Then explain why just about every cruising boat--- at least semi-planing one which is what makes up the bulk of the production market these days--- has factory-fitted engines of 210, 300, 375, 425, etc. horsepower.* I don't think anyone in the market for this kind of boat considers 120 hp to even be viable anymore.*nomadwilly wrote:
Another aspect of this is that in 1975 a 240hp trawler was quite appropriate marketing wise but now probably most would want a 120hp boat.
psneeld wrote:
Boats are marketed for the 98 percent of boaters who don't know any better...* Boat stores are filled with things that are for the 98 percent who don't know any better....
All true except for one thing, and that is your assumption that new boat buyers are ignorant and stupid.* As we've discussed before, the people I've talked to in Bellingham who have bought new boats like GBs and Nordic Tugs with a lot of power did so for a very specific reason--- they wanted to be able to get to places like Desolation Sound in no more than a couple of days, then they wanted to be able to putz around up there at slow speeds for a week or two, and then they want to blow back to town in no more than a couple of days.* That's what their schedules allow and having a go-fast, go-slow boat permits them to enjoy the places they want to go in the time they have available to go there.nomadwilly wrote:So as long as boats are sold to wealthy and ignorant people stupid boats will prevail. Nordic Tug could optimize their 32 for excellent fuel economy and good seaworthyness in following seas but they do'nt go there because they know that boat would have limited appeal. So it's marketing but once the boats get 30 yrs old and are in the hands of people that only make $50K a year the're really not suitable designs unless one only runs 50 hrs a year.
*That's pretty much my philosophy at present.Marin wrote:--- they wanted to be able to get to places like Desolation Sound in no more than a couple of days, then they wanted to be able to putz around up there at slow speeds for a week or two, and then they want to blow back to town in no more than a couple of days.
*Really?* To me it doesn't seem natural to go that slow across the water.* It seems like I'm being cheated.markpierce wrote:
As a former sailor, it doesn't seem natural to exceed hull speed.* Seems like cheating.
*Doesn't feel like "trawling" to me.Marin wrote:
*Really?* To me it doesn't seem natural to go that slow across the water.* It seems like I'm being cheated.
30 mph vs 8 knots.* I'll take the photo on the left every time no matter what the boat size.
*Mmmm.... you'd be surprised.* Most of the newer GBs we see out on the water, and there are a lot of them down here, are doing at least ten knots and most of them tend to be going twelve or thirteen or even more.* And of course all the big semi-planing boats like Bayliners and such are thumping along at two-digit speeds.* It's been my observation that the people who have the power in their boats use it.* We certainly would if we had it.nomadwilly wrote:*Most all the boats available have big wide and deep submerged transoms suitable for 15 knots and almost never get run that way.Mark I'm for all the "cheating" I can afford.
*Doesn't feel like "trawling" to me.markpierce wrote:
*Mark:markpierce wrote:
Walt, if you don't exceed 1600 RPM, I'll be able to keep up with you.