It could be said that the
'classic' cruiser/racer yacht reached its zenith over the period from
the 1930s to the early 1960s with
designers such as Alan Buchannan, Nicholson, Holman, Uffa Fox, S&S
and their peers. What a shame then that in this modern world their work,
if not their name, is almost forgotten in favour of characterless computer designed production
yachts that all look the same. The originals of these classic yachts are, for the most
part, confined to the 'exclusive' boat arena of specialist enthusiasts where the
time consuming maintenance
of traditional boats is not a chore or the expensive business of
professional maintenance can be afforded. A sector of the boat owning
world which can be daunting for today's busy boat owner.
This excludes the majority of yachtsmen from
the pleasure of owning and experiencing these classic cruiser/racer yacht designs
which have a unique handling and feel with sea-keeping qualities that provide a
comfortable and safe ride, ideally suited to open water and passage sailing, without the
over stiffness and slamming of modern flat sectioned, lightweight fin
keeled yachts. A number of these designs have been produced using GRP
construction and while this reduces maintenance the weight ratio is
significantly altered which results in totally different handling qualities
compared to their original timber constructed counterparts.
Revival Classics aim to rectify
this situation
by producing yachts from the drawing boards of respected designers of
the period and
recreating them using modern boat construction methods. These boats will
be constructed using modern woodworking methods to produce low
maintenance classic yachts of a similar weight ratio to the original
design, affording the unique handling and feel of their predecessors.
Wood-epoxy composite boat building is a tried
and tested method of one off construction and lends itself well to
semi-production systems. In a relatively swift build time, it produces a
very strong, abrasion resistant and long-lasting hull that requires
little maintenance and problems with osmosis are almost unheard of.
Degradation through rot, the one major problem that has always plagued
wooden boats, is solved by epoxy resin saturation. Timber has one of the
highest ratios of stiffness and tensile strength to weight of any
material. By having a timber core, the boats can be built close to their
original design weight, thereby retaining their sea-keeping properties.
They are naturally insulated and don't suffer from the condensation
problems that can plague the interior of an uninsulated solid fiberglass
or metal hulls, so rendering a more comfortable accommodation space.
To view some of our
selected designs Click Here or if you would
like to discuss the possibility of building a favourite design please Contact
Us