Boatbuilding: 16 ingenious boatbuilding solutions that are rarely found anymore
They still exist, the good things, but the good as well as the useful, practical parts, equipment and components are being used less and less, rationalised away or are simply being forgotten.
Lemon and deck prism
The glass body encased in precious metal shovels light below deck without electricity, without openings. Just like the aesthetically pleasing lemon. Both can still be found in the catalogue of the traditional Hamburg-based outfitter Toplicht, as well as on board many classic yachts. But why not on the decks of modern yachts?
Perforated moulding
Made of aluminium, it has been the foot rail for thousands of boats, part of the deck-hull connection and multiple fastening aid for snatch blocks for the genoa outhaul, the aft or barber haulers, as well as being suitable for tying the fenders low or for holding jumping cleats. A true jack-of-all-trades, so to speak.
First replaced by (admittedly visually more harmonious) battens made from a closed aluminium profile, then completely revolutionised by a higher freeboard. This means that anyone who wants to rig an outer sheet today (which is becoming increasingly necessary due to the growing popularity of self-tacking jibs) must first retrofit padeyes. To redirect barber haulers for code zero or gennakers, a spring cleat may be used, an unsightly makeshift solution that also fails if there are no spring cleats (which in turn have usually become an extra in the options list).
Swallow nests
The space below deck in the aft cabins, which is usually not needed in the often high, deep and sometimes long cockpit coamings, used to be used for so-called swallow nests. These are now largely rationalised away. The compartments hold excess sheet material, but also cranks and other parts, including personal items that would otherwise have to be stored elsewhere or fly around the cockpit. Well-built swallow's nests have drainage systems and possibly also rocker rails. The small stowage boxes can usually still be found on the boats of upmarket shipyards, as can lockers for the halyards, and they can also be retrofitted quite easily. The aftermarket offers various GRP boxes that are glued into cut-outs in the cockpit coamings.
Pilot and saloon berths
The pilot's berth now exists almost exclusively as a maritime term for coastal tourist accommodation. Once intended for the accompanying pilot, who had to be on the spot quickly, the berths were located in the navigation area or in the saloon above the seating area. Equipped with lee sails and located in the centre of the ship, they were ideal sea berths. Due to space constraints, they can only reasonably be realised on larger yachts and even there they take up storage space. Also less and less to be seen: Saloon sofas that are suitable as fully-fledged berths. Even if they are long enough, they lack comfortable width. This was countered with fold-up backrests, behind which bedding could be stowed during the day.
Seawater pump
Pumps in the galley that can be used to draw seawater were once commonplace, but are rarely seen today, at least on large production boats. They are usually manual, but can also be electrified. Seawater can be used for washing up, pre-rinsing vegetables and partially replacing cooking water for pasta and potatoes. This saves a lot of fresh water from the tank and is therefore particularly welcome on long voyages, where the water is of better quality far from the coast. Such a system can be retrofitted with little effort. If an existing drain located below the waterline is also used as a suction point, the installation is quickly completed and is limited to a few parts such as connectors, hose, foot or hand pump and a tap.
Sling bars
They prevent crockery and other materials from slipping off the table, but they are annoying when they are not needed, when cleaning the table surface or when supporting the arms. That's why there were removable sliders. An alternative are tables that can be folded down from harbour to sea mode (photo). When unfolded, the harbour table is large and has no ledges. When folded down, the mouldings on the underside are used.
leeward sail
Some shipyards argue that leeches are superfluous because sailing overnight is hardly ever done any more, so they do without the equipment. That remains to be seen. The cloths secure the sleeper in the bunk in the event of a wave and they separate wide berths (photo), which is very welcome at sea, even during the day. Leech sails are easy to retrofit, as is the attachment to the ceiling.
Sail load
The gear locker behind the anchor locker holds lines, equipment and, above all, sails. It dates back to a time when there were various headsails on board, which were changed depending on the wind strength and angle of incidence, and could take up the entire foredeck. Today, a smaller chamber is sufficient for a code zero and gennaker, which can then be conveniently set directly from the sail load. Not retrofittable, but if you have the choice when buying or even building your own, this is a good option.
Handrails
These are by no means standard, but are becoming increasingly important on and below deck in view of the growing width of boats, as are footrests and holding options on the steering columns. Everything can be retrofitted.
Crumb tray
A flange with a recess is milled under a flap in a floor board, in which a small plastic tray rests. Dust and crumbs are swept into this. This was used for a while on standard yachts and then disappeared again, just like small wine cellars in the bilge. But why?
Protruding pulpit
The stainless steel rods protrude far forward over the stem, so you can easily pull yourself up onto the deck when boarding the boat. You see less and less. Modern pulpits are completely split in two and set back, which saves material and looks really cool. However, in combination with vertical sterns and the resulting anchor gallows that protrude far forward, a problem arises: how to get on board easily, where to hold on? The solution is a walkable bowsprit or a bow platform with a ladder and the spi halyard attached to it to hold on to. Elaborate solutions that are only sometimes offered by the shipyard. So mooring with the stern to the jetty is becoming increasingly fashionable in Northern Europe too. But do you want to have to?
Wide running decks
The desire for large-volume interiors and the shipyards' willingness to follow suit leads to wide, high hulls, and the superstructures grow with them - at the expense of the running decks, which lose out on comfortable width. On top of this, the externally mounted upper and lower shrouds are usually in the way. Both make the running decks more difficult to walk on - a classic compromise that cannot be resolved on the existing ship. Rating: acceptable.
Large front hatch
If not a dedicated sail load (see above), then a large fore hatch far forward and also as a supplement to the second fore hatch further aft. A measure that is hardly ever found. The advantages: A view of the starry sky from both sleeping positions with the head forward or aft, more air in the boat and, above all, the large fore hatch makes it easier to hoist sails on deck or set them directly. A second fore hatch can, of course, be retrofitted, depending on the misting situation on deck, where, for example, a cutter stay could be in the way.
Tiller control
One or two entry-level boats from high-volume shipyards, such as Hanses 315 or the Oceanis 30.1 from Beneteau, as well as larger boats such as the Faurby 370 are still offered with a tiller, which is even cheaper, but the market is calling for wheels. Most customers find this more manoeuvrable, even if the steering is more vulnerable, indirect and maintenance-intensive. The tiller can also be used on larger boats without any problems.
Cockpit grille
Sure, it's not noticeable at first at the boat show, but after the first wave or a full-blown downpour: if you're sitting on the sheer deck, you're sitting with your bum in the wet, even in a puddle. Gratings, wooden strips or grids that create some distance from the ship, are a good idea. They are useful on the dents, but also aft, where the helmsman sits, whether in the cockpit or on top of the coaming, where water should also run off as freely as possible. And a grating at the bottom of the cockpit keeps the floor visually clean, even if dirt collects underneath. Everything can be retrofitted, even by yourself.
Keep your eyes open when buying
The missing or too short handrail, the non-existent handlebar on the steering column, omitted rocker rails in the locker and rationalised leeboards may not be noticeable to visitors at boat shows or in the showroom, but it will look different in wind and waves, and then it may even hurt sometimes.
The owner should therefore pay attention to these things when buying or retrofit them if necessary. Because the good thing is that the majority of good things that have been forgotten or deliberately omitted can usually be brought back on board with reasonable effort, for example from the deck prism to the seawater pump in the galley.
The topic can be seen in a positive light anyway: Because modern boats have great advantages per se, even without the aforementioned reminiscences. From wide sterns for plenty of interior volume to bathing platforms and high speed potential. From user-friendly rigs without backstays with small headsails to profiled cloths with effective profiles. From modern navigation electronics to AIS and radar.
These achievements of today's times can be perfectly retrofitted with the best of past eras according to individual preferences in an existing current boat.
