Rethinking yachting

[Wansworth]

What with the steep rises and general cost of yachting maybe there is an opening for westerly type 26footers or even less as used to be the norm in the 1960s I mean a weekend way who needs a fridge,double berth,tv and the kitchen sink and hot water and showers.A weekend away in a Debutant weather bound in a force 6 in Cowes who could ask for more,yachting is not meant to be like being at home it’s about being out in touch with nature?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

People and their expectations have changed since the 60s you only have to look at basic housing, cars and holidays to confirm that so there won't be a market of any size for such a yacht thus it wouldn't be economical to produce one. There are still many Centaurs, Pagents, Griffons and their like so if someone wanted such a yacht they are there for the buying but they by and large don't.

 

[Clancy Moped]

Do you expect your wife to join you out sailing? My guess is you know where this is going.........

 

[Minerva]

If I’m going away for the he weekend, I’d like my wife to come along. I also want a big double berth, somewhere to keep my drinks cold and an enclosed heads so I can do my morning ablutions in private.

The days of cramming 6 blokes into pipe Cots in a 8m boat eating fray bentos pies are over.

 

[Wansworth]

I was joking?

 

[LONG_KEELER]

The bigger business model is now a fact of life in many areas of life. It's now more profitable to make bigger cars than volume small cars. You can also control the market easier . That's why second hand cars have increased in value lately.

In addition to the above contributors reasons, pure sailing has waned and boat presentation has increased. Less time for sailing may be a factor plus marina pontoon pressure.

 

[LittleSister]

Nah, you're all just softies!

The bigger business model is now a fact of life in many areas of life.

The bigger skipper model, too!

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I was joking?

No you wern't

 

[Wansworth]

No you wern't

Your right in my case …..7 meter with drooping headliner. If lucky??

 

[Birdseye]

What with the steep rises and general cost of yachting maybe there is an opening for westerly type 26footers or even less as used to be the norm in the 1960s I mean a weekend way who needs a fridge,double berth,tv and the kitchen sink and hot water and showers.A weekend away in a Debutant weather bound in a force 6 in Cowes who could ask for more,yachting is not meant to be like being at home it’s about being out in touch with nature?

Nice theory and in fact I have just downsized to a 29 footer. But thats more about something I can handle more easily in my dotage. I still want to be clean so a shower/hot water is a must. I still want to eat so ditto for a fridge. Never had TV on board and the last thing I want is to be crammed into a tiny berth alongside SWMBO so 2 singles are fine.

But I dont see the running costs changing more than a few hundred. I could reduce them by £2000 going back to my first club up the river where berths are free and there is nothing more than an old shed with a chemical loo. But the kids are pretty well off so why save for the benefit of Riki and whoever follows him to pi55 it up against the wall?

 

[johnalison]

My first thought was to agree with the idea of simple sailing but then it occurred to me that in most other areas of life we have become more sophisticated, in its various meanings, and it couldn’t happen. To take motoring as an example, a 1l town car today has more performance and comfort than a good family car of sixty years ago, and also comes with radio, fresh-air heating, air conditioning, and costs less in real terms.

 

[Daydream believer]

You mention the Debutante. I was in Cherbourg & there was a rally of over 50 boats that all looked just like the debutante. Possibly a little smaller. So it seems that the French are already building them.

 

[Wansworth]

You mention the Debutante. I was in Cherbourg & there was a rally of over 50 boats that all looked just like the debutante. Possibly a little smaller. So it seems that the French are already building them.

That’s the Muscadet if I am correct ,brilliant boat that brought sailing to the French

 

[Daydream believer]

That’s the Muscadet if I am correct ,brilliant boat that brought sailing to the French

You are correct. I could not recall the class name

 

[neil_s]

Does this mean that in a year or two you'll be able to pick up a 45 footer for £5000?

 

[wully1]

Does this mean that in a year or two you'll be able to pick up a 45 footer for £5000?

Probably - all the floppy, fat arsed, IKEA interior, designer boats will be falling apart so scrap value might be around 5 grand.

 

[Tranona]

Probably - all the floppy, fat arsed, IKEA interior, designer boats will be falling apart so scrap value might be around 5 grand.

In your dreams. First they don't "fall apart" and second values are rising as you would discover if you tried to buy a used boat less than 20 years old.

 

[jamie N]

Folkboats are still in production, about 80 years of being so. Very much a VW beetle ideal.

 

[NealB]

I must admit that I still having a deep-seated yearning to own an Anderson 22.

No. I am not even remotely joking.

There's a lot to be said for simple pleasures.

 

[mrming]

I was doing some boat jobs on Monday and was pleasantly surprised to see a group of boats visiting from a nearby East coast club, lots of people from kids to grandparents, cooking on board and generally having a good time. I didn’t see any boats over 30 feet and the ones I ID’d included a Tomahawk 25, a Sabre 27 and a Jaguar 27. I was pleased but slightly amazed. ?