USA cruiser styling v's European

[oceanfroggie]

USA cruiser styling v\'s European

There seem to be distinct differences between USA designed and styled motor cruisers and european ones. The US boats seem to have a more appealing and traditional look about them, whereas many newer european designs are quite arty, flarey, and ultra modernistic, and not very homely looking. Same inside, the US boats have more traditional wood fit outs, whereas there seems to be too much white, plastic, cherrywood and stainless steel in some eu boats. New us boats still seem to have fabric curtains, whereas sterile blinds seem to be popular in europe. The US boats have windows, hatches and port holes shaped like windows, whereas some european boats have very over styled curvey windows, more akin to a kids scribble than a window.

The Dutch boats are of course the exception and a very few british and scandanavian designs. It's a matter of personal taste I suppose. Are we led too much by concepts in the minds of stylists? Manufacturers need to keep reinventing their models, hence styling needs to change, but how far will they go? I miss boats that look like little ships rather than plastic spaceships - bring back lego! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

PS: I'm european btw

 

[ported0]

Re: USA cruiser styling v\'s European

Not quite sure that I agree wholeheartedly, looking at the lower end there really doesn't seem to be much difference in appearance between Bayliners, SeaRays, Sealines etc practical things like hand rails and flat decks, access to the foredeck etc all seem to suffer on modern boats with the exception of the scandanavian ones, I would love to buy an Aquador or Nimbus but looks like I am stuck in Bayliner territory for budgetary reasons /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

John

 

[drewstwos]

Re: USA cruiser styling v\'s European

How right you are. I suppose I am a dyed in the wool traditonalist. Hence my pehaps overkeen interest in my Grandads steam yacht,,(recently posted here ).. I personally much prefer the 1950/60 look.. when they had proper portholes and the deck was a deck not part of the saloon, dare I say lounge roof...thinking about Silvers and Fleur de Lys etc. Not speedy but very seaworthy, and comfortable. Well its all horses for courses now, and the young will have their way, judging by the raptures gone into by many here when pics appear. I do not decry their love of the ultra modern, b ut ........
Drew.

 

[Nick_H]

Re: USA cruiser styling v\'s European

It seems to be the same with boats as it is with cars, if you want style and technology, go European, if you want big and conservative, go American.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: USA cruiser styling v\'s European

That might be true of some US boats like Grand Banks, Sabre but most US boats seem to adopt modern styling. I think, just like here, there is a market in the US for more traditional looking boats just as there is a market for modern swoopy ones
If you want more traditional styling there are many Euro builders who do that kind of thing like Nelson, Aquastar, Broom, Trader (OK thats Taiwanese but Brit design) in the UK and Belliure, Apreamare, Menorquin, Mochi in Europe amongst many others
What I would agree on is that some Euro builders are more at the cutting edge of style and design whereas if US builders try to do style it's usually a disaster

 

[ArthurWood]

Re: USA cruiser styling v\'s European

I agree, Mike. Although the US has been slow to get with the Euro styling, over the past 5+ years companies like Sea Ray and Cruisers Inc have modelled their boats on a more Euro style. Carver have tried, but their bigger boats look more like double decker buses. Having said that, the latest Sea Ray aft cabin models look really weird.
I think a major difference between US and Euro boats is the feeling of interior space in the former. While Euros are very elegantly finished and designed, they, length for length, always seem to me to be rather cramped inside.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: USA cruiser styling v\'s European

Actually, Arthur, I was going to say the same thing. The one thing about US boats is that they're generally designed to human scale with large cabins, good floor space, good storage space, large doors etc unlike Euro boats, some of which seem to be designed to dolls house scale. It must be difficult to reconcile the requirements of space and storage with swoopy styling

 

[gjgm]

Re: USA cruiser styling v\'s European

is the stying difference because the USA boats actually get used. ie practicality, over appearance on the pontoon? Or maybe used for longer cruising?Or less worried about speed?

 

[ported0]

Re: USA cruiser styling v\'s European

are you suggesting that europeans are poser's /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[oceanfroggie]

Re: USA cruiser styling v\'s European

[ QUOTE ]
are you suggesting that europeans are poser's /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]But they are smaller and most weigh less! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Seriously US airlines use a higher average PAX weight than european airlines when calculating payload weight (ie Fuel, PAX, Luggage, Cargo, etc). BTW, also weights are assumed to be higher by 5lbs in winter!

http://www.compilots.com/article1838.html

 

[ported0]

Re: USA cruiser styling v\'s European

good point, i like the allowance for winter padding /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[KCook]

Re: USA cruiser styling v\'s European

I liked the post by Deleted User. However ...
[ QUOTE ]
there is a market in the US for more traditional looking boats just as there is a market for modern swoopy ones

[/ QUOTE ]
That is really only the case for yachts over 40'. While there are a few traditional designs for the under 40 market, their sales numbers are microscopic. Virtually all under 40 boats that are sold over here are of the plastic space ship variety.

I really enjoy seeing the great variety in European design. To many Sea Ray wannbees over here.

Kelly

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: USA cruiser styling v\'s European

[ QUOTE ]
Virtually all under 40 boats that are sold over here are of the plastic space ship variety.


[/ QUOTE ]

I've heard them described over here as bubble boats

 

[KCook]

Re: USA cruiser styling v\'s European

Also chlorox bottles /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif