What makes a 'Classic'

[PeteCooper]

What makes a \'Classic\'

There have been a couple of posts recently asking if certain boats are classics. I sail an Ecume de Mer, which I consider to be a minor classic, but what are peoples opinions on what the requirements are for a boat to be considered classic?

 

[tim3057]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

Can I start the list?

1. Wood, preferably with a bit of rot.

 

[halcyon]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

Why wood ?
What is the differance between a wooden boat, and a plastic one moulded from that wooden one?

My number 1

If your working on your boat in the yard and people walk by

if they ignor you, it's not a classic,

if they stop and chat with the opening gambit "that's a nice boat", you have a classic.

Material does not come into it.

Brian

 

[Mirelle]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

I like that one!

It applies to our son's Firefly in the club dinghy park, just as much as to his parents' gaff cutter.

 

[fishermantwo]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

[ QUOTE ]
There have been a couple of posts recently asking if certain boats are classics. I sail an Ecume de Mer, which I consider to be a minor classic, but what are peoples opinions on what the requirements are for a boat to be considered classic?

[/ QUOTE ]

The Ecume de Mer would certainly be one in my opinion. Anything with a major success in racing etc would automatically qualify and the vessel could be made of anything. Of course classic boats also have to be pretty so some of the recent weirdo ex racers are just going to be cheap "one offs". /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Peterduck]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

I know that I'm just a Grumpy Old Fart, but I don't think that racing success makes for a "classic" boat. Don't you recall Richard Bennett's stunning pictures from a couple of years back of Nokia planing down the east coast of Tasmania at some 35 kts when she took out the S-H line honours? Still doesn't make her a classic in my view. I agree with the earlier posting that a classic turns people's heads [not everyone, of course; only the aesthetically-gifted] and makes you a proud owner. I've had plenty of occasions when someone from another nearby boat has taken Swallow's photo or called out across the water "Lovely Boat!"` When that happens, you know you have a classic. I'm sorry that I cannot bring you pictures, I'm hoping that Kristal can do that for me.
Peter
Peter.

 

[BrendanS]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

Personally, I liked the post you once made about a kid saying 'It's a pirate boat"
Says it all really

 

[EASLOOP]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

You know you have a classic when :
she is made of wood
she smells damp below decks
the bilges always have water in them
the seams regularly open up
the laid deck leaks
you notice that all around you, who do not own 'classics', are:
out sailing
no leaks
fresh smell below decks
family relaxing on the foredeck with a pink gin basking in the sunshine
racing withour fear of mast being driven through the keelson
don't own a painst brush
etc etc etc.
(I own a classic - a Buchanan designed East Anglian Sloop - circa 1962)
At least, I hope it is a classic
John

 

[halcyon]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

John I own a Buchanan as well, similar to a East Anglian, but actually moulded from the Ace of Diamonds, yes it's plastic.
So yours is a classic, the Diamonds are wood so there a classic, mine is by the same designer, to the same design, so whats that make it?


Brian

 

[rjp]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

In my opinion if it's a Buchanan design then it's a classic. I'm hopelessly biased of course. Maybe we need a Buchanan thread so we can all congratulate ourselves on our excellent taste.

John

 

[EASLOOP]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

Dry, Clean and fun to SAIL. It's taking me a while but I will catch up.

John, good idea re: Buchanan. Let's see what happens

John

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

[ QUOTE ]
You know you have a classic when :
she is made of wood
she smells damp below decks
the bilges always have water in them
the seams regularly open up
the laid deck leaks

John

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you've described an old boat.

An Austin A50 is an old car, but classic it is not.

 

[burgundyben]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

I think its when the for-sale advert says something like 'much regretted sale of family member due to moving abroad, thousands spent .......'

 

[MacW]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

I sold my 1894 William Fife racer years and years ago, but remember the seven years I spent rebuilding her from the keel up including three yaers sailing her. never seemed quite finished.What is a classic? Here`s my 10 pence worth:
A classic is a wooden boat, or a boat in any other material to the same type of traditional yacht design. She is the boat that lives in your minds eye, sitting on the water, with that lovely sweeping curve of her sheerline, and magical little upward lift in the line towards the stern that catches in your throat, which you are thinking of with every blow of your hammer and every turn of every screw, in your years of work to get her back in the water.

 

[Kristal]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

I think that is the advertisement my parents are putting in the paper when they move next month, about me...

 

[ashanta]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

Is the T 31 (Guy Thompson) a classic. It's 1/2 GRP and 1/2 Wood? It is one of the mot beautiful boat on the water.

Regards.

 

[Shipwrecked]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

A Classic Boat is what you make of it, and how you personally feel about it - you can debate what is a classic 'til the cows come home, but the fact remains that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

For example a boat is like a woman, if she's beautiful she's beautiful to most but not to all, if she's ugly she has character to some and she's just plain ugly to others, if she's brassy she's got a bit of get up and go to some but scares the hell out of others and if she's a classic then she looks like Liv Tyler mmmm - get the idea?

 

[pmbrogan]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

Having spent my boyhood years aboard Tilly Twin and having drooled over pictures of Myth of Malham in Further Offshore for years, it's always interesting to me when people talk about what makes a boat pretty. Tilly & Myth were handsome, not pretty. On the other hand, they never failed to turn heads. They would certainly qualify as classics in my book. They also won their fair share of races.

 

[adelaidem]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

i think it would be something to do with age perhaps over 50 yrs old, i would say our family boat pictured below is a classic she has been around for 75yrs. [image]

[/image]

 

[Santana379]

Re: What makes a \'Classic\'

I don't think you'll find there's any dispute about your family boat being a classic - lovely!