability

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The SS34 was built in Australia in larger numbers than any other country. Its now back in production with a slightly revised keel, interior and mast position and modern construction methods.

http://www.hyperea.net/ss34/
 
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Except that Jeremy Rogers will build you a brand spanking new Contessa 32 if you ask nicely (and can afford it). You just have to balance the cost, the looks, the accomodation space, the sailing ability etc. against the rest of the market. Incidentally, I believe you can buy a new replica "E Type", again for a lot of dosh, if you really want one, and obviously some people do.


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So a replica E type is still a production car is it? About as much as Jeremy Rodgers one offs are production boats I reckon.

You can have any design of boat ever made reproduced if you are willing to pay. In fact there are even Viking Longships and Triremes around. Plus replicas of Cook's boat. Hasnt someone just had a J class built? Are these all production boats? Well maybe in the sense that they were produced but not in the normal use of the phrase.

The question was "what is the prettiest production sailboat" not "what is the prettiest boat ever made". To my mind that means boats currently in volume production, not one offs.

Do I think the old boats were prettier - well yes, to be honest. Some of the moderns are good looking, particularly the racing multis, but the old monos were prettier than the present boats if significantly less capable in practical terms
 
Ah but, if the boats were production boats at the time they were produced, and are still being sailed all round the world, then they still qualify, after all the question wasnt 'what is the pretiest production sailboat less than five years old'

No one is saying newer more modern boats are no good, of course they are, and they are good in lots of different ways, if this was a thread about the most comfortable boat, or fastest boat, then we would have had a different set of answers,
but pretiest is still the Contessa 26, wish I could get a picture of mine on here! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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Exactly. An E type Jag is a very pretty car but its an obsolete model. Same with the Contessa 32.


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Funny how people always start talking about cars when they want to spout bollox about boats. Next thing we'll be getting Jeremy Clarkson doing reviews for YM comparing relative acceleration and miles to the gallon. Boats are the floaty things with white flappy sails. Cars are the things that wizz along motorways.

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You wont believe this Simon, but I agree with you! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I really do appreciate the care (and money) owners of classic boats put into the care and maintenance of their craft. Yes and the CO32 IS pretty. But I would sooner own a fast seaworthy low maintenance boat (yes there are SOME about) that I can sail, not varnish, not spend loads on new timbers etc. Also if someone wants to own a marina hopper, OK, live and let live, let them enjoy.

Oh and if you want a car comparison, a pre 1960 MG will have me salivating
 
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You wont believe this Simon, but I agree with you!

I really do appreciate the care (and money) owners of classic boats put into the care and maintenance of their craft. Yes and the CO32 IS pretty. But I would sooner own a fast seaworthy low maintenance boat (yes there are SOME about) that I can sail, not varnish, not spend loads on new timbers etc. Also if someone wants to own a marina hopper, OK, live and let live, let them enjoy.

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Glad to hear it! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Though you do know that Contessa's are not made of wood? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I just find references to cars a trifle exasperating. You could just as easily compare boats to houses. Building techniques have changed a lot in the last hundred years, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's better to live in a modern Docklands development than an 18th century mansion in Kensington. Building techniques and architectural design have both changed enormously in the meantime, but not always to produce a better product.

Better just to compare boats to boats.

No one would argue that a 1960's MG performs better than a modern car. But many very respected sailors would argue that a Contessa performs better than many modern boats - in some respects. It depends what you want the boat for. If you want accommodation, then a Bavaria will outperform a Contessa. If you want raw speed, an Open 60 will knock the socks of a Contessa. If you want to have a boat that will look after you in any weather and beat your way off a lee shore in foul weather, then a Contessa will out-perform almost anything of comparable size. Can you really describe a design which is still one of the best you can get for its designed purpose as obsolete? Just depends what you're after.

IMHO form follows function. A really beautiful boat has lines that growl 'I mean business'. So I'd find most Open 60's, or a world girdling trimaran speed machine, pretty.
 
Apart from my beautiful baby boat of course, I fell in love with the Hans Christian at earls court Boat show, Its a gorgeous pretty boat and I am determined to make it mine.
Ive worked out that if I persuade the kids to leave home, and sell my cottage, then I can buy it and live in it /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Anybody got a link to it so I can drool some more? P,S I suppose The Hans Christian isnt really a production boat either /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Chrissie, I dont think you are alone in being wobbly kneed re the HC at the boat show (many others have reported drooling over her as well) - what size was she?

Lots of HC yachts for sale at http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/Hans-Christian/1

I would agree that living on your lovely Contessa could be a wee bit cramped, but hey, I met a family once (a couple with a child and a dog) who arrived here from the Canaries on theirs very happily..... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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