The Mobo Chat Fantasy Retro Boat Co.

[ari]

I was reading the article in MBY about the new Swordfish 30, basically the Spearman (I think) from the '60s brought back onto the market with modern engine options etc. And I think thats a great idea, it was a wonderful boat, and there's nothing quite like it on the market today.

So it got me thinking, if we were to form a company reproducing classic boats from the past, basically in their original form but with modern engines etc, what would we build and why?

I'm going to kick off with these:

Princess 266 Riviera

Superb cockpit layout, astounding sea keeping for its size, practical and managable, great looking even now, and handles like a sportsboat.

We'll upgrade the interior cos that was its weakest point, and we'll fit it with Volvo D4 210hp diesel engines I think for performance and economy.

Fairline Corniche

31ft twin diesel family flybridge cruier. Three interior layouts, proper Fairline build quality and proper shaft drive diesel engines.

I'm going to stick with tried and tested TAMD 41 200hp diesels in this.

Sunseeker 25 Portofino

Beautifully proportioned dayboat/weedender. Very useful cockpit layout with twin swivel bucket seats, good sized bench seat aft with backrest that folds to extend the sunbed to 6ft. Excellent seakeeping.

Going to put a single Volvo D6 310hp in this for good performance and managable running costs, with an option of D3's.



Fairline 36 Turbo

The classic "Solent Sierra", the ubiquitous family boat. Superb aft cabin, two heads, decent galley and big saloon in a 36ft boat. Couple of D6's in this one I think.

And finally (for the moment).

Princess 45 (The old shape one).

A real classic 45 footer. Very practical accomodation (preferably dinette layout), good big cockpit and flybridge, legendary sea keeping, good deck layout.

Not sure on engines, but a pair of big circa 400hp Cats I think should fit the bill.



Now, what else do we need to resurrect for the 21st century?

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Got to be the Turbo 36. Classic shape recognisable anywhere. All the others have better modern equivalents but nobody has produced a value for money aft cabin boat with such good seakeeping as the T36. Tart up the aft deck seating and extend the bathing platform a bit. Dont know about the D6's, I would have thought 63P's are the right animals and slot straight in as well
One classic you've missed is the Prinnie 435. Even better upwind ride and a bit bigger than the T36 and still a modern shape. I'll have mine with 75P's please

 

[ari]

I thought about a Princess 435 but as I'd put a Princess 45 I thought I'd go with the Turbo 36. Also, there were always more Turbo 36's about than 435's (although it was smaller and cheaper so not a fair comparison really).

TAMD63P's it is then, and we need to do something about engine access (although as they're smaller than the old TAMD 61's I think, it might be less of an issue on our new one anyway).

 

[ari]

Ooohh, we need one of these in the range too, just because it is one of the most beautiful boats ever built!

Sunseeker 37 Tomahawk

And we'll put a pair of the biggest latest fastest fuel injected V8 Mercruiser petrol engines in it too, so it goes like it looks.

And no nasty diesel option either, you wouldn't put a diesel in a Ferrari!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Turbo 36.

Yup, need to improve access to the sternglands and gearboxes as well, need to quiten the distinctive exhaust noise a bit so we'll have wet silencers and remodel the saloon seating as well

 

[ari]

Re: Turbo 36.

And a double helm seat on the flybridge.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: Turbo 36.

Oh yes, forgot about that. We did that on ours. Shut SWMBO up for at least 5 minutes

 

[tico]

Nah!..... you missed out the Fairline Sunfury. First of the Med style small cruisers
Seakeeping only a smidgeon less than the 266. Interior and engine access worlds better. Build quality streets ahead of current output. Cockpit ideal.
Would make a clean sweep of older Fairlines.

Be nice with twin d4's!!!

 

[Blackfeather]

Why bother?


At the risk of suffering the wrath of Burgundy Ben, why do you want to revive old outmoded designs. It's a bit like the old classic car 'they don't build 'em like that anymore'. No they don't and for good reason, cars now go further and faster on less fuel, they are more reliable, better built, and stop when they are told to.

Yes an E-type is a thing of beauty but it drives like a pig and does'n go around corners.

Again, not wishing to upset the Old Guard but I just don't get why anyone would want to buy a new boat by Fairey when there are so many other wonderful designs available.

Call me soulless but I would rather have something that felt new and fresh instaed of of something which was trying to look like a cross between the Odeon and Coronation Street.

 

[ari]

I'm not one for "things aint what they used to be" reminiscing, I'd rather drive a Mondeo than a Cortina, but in this instance I think you're quite wrong.

Boat builders are not in business to build the best boats they can. They're in the business to make the most popular boats they can cos they sell.

And boat buyers and serious boaters are not the same thing always.

What sells boats these days is space in the cabins. Stand at a boatshow and watch the way people behave. In the main they walk straight through the cockpit into the cabin and go "Ooohh this is nice, lots of room".

Cabin space sells boats, partly because for a lot of people the boat is as much (indeed more) floating caravan than sea going boat.

The result of this is things like, look at the helm area of a Fairline 38 Targa. Single helm seat, Big L shaped seat alongside. Princess V42, double helm seat (better) but then a long sideways on seat next to it. Now these sideways and L shaped seats are a horrible way to sit whilst underway, but they give excellent mid cabins cos they use the base of the seat to provide extra headroom.

Look at the height of the side decks on a modern boat! Try stepping on the side anywhere other than on the bathing platform and its like cliff climbing. Why? So you get 6ft 5ins headroom inside.

Now, I'm not knocking it, it does make for excellent interiors, and thats what sells boats. But stand and look at a Sealine S41 and tell me its a thing of beauty... Big inside though...

Now look at late '80s boats. Princess 36 Riviera. Big shaft drive diesels. Sensible height sidedecks. Four proper forward facing seats (a double either side) in the helm area with the companionway central. So when you're cruising down the coast four people can sit under the shelter of the screen, all facing forward, all able to converse. Oh, and a chart table too! Of course the interior is rubbish compared with a modern 37 Targa, low headroom, small mid cabin, offset bed in the fore cabin not central double.

But I don't go boating to sit in the cabin all day. I want boats designed to be used. Enjoyed. Gone places in. I want all the crew to sit facing forward and together. I want shafts. I want sea keeping not a hull compromised and blown out to get more space then the competitors boat at any cost.

Fairline 33 Targa (the old one with the forward sloping arch). Look at the cockpit in that. Huge U-shaped seating round the back and one shallow step up to the (again) four forward facing seats with central companionway. And side decks you can step up to from the pontoon.

So I think there is advantages to the "old school" boats. Big advantages.

Whether in reality anyone would actually buy them if they were suddenly available today is a different matter entirely of course!

 

[LittleShip]

"Call me soulless "

Your soulless /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[LittleShip]

Not everybody wants to bounce off the waves?? for me this is the TOPS !!/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Blackfeather]

Yea but you're biased and not giving a balanced opinion cos you like boats that look like they're made of sheds.

 

[Blackfeather]

Ari - I take your point and, to counter my own argument, I love Morgans etc.

The point (and you make it very well) is that the layout of older designs is often much better than those of today, but that doesn't mean the styling has to be deliberately retro just to make a statement. Ally the layout of the Corniche or Turbo 36 with the latest styling from the Italians and you have something worth having.

I've just realised that I am starting to sound like Gludy aaaaaaaaaaaaagggh.

 

[LittleShip]

"for me this is the TOPS "

That is MY balanced view ??????? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[powerskipper]

well still think my version of updating them would be good. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

or

 

[BrendanS]

Oh look , someones been photoshop cutting and pasting bits of boats onto a background, and come up with a right mess! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[BrendanS]

I'm by no means a misogynist, but there are times, when male only clubs are an extremely good idea ! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ari]

Fairline 21 Sprint! There's another one, well done PS!

 

[LittleShip]

Tut Tut Brendan, we all have our opinions and as we are all very well aware your entitled to yours /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif