What is a Classic Boat

[srm]

As for being able to sail a classic in close quarters, it's not easy. Especially earlier designs with a full forefoot. Sailing almost any classic into a marina is almost an impossibility unless your berth is right on the outskirts.

I fully accept the problems of sailing any boat within the confines of a marina as I have found handling a modern 43 ft yacht under power with lots of windage a bit of a challenge at times despite the bowthruster (which I usually forget to use as its not my boat). My permanent marina berth is chosen so that if sailing in or out I have the option of warping on to a hammerhead if need be. I do practice sailing when conditions are suitable as the only way to really learn how your boat handles is in close proximity to fixed objects. Also, I enjoy it.

However, I would point out that most 'earlier designs with full forefoot' were designed before internal engines were common or reliable. If they had an engine at all it would have been a few horse power to provide propulsion in a flat calm and was definately an auxillary. They are clearly not suitable for marinas, even under power, but I would define sailing on and off a swinging mooring or anchor as close quarters handling, and the early owners of your classics would have regarded this as the norm. It may not be easy compared to modern dinghy type hull and rig yachts, but surely that's part of owning such a boat.

If in doubt about the possibility of handling a boat with a long fore foot under sail in close quarters look a the late 19th/early 20th century photos of the sailing herring drifters, how do you think those guys got in and out of harbour? (many of which are packed more tightly than a Solent marina at high season). The dipping lug rig was the norm on the east coast, but the Shetlanders always used a gaff rig on the main as they often had to beat significant distances in the narrow voes of the islands, but either way these boats were primarily worked under sail with a long sweep as back up.

 

[Rum_Pirate]

The only issue I have with Kate is the colour. She'd be much more of a classic if she was white. Or anything, just not that bile yellow.

Strange as it may seem it is not 'Bile yellow', but Awlgrip's Topcoat Fighting Lady Yellow G9093 QT

If she was white she would look like all those AWB's.

 

[TamarMike]

Strange as it may seem it is not 'Bile yellow', but Awlgrip's AwlGrip Topcoat Fighting Lady Yellow G9093 QT

If she was while she would look like all those AWB's.

And very nice she looks too.

 

[stav]

Having been 'not allowed' to join the classics week in Cowes because my boat has a GRP hull, Nicholson 36 by the way. I would define classic:

A vessel designed to fit in to a natural marine environment such as the shallows of the east coast or the sweeping seas of the western approaches and can be seen as desending from a tracable history of ancestors. It can be constructed of any material and propelled by any means.

Therefore it is not designed for ease of construction and maximum proferbility and definately not designed to just go from marina to marina.

 

[srm]

I would define classic:

A vessel designed to fit in to a natural marine environment such as the shallows of the east coast or the sweeping seas of the western approaches and can be seen as desending from a tracable history of ancestors. It can be constructed of any material and propelled by any means.

Therefore it is not designed for ease of construction and maximum proferbility and definately not designed to just go from marina to marina.

Sounds fine to me, might even include my early Angus Primrose design with lines that can be traced back to Mcgruer's designs and the metre class . . . .

Are you proposing a new 'Classic Boat Club'?

 

[peter radclyffe]

how about a fibreglass boat regatta

 

[Rum_Pirate]

how about a fibreglass boat regatta

Would that include wooden boats encapsulated in fibreglass?

 

[Evadne]

Given the pasting that our cousins across the pond get on other forums in our family, it is nice to record that they have a pleasantly classless attitude to classic status and a magazine to fill the gap that posters above have bemoaned. Good Old Boat magazine ..... "the magazine for the rest of us".

As the owner of a 45 year old grp Kim Holman design, I would readily subscribe to a UK equivalent.

 

[TamarMike]

Wasn't PBO a lot like that a couple of decades ago?

 

[peter radclyffe]

Would that include wooden boats encapsulated in fibreglass?

it could do or maybe we could have another epoxy composite class

 

[cbeeson]

Ok, I hold my hands up - mine's a Drascombe Dabber. All I can afford and manage; but it's a 'proper' standing-lug yawl, I only motor when I absolutely have to, I polish her up and take her to rallies, and I love her to bits. I read Classic Boat because I aspire to be a classic sailor, even if I'll never own a 'classic' wooden gaffer. Personally, I reckon a boat is just the shape of the hole it makes in the water; it's what you do with it that makes it a classic.

 

[EuanMcKenzie]

Re PBO

PBO was like that a few years ago and used to service our plastic classics rather well. It has since drifted away from ( going by the forum anyway) what interests its core readership.

Its now a cross between Yachting Monthly and the Motor Boat one. Too much looking at new speed boats and new yacht and equipment reviews and not enough on keeping the existing fleet going and where we go in our boats.

Thats why i started this - I guess I would like one of the magazines to aim and support the "Practical Classics" of which most are GRP but built on classics lines and designed by some of the greats.

Maybe what I want doesn't sell magazines (or new boats?). Maybe I should have launched this on the PBO forum as the classic forum seem to be avoiding commenting on these thoughts and reading between the lines probobly like their magazine the way it is.

Cabatach

 

[David_Jersey]

Appreciate that launching a new printed magazine, say, "Practical Classic Boat" is expensive and probably not viable for IPC - given the risk of canabalising the existing titles.............but, perhaps an opportunity for IPC (or someone else? ) to launch an E-zine / internet only magazine. Plenty of overlap from the existing titles so won't be starting from scratch nor need it's own full staff.........indeed subscriber generated content (but edited / approved by the E-zine - to lend credibility) would probably add volumes quickly. and cheaply

Perhaps a free monthly magazine, with a subscription for the archives if accessible / well indexed (only so many articles actually needed on servicing a winch etc etc - but having easy access to all of them would be useful if doing the job, otherwise only vaguely interesting or downright dull to read ..........and add in some targetted advertising, from Winches R Us etc )......a new title could be an easy way for IPC to road test a different business model without impacting on the existing titles.

My bet is that in due course someone like Mailspeed will launch a boat E-zine (or 2? ) - on their own or in partnership with another.........with a business that already sells product they would easily be able to get over the hurdle of making money from a readership reluctant to pay a subscription..........unless someone else cracks the boat online subscription model first.

 

[holly1]

I'd like to see modern classics reconised because I'd like to see more articles on them and less about speed boats and Bavarias in either of the above magazines and that's what most of us have I think?

Totaly agree

 

[maffra]

I believe a classic boat is in the eye of the beholder, Some of the wooden boats I have owned & loved have been : a beautiful heron, a McGruer Cr8 (Debbie),a 48 foot Thornycroft motor cruiser,a 30 foot cruiser (builder unknown) and I believed at the time (& still do) they all were the most beautiful boats in the world, and my last three boats have been all fibreglass,a Riviera 47 , a Bavaria 42 Cruiser and now my current yacht a Beneteau Oceanis 43, I still think these are the most beautiful boats in the world and that is probably why I purchased them, -as I said it is all in the eye of the beholder,If you love it -enjoy it.Everybody sees it differently.

 

[Amulet]

They have the same debate here

http://www.flickr.com/groups/classicyachts/

 

[maffra]

Yes, just checked the site,some beautiful wooden boat photos.

The saddest thing about lovely wooden boats is that often some people who buy them buy on a whim ,& buy them because they do not have a lot of money to spend and the wooden vessel is often cheap compared to a modern one .BUT, those same people do not have the money or the desire or ability to maintain the boat the way it should and hence so many are lying around in delapidated conditions,waiting for some "real" boat lover to fix them up"" again, to be sold again and the cycle continues. I have totally restored 4 wooden boats to immaculate condition and 3 of those boats are now sitting on moorings in total disrepair. It is very sad. I take my hat off to those who love & look after them, and a thumbs down to those morons who ruin them.

 

[PaulJS]

How about a 1972 plywood dinghy?

She's got a wooden mast and boom, but her plywood hull has been patched up with glassfibre and filler in an attempt (mostly successful) to keep the wet stuff on the outside.
She might be small but I think she handles her age pretty well, and although I patched her up and painted the hull and foredeck last year I still need to get round to tarting up her varnish which is the whole of the inboard.
She is light enough for me to launch, sail, and recover single handed and is a great introduction to sailing.
Now about her presently non-functional SeaBee 3.5Hp outboard; well one day I'll get time to have a good crack at restoring this, and even may if it isn't too heretical, try to update it's electrics! Will it be a classic if I "improve" it?

 

[crazycook]

Well our boat could be a classic, rareity is probably more accurate, if anyone knows anything about a Highway 35 I believe designed by John Teale and built in the early 80s, please could they let me know as that's about all I know of her history. Thanks Derek

 

[Bajansailor]

Re your Highway 35, is she a steel double-ender motor sailer type?
Or have I got it totally wrong?
If she is, there used to be one based at Marchwood Sailing Club opposite Southampton docks about 20 years ago, but I cannot remember her name.
And if she is steel, I am pretty sure there was mention of her class in 'Own a steel boat' by Mike Pratt (I used to have a copy, loaded it out, and it was never returned).