What makes a plastic boat a classic?

Ceto · Post by **Ceto** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:35 pm

I know a lot of stuff about guitars. I own 8, have been playing for over 20 years and I can spot a classic guitar a mile away.

As far as plastic boats go, what makes a boat a classic?

Would my Northstar 500 qualify as one?

Hirilondë · Post by **Hirilondë** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 5:51 am

That's a tough question, and is open to many different interpretations. To me it is a plastic boat that has many of the lines of a wooden boat. It was probably designed near the transition from wood to plastic, and possibly by a designer who made the jump from wood to plastic. Or one who makes it look like he did.

This is a very strict definition, and many have a looser one, but it is at least a good starting point.

http://www.antiguaclassics.com/09html/o ... assic.html

Post by **Tim** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:41 am

Anything termed "classic" needs to have some sort of lasting, inherently good and universal qualities or values--often in the form of certain aesthetic, pedigreed, or use-type features (i.e. a race-winning car, or a melodious guitar or other instrument, or a boat with a fine design or racing pedigree)--that are appreciated by more, rather than fewer, people as a general rule. Just being old doesn't qualify anything to be classic, and by the same token certain new things can be instant classics by virtue of their appearance or other qualities.

Subjective? To say the least. Does it matter? Not in the least. Around here, we use the term "plastic classic" very loosely and not with any sort of strict definition or criteria. But that doesn't mean everyone here owns a boat that might be universally deemed "classic", and it also doesn't mean that what one's opinion is necessarily shared by others either.

Most people would call boat designs that feature longer overhangs, sweeping, curved sheerlines, and certain other features "classic" designs. If they happen to be made of fiberglass, perhaps one might call them a plastic classic; perhaps not. There are a large number of fiberglass boats that blur the line between modern and classic, and there are some that could never hope to be viewed as classics, but in the end it's a term that has no firm definition and probably means a lot of different things to different people.

One should be happy with their own boat, whatever she may be, for one's own reasons. That's all that matters here. A boat of any sort ought to make her owner turn around for "one last look" at least once upon every departure.

The relatively newly-termed genre of yacht design called "Spirit of the Classics" is perhaps the most apt way to describe many boats of all shapes and sizes that incorporate traditional design features. Are they truly classic? No. But they incorporate those sorts of design elements that one might generically call "classic", and perhaps might one day become classics in their own right.

keelbolts · Post by **keelbolts** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:11 pm

I agree with Tim's "one last look" test. I've heard it said, and believe, if you can leave your boat without looking back, it's probably time to sell it.

Ceto · Post by **Ceto** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:43 pm

keelbolts wrote:I agree with Tim's "one last look" test. I've heard it said, and believe, if you can leave your boat without looking back, it's probably time to sell it.

My boat passes the test with flying colors!

JonnyBoats · Post by **JonnyBoats** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:36 pm

I would just like to add that perhaps some plastic boats should be considered classic simply because they were innovative or ground breaking in their day.

Take a look at this thread: http://www.plasticclassicforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2994

Considering Arion http://www.dmcboats.com/takingshape.htm only one of these was ever built, and virtually no one has heard of her (outside of this august group). There is certainly no denying that her fin keel and balanced rudder were design innovations which are still used on modern glass boats to this day.

catamount · Post by **catamount** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:57 am

This is not intended to be a universal definition, but just FYI -- for the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race, they have a "Special Competition" within the PHRF divisions for "Classic Design Yachts," which are defined as follows:

4.3.5 A Classic Design Yacht (CDY) is defined as a yacht designed prior to 1970. Sails must be of cotton, nylon or Dacron or Pentex material and of non-laminar construction.

http://www.marbleheadtohalifax.com/Race ... 9NORv4.pdf

On another tack, I don't know what the magic age is for boats, but I have always understood that for furniture, anything older than 50 years old was considered "antique," and that for automobiles, anything older than 25 years qualified for "antique" license plates.

Post by **Tim** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:07 am

These sorts of random qualifications/definitions have always bothered me, in an amusing sort of way. For example, a 1983 Chrysler K-car can now have "antique" plates legally installed. Old? Yes. Antique? Mmm, maybe not. Perhaps one could stretch and call it "classic" only because of its enduring value to the history of the manufacturer, but that doesn't make it something nice or special.

I think we all know that the implication of the word "antique" is one of inherent and long-standing value and quality, far more in depth than simply age. For that matter, many "antique" shops, such as the myriad lining Route 1 in mid-coast Maine, for example, are full not of antiques--which would have enduring value--but simply of old stuff, most of which has little real value for the ages.

Therefore, while most rule-making bodies have little else to use in terms of defining "classic" or "antique" things, it tends to be an arbitrary criterion that more often than not highlights the exceptions, rather than accurately describing anything.

Not all things old are antiques, but something must be old in order to be an antique.

Not all things old are classic. But not all classic things need be old or antique either.

Are we getting any closer to a definition? No. Farther away, perhaps! Oh well, it's something to do.

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:39 am

I've struggled with this for years.

I agree with this - "To me it is a plastic boat that has many of the lines of a wooden boat."

Which for most means something like this this in wood or plastic or kevlar or Ferro or alum:

And NOT the spade rudder fin keel - with or without Bulb:

Then how does one classify this:

What's old is new again.....

David · Post by **David** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:52 pm

Since NG Herreshoff invented the modern catamaran, fin keels, hollow masts, cross cut sails, sail slides, jib hanks, the modern winch, folding propellers, using screws as fasteners, and constructing hulls of advanced material such as bronze and aluminum, I don't think design innovations or the bill of materials for a boat defines it as a classic. Surely the Morris 36 is a classic in every sense of the word. By the same token a brand new Hunter, with swivel lounge chairs, a big screen TV, bendy mast with aft spreaders and that roll bar thing over the cockpit that houses the mainsheet traveler 10 feet in the air will never be considered a classic.

David

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:01 pm

Wait - They HAVE swivel lounge chairs? That is classic....

David · Post by **David** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:14 pm

Right! Matching BarcaLoungers and of course, the classic wet bar.

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 3:00 pm

I'm selling my boat and buying a minted out K-Car with Swivel Barcalounges and a wet bar in the trunk....

I better stop, I'm starting to laugh at my own posts....:-)