Beautiful boats and compliments..

[JordanH]

Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder, I mean, beholder. Usually you can't quantify 'pretty' but I'm sure that you can count the number of compliments received by certain boats. In your marina, there's probably a pretty boat, two if you include your own, but specifically there's likely a boat that has people always stopping by to tell the owner how pretty it is.


I have one of those boats. There's nothing particularly outstanding about my boat, it's old, worn and the teak needs more attention than I've given it in a few years, but my little Contessa 26 continually receives comments from the dockside, both yachties and otherwise. On the weekend, I was out for a sail and another sailboat intentionally steered down to meet me, just to shout over a compliment and his admiration. It was a small thing, but I love having a pretty boat.



Now, I've been in the market for a larger, blue water cruiser for a long while now, searching primarily on utility and function but I realize that I'll miss the aesthetic appeal and resulting compliments of having a special boat... So here's my question, what is the blue water cruising boat, 40-44' (ish), that you think garners the most compliments? What's that one boat that you look at and think, "Wow, that's a pretty boat." I mean, an Ovni or an Island Packet probably gets the job done with utility to spare, but I'm betting a Hans Christian receives more compliments.

Anyone want to throw a boat into the ring?

[psk125]

Hinckley 42's?
...and I know the feeling:

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by JordanH

Anyone want to throw a boat into the ring?

How pretty is pretty? What makes boat pretty?


I think boats are perceived to be pretty when they combine:

1. Brightwork
2. Topsides in a color other than white
3. Complex and unusual rigs, particularly cutter-rigged schooner and ketch rigs
4. Presence of traditional materials such as: wood masts and lines of natural fiber rope
5. Bristol condition
6. Comparatively narrow beam for the boat's length

I get compliments on our Tartan 3800. Though a thoroughly modern boat in most regards, it has teak toerails and a few other teak accents, and polished stainless steel portlights, which set it apart.

[JordanH]

Originally Posted by psk125

...and I know the feeling:

Exactly! That is a pretty little kayak. I'm sure you get comments all the time.

[Jammer]

I get more complements on the smaller boats I have.

[Iron E]

A Morris will always stand out

[Bowdrie]

A few posts back already beat me to the use of the name "Hinckley", so I will second the name "Morris".
Uncountable times over the years I've heard terms such as; smart/bold/handsome/good/stylish/pretty, and others used, but the term "beautiful" seems to be more often used with boats that have more of a "classical" appearance.
Ones that are more svelte/softer in their lines, "easy on the eyes" is a phrase that comes to mind.
Although, there are many to whom a boat that, (to me,) looks like a stark/severe/hard-edged floating spaceship where the only tool the designer had was a ruler is a "beautiful rose".
I suppose that "A rose by any other name,,,,,,,,,".

[DEAN2140]

Any Alerion will draw lots of complements, and it sails well. I know from experience.

[mvweebles]

When you're ready for a trawler, ours gets a ton of attention from sailors. Wm Garden designed Willard 36. Ours is the last one built, Costa Mesa CA. 1970. A sister ship has been to Hawaii and back burning just over 300g diesel during its 14-day run.

[dfelsent]

We get compliments

One off McCurdy & Rhodes design

Brightwork, rig, sheer line, overhang, etc etc.

[carstenb]

Capri (2006 Jeanneau Sun Fast with over 40,000 nm on her) has gotten compliments everywhere we've sailed. Here she is in front of a glacier in norhtern alaska - although there weren't very many people there to compliment her

[letsgetsailing3]

There are certainly beautiful boats out there.

The larger ones will cost you a bit to acquire and maintain, as exposed teak and brass need maintenance, and the ones that are available usually are of want of some.

[Tugwit]

Classic: Concordia Yawl
Contemporary: Norseman 447

[Don C L]

I always take into account what kind of experience is behind the compliment. When I see a really beautiful boat, I may stop because I am just amazed someone has the time, money and energy to keep all the brightwork up. And then I imagine what it would be like to sail on that boat with the owner! I'd be afraid to touch anything!
Then there are the boats that are more beautiful for what they can do, and how much pleasure they would bring while sailing, and less so for the amount of varnish they have.

I will say though that David Crosby's schooner "Mayan" always seemed to me to have it all.

[deltaten]

I had occasion to hike out the B-dock last week. Spied a stranger and his Mate alongside in a pretty little boat.
I nodded hello and vocalize my thoughts..." My, what a pretty boat!"
Owners response was positive and we got to talking for a bit. Quite naturally proud of his 22 footer (?), he went on with it's pedigree and history. While it was interesting in that regard , it was nothing unusual. Well maintained. Well outfitted. Small bits of teak were bright. All in all, ship shape and Bristol fashion. This was no C22 or similar. It looked very much like a bigger boat, just scaled down.
A very pretty package, indeed...and a tremendous conversation starter.