A $350,000 day sailer?

[Scott Goldwyn]

Nice, but...

They sure look great but for the money I'd rather be able to fit more than another couple and a cocktail shaker. It's like spending 6 figures on a sports car. Nice, but most of us can't justify the expense.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Luxury tax in the late '80s was not just on boats.

It was on all "luxury" items--cars, art, furs, jewelry, boats, motorhomes, private aircraft etc--that cost $100k or more sold in the US. It was Congress' brainchild, not the president's. And as is true of most of their stupid ideas intended to punish the rich, it backfired...it was the aircraft and marine industry and the middle class who suffered...the super rich avoided the tax on their zillion $$ yachts and jets by buying, taking delivery and registering offshore in places like the Caymans and the Bahamas. The rest of us couldn't afford the tax in addition to the 12-16% interest rates at that time...and therefore just didn't buy new high ticket "toys" like boats. The impact of that tax on whole economy did, however, create some great bargains on used boats etc, though.

 

[Bruce Bates]

Daysailers for the rich

All these boats are very nice to look at and I'm sure are smart sailors. I just want to get more for my boating dollar.

 

[Tim Graul, N.A.]

Call it art

Yachts exist to bring pleasure and pride. Like any work of art, the more beautiful and elegant the more they are valued. I applaud the rebirth of the elegant day sailer. The buyer/end user is just the one who possesses the finished product: in my mind, those who benefit most from th is phenomenon are the designers and builders of these craft - people who have the same pride or artistry as do piano builders, those who build fine coachwork and creators of music and art.

 

[higgs]

Not for me

Very interesting and varied perspectives. For my thinking, this is a waste of money for a daysailor when a boat a fraction of that amount would serve just as well. If I had the $ to do that I would find the best boat restorer I could and tell him to make my present 1985 boat like it was new.

 

[Craig Ranger]

Day sailers a different market tier

These expensive day sailers might be an interesting product line extension for Catalina to address a different market tier. However, I would not expect their availability to deteriorate your market share of your current demographic.

 

[Wright Ellis s/v WhiskyII]

Think about it ...

Elegant sailing, designed for short-handing, without all the hassles of "systems" to care for, maintain and winterize.

 

[Pete]

Don't all of you...

...sail in white pants, a blue blazer, and one of those nifty "Captain's" caps? Don't you have the hired help do the brightwork and bottom painting? Engine maintenance is done by cell phone. Love those electronic winches, too. But when are they gonna invent something that automatically raises and lowers the sail? Must I do all the work? I also demand a computerized boat where all I must do is punch in where I'd like the boat to go today, open the sherry, bingo, lean back and relax until the boat docks itself there. I just love these little daysailors, dahlings....!

 

[BJV]

Not for me, but dont disapprove of the concept

of a luxury day sailor. Keeps alive those wonderfull boat building skilled artists which have been disapearing over the past few decades. High tech racing engineers give the cruising sailor of tommorow the latest in new materials and gizmos. The high priced luxury boat builder/finisher gives the cruising sailor of tommorow the boat with nice lines and good sail characteristics.

 

[spuki]

Fun to look at

They are fun to look at when we go the show, but they are not for me. At the Annapolis show I was attracted to the simple designs. I have been trying to find ways to simplify. I want fewer things to fix. I've even been considering removing the engine and reducing the DC circutry to bare essentials. It would be more fun to see what enjoyment could be found with the sails and some oars.

 

[BARNEY]

BIG BOAT LITLE ROOM

PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THE BOATS GET BIGGER BUT THE COCKPITS REMAIN SMALL. REGARDLESS OF PRICE THEY ARE BUILT FOR FUN WITH FAMILY,FRIENDS OR WHATEVER EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE LIMITED SEATING CAPACITY.

 

[shorty]

Because

most of today's buyers want the Ritz down below. Better for watching TV at the marina.*x

 

[abe]

Fred,the 30K figure was for the car...I don't know

what it was for boats. Peggy has since commented on it. But it was Carter who signed the law..that I know for sure. I am 47 yo and I remember what it did to the luxury car industry and boating industry. Later when it what repealed it took 10 years to repeal the auto luxury tax which was 10% over the 30k vallue of the car. They decreased that by 1% per year. I think it was Reagan or Bush #1 who repealed it.

 

[abe]

Forgive my arrogance......mistake

Luxury tax signed 1990, law 1991. Phased out 1996-2003. Politicians, Democrats, Republicans....all the same they want my money.

 

[william]

750k DS42 Hinckley

no comment

 

[Franklin]

for $750

I can have just as much room...a tub with a mast.

 

[capn Bill]

To Each his Own

I'm just glad that there are souls out there - however rich - who love these pieces of art. There remains a niche for these expressions of the love of pure sailing pleasure. Why drive a Mercedes when you can get there just as easily in a Toyota? Try driving one and you'll see! Bill on STARGAZER

 

[PaulMoore]

Design vs Business and the future of Sailing

Most of the discussion seems to have gone the way of the sailing BUSINESS not design.As for business, having a *#&$%^ lucky few that can pay for state of the art design - and thus fuel new design, and have the passion to spend the buck helps the industry.As for Design - there are few other driving factors that can push the envelope - you can go buy a 40-80 year old boat that needs a lot of care and work, that looks like these boats, but they will never sail like them. As for being a daysailer - I agree, that the everyday market will not support too many 30+ foot boats that just look and sail - they need to serve more functions. But - the drive to make a boat look good, sail fast and easy are traits that will trickle down to the "more functional" boats we typically enjoy..

 

[cellomanjack]

It's a niche, and it needs to be filled!

I currently own a Catalina 25. As a pocket cruiser, it has a small-ish cockpit, AND small-ish berths. We like taking friends out for day sails, but find that more than 2 guests (plus my wife and I) are about all that can be reasonably managed. Yet, we have access to a Sonar 23 which easily handles 6 adults! We'd like that kind of cockpit space.Since we rarely spend more than a weekend on the boat, we've been thinking one of these larger day sailors may be just the ticket! We won't overnight comfortably, but adequately, and we can have entire families of 4 or even 5 join us for a day. I suspect that's the niche these boats are targeting, and we're considering it! So, yes, I'm glad they're emerging. Now, to wait 'til they've aged enough to be remotely affordable! Just like a car, why pay the sticker price when a used one that's got all the kinks out will do just as well!

 

[higgs]

The date is sure hard to nail down

The luxury tax issue got me interested so I went searching. From a UPI report : "Congress originally imposed the auto luxury tax in 1990 as part of the first Bush administration's budget agreement with congressional Democrats."The link to be sure:http://www.upi.com/inc/view.php?StoryID=20021209-051912-9696rIt is in the last paragraph on the page. It is odd it had so much effect on the industry, as at that time, most of the builders who went under were selling boats not effected O'Day, Pearson, Irwin, etc pretty much relied on boats that cost less than 100k.