Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
The Sunsail 444 takes the title from the Buckler Ketch
There's a new ugliest boat
- Thread starter Twister_Ken
- Start date
Baggywrinkle
Well-Known Member
Yep, that's Fugly!......
looks like someone let their toddler loose on a CAD station and mashed 3 or 4 different boats together.
looks like someone let their toddler loose on a CAD station and mashed 3 or 4 different boats together.
Kilter
Well-Known Member
It's a good warning to other boaters about what is coming their way! 
photodog
Lord High Commander of Upper Broughton and Gunthor
Caribean Party Patio.
I would charter one with all the relatives... would be a good beach boat for the BVI's....
If it was me and the missus... wouldnt be cought dead!
I would charter one with all the relatives... would be a good beach boat for the BVI's....
If it was me and the missus... wouldnt be cought dead!
johnalison
Well-Known Member
The Sunsail has no redeeming features at all whereas the Buckler was always so weird that it's almost beautiful. I can at least imagine an owner feeling fond of it.
Sans Bateau
Well-Known Member
You can see what inspired the designer with that one.......
....A Benidorm hotel apartment balcony. (not that I have ever seen one close too
)
....A Benidorm hotel apartment balcony. (not that I have ever seen one close too
)Wansworth
Well-Known Member
The Buckler with portholes instead of windows could be an interesting mini world cruiser.With roller furling on the jibs the main and mizzen can be handled from the cockpit.
peterb
Well-Known Member
The Buckler appeared in one of the Yachting World 'One of a Kind' rallies. Surprisingly, it sailed very well, only being let down by not having a self-draining cockpit. Shortly after the rally results were published a new version appeared (Buckler SD?) with a self-draining cockpit.
westernman
Well-Known Member
Not the one we overtook when sailing to windward. He left port a the crack of dawn - about 6am. We did not leave until midday. He was under full sail. We overtook him at about 2pm. It was about force 3-4. We did not even have our top sail up (we were lazy and not in a hurry).
He did seem as happy as larry though. And in the end I guess that is all that is important.
And yes. It is so ugly. It does have something though - in a weird perverted way.
graham
Well-Known Member
"He did seem as happy as larry though. And in the end I guess that is all that is important."
The happy as Larry factor seems to have been largely forgotten in boat design these days. I find people in happy as Larry mode in a wide variety of craft.
The happy as Larry factor seems to have been largely forgotten in boat design these days. I find people in happy as Larry mode in a wide variety of craft.
Clyde_Wanderer
Well-Known Member
The Buckler, is that the one in ops smaller pic?
I have seen a red one of these at Loch Goilhead and on the hard at Holy loch, thought it was a home one design.
C_W
Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
Do I dare admit that I rather like it?
I suppose I could even say that I like the Buckler as well..... both are a bit unorthodox and unconventional, although I think that the Sunsail 444 could set a trend re future design of charter cats.
These Sunsail 444s are built by Robertson & Caine in South Africa as Leopard 44s - more info about them here http://www.robertsonandcaine.com/html/leopard44.html#2
They were designed by Morelli & Melvin in the USA - http://www.morrellimelvin.com/recreational/sailing/cruising/
I do like the forward and aft cockpits - I think they were first introduced on the Gunboats (?) - if you are at anchor in (eg) the Grenadines or the BVIs, then it probably would get quite hot sitting in a 'conventional' aft cockpit as there would not be much breeze there. So the forward cockpit is a neat idea.
And I like that raised helm position - much better than peering over the top of the cabin structure, or sitting out in the hot sun.
About the only aspect I dont like are those enormous erratic windows in the hulls - it looks like they were copied from Sunseeker mobos...... I would much prefer to have more conventional small rectangular portlights instead.
I suppose I could even say that I like the Buckler as well..... both are a bit unorthodox and unconventional, although I think that the Sunsail 444 could set a trend re future design of charter cats.
These Sunsail 444s are built by Robertson & Caine in South Africa as Leopard 44s - more info about them here http://www.robertsonandcaine.com/html/leopard44.html#2
They were designed by Morelli & Melvin in the USA - http://www.morrellimelvin.com/recreational/sailing/cruising/
I do like the forward and aft cockpits - I think they were first introduced on the Gunboats (?) - if you are at anchor in (eg) the Grenadines or the BVIs, then it probably would get quite hot sitting in a 'conventional' aft cockpit as there would not be much breeze there. So the forward cockpit is a neat idea.
And I like that raised helm position - much better than peering over the top of the cabin structure, or sitting out in the hot sun.
About the only aspect I dont like are those enormous erratic windows in the hulls - it looks like they were copied from Sunseeker mobos...... I would much prefer to have more conventional small rectangular portlights instead.
BurnitBlue
Well-Known Member
Is the mast mounted on the sun awning? Give it a week.
[70521]
Well-Known Member
I won't be looking at it next time I am looking for a new boat.
Jeannius
Well-Known Member
Funny you should say that. Rumour has it that more than 1 has lost the rig on the way to the Caribbean. I only have that 3rd hand but the source is usually pretty reliable.
Personally I don't like the look of that forward cockpit and the fwd facing door from the saloon. Looks like a disaster waiting to happen if you get into rough stuff offshore.
Scotty_Tradewind
Well-Known Member
I wonder how one of the Sunsails would have coped in the RTIR this year? Would it have capsized too?
The Buckler .... a lot like an ugly treehouse i built my kids....
I could really learn to love one, it's so pugnacious! And think of all the sail combinations you could play with in your old age.
The Buckler .... a lot like an ugly treehouse i built my kids....
I could really learn to love one, it's so pugnacious! And think of all the sail combinations you could play with in your old age.
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Tranona
Well-Known Member
Thats the whole point - they are not designed for the "rough stuff offshore" However they are not alone in having a forward cockpit - other cat designs have used the idea successfully in the past.
westernman
Well-Known Member
I don't think the sails make much difference to the speed at which it moves without engine power.
So you could play all you like with out upsetting anyone.
Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
Ironically for a catamaran that will no doubt be expensive and built light ( to keep the weight danh, Gov) I think it looks very very cheap. Those windows yeeeuck. Don't they have planning permission in France?
Mobile home with a mast anyone?
Mobile home with a mast anyone?
Norman_E
Well-Known Member
Ye gods, that looks even worse than a Dufour Atoll!