Spirit Yachts: not all slender sloops with modern keels.

Greenheart

Greenheart

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Dreaming of schooners as I often do, I went looking for what's on sale last night. Predictably, most of the examples I found most appealing were built between the world wars. I wondered if any yard is still building anything styled from those times...and I found...

http://www.spirityachts.com/spirityachts_custom_drawings.htm

Spirit yachts have been called 'pastiche' here, and I never entirely fell for their odd combination of high aspect rig and underbody, with accommodation-limiting beam. But it seems they also offer copies of the real old-timers I and others like best. But have any been built?

Pastiche wouldn't be a criticism, to my mind, if what's being replicated is the fabulous atmospheric gaffers of 90 years ago...

...I wonder if anyone has paid them to employ current construction ability, with no-holds-barred trad design? Hope so. :)
 
Individual choice

I have always admired Spirit Yachts uncompromising design, beauty and grace using modern technology to give a wow performance. I was fortunate enough to have a good look at a 50 (unless it was a 52) and the accommodation was equally gorgeous, so relaxing and well thought out. For this length of boat to be a four berth may be ridiculous but it all works so well it would be my first port of call when the Euromillions come in.
We did see the new Deckhouse version at Southampton and I'm afraid it did nothing for me, beautifully built obviously but she had lost the beauty to this beholder. The strange curves to the deckhouse I think are a throwback to Sean McMillan's earlier, pre Spirit, venture which did not appeal to me either.
 
J-class sloop

I believe they announced that they are building a J-class sloop of completely antiquated design, a S&S modified "Ranger" design from the 30s. I believe it will be cold molded and carbon rigged.

As a Spirit-46 owner, I have no idea why anyone would want an antiquated full keel, but to each his own.

Beau
 
johnphilip said:
For this length of boat (50') to be a four berth may be ridiculous but it all works so well...
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On the contrary, I say...nothing shows less concern for human comfort, by a yacht's designer, than squeezing six berths in thirty-two feet LOA, or ten berths aboard a 47-footer. It's nice to see that these slender designs don't attempt to copy sardine-can style cabins...

...but even modern designs with wider waterlines than Spirits or Morris yachts, are sometimes still offered with two decent staterooms in 45' LOA. To me, their resultant air of uncramped luxury (rather than market-consciousness) raises any marque's reputation.

But I'm mainly interested in the rigs that are favoured aboard these current-production vessels...and also the hulls (keels) that the companies are prepared to consider building. No doubt, the Spirit yachts' aerofoil rig is effective, but doesn't score (for me) aesthetically.

I find this view is widely shared by yachting cognoscenti and total ignorami alike. Fewer, bigger sails are undoubtedly efficient. But almost nobody with money, worries much about efficiency when buying, eg, a luxury car...the way it looks and feels dominates the decision...

...so I'm always surprised that the sailing equivalent of bland 'hatchback' styling is almost invariably favoured by yacht designers, whose priority is presumably to attract customers, themselves largely concerned with entrancing their guests and onlookers.

I'd just like to see more schooners and gaff ketches with plenty of wood on show, ideally built since I was born...

...they're endlessly atmospheric and appealing, but there seem to be fewer afloat every year. :(
 
How about this interior for a project boat on ebay
teakint.jpg
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Madhatter said:
How about this interior for a project boat on ebay
teakint.jpg
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Class! Just beautiful. A nice touch of 221b Baker Street - cluttered, yet orderly. And some lovely curving wood-work that serves no purpose except art.

Think I'll design a twisting companionway staircase for my dream schooner. Not for any reason - just for making interesting entrances. :rolleyes:
 
I find the Spirit yachts very unappealing. The proportions and sheer are all wrong. Put then alongside a fine design by Fife or Mylne, or one the great American designers of that era and you can really see the difference.

The Macmillan yachts that preceded them were downright ugly.
 
Litotes said:
I find the Spirit yachts very unappealing. The proportions and sheer are all wrong. Put then alongside a fine design by Fife or Mylne, or one the great American designers of that era and you can really see the difference.

The Macmillan yachts that preceded them were downright ugly.
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I agree.
Now I appreciate it's all in the eye of the beholder, but still . . .

The smaller ones worked ok-ish but they got more out of proportion as they got larger. I actually thought the pilot house version worked better as they were more harmonious.

Having worked on one, they also seemed to very much favour form over function, when fitting deck hardware etc. Some of the sheeting and mooring arrangements were dreadful.

I believe they have actually have got the order to build a J Class Yacht in their composite wood / steel technique. If that's a success, is might lead them more solidly into the classic, rather than the classic style, yacht market.
 
Litotes said:
I find the Spirit yachts very unappealing. The proportions and sheer are all wrong.
Click to expand...

I'd agree there are elements to dislike about Spirits - but they're undeniably different to today's tediously ubiquitous, overwhelmingly dull 'Average White Boat' norms; and their hull form (overhangs & modest beam) bears striking resemblance to nice century-old designs...

...I'd rather see old-timers, still built today. But Spirit Yachts come as close as we have - and they prove that a lean hull form needn't be unfashionable. Plus, critically, they'd seem to welcome bespoke designs that are from the pure 'Edwardian schooner' mould. :)
 
There is a steady stream of boats being built to older style designs - just few in the UK because the high costs of building here severely limits the market. However there have been a number of Pilot Cutters built recently, and several gaff rigged boats and a schooner to Nigel Irens/Ed Burnett designs. The latter also has a huge schooner beeing built in Turkey. Schooners have also been built in the far east, Thailand and Burma. There was a rash of traditional style boats built in Holland in the last 10/15 years, and still being built.

There is no shortage of designs, or builders capable of building such boats, just a shortage of people with large open chequebooks!
 
dancrane said:
Dreaming of schooners as I often do, I went looking for what's on sale last night. Predictably, most of the examples I found most appealing were built between the world wars. I wondered if any yard is still building anything styled from those times...and I found...
Click to expand...

Have a look at Fairlie Restorations - Old Fife boats restored and they have just built/are building a classic schooner - Hidden Dragon is the name, I think.
WOW!!
 
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