Rethinking yachting

[Andibs]

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. ?

I quite happily can spend a week at a time on my tomahawk 25

 

[xyachtdave]

Our boat is at the small/medium end of the spectrum, my partner and I looked at a larger boat a while ago.

I liked the idea of more speed from the increased waterline length, shorter passage times or maybe a longer range at a weekend.

We came to the conclusion we'd still sleep in the same cabin and sit next to each other in the saloon so realistically we'd just be carrying around a lot of unused boat.

And have to fix all the previous owners bodges but on a larger scale to the current boat

 

[NealB]

I quite happily can spend a week at a time on my tomahawk 25

I loved the Trident 24 that, some while ago, we had for just a year.

Even I understood pretty much everything about her electrics and plumbing.

Annual maintenance was quick, cheap and satisfying.

 

[LittleSister]

Annual maintenance was quick, cheap and satisfying.

Go on, pull the other one!

 

[Wansworth]

Go on, pull the other one!

No it’s true I tried it?

 

[NealB]

Go on, pull the other one!

So little was needed, and it was all quick and easy.

The bigger boats we've had (and I'm not talking 'big' in modern day terms, only 35 feet) are all so much more complex.

Many here seem to enjoy that complexity, but I prefer pure sailing.

 

[LittleSister]

Many here seem to enjoy that complexity, but I prefer pure sailing.

Dunno about complexity, but I prefer impure sailing!

 

[NealB]

Dunno about complexity, but I prefer impure sailing!

Not sure if I'm allowed to mention this here, but I also like barefoot running.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

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.

I agree. Modern yachts also have shorter braking distances.

 

[LittleSister]

In those simpler times, we could sail to places that didn't have pontoons with electric, running water, and wi-fi , or a selection of harbourside eateries and knick-knack shops.

Much comfort has been added (for those with the means), but I'm not sure more fun has.

 

[LittleSister]

'To explain why two somewhat determined-looking young men should be leaving behind them the cheerful lights of the little country town on this wild night and resolutely making their way towards the pitchy darkness of the river, clad in old clothes and encumbered with two suit-cases, a coil of rope, a hurricane lamp, some brown paper parcels that cried for tender support, and a fry-pan briefly clothed in a négligée of local news, needs but three words.
They were 'yachting'. '

(The Magic of the Swatchways, Maurice Griffiths)

 

[Wansworth]

'To explain why two somewhat determined-looking young men should be leaving behind them the cheerful lights of the little country town on this wild night and resolutely making their way towards the pitchy darkness of the river, clad in old clothes and encumbered with two suit-cases, a coil of rope, a hurricane lamp, some brown paper parcels that cried for tender support, and a fry-pan briefly clothed in a négligée of local news, needs but three words.
They were 'yachting'. '

(The Magic of the Swatchways, Maurice Griffiths)

Are nostalgia,greatbook

 

[LittleSister]

Are nostalgia,greatbook

Those were the days! When men were men, women stayed home (unless they had a name like 'Peter' - way ahead of their time!), and you didn't a large 4x4 estate car to go boating.

 

[dune16]

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

Dealer that sold me my floppy, fat arsed, IKEA interior, designer boat 2 years ago has buyers offering very close to what I paid. It's also not fallen apart yet ?

 

[Wansworth]

Those were the days! When men were men, women stayed home (unless they had a name like 'Peter' - way ahead of their time!), and you didn't a large 4x4 estate car to go boating.

There must of been something,weekends sitting under adripping mainsailwhilst father fosicted about with the outboard…..

 

[Rum Run]

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.

There's an early one on ebay with a buy it now price of 450 tokens as I write this. Needs some work apparently but maybe your dreams will come true!

 

[wully1]

Dealer that sold me my floppy, fat arsed, IKEA interior, designer boat 2 years ago has buyers offering very close to what I paid. It's also not fallen apart yet ?

Bite his hand off...

 

[Chiara’s slave]

We’re in the simply go sailing camp. Our accomodation is fairly basic, the boat is all about the sailing. Yesterday there was some form of Cornish rally going on, an infestation of Crabbers, one might say. Theres a lot to be said for moderate sized, lighter boats. And with the larger cars we are all buying, road trailing them is easy. Bring your boat home for winter, don’t pay the boatyard.

 

[Daydream believer]

We came to the conclusion we'd still sleep in the same cabin and sit next to each other in the saloon so realistically we'd just be carrying around a lot of unused boat.

That is Ok for the honeymoon but after the first 6 months of marriage you will want separate cabins & to sit as far apart as possible.-- It happens--

 

[NealB]

There's an early one on ebay with a buy it now price of 450 tokens as I write this. Needs some work apparently but maybe your dreams will come true!

Thank you: I know that very boat: I can almost see her from my lounge!

She's a sensible price, and will be perfect for someone, but:

- I really don't want two boats (again). Anyone want a Westerly Falcon?

- She's a bit too much of a doer-upper for my own taste, but I must admit to being sorely tempted.