Complaints about new boats with a non traditional look.

[Guest]

Having sailed on the Clarke and Watson I see where everyone is coming from as far as looks go. Once the boom was put on the Clarke I changed my tune. But I have to agree with Brian when it comes to they're making money, providing well paying jobs. They aren't being built with the boatwatcher in mind. Like I've said in a couple posts, if the Manitoulin ever loads in Two Harbors I'll drive the 25 miles from Duluth to see her.

Don't be surprised if it starts loading there later in December.

[garbear]

Having sailed on the Clarke and Watson I see where everyone is coming from as far as looks go. Once the boom was put on the Clarke I changed my tune. But I have to agree with Brian when it comes to they're making money, providing well paying jobs. They aren't being built with the boatwatcher in mind. Like I've said in a couple posts, if the Manitoulin ever loads in Two Harbors I'll drive the 25 miles from Duluth to see her.

[Paul A]

For me, being a draftsman who designs stairs and building bits, I always analise the design of all the boats and I enjoy the design features of all of them. I prefer the for & aft designs but I just like everything that floats and hauls cargo.

[Denny]

Brian I agree with your comments and also second most of what you said as far as "I enjoy them all." I think besides what some are saying as far as the new ships and their looks, many of us here are missing the point! Think about this folks, would you rather see a ship or boat with not so good looks or not see any at all? Look at the 1980s when many of our favorites left the lakes. Now go to the year 2015 if you will and again, many of our favorites have left us yet again. Point here is, enjoy what ships are out there sailing now as who knows how much longer they will be with us! I also enjoy anything that floats regardless of its looks. At least as long as there are boats sailing regardless of appearance, shape or size it is for one better than no boats at all right? Just my thoughts only here.

[wlbblw]

Whenever I see that nonsense, I always rise to the challenge & politely remind the complainer that boats are designed for making the company money, resulting in lots of jobs & not to entertain us. I don't care what they look like, I enjoy them all.

[Mac Mackay]

As a youngster (that is getting on to 60 years ago) I used to laugh at the old fogies who decried the look of "them modrun boats" that didn't even have the decency to burn coal.
Now that I am a fully fledged fogie I have to stand back and listen to myself occasionally lest I become the laughing stock of the new generation.
Different generations have different ideas of what is attractive, but there are certain things that make ships pleasing to the eye. Even in these days where the ruthless search for economy and efficiency seems to prevail over all else, you still get the odd element that stands out and you can say - someone was thinking beyond pure necessity, and did this because it looks better.
When that happens, without taking away from the functionality, you end up with something memorable. I am still looking for that element in the Equinoxes and the Trillia.

[mopar tim]

I always liked the look of the older boats but these new builds are starting to grow on me. Like someone said in the other post they will be the ones we are chasing and snapping pictures of in a few years because all the old girls will be gone.

[Bookworm]

Thanks for the food for thought and the smile it brought me!

[RCRVRP]

I read with both sympathy and amusement when people lament the look of the new boats.
They want new ones built with fore and aft cabins, different lines, a more traditional look. Grumble grumble. :)
I happen to be a cook/chef. Many people lament new fusion cuisine combining say Mexican with African ingredients and techniques in the same dish. Well, there is no date established where all recipes before that are valid "traditional" recipes and those invented after that date are somehow a lesser product thats less appealing.

I'm pretty sure when great lake sailing schooners were replaced with steel hulled steam ships there was a good bit of grumbling that those "smoke belching iron boxes" were ugly as original sin and twice as dirty.

Things change. In 50 years the new lakers built today will be called traditional and some new design will be called ugly.

Food for thought. :)