Your ultimate boat: please show imagination, don't be a Wally.

[Reptile Smile]

Reptile Smile, I see your future...it is...contentment.

Well done!

Rare, to be so easily pleased. You mention beauty...don't you like teakwork, and overhangs, and ash blocks and reefpoints?

I mean, if cost wasn't a barrier to ownership, doesn't this strike you as more appealing than an 80s all-plastic Beneteau?

LOL! Yeah, don't get me wrong. I love old boats. I lived on a 105 year old life boat for three years - it was from a cargo ship that had been torpedoed in WWI.

It was a beautiful old boat, but the maintenance is a pig, and I fought a losing battle with the teak from day one.

Plastic. I love it. Easily satisfied, that's me...

Sounds like you are trying to sell it!

LOL! I'm saving up for a 20 foot trailer sailer. That Beneteau ain't mine...

 

[rotrax]

First Mate and I love classic boats, but as we came to sailing late in life we need to be sailing not maintaining. An Island Packet SP Cruiser with all the bells and whistles would be high on our list when our current aft cockpit Island Packet 350 becomes a bit much for our worn out bodies.At the moment she is fine but in future-who knows?

 

[Blueboatman]

Blimey. In a sense the question is what would you change/what is so wrong with yer present craft?
Well, nothing much if at all really. So may I please spend the money on a nice subtropical island with a proper pub?

 

[ffiill]

I would be quite happy with a heavier duty deck house;new gearbox and reconned engine for my Coaster 33-and a big electric winch-otherwise I am quite happy with what I have got.

 

[Greenheart]

Be honest. If you could afford ANYTHING...

Who am I kidding? With a multi-million dollar budget, I'd make straight for the builders of those beautiful twin brigantines, Exy Johnson and Irving Johnson, and commission another to my own ideal specification. Around 90' on deck. I hope the photo opens:

Ought to be space to entertain aboard in style when I'm feeling flamboyant, and plenty of real hands-on sailing between ports. Keep a permanent liveaboard old-seadog captain, a decent cook and a half-dozen hands.

One of these was for sale not very long ago. If memory serves, she was a little over £2,000,000.

 

[Iain C]

For me it would have to be a retired Open 60 completely refitted for comfort below, with some kind of ingenious lifting keel system so you could actually get into shallower water.

Speeeeeed crusing!

 

[westernman]

For me it would have to be a retired Open 60 completely refitted for comfort below, with some kind of ingenious lifting keel system so you could actually get into shallower water.

Speeeeeed crusing!

A bit like this then:-

http://www.jp54.fr ??

 

[john_morris_uk]

I think this is quite easy on the eye - and quite practical to cruise round the world in...

Sweden Yachts 70 if you are interested...

Actually for the two of us its a bit too big. 40 or 45 foot is quite big enough for two. You could have some good parties on board though.

 

[Greenheart]

Sweden Yachts...wonderful. Pity they couldn't devise a low-windage wheelhouse...I reckon I prefer Nauticat:

...not a gaffer, but she ticks my other boxes.

Iain, Michael, is the open-60-styled JP54 really and truly your ideal floating home?

I acknowledge that it's very efficient, and provides rewardingly high-performance. But wouldn't you feel that its weight-conscious construction, while it enables the JP54 to sail so well, strips the interior of all character and comfort?

High performance cars don't all feel like F1 cars inside, quite the opposite. I couldn't enjoy a week aboard a boat whose designers had sacrificed everything in order that she sail like a witch.

 

[westernman]

Sweden Yachts...wonderful. Pity they couldn't devise a low-windage wheelhouse...I reckon I prefer Nauticat:

...not a gaffer, but she ticks my other boxes.

Iain, Michael, is the open-60-styled JP54 really and truly your ideal floating home?

I acknowledge that it's very efficient, and provides rewardingly high-performance. But wouldn't you feel that its weight-conscious construction, while it enables the JP54 to sail so well, strips the interior of all character and comfort?

High performance cars don't all feel like F1 cars inside, quite the opposite. I couldn't enjoy a week aboard a boat whose designers had sacrificed everything in order that she sail like a witch.

Not for me. I was innocently asking the question.

 

[Conachair]

What would you prefer?

Well now......

Not hugely different really.

Maybe ali hull, or steel, or money really no object then titanium. Somewhere towards 40' ish. Prob stick with long keel, definitely cutter rig. Windvane steering. Interior easily removable so you can get to every inch of the hull. Strong sprayhood out of metal & polycarb or something like that. Nesting ali dinghy which somehow fits snug behind the mast without getting in the way. GREAT sound system. Lots solar.

And of course the unique ability to sprout an extra hull just as the anchor digs in

I ain't going to get one though. Oh well, never mind

 

[Mudisox]

Gunship Catamaran 48
http://www.gunboat.com/48-gallery.php

and just drool over the wizzy vertual tours.

 

[Greenheart]

My apologies, Mr Chapman.

But in truth, I find it hard to believe that anybody at all would choose so purely sporting a yacht, as their ultimate vessel of choice.

I s'pose I was curious about what in particular, individuals get from their days and nights at sea, and how in particular they'd alter or replace their boats, to deliver those experiences more effectively.

Perhaps I'm weird, for thinking at least as much about how proficiently the vessel accommodates her crew at anchor or in dock, and how her appearance will affect discerning observers, as I do about her sailing characteristics...

...that may not make my choice the ultimate thrilling ride or the last word in 21st century chic...but by God, it'll attract admiration!

 

[William_H]

Philosophical question

The whole dreaming type question gets me wondering. Obviously all the dreamers are younger than me. I would want a new younger body and a new adventurous mind to go with it. Sad thing is that for many years I have if push comes to shove the ability to buy a bigger better boat but seem to keep the old trailer sailer I have had for 30 years. I am not complaining just noting the demise of aspirations as the ability to upgrade improves. A friend had a near new Benmeteau 38 which he has just sold. I sailed on it a bit and was slightly tempted
Funny I was sitting on the upturned dinghy on the beach last week after a swim looking at my boat on the swing mooring and thinking this is just grand even better than sailing it.
No complaints really just noting the difference a few years make. I recall a stupid film of many years ago. The young man was obliged to prove he could waste x million dollars in a month to be eligible for a huge inheritance. That does seem like fun. To waste money. Something I just can't do but would love to be obliged to do. All very interesting but back to the original question I think I would want a maxi 100ft racer like Wild Oats or Leopard. good luck olewill

 

[TQA]

Were I a billionaire then the boat I would build a copy of is Hanuman. A replica of Endeavour but with modern materials incorporated. Beauty in motion.

Then I would go racing.

Ah well I will come back to reality but at least I should see her strutting her stuff at the St Barths Bucket next weekend.

 

[Greenheart]

Thanks William_H. Interesting, and maybe indicative, how much real pleasure you get just from gazing at your yacht. I do think how they look, is critical to the reward of ownership. It will always influence my choice at every level. Like choice of partners!

Thinking about why I asked the question, I find I'm reflecting on my own most covetous moments; times when I've seen boats that seemed to me to sum up everything I like when sailing, or believed I would enjoy and value, if similarly equipped.

EG, a very traditional bermudian ketch anchored in the mist at Studland Bay last summer, her sails roughly tied (flaked?) at the deck/booms, rather than rolled round stays. For me, the fact that she didn't have labour-saving roller reefing, doubled her appeal.

I reckon the least-fulfilling ownership would be of a computer-designed, efficient, maintenance-free yacht, blandly aerodynamic and very quickly, completely understood. Too damned dull! All the charisma of a Sinclair C5.

I think old sailing vessels appeal strongly to me partly because they've generally been left for dead in performance terms, by modern designs. Sailing a solid old gaffer might be frustrating at times, but if just being aboard is an intensely flavoursome experience, progress is much less relevant...

...and meanwhile, a heavy, generously-proportioned vessel with lots of wood aboard, makes a homely base for the adventures I'd embark upon. Gaffsails, timber and heavy-displacement are my favourite recipe.

 

[electrosys]

Maybe ali hull, or steel, or money really no object then titanium.

Naaah - if money's no object, then it has to be Cupro-Nickel - just think - never having to anti-foul, ever again. And, with a smooth bottom (mental images of Kylie Minogue ...) it'd cut through the water like the proverbial hot knife through Lurpak.

 

[westernman]

My apologies, Mr Chapman.

But in truth, I find it hard to believe that anybody at all would choose so purely sporting a yacht, as their ultimate vessel of choice.

I s'pose I was curious about what in particular, individuals get from their days and nights at sea, and how in particular they'd alter or replace their boats, to deliver those experiences more effectively.

Perhaps I'm weird, for thinking at least as much about how proficiently the vessel accommodates her crew at anchor or in dock, and how her appearance will affect discerning observers, as I do about her sailing characteristics...

...that may not make my choice the ultimate thrilling ride or the last word in 21st century chic...but by God, it'll attract admiration!

You need a lot of crew there to stow all those sails when dropping anchor!
I am not sure I always want to go sailing with so many people.........

 

[westernman]

I think old sailing vessels appeal strongly to me partly because they've generally been left for dead in performance terms, by modern designs. Sailing a solid old gaffer might be frustrating at times, but if just being aboard is an intensely flavoursome experience, progress is much less relevant...

...and meanwhile, a heavy, generously-proportioned vessel with lots of wood aboard, makes a homely base for the adventures I'd embark upon. Gaffsails, timber and heavy-displacement are my favourite recipe.

If your modern design is a typical cruising yacht such as a Bendy Toy or a Bavaria, then there is actually little difference in performance between one of those and a gaffer such as mine.

If on the other hand your modern cruising yacht is something like the JP54 (http://www.jp54.fr), then yes, there is a huge difference in performance.

And of course for windward performance in light airs, most of us are not going to get anywhere close to the performance of an old J class or an Americas cup monohull.

 

[westernman]

I think old sailing vessels appeal strongly to me partly because they've generally been left for dead in performance terms, by modern designs. Sailing a solid old gaffer might be frustrating at times, but if just being aboard is an intensely flavoursome experience, progress is much less relevant...

...and meanwhile, a heavy, generously-proportioned vessel with lots of wood aboard, makes a homely base for the adventures I'd embark upon. Gaffsails, timber and heavy-displacement are my favourite recipe.

If your modern design is a typical cruising yacht such as a Bendy Toy or a Bavaria, then there is actually little difference in performance between one of those and a gaffer such as mine.

If on the other hand your modern cruising yacht is something like the JP54 (http://www.jp54.fr), then yes, there is a huge difference in performance.

And of course for windward performance in light airs, most of us are not going to get anywhere close to the performance of an old (or new) J class or an Americas cup monohull.