Legendary Classic Boats: 5 top 80s designs (from 60 to 115 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.2)

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 “middle” price range, among the 80s legends, then here are 5 hulls between 60 and 115 thousand euros on average, perfect for cruising, racing or day trips.

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

COMET 12

Comar; 12.63 m; Andrea Vallicelli; 1985

Comar and Vallicelli are often an apt pairing. And in 1985 they proved it, giving birth to the Comet 12, a cruising boat capable of running like few others. In fact, this 12.6-meter cruiser is not only efficient in its cruise use, but also excellent as a high-performance boat. The lines are clean, the hull marine and safe. But underneath the flotation emerges all the studio’s experience in the racing world. In short, a miracle in the 1980s, a great hull for outings and vacations today. Comfortable, marine and fun even when cruising.

Its AVERAGE VALUE is around €60,000. To find out its card and price range, open this LINK.

OYSTER 41

Oyster Marine; 12.09 m; Stephen Jones; 1980

The British shipyard Oyster, in the early 1980s, was in its infancy, just starting out, and it ventured its first steps into the world of “big” (for the time) boats with the Oyster 41. A beautiful cruiser/racer influenced by IOR rules and featuring a semi-flush deck and an unusually wide stern was born. It will be produced in 27 examples, from 1980 to 1987, demonstrating the already proverbial Oyster quality. Stephen Jones, here, designs a great hull, still to be considered today.

Its AVERAGE VALUE is around €63,000. To find out its card and price range, open this LINK.

DUFOUR 42 LACOSTE

Dufour; 12.85; Sparkman & Stephens; 1985

Signed by Sparkman & Stephens and produced in a limited series of just 12, the 42 Lacoste is the child of a peculiar experience, an elegant and fast boat born of the co-branding of two French giants, Dufour and Lacoste. It was an attempt to renew the French shipyard, and it succeeded without a doubt. Besides causing a sensation, it was also a hull with excellent qualities, comfortable and marine, fast and well manageable. Today, undoubtedly, a good vintage cruiser with a story worth telling.

Its AVERAGE VALUE is around €95,000. To find out its card and price range, open this LINK.

HALLBERG RASSY 41

Hallberg Rassy; 12.5 m; Olle Enderlein; 1981

It is the early 1980s and Hallberg Rassy introduces a ketch for its flagship. The year is 1981 and the Hallberg Rassy 41 is born. It is a hull totally designed to take to the sea without worry, a design that, without compromise, was created for those who want to live by boat. Perfect for big cruising, comfortable and quality, it has a deck designed and developed just to be a bluewater, with a very protected cockpit and interior as if you were at home. In short, for those who want to take the sea and go, without too much “fuss,” it is still more than papable.

Its AVERAGE VALUE is around €115,000. To find out its card and price range, open this LINK.

FIRST 51

Beneteau; 15.6 m; German Frers; 1987

The First 51 is Beneteau’s boat that comes closest in quality to boats from northern European yards. Frers’ design, derived from a racing prototype, is impeccable. Due to the maximum beam of as much as 4.55 m the spaces above and below deck are unusually huge for the time. Today, with those lines and interiors, it lends itself to “fast” cruising, cruising, of course, in full 80s spirit and comfort. But, such a project, by a Frers in a state of grace, is worth consideration.

Its AVERAGE VALUE is around €115,000. 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