Yet one more pic to round things out...
Sailgal & the group: I don't mean to beat a dead horse but noticed one other pic (p. 77 in the same CW 2/2004 issue) that might further help you when looking at boats and sorting out preferences. You might need a magnifying glass, but look at the interior shot of the J46, a high-end boat that regrettably will be outside your price range...but thoughtful designs aren't by themselves pricey, and that's where these learnings are. In contrast with the 'wide open spaces' theme I pointed out in the Cat/Hunter ads, note what J Boats does with their interior. It certainly isn't claustrophobic but note how the settees are brought inboard a bit, allowing for a pilot berth behind (outboard) of the port settee. (Imagine finding room for a berth outboard of the settees in those other pics). Note the hull side outboard of that berth, imagine tracing the line of hull downwards, and estimate the depth of those settee backs, where storage is undoubtedly provided for. Take a look at the wide side decks in the external shot of the boat and note how wide those decks are at the two large main cabin ports, then shift back to the interior shot and notice how close those ports are, in a vertical line, with the starboard settee back...and then imagine the amount of storage space one is likely to find behind those starboard settee cushions, given that anticipated depth. While longer (40.5' LWL)and therefore wider (13.8') and heavier (12+ tons), this boat's shape & dimensions are not appreciably different except in scale from the boats you are looking at...but it seems to illustrate well what a layout can do when the design is given over to somewhat different priorities. I also notice 4 dorade vents for when the boat must be closed up in the rain, a joy when the BYC is unplugged because you're somewhere other than a South Florida slip. OK, I promise...no more 'pic' comments. Jack
Sailgal & the group: I don't mean to beat a dead horse but noticed one other pic (p. 77 in the same CW 2/2004 issue) that might further help you when looking at boats and sorting out preferences. You might need a magnifying glass, but look at the interior shot of the J46, a high-end boat that regrettably will be outside your price range...but thoughtful designs aren't by themselves pricey, and that's where these learnings are. In contrast with the 'wide open spaces' theme I pointed out in the Cat/Hunter ads, note what J Boats does with their interior. It certainly isn't claustrophobic but note how the settees are brought inboard a bit, allowing for a pilot berth behind (outboard) of the port settee. (Imagine finding room for a berth outboard of the settees in those other pics). Note the hull side outboard of that berth, imagine tracing the line of hull downwards, and estimate the depth of those settee backs, where storage is undoubtedly provided for. Take a look at the wide side decks in the external shot of the boat and note how wide those decks are at the two large main cabin ports, then shift back to the interior shot and notice how close those ports are, in a vertical line, with the starboard settee back...and then imagine the amount of storage space one is likely to find behind those starboard settee cushions, given that anticipated depth. While longer (40.5' LWL)and therefore wider (13.8') and heavier (12+ tons), this boat's shape & dimensions are not appreciably different except in scale from the boats you are looking at...but it seems to illustrate well what a layout can do when the design is given over to somewhat different priorities. I also notice 4 dorade vents for when the boat must be closed up in the rain, a joy when the BYC is unplugged because you're somewhere other than a South Florida slip. OK, I promise...no more 'pic' comments. Jack