Sailfree
Well-Known Member
Re: S\'ton Boat Show: Is it me???
You are probably right but I do get a bit fed up with people that prefer older designed boats (often owning one that has been lovingly restored) thinking that design has not moved on and implying that we are being forced to buy "bad" boats instead of appreciating that the manufacturers are only building what they can sell.
In practical terms there are a number of factors and I agree with Victorious that not all are good. Some fitting do seem on the skimpy side but GRP is now a better understood material and with kevlar reinforcement substantial weight savings can be made and yet still have a stronger hull (look at F1 cars strength now- albeit carbon fibre). Older designed boats probably did have better sea keeping abilities but current boats are fine for the weather we choose to sail in and will handle the old bad weather if caught out therefore the trade off giving more form stability than ballast and the advantage of volume is worth it.
I am interested in whether people would pay a little bit more for a boat say halfway between the Bav/Ben/Jen/Elan and the Swedish boats as there does seem to be a gap in the market.
You are probably right but I do get a bit fed up with people that prefer older designed boats (often owning one that has been lovingly restored) thinking that design has not moved on and implying that we are being forced to buy "bad" boats instead of appreciating that the manufacturers are only building what they can sell.
In practical terms there are a number of factors and I agree with Victorious that not all are good. Some fitting do seem on the skimpy side but GRP is now a better understood material and with kevlar reinforcement substantial weight savings can be made and yet still have a stronger hull (look at F1 cars strength now- albeit carbon fibre). Older designed boats probably did have better sea keeping abilities but current boats are fine for the weather we choose to sail in and will handle the old bad weather if caught out therefore the trade off giving more form stability than ballast and the advantage of volume is worth it.
I am interested in whether people would pay a little bit more for a boat say halfway between the Bav/Ben/Jen/Elan and the Swedish boats as there does seem to be a gap in the market.