TRENDS New boats are changing, we explain why (by points)

Behind the evolution of the new generation boats are practical, aesthetic, and market reasons. Here is, point by point, what is happening.

Goodbye to the edges?
After years of hulls with increasingly pronounced edges (capable of bringing interior spaces to the cruising boat world that we were not used to), it seems that hulls are returning–round. No, we’re not talking about the round bows that have depopulated mini oceanic boats, but about hulls with softer sides (as always the example comes from the racing world, try looking at the racer designed by Bill Tripp). Aesthetic reasons or a new design evolution to improve performance?

Increasingly large interiors
Spaces on board are becoming more and more…homey! The saloon accommodates very large dinettes and real kitchens even on boats just over ten meters. Solutions designed under the banner of comfort even in the sleeping area: if at one time the Italian market required, compared to the American market, for example, a higher number of cabins, today shipyards also offer layouts with fewer and larger cabins. And they also see the return of the aft master cabin, without necessarily having to buy a 60-footer…

The evolution of successful models
Following a practice that has already been widely tried in the automotive world, construction sites have also learned that what works…must be improved! So-called restyling is now a smart, established practice: a model’s strengths are improved while fixing its weaknesses, without scrambling a design every three or four years as was the case in pre-crisis years.

How practical the roll bar!
It used to be the exclusive prerogative of motor-powered “irons,” while today the rollbar has now been accepted in the cruising sailing world as well (although purists still turn their noses up at it). The advantages, in terms of shipboard life, are incontrovertible: they clear the cockpit of the mainsail key and become the ideal support of bimini and awnings, even rigid ones. We have already glimpsed the next step in some new designs, which is the possibility of exploiting the rollbar to obtain real rigid T-Tops that can also be closed, so as to turn the cockpit into a real extra “cabin.”

The dolphin stationary
The first reason is practical, with the bows without momentum and therefore vertical the risk of blows to the hull when lowering the anchor are lurking.With the dolphin trap encompassing the anchor system the problem is solved. In addition, in recent years in cruising, people have said goodbye to the spinnaker in order to accommodate and keep rigged (perhaps with a whip) a much easier to use “tail 0 or gennaker, which, however, should be walled off as far as possible from the forestay of the jib. The growth of bow dolphins should be seen in this light. A practical reason.

Farewell to the Ikea style
Use of laminates to cover woodwork, very practical and maintenance-free and sharp-angled edges, goodbye? The trend toward a return to classic yachting aesthetics, that of warm woods and rounded corners in furniture are welcome. The boats inside them thus abandon that “Ikea style” that has made the custodians of yachting’s aesthetic canons wrinkle their noses in recent years.

Eating outdoors
It is now an (almost) must-have option on many cruising boats. Stern seats increasingly accommodate real grills complete with sinks: this is because as they have grown in size and can be sheltered from the elements, cockpits have increasingly become the heart of boat life. The impromptu “cook” can be placed on the large aft platform,allowing the rest of the crew to enjoy the seating and the ever-increasing sunbathing areas of the cockpits.

The terrace by the sea
We mentioned it, the swim platforms are no longer just for getting in and out of the water comfortably. The decision to make folding stern mirrors has allowed shipyards to oversize the swim platforms (whether electrically, hydraulically or manually operated), which are transformed into true additional sunbathing spaces. Access to the swim platforms has also been facilitated, with real ladders also equipped with handrails.

All in two (for real)
The sail plan is becoming easier to manage, thanks to the choice of powerful mainsails and increasingly smaller headsails with little (or no) overlap. The choice of fitting authorizing jibs, but also the presence of winches capable of tacking on their own or even adjusting the sails according to the heading and even dropping the sails completely if the angle of heel becomes too great, have made sailing increasingly easy even when in the boat alone or with an inexperienced crew. Every cruise passenger’s dream.

How do you recognize a “premium” boat?
Why does a boat that is at first glance similar in appearance and in equipment and fittings also cost twice as much as another one for the same size? In the auto industry they call it “premium,” that segment that is priced higher than a similarly sized model. What is actually different about one boat in relation to another? It is a mix of superior performance, build quality, refined design that stands the test of time, craftsmanship attention to detail, wealth of accessories, implants, gadgets, absolute customization, and pre- and post-sales customer support. And why not, greater retention of the value of used equipment and less obsolescence. The result is an object that, like a beautiful woman, turns heads when you see it at sea or at the dock.

The double rudder blade
No, we were not mistaken, and we are not talking about the many disputed (by purists) double wheels now found even on smaller boats. We mean the choice made by more and more yards to forgo a large single shovel and opt for two smaller shovels. Why? There are many reasons for this, including the widening of hulls and the presence of edges, which bring boats to a precise degree of heeling: at those times the blade works at 100 percent, ensuring the helmsman is in total control of the boat. The draft is also reduced and it is therefore also possible to access different marinas that used to be…almost forbidden to us!

Fast Cruiser or Cruiser?
There used to be a clear difference and there was no confusion between the more sporty models and the purely cruising models. This is a distinction that has been thinning in recent years: hulls, thanks in part to modern computer programs, are performing better and better even on cruising boats. On the other hand, fast cruisers used to have spartan interiors that were unsuitable for cruising: this is no longer the case, as lighter materials have enabled shipyards to make interiors comfortable while keeping weights down, which is essential for improved performance. The ideal solution to please both the owner-husband and the person who actually chooses the boat–that is, the lady!