What would you like to see on a 40 ft day cruiser?

[Ash.D]

Hi,

I would just like some opinions on what makes a boat (40ft ish cruiser) 'cool' in your eyes?

Could it be the aesthetics of a particular boat, and why?

Or, the interior styling, layout and why?

Or maybe even nifty little design features and technologies?

Any opinions would be very usefull.

Thanks

Ash

[Eric Sponberg]

Good looks, utility, and price.

These are the factors that governed our design choices for the Scandinavian Cruiser 40 which is about to be announced world wide. You can see preliminary information on my website:

http://www.sponbergyachtdesign.com/SC40.htm

[Eric Sponberg]

Whoops! Hit the wrong button before finishing. I also wanted to provide the link to the SC website:

http://www.scandinaviancruisers.com/our_yachts

The design is inspired by the 30 square meter boats of 100 years ago (centenial was 2008) resulting in the narrow hull form and long overhangs--the is the good looks part.

We started this design with the idea that it would be a weekender, so there was a modicum of accommodation down below. But people don't want to camp out on a skinny boat, they don't have time for that. So we made this a true daysailer meant for only a few hours sail. A cooler and a hot plate are provided in the cockpit under cover, and a head is down below. The rig is free-standing, the keel raises and lowers, as does the rudder in a drum. The boat will be built in China and delivered factory direct on its own trailer in a standard shipping container. All this is the utility part.

The target base price is hopefully under US$200,000--this is the price part.

There are lots of boats being built around the world that fit your basic category, and they are tailored to all uses from weekend cruising to club racing. Some are plain, some are very nicely equipped. Prices range from below US$100,000 to over US$800,000. I suspect that you will get a very broad range of opinions on this thread. The SC 40 that I have shown his is but one example.

Eric

[yipster]

Eric, great work and classic daysailer thoroughbred example, compliments!

[Eric Sponberg]

Thanks, Yipster. I guess I should proof-read my typing a little better, and I sometimes forget to do that. Sorry for the typos. I look forward to others who have ideas on what makes a "cool" 40' daysailer.

Eric

[kenJ]

I like the styling of the current crop of daysailors, Alerion Express, etc. The SC40 fits right in. For power the Hinkley Picnic is fitted out a bit more than just day cruising, but a fine example of a classic design.

Originally Posted by Ash.D

Hi,

I would just like some opinions on what makes a boat (40ft ish cruiser) 'cool' in your eyes? The nice birds, first.

Could it be the aesthetics of a particular boat, and why?
Or, the interior styling, layout and why?
Or maybe even nifty little design features and technologies?
Any opinions would be very usefull.
Thanks
Ash

And this:
http://www.boatdesign.net/gallery/sh...1/ppuser/11121
in terms of design, if we are talking powerboats. (downsized naturally!)
Regards
Richard

[RHP]

Originally Posted by Ash.D

Hi,

I would just like some opinions on what makes a boat (40ft ish cruiser) 'cool' in your eyes?

Just build this and make it cheap.

Take the fancy gear off, use cheaper, standard materials and put proper sails on it but it must be cheap. Cheap.

We are in a financial meltdown, make it CHEAP. USD$200,000 is not CHEAP.

Lets all stop trying to become multi-millionaires over night - make it CHEAP.

http://www.wally.com/wallynano/featu...sysailing.html

Originally Posted by RHP

Just build this and make it cheap.

Take the fancy gear off, use cheaper, standard materials and put proper sails on it but it must be cheap. Cheap.

We are in a financial meltdown, make it CHEAP. USD$200,000 is not CHEAP.

Lets all stop trying to become multi-millionaires over night - make it CHEAP.

http://www.wally.com/wallynano/featu...sysailing.html

Got you... I´ll go for it. 120 as a rough figure?
Regards
Richard

[RHP]

120 would be a great price but could it work out? To be that boat is pure aethestics, down below could real real basic the pleasure is in sailing her.

Cheers
Richard

PS I still have a Honda CBXz1000 and a Laverda Jota....

Originally Posted by RHP

120 would be a great price but could it work out? To be that boat is pure aethestics, down below could real real basic the pleasure is in sailing her.

Cheers
Richard

PS I still have a Honda CBXz1000 and a Laverda Jota....

WOW........ L A V E R D A ................ ahhhhh had a 750 sf, some 546 years ago.
To topic:
I´m not quite shure, but first estimations come to that sum. Daysailer... plain basic fun, pure sailing. Seats six, sleeps two, icebox and loo ! Still in doubt if the 28 kva genny or the 2m² fridge has to be put on the sacrifice list first.
I´ll really work on it (bikers pledge).
Regards
Richard

[PortTacker]

50 mph @ .5 gph with Italian style for the price of a crappy used car. THAT's what I want!

[Norm01]

i like the looks of these

www.pbmy.com.au

[Eric Sponberg]

Originally Posted by RHP

120 would be a great price but could it work out? To be that boat is pure aethestics, down below could real real basic the pleasure is in sailing her.

Cheers
Richard

So that looks like your limit range. US$200K is too much, but US$120K is good but maybe unrealistic. That is interesting and useful to know. Personally, I could not even afford $120,000 for the SC 40 or the other suggestions here--I just don't have that much spare cash to spend on a boat. But that's beside the point.

In a boat this size, it is hard to make a huge profit. Of course, boatbuilders are in the business of making profits--you cannot survive without some profit. At 40', these designs necessarily target an audience that has some significant income and disposable cash--they have to have a place to keep it, which means a place at a yacht club or marina which carries monthly fees (over and above the house mortgage), or a house with enough property to park it in the yard. The customer also has to have a large car or truck with which to tow it. Just by boat length, one defines the customer to a certain income level that is well above average. Therefore, one tries to balance the features available, and the style, to convince customers to buy your design. Price should be what the market will bear without losing your socks.

Of course, it is natural to aspire to having a blockbuster design where the market goes crazy and you can make a huge profit. The Hinckley Picnic Boat is a case in point. Years ago, I heard on the docks of the Newport Boat Show during one of the first showings of the picnic boat that the price of the boat was jumping $10,000 with each successive order at the show. And they sold a lot of boats there. That is a lucky but rare occurance. Eventually, the price of the picnic boat went to over $800,000, if memory serves, and I don't know what the price is today. But there is no way that the picnic boat costs that much to build with a little profit on top. As I said, such instances are very rare.

Thanks for your input. It would be interesting to know from others reading here: What price would you pay for a 40' daysailer? In addition, realistically, what price can you afford to pay for such a boat?

Eric

Eric
A real bright, analytic statement. And a (naturally) deep insight into our market, thanks.
Of course a "pure fun no nonsense" daycruiser can be done within a broad range of technologies, materials, equipment etc. It also can be done in a wide range of initial cost (to the same quality), depending on country of origin to mention just one factor. And exactly that was the point I started to consider attentively such a project.
I widely agree with you looking at our target customer, simply the Loa. sorts out the average income client.
Anyway I believe it is at least worth to do some effort, finding out if a real nice sailing machine of the given parameter could be done within that ballpark. Still earning money of course. I do a fully equipped 42ft Lobsterboat below 250.000€ right through the door! And still earn some penny.
To "Hinckley", their boats or trading policy, I´ll humble myself from statements. See my gallery to understand why.
btw Eric, I like your design.
Kindest regards
Richard