Legendary Classic Boats: 5 90s classics (145-230 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 1990s (presented in order of average value).

Legendary Classic Boats: The 1990s (pt.3)

With the advent of the 1990s, design is definitely approaching a new season. The advent of the new rating system, the IMS, begins to become more and more encumbered, and design canons are increasingly disrupted by the use of digital technologies, the adoption of “exotic” composite materials, and the introduction of new drifts, bulbs, and ballasts. We are on the cusp of one era as it mixes with another, producing boats that are increasingly high-performance and ever closer to our contemporary standards. Narrow, starry sterns, maximum beams amidships, and broad sweeps come to an end, and, as perhaps only 30 years earlier, boats now change dramatically. The maximum beams are now wider, set back from the center of the boat and much less tapered in coming toward the increasingly wide and “flattened” aft mirrors.

At the same time, materials change, and standard technologies reduce thicknesses in laminations immensely, ensuring extremely low weights, deeper appendages and less turbulence. In short, boats are tending toward “planing,” bulbs are beginning to depopulate, and arms are being fractionalized even where “masthead rigging” was not previously questioned. But more importantly, the era of digital technologies is being confirmed, with software entering the mainstream, leading to design canons that have never been so close to today’s standards.

5 Legendary Classic Boats of the 1990s

With these five Classic Boats, then, we begin to see five hulls that well represent the turn of the century. These are exceptional projects, boats that have ascended to iconic levels because of their qualities, achievements and/or success. Representing the “low” price range, among the legends of the “nineties,” here are 5 hulls between 145 and 230 thousand euros on average, perfect for small cruising, racing or day-sailing.

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

BENETEAU 50

Beneteau; 15.47 m; Farr Yacht Design / Armel Briand; 1995

It is one of the milestones of 1990s Beneteau production, an elegant and pleasant hull that earned the shipyard as many as 200 built and sold. Aimed at cruising and on-board comfort, this 50-footer has become an icon of its time, strong on Farr’s water lines and comfortable, highly appreciated volumes.

Its AVERAGE VALUE is around €145,000. To find out its card and price range, open this LINK.

HALLBERG RASSY 42 (F)

Hallberg Rassy; 13.22 m; German Frers; 1990

Who has never seen a Hallberg Rassy? Boats that only at first glance evoke comfort and safety. Qualities that, in 42′(F), meet for the first time the beauty of archistar Frers’ designs. The result is a lady globetrotting boat, highly appreciated. More than 230 units were produced between 1990 and 2001. The long-cruise boat by definition: easy, safe, take anywhere, anytime. And it is still relevant today.

Its AVERAGE VALUE is around €160,000. To find out its card and price range, open this LINK.

GRAND SOLEIL 46.3

Cantiere del Pardo; 13.98 m; J&J; 1996

In 1996, the Jacopin brothers signed the Grand Soleil 46.3, the project launching a new and fruitful collaboration between the shipyard and the J&J studio. The boat is modern and elegant, the deckhouse is clean, well set in the flush deck. The water lines are powerful, streamlined, resulting in a very valid performance-cruiser. This first success will be followed by the Pardo/J&J duo’s GS 37 and 43.

Its AVERAGE VALUE is around €180,000. To find out its card and price range, open this LINK.

X-442

X-Yachts; 13.5 m; Niels Jeppesen; 1993

In production from 1993 to 2003, the X-442 is one of Jeppesen’s 1990s Classics. Produced in 127 examples, it was the yard’s third performance-cruiser, a boat that was luxurious and not oblivious to comfort, yet deeply sporty and strong on performance. Rigid, top-quality, and strong on well-thought-out spaces, it soon became a role model for the many 40-footers of the late 20th century.

Its AVERAGE VALUE is around €193,000. To find out its card and price range, open this LINK.

SWAN 44 (MK-ii)

Nautor Swan; 13.44 m; German Frers; 1996

One of Frers’ lesser-known “swans,” and not to be confused with the other Swan 44s by S&S, Holland and Frers himself (Mk-i), the Swan 44 Mk-ii is one of the smallest Swans signed by the Argentinean, who nonetheless knows how to give the hull the pleasing lines close to turn-of-the-century style, pairing them with a hull that knows how to run, but without sacrificing comfort. In short, the classic Frers signature Swan: a great boat, even today.

Its AVERAGE VALUE is around 230,000€. 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