Demographics

[Tim R.]

How come you do not see many folks around here or SN or SA who own a Hinckley, Morris or other high end boat? Do they not crave sailing knowledge as much as us? Maybe they have a double secret yachtie website we are not allowed in.

Sometimes I come across sailors and I mention sites like this or even a brand specific site for their boat and they act like they never would have imagined such a thing on the net. I guess they only use the net for porn and shopping at JCrew!

 

[gpd955]

Our assistant dockmaster just bought a Morris. He is moving it to our dock so I will recruit him when he arrives!

 

[wetass]

Maybe they know where the real good yards are and CAN trust to have all their work done for them....

My guess is they are too busy working so they can afford those sort of toys and dont have spare time to spend cruising forums.

 

[kloudie1]

one of the places that I have been in that has some very good and knowledgable people is Lyman Morse.. Up in Tim's neck of the woods..
I have had the high end people tell me that I should get a "real" sailboat.. so I don't think that they are interested in talking to we small folks.. I see it same as car stuff.. ya don't find Rolls or Bugatti owners in the Chevy blogs..

 

[BI40]

Well guys, I'm new on this site and I don't see the distinction. A Rolls and a Chevy still have the same basic parts ...and issues; although one's components may be hand-rubbed titanium or whatever, they still give-out over time.

The difference may be (as noted above) more about folks who really enjoy sailing, as opposed to folks who just think it's the cool thing to do once in a while, when the G4 is being serviced.

If the rub has to do with boat size (crewed "yacht" vs. not), remember, "small boats always have more fun". Maybe the "crewed boat" owners can't waste time with basic sailing issues (like figuring-out a dead reckoning plot), they are way too absorbed with tax implications and paying for their "professional crew". Seriously no fun.

Remember, who ever dies with the most toys ...is most certainly still dead.

 

[Joe]

This forum... as long as I can remember, has always focused on the "production" sailboat genre. Morris, Hinckley, Swan etal. don't really fit into that category. Yes, there are a number of exceptions, I admit.... but in general... we're mostly production level boat guys..... and that's nice.

 

[dkdoyle]

One thing i have always loved about sailors is you can never tell how much money they have. Most are personable, friendly, down to earth people. I have met people from all walks of life. I don't think i have ever met a my boat os bigger then your boat. Everyone lends a hand and a smile. For this guy: A boat is a boat.

 

[Dan Johnson]

Having been in the boat business...

I've found that many of the high end owners tend to pay to have things done while the rest of us take some joy in doing it ourselves.

 

[dkdoyle]

Well maybe times have changed but while my husband and ran a boatyard with a marine railways we did not find that to be the case.

 

[rpwillia]

DKDoyle, I am not following you.

Well maybe times have changed but while my husband and ran a boatyard with a marine railways we did not find that to be the case.

What did you not find to be the case?

 

[dkdoyle]

Ah sorry. Well you are correct that they would pay to have the bottom scrapped and pressure washed, many of the wealthy would end up just as dirty playing at work and painting. We worked on the guy and his wife who invented the boom the brought in the tuna nets. Great people. Maybe because he was a former fisherman. But they were very nice and you would not guess from looking at them or meeting them. They got just as sweaty and dirty as us. The owner the marina was the same way. He made his money putting sellers and buyers of gas stations togerher. His wife was french and another story. The guy that ran tampa general at the time. Brought his son that had cerable palsey to the yard to hang out. He didn't have alot of time but very down to earth. I met alot of nice people that put many hours of work and love into their boats. The guy that had they spray replica where we did the bottom and touched up some of the gold leave on the name. He was an expert on celestial navigation. Like i said maybe times have changed.

 

[Dan Johnson]

DK...

my opinion is probably a reflection of being in the northeast near the big cities.