Legendary Classic Boats: 6 small 80s masterpieces (30 to 50 thousand €)

To talk about Classic Boats in general sometimes misses the nuances and subtleties that each design phase entailed, as well as its evolutions and philosophies. We selected 300 projects of excellence, 300 models of historical value to celebrate and enhance. With this in mind, we now want to explore the topic as it deserves, contextualizing each project and each boat to its time. Here now is a series of in-depth articles, brief overviews of 20 legendary Classic Boats, their design canons and their evolution decade by decade. Here, then, are 5 legendary Classic Boats of the 1980s (presented in order of average value).

Legendary Classic Boats: The 1980s (pt.1)

With the advent of the 1980s, the sailing world enters an increasingly “bipolar” design period. On the one hand, racing is depopulated, popularized by the pantheons of millionaire budgets (such as the America’s Cup or the Admiral’s Cups) and by the many mass-produced projects intended to satisfy hybrid needs, the fast cruisers; but on the other hand, a different need is also felt, that of departing from these worlds, seeking pure sailing and the pleasure of cruising. Thus, the obsession with racing is also opposed by a great many serial projects that, on the contrary, completely depart from what are the logics of the IOR. In short, a season of “extremes” opens, populated by some of the best serial performers as much as by some of the greatest bluewater of the decade. An exceptional combination of projects that, by exploring different solutions, will offer fundamental design responses to the rest of the decade. Remainder of a decade that, instead, will then see the growing crisis of the IOR rating system, with projects on the one hand more extreme and, on the other, more inclined to move toward the ever-closer new formula, the IMS.

5 Legendary Classic Boats of the 1980s

With these five Classic Boats, then, we begin to see five hulls that well represent the decade. These are exceptional projects, boats that have ascended to iconic levels because of their qualities, achievements and success. Representing the “low” price range, among the 80s legends, then here are 5 hulls between 30 and 50 thousand euros on average, perfect for the small cruise, regatta or day trip.

• Discover all Classic Boats of Historical Value by Giornale della Vela

X-3/4 TON

X-Yachts; 9.98 m; Niels Jeppesen; 1984

The X-102 (which you will see below) is the Danish shipyard’s second design, a dynamic and fast cruiser racer. In 1984, however, Niel Jeppesen wants to extract more hull potential from his 9.9-meter. The 3/4 Ton is born, same hull, twisted everything else. Rudder, centreboard, deck, sail plan and volumes make it a completely different hull, a racing machine destined for the Three Quarter Ton Cup in Kiel, 1984. They will build a total of 84, a demonstration of the great hull that was. Today, she is a small racing machine, perfect for day sailing and minor regattas in the Mediterranean.

Its AVERAGE VALUE is around €30,000. To find out its card and price range, open this LINK.

DB-2

Dehler; 10.1 m; Van De Stadt; 1981

The German shipyard, in the early 1980s, specialized in designing and building dual-purpose boats: racing and cruising. In 1981 he launched the DB2, a design by Van De Stadt, which immediately emerged as one of the most successful models. Not for nothing, he has the 1984 Three Quarter Tonner World Championship victory in his palmares. Iconic is its open stern, one of the earliest examples of this, which is the dominant trend today.

Its AVERAGE VALUE is around €35,000. To find out its card and price range, open this LINK.

GRAND SOLEIL 35

Cantiere del Pardo; 11.1 m; Alain Jèzèquel; 1981

In search of a fast, marine cruiser, Cantiere del Pardo turned to the brilliant Alain Jèzèquel. It is 1981 is born a hull outside the IOR logic, purely set to enjoy cruising and sailing to the fullest. Regattas and ratings are not considered at all; the goal is, precisely, a cruising boat, but one that goes fast. The result is a 35-footer with fine lines, deep bow and unimpressive stern. Elegant and smart, it is a cruising boat that is still sought after today, precisely because it is smart.

Its AVERAGE VALUE is around €45,000. To find out its card and price range, open this LINK.

FIRST CLASS 12

Beneteau; 11.89 m; Groupe Finot; 1985

“Not everyone competes in the Admiral’s Cup, but many dream of doing so”-this was the statement with which Beneteau launched the First Class 12, its IOR 40′ signed by Groupe Finot. Three special hulls participated in Admiral’s in ’87, making the boat a must among racers of the time. It was a striking commercial operation, and the boat was an immediate success, still underscoring the qualities of the French brand’s First line. Today, little to do, it can be a great hull to convert to cruising. It is marine, it is fast and, moreover, it has no small history.

Its AVERAGE VALUE is around €46,000. To find out its card and price range, open this LINK.

X-102

X-Yachts; 10.2 m; Niels Jeppesen; 1981

It is the Danish shipyard’s second model and, like its predecessor X-79, is designed by Jeppesen, which designs, with the 102, a dynamic and fast cruiser-racer, but without forgetting interiors that can also be used for cruising. The project soon proved its worth, winning both the 81 3/4 Ton Cup and the 82 3/4 Ton Cup. Few beginnings are better. Today, it is a modest performance cruiser, suitable for day sailing as well as small and medium cruising.

Its AVERAGE VALUE is around €50,000. To find out its card and price range, open this LINK.

The three steps to enhance your Classic Boat

Well, is your boat a Classic Boat? Now we explain how to dignify Classic Boats by Journal of Sailing and increase their value. We have created a network of professionals dedicated to precisely this enhancement.

• The first mandatory step in enhancing the value of a historic Classic Boat by Giornale della Vela is appraisal. We have identified two “top” appraisers(Davide Zerbinati and Danilo Fabbroni) who can draw up a real Classic Boat certification and see the historical value of the boat recognized. Only by careful analysis of the state of the property and its maintenance over the years, as well as checking that the original design has not been distorted, can its value be certified.
• Insurance is the second essential step, after the appraisal. Today it is difficult for an insurance company to value a boat that is at least 25 years old for its true value. With the Classic Boat initiative, once an appraisal is obtained from our two appraisers, the intrinsic value of the boat is also received by the insurance broker David Assicurazioni. And if the appraisal certified the boat’s excellent condition–the premium becomes more affordable! HERE you can find out more about insurance!
• Buying and selling is the third step that required dedicated professionals: we involved one of Italy’s leading brokers(Abayachting) capable of transposing the real value of each of the current 188 selected boats, both in the case of selling and buying. It helps you sell it or buy it at the best price by selecting the best buyer or buyer, performing an assessment of the boat’s condition.
• Our “dream team” of appraisers, insurers and brokers can be contacted with one click directly from the boat tabs (Link here).
• FIND OUT HOW MUCH 300 CLASSIC BOATS BY SAILING NEWSPAPER ARE WORTH