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Would you buy a boat that didn't aesthetically appeal to you....

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by olderboater, Aug 9, 2021.

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  1. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    The delta 80 shows that it s not about being obsessed with classic looks but that modern can be gorgeous as well

    again it s about proportions and balance.
  2. Riknpat

    Riknpat Senior Member

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    Since we're now info favorite actual designs - how about a Ferretti Custom Line Navetta 33? Ticks all my boxes. Just short a couple of million bucks:(
  3. HTMO9

    HTMO9 Senior Member

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    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Also I normally have a more conservative taste, as far as boats are concerned, I could live with the design of the Navetta 33. A lot of internal volume and plenty of deck space. Amazing, they even squeezed a captains cabin between the upper salon and the wheelhouse.

    How is the quality of the Navetta boats? What are the engine options? What are they asking for?

    No criticism from my side, it is just not my neck of the woods. Me and my family are only shopping between 15 and 25 meters for the reasons mentioned above and than from 50 Meters LoA upwards.

    But this Custom Line Navetta 33 would qualify both for internal volume, layout and design and it pleases the eye looking at the boat. The compatriots of Mapism know how to design boats :). I got an Italian designed fast boat myself.
  4. RER

    RER Senior Member

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    The OP is not asking which style of boat people prefer over another. I think the question is would you have a boat that otherwise meets all your needs beyond any competing models, but it’s exterior styling was not appealing to you.

    As I’ve said my answer is a hard no.

    No boat is without it’s compromises. But I want a boat that I like to look at when I’m approaching it from the dock or from the water.

    I’ll compromise in other areas.
  5. HTMO9

    HTMO9 Senior Member

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    From this point of view I must also say a hard No.
  6. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    If you can sit on the beach, look at your boat and think "That's mine and I love it".

    Growing-up with wooden yachts it was easy, these days I can think of only about 5 new boats that fill that criteria.
  7. ChiTown

    ChiTown Member

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    The way I read your question, I broke it down to preferring form over function for two competing boats. That's a tough call, but I think it really depends on the intended use, e.g. tough to pass on a Fleming vs maybe more modern styled long range cruisers that have perceived better lines but not the same build quality, Whereas maybe it's strictly a jump ball functionally between a Cruisers and Prestige in their express boat market segment and it comes down to looks.
  8. Brian G

    Brian G Member

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    I, too, love it when I'm walking down the dock to my boat and think, "Wow, she's gorgeous!" But the longer I've been a boat owner, the more concerned I've become about maintenance especially since I do most of the PM myself on a boat that's 18 years old. That's been the biggest takeaway for me as a relatively new yacht owner > these boats need a lot of love! If I ever buy another one, that will be a top consideration. Reliability is just as important to me as form and function.
  9. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    I love a Volvo wagon as much as the next man, had 2, but wouldn't put them in the beauty pageant at Pebble Beach.

    Curves and sexy lines cannot be made on a CAD computer and cut with a CNC machine. true beauty comes with being hand-built by a crew with skills.
  10. MYTraveler

    MYTraveler Member

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    My boat doesn't have the sleek lines, etc., of the sport fisher I had before it. On the other hand, it isn't painful to look at, either, the way some boats are. I don't grimace, I just never find myself admiring its beauty. However, since I couldn't find any other boat with the same functionality, I didn't give appearance a second thought (barely gave it a first thought). No regrets.
  11. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    that’s why these two are in our garage. The first one was an in house design at Jaguar, the second by legendary Italian designer Giugiaro...

    Attached Files:

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  12. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    And when 10 years ago I couldn’t find a good looking day sailer here in Miami, I grabbed a blank sheet of paper, designed and built this:

    7E432299-24F7-4A78-85C5-D030D37D3030.jpeg

    When I got to the cabin top, i initially had it about 14” tall which didn’t look good. So I kept cutting off an inch at a time until I thought it looked good enough ...
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  13. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    Pascal that sloop (??) is looks good from the pictures. Pretty impressive you built that yourself.

    MYtraveler I like your boat aesthetically. Sometimes I wonder if purpose built has it’s own beauty. For instance I have a fondness for tugboats. But then again a container ship although purpose built is not very attractive in my opinion.
  14. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    I would hope I would never buy an ugly (to me) boat. But then again, when I was young and before I had kids, my wife and I said we would never drive a mini van. 3 kids later and there we were with our mini van. So who knows, sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
  15. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    I "hate" (not really but at least profess I do) SUV's and Vans. I own an SUV and have traveled in a company Van and in total through my business own 8 SUV's and over 300 Vans.

    Speaking of Vans and desirability, I really liked Mercedes Sprinters at first and we have some that are incredible conversions. However, I've developed a distaste as I see one now and all I think of is an Amazon van. We were using some Ford's but then they couldn't deliver any.

    I also remember how we put down station wagons. Yet then we fell in love with SUV's. Aren't they really the same thing?

    So it makes sense to go for utility for business purposes? If so, does it for personal vehicles? If so, then for boats?

    I'm unlikely to buy a boat whose looks I hate but very willing to buy one whose looks I don't love. Guess I'm just appreciative of a wife who fell in love with a guy whose looks don't compare to hers in spite of her claiming they do.
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  16. cleanslate

    cleanslate Senior Member

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    Aww come on OB, I'm sure you're as handsome as a Riva! But it's what's on the inside that matters most. Right? Perhaps there is your answer? My little Ocean Yacht, it's ok on the exterior looks, but has a super interior layout for me and my long time girlfriend. I've looked at other boats '' in my lane'' so to speak , that I like better on the outside but the interior layouts are not so good. I'm happy and will stick with what I've got and subsequently, stay in my lane and keep her (the boat)going.
  17. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    But my wife's a Cigarette....lol
  18. chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    Key words there.
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  19. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    Just about my perfect garage. Had 5 Alfas and my Grandad was mates with Lyons.
  20. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Everybody has a love affair, even Canadians.

    2E79F024-3670-41E8-BE4A-920975EF05C4.jpeg
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